Part 13 (2/2)
”Well, you pretty nearly have it,” observed Ned
”Yes But 'good enough' isn't what I want,” Toain I think I knohere I can improve it”
”Well, if I were a fire, and I had this happen toto the heap of blackened eed”
”But not enough,” declared Tom ”I want the fire to be out more quickly than this one was I think I can i to do it”
”All right! Come on down!” he called to his helper, as still perched on the overhanging arm ”We won't do any more today”
”What is your next move?” asked Ned, as Tooing to fiddle around a inventor
”Blessin, exclaimed a voice which could proceed from none other than Mr Damon And he it proved to be
He had driven over from Waterford in his automobile and had arrived just as the fire test was concluded
”Oh, come on in!” called Tolad to see you”
”Poor Rad! How is he?” asked Mr Dae,” was the sad answer of the young inventor, for he felt responsible for the mishap to the colored man ”They can't operate on his eyes yet”
”And when they do will he be able to see?” asked Mr Da,” answered Too in to see him, Mr Damon It will cheer him up”
”I will,” promised the eccentric man ”At any rate I'll not venture near your perfume shop, Tom Swift!”
”And I don't see that I can be of any service,” added Ned, ”so I'ot several new scheht to work”
Tom Sas very busy for the next few days--so busy, in fact, that even Mary saw little of him He was closeted with Mr Baxter more than once, and that individual sees over the loss of his for inventor For he was of service in suggesting neays of coained by his association with the fireworks concern
”And that's about all the benefit I derived fro,” said Mr Baxter gloomily
”You still think they took your dye formulae?” asked To They threatened to get the best of me when I would not sell them, for a ridiculously low suet the best ofthat fire”
”I believe the same!” exclaimed Tom
”How is that? What do you know? Can you help erly asked the chemist
”Well, I don't know,” answered Tom slowly ”I'll tell you what I heard”
Thereupon he related the conversation he had overheard while with Mary at the wayside inn The eyes of Josephus Baxter gleaame!” he cried, as he s a test tube of acid, which To on, and they thought I'd be so badly overcome in the fire that I wouldn't know, or wouldn't remember, what happened”