第36章

"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice that Mr.Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual.

There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights in the shed.Up to then there had been only a few glowing--just enough for him to show the new Air Scout to his friend.

"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply.

"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr.Damon, "but are you seeing things?""No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh."Did you think you heard some one moving around near the rudders of Silent Sam, Mr.Damon?""No, I can't say that I did.Everything seems to me to be all right." "Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly."I think there is anintruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when the doors have been locked all day, is more than I can figure out.But I'm going to have a look.""I'll help you," offered Mr.Damon, and, in the bright glare from many electric lights, the two began a search of the big hangar where the new craft was kept.

But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the rear of the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw no one, nor did any one try to escape past them.

"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, when a search had revealed nothing."It sounded as if some one were scuffling softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to hide.""Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr.Damon, "who do you think it could have been, Tom?""Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" was the answer."But I guess I was too quick for them.They couldn't learn much from looking at the outside of my muffler, and it hasn't been disturbed, as far as I can see.""Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful way?"asked Mr.Damon.

"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd.They may have been disappointed in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think stealing my idea would be the easiest way out of it.""Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent Sam of yours, Tom?""Yes, I imagine they do.One of the firm members, as you recall, overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to what my plans were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, they haven't any real data to go by, I believe.""Let us hope not," said Mr.Damon.

Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no one, nor was there any trace of an intruder.Tom notified Jackson, who, in turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the lookout for any suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the vicinity of the Swift works.

"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the test," remarked Torn, after a further search of the premises."Now, Mr.Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new machine can do.Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how much you hear."His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried for the first time attached to the new craft.No flight was to be made yet, the motor being tested as though on the block, though, in reality, the craft was ready for instant flight if need be.

Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, taking his place in the cockpit, turned on more power.The new craft--Silent Sam-- was made fast so it could not progress even though the propellers revolved at high speed.

"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as the young inventor throttled down the motor."If I did I'd tear her loose from the holding blocks.""Her!" cried Mr.Damon."Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I thought Silent Sam was a gentleman aeroplane.

"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly."I forgot about 'Silent Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' though the latter soundsmore natural.Anyhow what do you think?"