62 CHAPTER 13. A CLASH WITH ANDYHampt<strong>on</strong> was a quiet little country town of about five thous<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhabitants,<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> so<strong>on</strong> learned the address of Mr. Bentley, Andy’s uncle, from the hotelclerk.“What business is Mr. Bentley in?” asked <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> he wanted to learn allhe could without inquiring of pers<strong>on</strong>s who might questi<strong>on</strong> his motives.“Oh, he’s retired,” said the clerk. “He lives <strong>on</strong> the interest of his m<strong>on</strong>ey.But of late he’s been erecting some s<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>t of a building <strong>on</strong> his back lot, like a bigshed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> folks are s<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>t of w<strong>on</strong>dering what he’s doing in it. Keeps mighty secretabout it. He’s got a young fellow helping him.”“Has he got red hair?” asked <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, while his heart beat strangely fast.“Who? Mr. Bentley? No. <str<strong>on</strong>g>His</str<strong>on</strong>g> hair’s black.”“I mean the young fellow.”“Oh! his? Yes, his is red. He’s a nephew, <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> some relati<strong>on</strong> to Mr. Bentley.I did hear his name, but I’ve f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>gotten it. S<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>y, <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> Andy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> some such nameas that.”This was near enough f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> they did not want t<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>isk asking any m<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>e questi<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y turned away to go to their rooms, asthe clerk was busy answering inquiries from some other guests. A little later,supper was served, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, having finished, whispered to Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong> to joinhim upstairs as so<strong>on</strong> as he was through.“What are you going to do?” asked the eccentric man.“We’re going out <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> have a look at this new shed by mo<strong>on</strong>light,” decided<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>. “I want to see what it’s like, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>, if possible, I want to get a peep inside.I’ll so<strong>on</strong> be able to tell whether <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> not Andy is using my stolen plans.”“All right. I’m with you. Bless my bill of fare! But we seem to be doing alot of mysterious w<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>k of late.”“Yes,” agreed <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>. “But if you have to bless anything to-night, Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong>,please whisper it. Andy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> some of his friends, may be about the shed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> asso<strong>on</strong> as they hear <strong>on</strong>e of your blessings they’ll know who’s coming.”“Oh, I’ll be careful,” promised Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong>.“Andy will find out, so<strong>on</strong>er <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> later, that we are in town,” went <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>,“but we may be able to learn to-night what we want to know, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> then we cantell how to act.”A little later, as if. they were merely strolling about, Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> headed f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr. Bentley’s place, which was <strong>on</strong> the outskirts of the town.<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a full mo<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> the night was just right f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> the kind of observati<strong>on</strong><str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> wanted to make. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were few pers<strong>on</strong>s abroad, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> the young invent<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>thought he would have no <strong>on</strong>e spying <strong>on</strong> him.<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y located the big house of Andy’s uncle without trouble. Going down aside street, they had a glimpse of a shed, built of new boards, st<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>ing in themiddle of a large lot. About the structure was a new, high wooden fence, butas <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> his friend passed al<strong>on</strong>g it they saw that a gate in it was open.“I’m going in!” whispered <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>.“Will it be safe?” asked Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong>.“I d<strong>on</strong>’t care whether it will be <str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> not. I’ve got to know what Andy is doing.Come <strong>on</strong>! We’ll take a chance!”
63Cautiously they entered the enclosure. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> big shed was dark, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> stoodout c<strong>on</strong>spicuously in the mo<strong>on</strong>light.“<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re doesn’t seem to be any <strong>on</strong>e here,” whispered <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>. “I w<strong>on</strong>der if wecould get a look in the window?”“It’s w<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>th trying, anyhow,” agreed Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong>. “I’m with you, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>.”<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y drew nearer to the shed. Suddenly <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> stepped <strong>on</strong> a stick, whichbroke with a sharp rep<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>t.“Bless my spectacles!” cried Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong>, half aloud.<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was silence f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> a moment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> then a voice cried out:“Who’s there? Hold <strong>on</strong>! D<strong>on</strong>’t come any farther! It’s dangerous!”<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr. Dam<strong>on</strong> stood still, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> from behind the shed stepped AndyFoger <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> a man.“Oh! it’s you, is it, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Swift</str<strong>on</strong>g>?” exclaimed the red-haired bully. “I thoughtyou’d come sneaking around. Come <strong>on</strong>, Jake! We’ll make them wish they’dstayed home!” And Andy made a rush f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>.
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