Part 10 (1/2)

”No one else;” and Ned grinned. ”Looking for a good place to fish, I presume?”

Then, at least for once, the man's suave manner dropped from him as if it had been a mask. He bared his teeth in a snarl as he answered:

”Mind your own business!”

”Something I'd advise you also to do,” replied Ned smoothly. ”You can't see anything from there,” he went on. ”Better go back to the tree and--cut a fis.h.i.+ng pole!”

With this parting shot Ned sauntered down the hill, and swung around to make his way toward Tom's home. He paid no further attention to the man, save to determine, by listening, that the fellow was searching among the bushes for the dropped telescope.

The young inventor was at home, taking a hasty lunch which Mrs. Baggert had set out for him, the while he poured over some blueprint drawings that, to Ned's unaccustomed eyes, looked like the mazes of some intricate puzzle.

”Well, where have you been keeping yourself, old man?” asked Tom Swift, after he had greeted his friend.

”I might ask the same of you,” retorted Ned, with a smile. ”I've been trying to find you to give you some important information, and I made up my mind, after what happened to-day, to write it and leave it for you if I didn't see you.”

”What happened to-day?” asked Tom, and there was a serious look on his face.

”You are being spied upon--at least, that part of your works enclosed in the new fence is,” replied Ned.

”You don't mean it!” Cried Tom. ”This accounts for some of it, then.”

”For some of what?” asked Ned.

”For some of the actions of that Blakeson, He's been hanging around here, I understand, asking too many questions about things that I'm trying to keep secret--even from my best friends,” and as Tom said this Ned fancied there was a note of regret in his voice.

”Yes, you are keeping some things secret, Tom,” said Ned, determined ”to take the bull by the horns,” as it were.

”I'm sorry, but it has to be,” went on Tom. ”In a little while--”

”Oh, don't think that I'm at all anxious to know things!” broke in Ned.

”I was thinking of some one else, Tom--another of your friends.”

”Do you mean Mary?”

Ned nodded.

”She feels rather keenly your lack of explanations,” went on the young bank clerk. ”If you could only give her a hint--”

”I'm sorry, but it can't be done,” and Tom spoke firmly. ”But you haven't told me all that happened. You say I am being spied upon.”

”Yes,” and Ned related what had taken place in the tree.

”Whew!” whistled Tom. ”That's going some with a vengeance! I must have that tree down in a jiffy. I didn't imagine there was a spot where the yard could be overlooked. But I evidently skipped that tree.

Fortunately it's on land owned by a concern with which I have some connection, and I can have it chopped down without any trouble. Much obliged to you, Ned. I shan't forget this in a hurry. I'll go right away and--”

Tom's further remark was interrupted by the hurried entrance of Eradicate Sampson. The old man was smiling in pleased antic.i.p.ation, evidently, at the same time, trying hard not to give way to too much emotion.

”I's done it, Ma.s.sa Tom!” he cried exultingly.