第8章

"That may be the reason they are following me so closely.They may want to know just when we will fail, and have to give up the contract, and they may think they can step in and finish the work.But I don't believe, without your help, Tom Swift, that they can blast that hard rock, and--""Well, I'll say this," interrupted Tom, "first come, first served with me, other things being equal.You have applied to me and, like a lawyer, I won't go over to the other side now.I consider myself retained by your firm, Mr.Titus, to invent some sort of explosive, and if I am successful I shall expect to be paid.""Oh, of course!" cried the contractor eagerly."Very good," Tom went on."You needn't fear that I'll help the other fellows.Now to get down to business.I must see some samples of this rock in order to know what kind of explosive force is needed to rend it.""I have some in New York," went on the contractor."I'll have it sent to you at once.I would have brought it, only it is too heavy to carry easily, and I was not sure I could engage you.""Did that fellow--Waddington, I believe you called him-- get away from you?" asked Mr.Damon."Clean away," the contractor answered."He was a better runner than I.""It doesn't matter much," Tom said."He didn't hear anything that would benefit him, and I'll give my men orders to be on the lookout for him.What sort of fellow is he, Mr.Titus?"The contractor described the eavesdropper, and Mr.Damon exclaimed: "Bless my turkey wish-bone! I'm sure I passed that chap when I wasriding over to see you a while ago, Tom." "You did?""Yes, on the highway.He inquired the way to your place.But there was nothing strange in that, since you employ a number of men, and Ithought this one was coming to look for work.I can't say I liked his appearance, though.""No, he isn't a very prepossessing individual," commented Mr.Titus."Well, now what's the first thing to be done, Tom Swift?""Get me some samples of the rock, so I can begin my experiments." "I'll do that.And now let us consider about going to Peru.For I'm sureyou will be successful in your experiments, and will find for us just the powder or explosive we need.""We can go together." said Mr.Damon."I shall certainly feel more at home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift is with me, and I will appreciate the help of you and your friends, Mr.Titus, in straightening out the tangles of our drug business.""I'll do all I can for you, Mr.Damon."

The three then talked at some length regarding possible plans.Tom sent out word to one of his men to keep a sharp watch around the house and grounds, against the possible return of Waddington, but nothing more was seen of him, at least for the time being.

Mr.Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom, binding his firm to pay a large sum in case the young inventor was successful, and then the contractor left, promising to have the rock samples come on later by express.

Mr.Damon, after blessing a few dozen more or less impersonal objects, took his departure, his fractious horse having quieted down in the meanwhile, and Tom was left to himself.

"I wonder what I've let myself in for now," the youth mused, as he went back to his laboratory."It's a new field for me--tunnel blasting.Well, perhaps something may come of it."But of the strange adventure that was to follow his agreement to help Mr.Titus, our hero, Tom Swift, had not the least inkling.

Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem, but he could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, and, tossing aside the papers, covered with intricate figures, he exclaimed:

"Oh, I'm going for a walk! This thing is getting on my nerves."He strolled through the Shopton streets, and as he reached the outskirtsof the town, he saw just ahead of him the figure of a girl.Tom quickened his pace, and presently was beside her.

"Where are you going, Mary?" he asked.

"Oh, Tom! How you startled me!" she exclaimed, turning around."I was just thinking of you.""Thanks! Something nice?"

"I shan't tell you!" and she blushed."But where are you going?" "Walking with you!"Tom was nothing if not bold.

"Hadn't you better wait until you're asked?" she retorted, mischievously.

"If I did I might not get an invitation.So I'm going to invite myself, and then I'm going to invite you in here to have an ice cream soda," and he and Miss Nestor were soon seated at a table in a candy shop.

Tom had nearly finished his ice cream when he glanced toward the door, and started at the sight of a man who was entering the place.

"What's the matter?" asked Mary."Did you drop some ice cream, Tom?""No, Mary.But that man--"

Mary turned in time to see an excited man hurry out of the candy shop after a hasty glance at Tom Swift.

"Who was he?" the girl asked.

"I--er--oh, some one I thought I knew, but I guess I don't," said Tom, quickly."Have some more cream, Mary?""No, thank you.Not now."

Tom was glad she did not care for any, as he was anxious to get outside, and have a look at the man, for he thought he had recognized the face as the same that had peered in his window.But when he and Miss Nestor reached the front of the shop the strange man was not in sight.

"I guess he came in to cool off after his run," mused Tom, "but when he saw me he didn't care about it.I wonder if that was Waddington? He's a persistent individual if it was he.""Are you undertaking any new adventures, Tom?" asked Mary."Well, I'm thinking of going to Peru.""Peru!" she cried."Oh, what a long way to go! And when you get there will you write to me? I'm collecting stamps, and I haven't any from Peru.""Is that--er--the only reason you want me to write?" asked Tom."No," said Mary softly, as she ran up the walk.

Tom smiled as he turned away.

Three days later he received a box from New York.It contained the samples from the Andes tunnel, and Tom at once began his experiments to discover a suitable explosive for rending the hard stone.

"It is compressed molten lava," said Mr.Swift."You'll never get an explosive that will successfully blast that, Tom.""We'll see," declared the young inventor.