Part 2 (1/2)

”I guess I've got it all here now,” he said finally. ”I'll skip the first part. You read me most of that, Ned. Just as you told me, it relates how the government agents, having tried in vain to get a clew to the smugglers, came to the conclusion that they must be using airs.h.i.+ps to slip contraband goods over the border at night.”

”Now where's that mention of Shopton? Oh, here it is,” and he read:

”'It is suspected that some of the smugglers have been communicating with confederates in Shopton, New York. This came to the notice of the authorities to-day, when one of the government agents located some of the smuggled goods in a small town in New York on the St.

Lawrence. The name of this town is being kept secret for the present.”

”'It was learned that the goods were found in a small, deserted house, and that among them were letters from someone in Shopton, relating to the disposal of the articles. They refuse to say who the letters were from, but it is believed that some of Uncle Sam's men may shortly make their appearance in the peaceful burg of Shopton, there to follow up the clew. Many thousands of dollars worth of goods have been smuggled, and the United States, as well as the Dominion of Canada custom authorities, say they are determined to put a stop to the daring efforts of the smugglers. The airs.h.i.+p theory is the latest put forth.'”

”Well, say, that's the limit!” cried Ned, as Tom finished reading.

”What do you know about that?”

”It brings it right home to us,” agreed the young inventor. ”But who is there in Shopton who would be in league with the smugglers?”

”That's hard to say.”

”Of course we don't know everyone in town,” went on Tom, ”but I'm pretty well acquainted here, and I don't know of a person who would dare engage in such work.”

”Maybe it's a stranger who came here, and picked out this place because it was so quiet,” suggested Ned.

”That's possible. But where would he operate from?” asked Tom.

”There are few in Shopton who would want to buy smuggled goods.”

”They may only s.h.i.+p them here, and fix them so they can't be recognized by the custom authorities, and then send them away again,” went on Ned. ”This may be a sort of clearing-house for the smugglers.”

”That's so. Well, I don't know as we have anything to do with it.

Only if those fellows are using an airs.h.i.+p I'd like to know what kind it is. Well, come on out to the shop now, and we'll see how the silent motor works.”

On the way Tom pa.s.sed his father, and, telling him not to work too hard in the sun, gave his parent the piece of paper to read, telling about the smugglers.

”Using airs.h.i.+ps! eh?” exclaimed Mr. Swift. ”And they think there's a clew here in Shopton? Well, we'll get celebrated if we keep on, Tom,” he added with a smile.

Tom and Ned spent the rest of the day working over the motor, which was set going, and bore out all Tom claimed for it. It was as silent as a watch.

”Next I want to get it in the airs.h.i.+p, and give it a good test,” Tom remarked, speeding it up, as it was connected on a heavy base in the shop.

”I'll help you,” promised Ned, and for the next few days the chums were kept busy fitting the silent motor into one of Tom's several airs.h.i.+ps.

”Well, I think we can make a flight to-morrow,” said the young inventor, about a week later. ”I need some new bolts though, Ned.

Let's take a walk into town and get them. Oh, by the way, have you seen anything more of Andy Foger?”

”No, and I don't want to. I suppose he's gone back home after his visit to Sam. Let's go down the street, where the Foger house is, and see if there's anything going on.”

As the two lads pa.s.sed the mansion, they saw a man, in the kind of suit usually worn by a carpenter, come out of the back door and stand looking across the garden. In his hand he held a saw.

”Still at the repairs, I guess,” remarked Ned. ”I wonder what--”

”Look there! Look! Quick!” suddenly interrupted Tom, and Ned, looking, saw someone standing behind the carpenter in the door. ”If that isn't Andy Foger, I'll eat my hat!” cried Tom.

”It sure is,” agreed Ned. ”What in the world is he doing there?”