第22章

"You still think they took your dye formulae?'~ asked Tom.

"I'm positive of it, but I can't prove anything.They threatened to get the best of me when I would not sell them, for a ridiculously low sum, an interest in the secrets.And I believe they did get the best of me during that fire.""I believe the same!" exclaimed Tom.

"How is that? What do you know? Can you help me prove anything against them?" eagerly 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 gleamed as helistened to this recital.

"So that was their game!" he cried, as he smote the table with his fist, thereby nearly upsetting a test tube of acid, which Tom caught just in time."I knew something crooked was going on, and they thought I'd be so badly overcome in the fire that I wouldn't know, or wouldn't remember, what happened.""What did happen?" asked Tom."All I know is that you were overcome in the laboratory room.""It's too long a story to tell in detail now," said Mr.Baxter."But the main facts are that through misrepresentations I was induced to associate myself with Field and Melling.They had a good factory for the making of fireworks, and some of the chemicals used in that industry also enter into the manufacture of the kind of dyes I have in mind to make.So I associated myself with them, they agreeing to let me use their laboratory.

"One night they came to see me as I was working there over my formulae.They pretended to have discovered something in an expired patent that nullified what I had.I did not believe this to be so, and I brought out my formulae to compare with theirs-- or what they said theyhad.The next thing I remember was that the fire broke out and my formulae disappeared.Then I was overcome, and I did not care what happened to me, for, having lost the valuable dye formulae, I did not think life worth living.

"Perhaps I was foolish," said Mr.Baxter, "but I had tried so many things and failed, and I counted so much on these formulae that it seemed as if the bottom dropped out of everything when I lost them.""I know," said Tom sympathetically."I've been in the same boat myself.But are you sure they took the papers which meant so much to you?""I don't see who else could," answered the chemist."The papers were in a tin box on the table in the room where I was overcome by fire gases, or where, perhaps, they drugged me.I am not clear on this point.And afterward the tin box could not be found.There wasn't enough fire in that room to have melted it.""No," agreed Tom, "it was mostly smoke in there, and smoke won't melt tin.Nor did I see any box on the table when we carried you out.""Then the only other surmise is that Field and Melling got away with my formulae during the excitement and when I was half unconscious," Went on Mr.Baxter bitterly."But you can see how foolish I would be to accuse them in court.I haven't a bit of proof.""Not much, for a fact," agreed Tom."Well, with what I heard and what you tell me, perhaps we can work up a case against them later.I'll go over it with Ned.He has a better head for business than I.""Yes, we inventors need some business brains; or at least the time to give to business problems," agreed the chemist."But enough of my troubles.Let's get at this chemical compound of yours."Tom and Mr.Baxter spent many days and nights perfecting the fire- extinguisher chemical, and, after repeated tests, Tom felt that he was nearer his goal.

One afternoon Ned called, and Tom invited him to go for a ride in a small but speedy aeroplane.

"Anything special on?" asked the young manager.

"In a way, yes," Tom answered."I'm having a firm in Newmarketmake me some different containers, and they have promised me samples today.I thought I'd take a fly over and get them.I have the chemical compound all but perfected now, and I want to give it another test.""All right, I'm with you," assented Ned."Newmarket," he added musingly."Isn't that where Field and Melling are now?""Yes.They have a factory on the outskirts of the place, and their offices are in the Landmark Building.But we aren't going to see them, though we may call on them later, when you have that case better worked up." For Ned's services had been enlisted to aid Mr.Baxter.

"I shall need a little more time," remarked Ned."But I think we can at least bluff them into playing into our hands.I have a report to hear from a private detective I have hired.""I hope we can do something to aid Baxter," remarked Tom."He has done me good service in this chemical fire extinguisher matter."A little later Tom and Ned were speeding through the air on their way to Newmarket.The rapid flier was making good time at not a great height when Ned, leaning forward, appeared to be gazing at something in the near distance.

"What's the matter?" asked Tom, for he had his silencer on this craft and it was possible for the occupants to converse."Do you hear one of the cylinders missing, Ned?""No.But what's that smoke down there?" and Ned pointed."It looks like a fire!""It is a fire!" exclaimed Tom, as he took an observation."Not a big one, but a fire, just the same.If only--"He did not finish what he started to say, but changed the direction of his air craft and headed directly toward a pall of smoke about a mile away.

In a few seconds they were near enough to make out the character of the blaze.

"Look, Tom!" cried Ned."It's an immense tree on fire!""A tree!" exclaimed Tom, half incredulously, for he was leaning forward to look at one of the aeroplane gages and did not have a clear view of what Ned was looking at.

"Yes, as sure as Mr.Damon would bless something if he were here! It'sa tree on fire up near the top!"

"That's strange!" murmured Tom."But it may give me just the chance I've been looking for."Ned wondered at this remark on the part of his chum as the airship drew nearer the blazing monarch in the patch of woods over which they were then hovering.