Tom Swift and His Sky Racer or The Quickest Flight on ... - Fourmilab

Chapter 4Anxious DaysPeering on all sides as he dashed along the gravel walk, hoping to catch a glimpseof the unknown intruder in the garden <strong>or</strong> shrubbery, <strong>Tom</strong> sprinted on at topspeed. Now <strong>and</strong> then he paused to listen, but no sound came to him to tell ofsome one in retreat bef<strong>or</strong>e him. <strong>The</strong>re was only silence.“Mighty queer,” mused the youth. “Whoever it was, he couldn’t have hadm<strong>or</strong>e than a minute start of me—no, not even half a minute—<strong>and</strong> yet they’vedisappeared as completely as though the ground had opened <strong>and</strong> let them down;<strong>and</strong> the w<strong>or</strong>st of it is, that they’ve taken my plans with them!”He turned about <strong>and</strong> retraced his steps, making a careful search. He saw noone, until, turning a c<strong>or</strong>ner, a little later, he met Eradicate Sampson.“You haven’t seen any strangers around here just now, have you, Rad?”asked <strong>Tom</strong> anxiously.“No, indeedy, I hasn’t, Massa <strong>Tom</strong>. What fo’ kind ob a stranger was him?”“That’s just what I don’t know. Rad. But some one sneaked into the libraryjust now <strong>and</strong> took some of my plans while my father dozed off. I jumped outafter him as soon as I could, but he has disappeared.”“Maybe it were th’ man who done stowed hisself away on yo’ airship, detime yo’ all went after de diamonds,” suggested the col<strong>or</strong>ed man.“No, it couldn’t have been him. If it was anybody, it was Andy Foger, <strong>or</strong>some of his crowd. You didn’t see Andy, did you, Rad?”“No, indeedy; but if I do, I suah will turn mah mule, Boomerang, loose onhim, an’ he won’t take any mo’ plans—not right off, Massa <strong>Tom</strong>.”“No, I guess not. Well, I must get back to dad, <strong>or</strong> he’ll w<strong>or</strong>ry. Keep youreyes open, Rad, <strong>and</strong> if you see Andy Foger, <strong>or</strong> any one else, around here, let meknow. Just sing out f<strong>or</strong> all you’re w<strong>or</strong>th.”“Shall I call out, Massa <strong>Tom</strong>, ef I sees dat blessin’ man?”“You mean Mr. Damon?”“Dat’s de one. De gen’man what’s allers a-blessin’ ob hisself <strong>or</strong> his shoelaces,<strong>or</strong> suffin laik dat. Shall I sing out ef I sees him?”“Well, no; not exactly, Rad. Just show Mr. Damon up to the house. I’d beglad to see him again, though I don’t fancy he’ll call. He’s off on a little trip,19