Part 6 (1/2)
”Tough luck,” Bud greeted him. ”We heard the getaway car.”
Tom nodded gloomily. ”Apparently our little pal had a friend waiting for him- with transportation.” He reported the conversation which he had overheard in the woods.
”Someone's sure out to make trouble for you Swifts,” Bud said worriedly to Tom and his father.
Mr. Swift nodded, frowning. ”And so far, no clues to his-or their-ident.i.ty.” To Tom he 56 .
added, ”The car's ten years old. Not much loss. No license plates and no serial numbers, either. We checked, but they've been filed off, so these men must have been planning an accident like this for some time. I've radioed the police, by the way.”
Mrs. Spring, who had been trying to remain calm, now said with a tremble in her voice, ”Oh, dear, I knew we should have stayed home.”
At that moment everyone's attention was diverted by the siren of the approaching police car. A moment later it pulled up behind them with a screech of brakes. Four officers piled out.
”Mr. Swift?”
”Right here,” said the scientist. ”But there's no use searching for the car owner here. He just got away with the aid of a confederate.”
Tom gave the sergeant in charge a meager description of the getaway car, remarking that he thought from the sound of the motor it was a two-year-old Renser. Meanwhile, another officer was radioing word to additional scout cars, as well as to the state police.
”We'll have all roads blocked,” the sergeant said. ”With luck, we may still pick those men up. We'll have the wrecked car towed off and keep it for evidence.”
Fortunately, in spite of a crumpled front end, leaking radiator and no lights, Bud's convertible was still in operating condition.
”It'll get us to Enterprises, if the police will let me follow you, Tom,” he said.
After getting ANt.i.t RUTH SERUM 57.
the sergeant's permission, he cried, ”Let's go!”
In a few minutes they arrived at the experimental station and drove to the airstrip where a helicopter was warmed up and waiting.
”Now don't worry,” Ted soothed his mother. ”You're doing the right thing.”
”All right, Teddy.” She sighed, giving him a kiss on the cheek. ”But do take care of yourself.”
”And I'll take care of Mom!” Ray promised.
”That's the spirit!” Tom said, as the youngster shook hands with everyone.
The two pa.s.sengers were helped aboard the helicopter-Ray filled with excitement at his first whirlybird flight. Moments later, the craft soared aloft and disappeared northward into the night sky.
”Guess I'll have to leave my car here overnight till I get that radiator fixed,”
Bud remarked. ”She's leaking fast.”
”Stick around and keep me company,” Ted invited. ”Tom has a.s.signed me to one of the guest suites reserved for VIP's.”
These were rooms on an upper floor of the Enterprises main building, set aside for the use of government officials and distinguished scientists who often visited the experimental station.
”I'll accept.” Bud grinned.
”It might be a good idea to have Doc Simpson check you boys and put something on Ted's forehead. You really have a goose egg there,” Mr. Swift said.
Tom and his father took the boys to the plant 58 .
infirmary in the sports car and went inside with them. As Doc Simpson, the Enterprises young physician, made his examinations, he listened to their account of the night's adventure and their suspicion that Hamps.h.i.+re might be the instigator of the accident.
”In case there's any danger that one of you might fall into the hands of this fellow Hamps.h.i.+re or whoever's behind this rough stuff,” Doc said, ”it might be wise to take precautions.”
”Do you have something special in mind?” Mr. Swift asked.
”Yes. As you know, there are certain drugs which can be given to make a person talk, even against his will,” Doc Simpson began. ”We call them truth serums. Now, if Hamps.h.i.+re or someone else did capture one of you, he might administer such a drug to force you to reveal your secret plans.”
”That's so,” agreed Mr. Swift thoughtfully. ”If they learned the details of Tom's s.p.a.ce projects, it could even endanger our national security.”
”All the more reason to take no chances,” Doc urged. ”I've been developing a serum to counteract such 'truth' drugs. If you like, I could give you all a shot of it right now.”
”An ant.i.truth serum?” said Tom. ”Dad, I think that's a good suggestion.”
Mr. Swift agreed, as did Bud and Ted, so all four bared their arms. A nurse swabbed their skin with alcohol, and Doc Simpson then admin- ANt.i.tRUTH SERUM 59.
istered the serum to each one by hypodermic needle.
”Boy, we didn't know what we were getting into.” Bud grinned as he rolled down his s.h.i.+rt sleeve. ”Next time, I'll keep my b.u.mps to myself!”
Tom chuckled. ”Remember, it's all in the cause of science!”
After exchanging good-nights, Bud and Ted retired to the Enterprises guest room, while Tom and his father drove home. Reaching it, the Swifts retired at once. Tom fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.
It seemed only minutes later when the young inventor was awakened by the loud ringing of his bedside telephone. Tom groped sleepily for the instrument and glanced at the radium dial of his wrist watch.
”Twenty past midnight!” he groaned inwardly. ”h.e.l.lo-Tom Swift Jr. speaking.”
A man's m.u.f.fled voice spoke. ”Don't think you've fooled us, Swift. The Springs ain't safe-* or you and your family either!”
”Who is this?” Tom snapped, now thoroughly awake. He was trying to figure out if the speaker was one of the men he had overheard in the woods.
But the receiver had already clicked at the other end of the line. Realizing there was little chance of tracing the call, Tom hung up. He lay awake for nearly an hour, mulling over the 60 .
threat. There was no question now but that he as well as Ted had become involved in some mysterious plot.
”But what exactly is the reason?” he kept asking himself. ”The publication of the Journal? There must be more to it than that.”
Next morning he reported the matter at once to the security department. ”I don't like this,” said Ames. ”For Pete's sake, Tom, watch your step.”