Part 11 (1/2)
”Yes,” said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with his prisoner ”If, as you say, this ue with Bower, the latter has smelled a rat and skipped He has run away, and I only hope he hasn't done any daot hold of any of your plans”
”We'll soon know about that,” said Tom ”I wonder who is at the bottogested the machinist
”YouMachine Company?”
”Yes”
”Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any suchspies around,” replied Toate”
The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact that Boas gone He had taken his few possessions and left the Swift plant while Toer A hasty exa, as Tom's plans and papers were intact But they showed evidences of having been looked over, for they were out of the regular order in which the young inventor kept thely ”Bower one, and he s of the silent old-toothon him?” he asked, as one of the er ca, Mr Swift! Not a thing!” was the answer ”We took off every bit of his clothes and wrapped hi dry now But there isn't a thing in any of his pockets”
”But I saw hi some papers in as he ran away from me,” said Toet away until I question hiuarding hiet away”
”Then I'll have a look at his clothes,” decided To like this was disclosed, and thein the ht have throay any papers Bower gave him,” said Tom ”Maybe they're at the bottoh But have a search round where this man ran”
This was done, but without result So anything Then Toer, who refused to give his nary He talked loudly about his innocence and of ”having the law on”
Toht, if you want toinventor ”I'll rounds?”
”I was going to ask for work I'et in? Who adate?”
”I--I jest walked in,” said the ers were admitted without a per about Bower, but the latter's flight was evidence enough that soo to the trouble of having the o after his clothes had been dried on a boiler in one of the shops
”Take hiet another dose of the sauards at the plant, and when the latter had reported that this had been done, he added in an earnest tone:
”He went off talking to hiet even with you, Mr
Swift”
”All right,” said To inventor h exae seean to think he had been too quick for the conspirators, if such they were
His plans and drawings were intact, and though Bower old tooth, the latter did not take any aith him That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape with, seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this