Part 23 (2/2)
It was rather late when the two young men strolled back toward the Swift home, Ned walking that way with his chum. Tom started out in the direction of the building where the tank was housed.
”Going to have a good-night look at her?” asked Ned.
”Well, I want to make sure the watchman is on guard. We'll begin taking her apart in a few days, and I don't want anything to happen between now and then.”
They walked on toward the big structure, and, as they approached from the side, they were both startled to see a dark shadow--at least so it seemed to the youths--dart away from one of the windows.
”Look!” gasped Ned.
”h.e.l.lo, there!” cried Tom sharply. ”Who's that? Who are you?”
There was no answer, and then the fleeing shadow was merged in the other blackness of the night.
”Maybe it was the watchman making his rounds,” suggested Ned.
”No,” answered Tom, as he broke into a run. ”If it was, he'd have answered. There's something wrong here!”
But he could find nothing when he reached the window from which he and Ned had seen the shadow dart. An examination by means of a pocket electric light betrayed nothing wrong with the sash, and if there were footprints beneath the cas.e.m.e.nt they indicated nothing, for that side of the factory was one frequently used by the workmen.
Tom went into the building, and, for a time, could not find the watchman. When he did come upon the man, he found him rubbing his eyes sleepily, and acting as though he had just awakened from a nap.
”This isn't any way to be on duty!” said Tom sharply. ”You're not paid for sleeping!”
”I know it, Mr. Swift,” was the apologetic answer. ”I don't know what's come over me to-night. I never felt so sleepy in all my life. I had my usual sleep this afternoon, too, and I've drunk strong coffee to keep awake.”
”Are you sure you didn't drink anything else?”
”You know I'm a strict temperance man.”
”I know you are,” said Tom; ”but I thought maybe you might have a cold, or something like that.”
”No, I haven't taken a thing. I did have a drink of soda water before I came on duty, but that's all.”
”Where'd you get it?” asked Tom.
”Well, a man treated me.”
”Who?”
”I don't know his name. He met me on the street and asked me how to get to Plowden's hardware store. I showed him--walked part of the way, in fact--and when I left he said he was going to have some soda, and asked me to have some. I did, and it tasted good.”
”Well, don't go to sleep again,” suggested Tom good-naturedly. ”Did you hear anything at the side window a while ago?”
”Not a thing, Mr. Swift. I'll be all right now. I'll take a turn outside in the air.”
”All right,” a.s.sented the young inventor.
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