Part 3 (1/2)
”I hope it will be So far my experiments haven't turned out successfully But I can't understand how anyone outside our plant could have known about them”
[Illustration: ”They Left After Dinner”]
Mr Damon could tell littlea description of the two men he took his leave The boys were rather worried about the inforlass,” said Tom, ”for we don't know if it will be a success What bothers ht we had weeded out all unscrupulous employees”
[Illustration: He Described the Two Men]
”The Apex Glass Works are located in Portville,” said Ned, struck with an idea, ”fifty miles north of here Mr Damon's visitors claimed to have business up state To my mind that's more than a coincidence, especially since the Apex people would give their back teeth to get hold of your formula, Tom!”
[Illustration: ”That's More Than Coincidence”]
CHAPTER III
AN ACCIDENT
”Oh, I think you're letting your irinned Tom ”I know Mr Stern, the president of Apex, very well, and I'm positive that he wouldn't stand for any underhanded tactics”
[Illustration: ”I Know Mr Stern,” Grinned Toer ”But you know better than anyone else how unscrupulous gangs have tried to steal your inventions At first it was Happy Harry the tras were after you and your father in between You'd be wise to get souards”
”I think Koku is well able to handle any intruder,” declared To excited over nothing You know Mr Damon is inclined to make mountains out of molehills”
[Illustration: ”Koku Is Able to Handle Anyone”]
”That's all very well,” persisted his friend stubbornly, ”but just suppose Mr Daht in his suspicions? It'd be too late then to do anything about it”
”Don't worry, old ainst any burglar's attack Now it's late You'd better stay to dinner Afterward, if you care to and have no other date, we can talk over some unfinished business”
[Illustration: The Chest Would Guard the Secrets]
”Thanks, To up the laboratory, the two boys walked leisurely through the war white house Low in the sky hung the silvery crescent of the new htly
”There's our goal, Ned,”to the red planet ”I feel sure that our meteorite came from that far-off world!”
[Illustration: ”There's Our Goal, Ned”]
”Granting that it did coet the reason why you're so sure it ca the sun, including the earth Ruling out the sun, it seeht that you are right”
[Illustration: ”Nine Planets Circle the Sun”]
”If it were siht behind your argument, Ned But a lot of other factors enter the problem I should say that the only planets where life as we know it ht exist are Mars and Venus The latter I ruled out, for astronomers have found that it is forever covered thickly with dense clouds Thus the inhabitants, if any, norant of any world but their own”