第50章

"I don't believe I'll go in any more aeroplane races right away," answered the young inventor."For some time I've been wanting to complete and perfect my electric rifle.I think I'll begin work on that soon.""And go hunting?" asked Mr.Damon.

"I think so," answered Tom, dreamily."I don't know just where, though."Where he went, and what he shot, will be told in the next volume of this series, to be called: "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle; or, Daring Adventures in Elephant Land."For a few moments after Tom's announcement no one spoke, then the young inventor said:

"It's too bad that first set of plans were stolen.If I had them I could make a good deal with the Government about my little aeroplane.But they don't want to take up with it as long as there is a chance of some foreign nation getting information about the secret parts, and my patents won't hold abroad.I wonder if there is any way of getting those plans away from Andy Foger? I don't understand why he hasn't used them before this.Ithought sure he would make a craft like the Humming-Bird to race against me.""What plans are those?" asked Mr.Swift.

"Why, don't you remember?" asked Tom."The ones I showed you one day, in the library, when you fell asleep, and some one slipped in and stole them."A curious look came over Mr.Swift's face.He passed his hand across his brow.

"I am beginning to remember something I have been trying to recall ever since I became ill," he said slowly."It is coming back to me.Those plans--in the library--I fell asleep, but before I did so I hid those plans, Tom!""You hid those plans!" Tom fairly shouted the words.

"Yes, I remember feeling a drowsy feeling coming on, and I feared lest some one might see the drawings.I got up and put them under the window, in a little, hollow place in the foundation wall.Then I came back in through the window again, and went to sleep.Then, on account of my illness, just as I once before forgot something, and thought the minister had called, I lost all recollection of them.I hid those plans."Tom leaped to his feet.He rushed to the place named by his father.Soon his triumphant shout told of his success.He came hurrying back into the house with a roll of papers in his hands.

And there were the long-missing plans! damp and stained by the weather, but all there.No enemy had them, and Tom's secret was safe.

"Now I can accept the Government offer!" he cried.And a few weeks later he made a most advantageous deal with the United States officials for his patents.

Dr.Gladby explained that Mr.Swift's queer action was due to his illness.He became liable to lapses of memory, and one happened just after he hid away the plans.Even the hiding of them was caused by the peculiar condition of his brain.He had opened the library window, slipped oat with the papers, and hastened in again, to fall asleep in his chair, during the short time Tom was gone.

"And Andy Foger never took them at all," remarked Mary Nestor,when Tom was telling her about it a few days afterward.

"No.I guess I must apologize to him." Which Tom did, but Andy did not receive it very graciously, especially as Tom accused him of trying to destroy the Humming-Bird.

Andy denied this and denied having anything to do with the mysterious fire, and, as there was no way to prove him guilty, Tom could not proceed against him.So the matter was dropped.

Mr.Swift continued to improve, and was soon himself again, and able to resume his inventive work.Tom received several offers to give exhibition flights at big aero meets, but refused, as he was busy on his new rifle.Mr.Damon helped him.

Andy Foger made several successful flights in his queer aeroplane, which turned out to be the product of a German genius who was supplied with money by Mr.Foger.Andy became very proud, and boasted that he and the German were going abroad to give flights in Europe.

"I'd be glad if he would," said Tom, when he heard of the plan."He wouldn't bother me then."With the money received from winning the big race, and from his contracts from the Government, Tom Swift was now in a fair way to become quite wealthy.He was destined to have many more adventures; yet, come what might, never would he forget the thrilling happenings that fell to his lot while flying for the ten-thousand dollar prize in his sky racer.