Part 10 (1/2)

”Why, yes,” was the answer ”Let ot up, but I could take him off that--”

”No, don't!” interposed Too on Isn't there some one else you can let me have?”

”Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended I took him on last week, and he's a wonderful ines I could let you have hih, is that I don't like to give you aon a new device”

”Oh, that will be all right,” said Toet, if you ht be up to spy work”

”That's what I did mean, Tom You never can tell, you know, and you have some bitter enemies”

”Yes, but I'll take care this s I only want so work on the experi up We can let him think it's for a new kind of autoht I'll send Bower to you”

Tom rather liked the neorkman, who seemed quiet and efficient He did not ask questions, either, about the ed, but did as he was told As To under lock and key--in a safe to be exact--and he did not think they were in any danger froether too slight regard the powers of those ere opposed to him He did not appreciate the depths to which they would stoop to gain their ends

He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a point further along than when the other an to see success ahead of him, and he was jubilant Whether this made him careless does not matter, but the fact was that he left Bower more to himself, and alone in the experimental shop several times

And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for some time in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in consultation over a new machine, that as he came back to the test room unexpectedly, he saer move hastily away from in front of the safe Moreover, To shut as he approached the building

And then, before he could ask his helper a question, To hastily along the side of the building where his trialset up

”Who's that? Who is thatwith e color, and Tom kneas time to act

The as open, and with one bound the young inventor was out and running after the stranger he had seen departing in such a hurry The man was but a short distance ahead of hi some papers into his pocket

”Here! Come back! Stop!” ordered Tom, but the uns!” reflected Toot to catch that fellow!” and he speeded his pace as he ran after the fellow

CHAPTER X

A BIG SPLASH

There was no question in the uilty of soer, and had no right inside the big fence that surrounded the Swift machine plant Then, too, the very fact that he ran aas suspicious

And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and his proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans had been stolen These he was very anxious to recover if this strange man had them, and so he raced after him with all speed

”Stop! Stop!” called Toer did not heed

The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of hisfroive whatever aid was needed But they were all too far away to give effective chase