CHAPTER V.
MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED
Stuffing the money which he intended to give to Mr. Damon in hispocket, Tom ran downstairs. As he passed through the living-room,intending to see what the disturbance was about, and, if necessary,aid his father, the owner of the broken motor-cycle exclaimed:
"What's the matter? What has happened? Bless my coat-tails, but isanything wrong?"
"I don't know," answered Tom. "There is a stranger about the shop,and my father never allows that. I'll be back in a minute."
"Take your time," advised the somewhat eccentric Mr. Damon. "I findmy legs are a bit weaker than I suspected, and I will be glad torest a while longer. Bless my shoelaces, but don't hurry!"
Tom went into the rear yard, where the shops, in a small cluster ofbuildings, were located. He saw his father confronting the man withthe black mustache, and Mr. Swift was saying:
"What do you want? I allow no people to come in here unless I or myson invites them. Did you wish to see me?"
"Are you Mr. Barton Swift?" asked the man.
"Yes, that is my name."
"The inventor of the Swift safety lamp, and the turbine motor?"
At the mention of the motor Mr. Swift started.
"I am the inventor of the safety lamp you mention," he said stiffly,"but I must decline to talk about the motor. May I ask where youobtained your information concerning it?"
"Why, I am not at liberty to tell," went on the man. "I called tosee if we could negotiate with you for the sale of it. Parties whomI represent--"
At that moment Tom plucked his father by the sleeve.
"Dad," whispered the youth, "I saw him in Mansburg. I think he isone of several who have been inquiring in Mr. Merton's shop aboutyou and your patents. I wouldn't have anything to do with him untilI found out more about him."
"Is that so?" asked Mr. Swift quickly. Then, turning to thestranger, he said: "My son tells me--"
But Mr. Swift got no further, for at that moment the stranger caughtsight of Tom, whom he had not noticed before.
"Ha!" exclaimed the man. "I have forgotten something--an importantengagement--will be back directly--will see you again, Mr. Swift--excusethe trouble I have put you to--I am in a great hurry," and beforefather or son could stop him, had they any desire to, the manturned and walked quickly from the yard.
Mr. Swift stood staring at him, and so did Tom. Then the inventorasked:
"Do you know that man? What about him, Tom? Why did he leave sohurriedly?"
"I don't know his name," replied Tom, "but I am suspicious regardinghim, and I think he left because he suddenly recognized me."Thereupon he told his father of seeing the man in the post-office,and hearing the talk of the same individual and two companions inthe restaurant.
"And so you think they are up to some mischief, Tom?" asked theparent when the son had finished.
"Well, I wouldn't go quite as far as that, but I think they areinterested in your patents, and you ought to know whether you wantthem to be, or not."
"I most certainly do not--especially in the turbine motor. That ismy latest invention, and, I think, will prove very valuable. But,though I have not mentioned it before, I expect to have trouble withit. Soon after I perfected it, with the exception of some minordetails, I received word from a syndicate of rich men that I wasinfringing on a motor, the patent of which they controlled."
"This surprised me for two reasons. One was because I did not knowthat any one knew I had invented the motor. I had kept the mattersecret, and I am at a loss to know how it leaked out. To prevent anyfurther information concerning my plans becoming public, I sent youto Mansburg to-day. But it seems that the precaution was of littleavail. Another matter of surprise was the information that I wasinfringing on the patent of some one else. I had a very carefulexamination made, and I found that the syndicate of rich men waswrong. I was not infringing. In fact, though the motor they have issomewhat like mine, there is one big difference--theirs does notwork, while mine does. Their patents are worthless."
"Then what do you think is their object?"
"I think they want to get control of my invention of the turbinemotor, Tom. That is what has been worrying me lately. I know thesemen to be unscrupulous, and, with plenty of money, they may maketrouble for me."
"But can't you fight them in the courts?"
"Yes, I could do that. It is not as if I was a poor man, but I donot like lawsuits. I want to live quietly and invent things. Idislike litigation. However, if they force it on me I will fight!"exclaimed Mr. Swift determinedly.
"Do you think this man was one of the crowd of financiers?" askedTom.
"It would be hard to say. I did not like his actions, and the factthat he sneaked in here, as if he was trying to get possession ofsome of my models or plans, makes it suspicious."
"It certainly does," agreed Tom. "Now, if we only knew his name wecould--"
He suddenly paused in his remark and sprang forward. He picked up anenvelope that had dropped where the stranger had been standing.
"The man lost this from his pocket, dad," said Tom eagerly. "It's atelegram. Shall we look at it?"
"I think we will be justified in protecting ourselves. Is theenvelope open?"
"Yes."
"Then read the telegram."
Tom drew out a folded yellow slip of paper. It was a short message.He read:
"'Anson Morse, Mansburg. See Swift to-day. Make offer. If notaccepted do the best you can. Spare no effort. Don't give plansaway.'"
"Is that all?" asked Mr. Swift.
"All except the signature."
"Who is the telegram signed by?"
"By Smeak & Katch," answered Tom.
"Those rascally lawyers!" exclaimed his father. "I was beginning tosuspect this. That is the firm which represents the syndicate ofwealthy men who are trying to get my turbine motor patents away fromme. Tom, we must be on our guard! They will wage a fierce fightagainst me, for they have sunk many thousands of dollars in aworthless machine, and are desperate."
"We'll fight 'em!" cried Tom. "You and I, dad! We'll show 'em thatthe firm of Swift & Son is swift by name and swift by nature!"
"Good!" exclaimed the inventor. "I'm glad you feel that way aboutit, Tom. But we are going to have no easy task. Those men are richand unscrupulous. We shall have to be on guard constantly. Let mehave that telegram. It may come in useful. Now I must send word toReid & Crawford, my attorneys in Washington, to be on the lookout.Matters are coming to a curious pass."
As Mr. Swift and his son started for the house, they met Mr. Damoncoming toward them.
"Bless my very existence!" cried the eccentric man. "I was beginningto fear something had happened to you. I am glad that you are allright. I heard voices, and I imagined--"
"It's all right," Mr. Swift reassured him. "There was a strangerabout my shop, and I never allow that. Do you feel well enough togo? If not we shall be glad to have you remain with us. We haveplenty of room."
"Oh, thank you very much, but I must be going. I feel much better.Bless my gaiters, but I never will trust myself in even anautomobile again! I will renounce gasolene from now on."
"That reminds me," spoke Tom. "I have the money for the motor-cycle,"and he drew out the bills. "You are sure you will not regret yourbargain, Mr. Damon? The machine is new, and needs only slightrepairs. Fifty dollars is--"
"Tut, tut, young man! I feel as if I was getting the best of you.Bless my handkerchief! I hope you have no bad luck with it."
"I'll try and be careful," promised Tom with a smile as he handedover the money. "I am going to gear it differently and put someimprovements on it. Then I will use it instead of my bicycle."
"It would have to be very much improved before I trusted myself onit again," declared Mr. Damon. "Well, I appreciate what you havedone for me, and if at any time I can reciprocate the favor, I willonly be too glad to do so. Bless my soul, though, I hope I don'thave to rescue you from trying to climb a tree," and with a laugh,which showed tha
t he had fully recovered from his mishap, he shookhands with father and son and left.
"A very nice man, Tom," commented Mr. Swift. "Somewhat odd and outof the ordinary, but a very fine character, for all that."
"That's what I say," added the son. "Now, dad, you'll see mescooting around the country on a motor-cycle. I've always wantedone, and now I have a bargain."
"Do you think you can repair it?"
"Of course, dad. I've done more difficult things than that. I'mgoing to take it apart now, and see what it needs."
"Before you do that, Tom, I wish you would take a telegram to townfor me. I must wire my lawyers at once."
"Dad looks worried," thought Tom as he wheeled the broken motor-cycleinto a machine shop, where he did most of his work. "Well, I don'tblame him. But we'll get the best of those scoundrels yet!"
Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle; Or, Fun and Adventures on the Road Page 5