Part 26 (1/2)
”One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his will, did he?” asked Tom
”No, I can't say that he did,” was the answers ”They looked toover land, or so like that
They just turned in on the road that leads to the old hunting cabin, as we call it around here, and didn't pay any attention to ot all about them”
”Neither of them could have been Mr Nestor,” decided Tom ”At least it doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a man who had treated hiuess that clew isn't going to amount to much”
”It may!” insisted Jackson ”They may have had Mr Nestor in the car all the while--concealed in the back you know We've got to find out more about these men and their auto, Tom”
”Well, yes, perhaps we have But how?”
”Station so of the private road The men may come back”
”That's so--theyinventor ”We must tell the police and Mr Nestor's folks e have learned How can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?” he asked the farmer
”Well, I can drive you to the railroad station,” was the answer
”Thank you,” reet back we uard over the airshi+p,” he added in an aside to Jackson ”Those file fellows may come back”
”That's so, we can't take any chances”
The farmer soon had his tea supper at the farmhouse, the son drove Tom and Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they could catch a train for Shopton
In due season Tom's home was reached He intended to stop but a ht, and then get out his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her the news
But when Toht his father in the library, he was told that there was a visitor in the house
”Toton He wants to arrange for a governht you were about ready for it”
”A governovernreatly surprised
CHAPTER XXIV
IN THE MOONLIGHT
With a reassuring ston looked at Toovernive theence bureau and secret service has been ed of late But don't be alarmed, Mr Swift,” went on the caller, whose naovernment, but I think the time is ripe to use it now--that is, if you have perfected it to a point where we can use it”
”Yes,” answered Tom slowly, ”the invention is practically finished and it is a success, except for a fewto co to do with the efficiency of the silencer,” Toed by some spy