Part 9 (2/2)
”They'll help you eat the up in the air or under the ocean, or even catching runaway horses,” by which last she referred to the time Tom saved her life, and first ave a gasp, alht of soat him He said afterward that he would rather have vol-planed back to earth froain face such a battery of sparkling eyes
But our hero soon recovered hi, and, before he knew it he was telling Miss Nestor and her attractive guests soether too much about myself” he said, finally ”How is the new cook Miss Nestor; and have you heard from your father and mother since they sailed on the RESOLUTE for the West Indies?”
”As to the new cook, she is a jewel of the first water,” answered Miss Nestor ”We all like her, and she is anxious for another ride in a taxicab, as she calls your auto”
”She shall have it,” declared Tom, ”for those are the best apple turnovers I ever ate”
”I'll tell her so,” declared Mary ”She'll appreciate it co from an inventor of your ability”
”Have you heard froe the subject
”Oh, yes I had a wire to-day They stopped at St Augustine to let lorious time aboard the yacht Mr
Hosbrook, the owner, is an ideal host,directly to the West Indies, now I do hope they will arrive safely They say there are bad storms down there at this time of year”
”Perhaps, if they are shi+pwrecked, Mr Sill go to their rescue in one of his airshi+ps, or a subirls
”Oh, I hope he doesn't have to!” exclaimed Mary ”Don't speak of shi+pwrecks! It makes me shudder,” and she seemed unduly alarmed
”Of course they won't have any trouble,” asserted Tom, confidently, e he possessed; ”but if they do get cast away on a desert island, I'll certainly go to their rescue,” he added
It was late when Toht, for the society of Miss Nestor and her friends ain, and try some more saotten Mr Fenwick's airshi+p in shape for flying
As, later that night, the young inventor cas and shops surrounding it, his first glance was toward the shed which contained his monoplane, buttERFLY That little craft was To like as much as had his other inventions, either in ti airshi+p, RED CLOUD This was principally because the buttERFLY was so light and airy, and could be gotten ready so quickly for a flight across country It was capable of long endurance, too, for an extra large supply of gasolene and oil was carried aboard
So it ith rather a start of surprise that Toht in the structure where the buttERFLY was housed
”I wonder if dad or Mr Jackson can be out there?” he mused ”Yet, I don't see why they should be They wouldn't be going for a flight at night Or perhaps Mr Da it over”
A moment's reflection, however, told Tom that this last surraphed, saying he would not arrive until the next day
”So to see who it is I hope it isn't Eradicatewith the et it out of order”
Tom increased his pace, and moved swiftly but softly toward the shed If there was an intruder inside he wanted to surprise hie s to the place, and they would give a good view of the interior As Toht within flickered, and moved to and fro
Toht a gli sound Then, as he sprang toward the front door, the light suddenly went out, and the young inventor could hear so froet away,” thought the lad ”I must catch them!”
He fairly leaped toward the portal, and, just as he reached it, a figure sprang out So close was Tom that the unknown collided with him, and our hero went over on his back The other person was tossed back by the force of the impact, but quickly recovered himself, and dashed away
Not before, however, Torin of the young inventor, he recognized, by the dier! If additional evidence was needed Tonized the forer!” shouted the young inventor ”What are you doing in ht have you in there? What did you do?”