Part 23 (1/2)
Josephus Baxter held up a large laboratory test tube, in which seethed and bubbled soreen to purple, then to red, and next to a white, ht co inventor, whose latest idea, the plan of fighting fires in skyscrapers fro up all his spare moments
”I'm positive of it,” said Mr Baxter ”I've dabbled in cheet on the track of thedye formulae”
”That certainly is too bad,” declared Tom ”I wish I could help you as much as you have helped me”
”Oh, you have helped iven me a place to work, much better than the laboratory I had in the old fireworks factory of Field and Melling And you have paid me, more than liberally, for what little I have done for you”
”You've done a lot for me,” declared Tom ”If it had not been for your help this chemical compound would not be nearly as satisfactory as it is, nor as cheap toiteht track,” said Mr Baxter ”You would have stumbled on it yourself in a short time, I believe But I will say, Tom Swift, that, between us, we have made a compound that is absolutely fatal to fires Even a se blaze, will stop combustion”
”And that's what I want,” declared Too ahead now, and proceed with the e scale”
”And what do you propose doing with it?” asked Mr Baxter
”I'oes with it to as e cities as I can,” Tom answered ”I'll even manufacture the airshi+ps that are needed to carry the stuff over the tops of blazing skyscrapers, dropping it down I'll supply co plants”
”And I think you'll do a good business,” said the chemist
It was the conclusion of the final tests of an improved chemical mixture, and the reaction that had taken place in the test tube was the end of the experiain on the side of Tom Swift
But when that has been said there remains the fact that it was just the other ith the unfortunate Mr Baxter
Try as he had, he could not succeed in getting the right chemical combination to perfect the dye process imparted to him by his late French friend With the disappearance of the secret forood luck of Josephus Baxter
He had worked hard, taking advantage of To back to his redients, so that per would be evolved But it was all in vain
”I knoho have those forain
”It is those scoundrels, Field and Melling And they are planning to build up their own dye business hat is h To it
As the young inventor had said, he was now ready to put his own latest invention on the market After many tests, aided in souisher had been made that was superior to any known, and much cheaper to manufacture Veteran members of fire departments in and about Shopton told Tom so All that remained was to dee scale as it was on a sreed, must, of necessity, add it to their equipive orders to start the works going,” said Toredients on hand now, and all that remains is to combine the device”
”And I wish you all sorts of luck,” said Mr Baxter ”Now I aht of a possible neay of co two of the chemicals I need to use It may be I shall have success”
”I hope so,” iant, entered, with a letter in his hand The big itation, and Tom was at once apprehensive about Eradicate
”Is Rad--has anything happened--shall I get the doctor?”
”Oh, Rad, hiht,” answered Koku ”That is him not see yet, but mebby soon Only I have to chase boy, an' he iant held out the envelope
”Oh!” exclaier boys frequently caht in poking fun at Koku on account of his size, which hted to have hi like this had evidently just taken place, accounting for Koku's agitation
”This is for you, Mr Baxter, not for me,” said Tom, as he read the name on the envelope
”Fortofirlimpse of the superscription in the upper left hand corner