Part 15 (1/2)

”I'll start the propellers now, Mr Damon,” said Tom, when the trouble had been remedied ”You kno to throw the switch, don't you?”

”I guess so,” was the answer Mr Daasoline craft that the young inventor had taught his friend certain fundaency the eccentriccharge of the controls which could be operated from his seat as well as from Tom's Tom whirled the propellers, and soon thewooden blades were revolving, slowed down the apparatus until Toe and soon speeded up the reen ht of the moon, seemed to drop away below theht, both Tom and Mr Damon wondered who it was that had called for help, and if the matter were at all serious They were inclined to think it was not, but Toht have been trouble

However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove everything else frouided the comparatively silenthow he could best iain, safe and sound,” reht the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson and his helpers, ere awaiting the return, hurried out to take charge

”Yes, everything seereed Mr Daht accident we hadto do with the operation of the silencer But I' to do better yet Some day I'll take you for a ride in a silent machine which will make so little noise that you can hear a pin drop”

”Well,” re to falling pins will give reat a”

”Everything all right?” asked Mr Swift, as he came out to hear the details from his son ”Do you think you have solved the problem?”

”Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q E D after it Some refinements are all that are needed, Dad”

”Glad to hear it I was a bit anxious”

Mr Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the trip, asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by so co the exhaust, and for soed in talk which was not at all interesting to Mr Damon They went into the house, and Toert set out for hi inventor, ”but I always feel hungry after I test a new machine and find that it works pretty well

Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr Damon?”

”Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will”

And so they ate and talked To of the queer cry for help they had heard on the lonely ert produced a letter which she said had come for Tom that afternoon, but had been ed to help with the housework

”She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told ert ”So I sent Eradicate for it”

”How long ago was that?” asked Too,” answered Mrs Baggert, with a smile ”But don't blame poor Rad for that He wanted to deliver the letter to you personally, and so did Koku The result was your giant kept after Rad, trying to get the letter fro about for a chance to see you hio, and took the letter otten it, so jealous are those two,” and Mrs Baggert laughed

”Guess it isn't of much importance,” Tom said, as he tore open the envelope ”It's fro Machine Coet me to reconsider my refusal to link up with them”

”Yes,” he went on, as he read the missive, ”that's it They've raised the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they say they feel sure I shall regret it if I do not accept

”This is a bit queer, though,” went on the young inventor ”This letter ritten three days ago, but it reached Shopton only to-day

And it says that unless they hear froreat inconvenience They have nerve, at any rate, and impudence, too! I won't even bother to answer But I wonder what they mean, and why this letter was delayed?”

”The estion caused bytroops to the camps,” said Mr Damon ”Some of my letters are delayed a week But, as you say, Tom, these fellows are very impudent to threaten that way”