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

70 CHAPTER 15. A NOISE IN THE NIGHT“What will you do to occupy your mind?” asked Mr. Damon.“Oh, I’m going to travel,” announced <strong>Tom</strong>. “<strong>The</strong>n there’s my new electricrifle, which I have not perfected yet. I’ll w<strong>or</strong>k on that after I win the big race.”F<strong>or</strong> several days after the first real trial of his sky racer <strong>Tom</strong> was busy goingover the Humming-Bird, making slight changes here <strong>and</strong> there. He was the s<strong>or</strong>tof a lad who was satisfied with nothing sh<strong>or</strong>t of the best, <strong>and</strong> though neither hisfather n<strong>or</strong> Mr. Jackson could see where there was room f<strong>or</strong> improvement, <strong>Tom</strong>was so exacting that he sat up f<strong>or</strong> several nights to perfect such little detailsas a better grip f<strong>or</strong> the steering-lever, a quicker way of making the automaticequilibriumizer take its position, <strong>or</strong> an improved transmitter f<strong>or</strong> the wirelessapparatus.That was a part of his monoplane of which <strong>Tom</strong> was justly proud, f<strong>or</strong> thoughmany aeroplanes to-day are equipped with the sending device, few can receivewireless messages in mid-air. But <strong>Tom</strong> had seen the advantage of this whilemaking a trip in the ill-fated Red Cloud to the cave of the diamond makers, <strong>and</strong>he determined to have his new craft thus provided against emergencies. <strong>The</strong>wireless outfit of the Humming-Bird was a marvel of compactness.Thus the days passed, with <strong>Tom</strong> very busy; so busy, in fact, that he hardlyhad time to call on Miss Nest<strong>or</strong>. As f<strong>or</strong> Andy Foger, he heard no m<strong>or</strong>e fromhim, <strong>and</strong> the bully was not seen around Shopton. <strong>Tom</strong> concluded that he wasat his uncle’s place, w<strong>or</strong>king on his racing craft.<strong>The</strong> young invent<strong>or</strong> sent a f<strong>or</strong>mal protest to the aviation committee, to beused in the event of Andy entering a craft which infringed on the Humming-Bird, <strong>and</strong> received w<strong>or</strong>d from Mr. Sharp that the interests of the young invent<strong>or</strong>would be protected. This satisfied <strong>Tom</strong>.Still, at times, he could not help wondering how the first plans had so mysteriouslydisappeared, <strong>and</strong> he would have given a good deal to know just howAndy got possession of them, <strong>and</strong> how he knew enough to use them.“He, <strong>or</strong> some one whom he hired, must have gotten into our house mightyquickly that day,” mused <strong>Tom</strong>, “<strong>and</strong> then skipped out while dad fell into a littledoze. It was a mighty queer thing, but it’s lucky it was no w<strong>or</strong>se.”<strong>The</strong> time was approaching f<strong>or</strong> the big aviation meet. <strong>Tom</strong>’s craft was inreadiness, <strong>and</strong> had been given several other trials, developing m<strong>or</strong>e speed eachtime. Additional locks were put on the do<strong>or</strong>s of the shed, <strong>and</strong> m<strong>or</strong>e burglaralarmwires were strung, so that it was almost a physical impossibility to get intothe Humming-Bird’s “nest” without arousing some one in the <strong>Swift</strong> household.“And if they do, I guess we’ll be ready f<strong>or</strong> them,” said <strong>Tom</strong> grimly. He hadbeen unable to find out who it was that had attempted once bef<strong>or</strong>e to damagethe monoplane, but he suspected it was the ill-fav<strong>or</strong>ed man who was w<strong>or</strong>kingwith Andy.As f<strong>or</strong> Mr. <strong>Swift</strong>, at times he seemed quite well, <strong>and</strong> again he required theservices of a physician.“You will have to be very careful of your father, <strong>Tom</strong>,” said Dr. Gladby.“Any sudden shock <strong>or</strong> excitement may aggravate his malady, <strong>and</strong> in that casea serious operation will be necessary.”