第18章

"That's the names they gave me," said the man."Little man's Field.He gave me his card.I'm going to get a job overhauling his car.There isn't enough work here to keep a man busy, and I told 'em I could do a little on the outside.This place just started, and not many folks know about it yet.""So I judge," Tom said."Well, I'll be glad to have you give me a hand.I fancy the carburetor is out of order."And this, when the young inventor and the mechanician from Meadow Inn reached the stranded Scud, was found to be the case.The storm had passed, and Mary told Tom she would not mind waiting at the Inn until he found whether or not he could get his air craft in working order.

"There you are! That's the trouble!" exclaimed the mechanician, as he took something out of the carburetor."A bit of rubber washer choked the needle valve.""Glad you found it," said Tom heartily."Now I guess we can ride back."1

"If their talk meant anything at all," reasoned the young inventor, "it meant that there was some deal in which Josephus Baxter got the worst of it.'Putting it over on him in the fire,' could only mean that.Of course it isn't any of my business, in a way, but I don't think it is right to stand byand see a fellow inventor defrauded.

"Of course," mused Tom, while his helper put the finishing touches to the carburetor, "it may have been a business deal in which one took as many chances as the other.There are always two sides to every story.Baxter says they took his formulae, but he may have taken something from them to make it even.The only thing is that I'd trust Baxter sooner than I would those two fellows, and he certainly had a narrow squeak at the fire.

"But I have my own troubles, I guess, trying to perfect that fire- fighting chemical, and I haven't much time to bother with Field and Melling, unless they come my way.""There, I reckon she'll work," said the mechanician, as he fastened the last valve in the carburetor."It was an easier job than I expected.Wasn't as much trouble as I had over their car those two fellers you were speaking of--Field and Melling.They're rich guys!""Yes?" replied Tom, questioningly.

"Sure! They've started a big dye company.""A dye company?" repeated the young inventor, all his suspicions coming back as he recalled that Baxter had said his formulae were more valuable for dyes than for fireworks.

"Yes, they're trying to get the business that used to go to the Germans before the war," went on the man.

"Yes, the Germans used to have a monopoly of the dye industry," said Tom, hoping the man would talk on.He need not have worried.He was of the talkative type.

"Well, if these fellers have their way they'll make a million in dyes," proceeded the mechanician, as he stepped down out of the airship."They've built a big plant, and they have offices in the Landmark Building.""Where's that?" asked Tom.

"Over in Newmarket," the man went on, naming the nearest large city to Shopton."The Landmark Building is a regular New York skyscraper.Haven't you seen it?""No," Tom answered, "I haven't.Been too busy, I guess.So Field andMelling have their offices there?"

"Yes, and a big plant on the outskirts for making dyes.They half offered me a job at the factory, but I thought I'd try this out first; I like it here.""It is a nice place," agreed Tom."Well, now let's see if she'll work," and he nodded at the Scud.

It needed but a short test to demonstrate this and soon Tom went back to the Inn for Mary.

"Are you sure we shall not have to make an.other forced landing?" she asked with a smile, a she took her place in the cockpit.

"You can't guarantee anything about an aeroplane," said Tom."But everything is in our favor, and if we do have to come down I have a better landing field than this." He glanced over the meadow near the wayside inn.

"I suppose I'll have to take a chance," said Mary.

However, neither of them need have worried, for the Scud tried, evidently, to redeem herself, and flew back to Shopton without a hitch.After making sure that his engine was running smoothly, Tom found his mind more at ease, and again he caught himself casting about to find some basis for his suspicious thoughts regarding the two men who had talked behind the screen.

"What is their game?" Tom found himself asking himself over and over again."What did they 'put over' on poor Baxter?"Tom had a chance to find out more about this, or at least start on the trail sooner than he expected.For when he landed he saw Koku, the giant, coming toward him with an appearance of excitement.

"Is Rad worse? Is there more trouble with his eyes?" asked the young inventor.

"No, him not much too bad," answered Koku."I keep him good as I can.He sleep now, so I come out to swallow some fresh air.But man come to see you--much mad man.""Mad?" queried Tom.

"Well, what you say--angry," went on Koku."Man what was in Roman Skycracker blaze.""Oh, you mean Mr.Baxter, who was in the fireworks blaze," translated Tom."Where is he, and what's the matter?"