Part 25 (1/2)
”They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not,” said Tom positively ”There are the auto tracks It rained two days ago, and the tracks were made since Mr Nestor must have been here within two days”
”He may or may not,” said Jackson ”Say, rather, that some one was here and left his wallet after him Now see if we can find other clews!”
They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could discover nothingin the shack and at some recent date--probably within a day or two
They had had their meals there and had slept there But this seemed to be all that could be established, other than that Mr Nestor's wallet was there, stripped of its contents
Tohtened chip as he opened the door There were the remains of some food, which accounted for the presence of the little striped animal And, as To wrapped in paper on an upper shelf It was so that clinked metallicly
”What's that?” asked Jackson ”Knives, or some other weapons?”
”Neither,” answered Tom ”It's a couple of files, and they've been used lately I can see sorooves yet and--”
Suddenly To and drew froh this he looked at one of the files, taking it out in front of the shack where the light was better
”I thought so!” he cried ”Look here, Jackson!”
”What is it?”
”Another clew!” answered Tom
CHAPTER XXIII
THE GOVERNMENT TEST
For a ht Tom had discovered a clew to, or evidences of, some crime He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an instant, that there was blood on the files, and that it ht prove to be the blood of Mr Nestor
But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to indicate such dire possibilities as these
”What is it?” asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tolass ”What do you see?”
”Metal filings on the grooves of these files,” said the young inventor
”And, unless I's are from the case of my aircraft silencer!”
”What!” cried thethe outer case of your new o?”
”That's what I think,” answered Tom ”I know it sounds pretty far-fetched,” he went on ”But take a look for yourself If those particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and texture as the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll never build another lass et the best light possible on the subject of his exalow in the western sky for his purpose
”Aht!” declared his helper ”This is exactly the same metal as that of which your silencer case is made It's a peculiar mixture of aluminum and vanadium steel I never knew it used in any shop but yours, and these filings are certainly of that metal It would seem, Tom, that these were the files used to cut a crease in the case of your silencer to weaken it so it would burst”
”My idea exactly!” cried Toot into my shop in some undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to hide He left his files behind Mr Nestor must have been here, either before or after No, I'll not say that, either Finding his wallet here doesn't prove that he was here It ht here by one of the spies and dropped But I'edof the ree with you,” said Jackson ”Of course there's a possibility that the same peculiar metal you used in your silencer case may have been used in some other machine shop, and these files may have coular work But the chances are--”