Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope | Page 9

Swift a few minutes later, turning away from the
telephone with a smile. "Said he'll be tickled to get back in harness."
[Illustration: "He'll Go," Said Mr. Swift]
"Thanks a million, Dad! You've saved the day!"
The following morning the boys hurried out to the Swift private airport
to oversee the fueling of the huge plane Tom had decided to take. At
first he had thought of making the trip in his small two-seated racer,
since it was the fastest craft in the hangar. Realizing, however, that
Captain Britten might want to bring along considerable baggage, the
young inventor had told Ned he felt it best to go in his flying boat.
[Illustration: They Fueled the Huge Plane]
The "Winged Arrow," in which Tom once had made a memorable
rescue flight to Iceland, was equipped now with a retractable landing
gear as well as with pontoons, enabling the craft to descend on both
land and water. Suddenly Tom became very excited as he looked at the
hydroplane.

"Look, Ned!" he cried. "Can you beat that!"
[Illustration: "Look, Ned," Tom Cried]
CHAPTER V
IN PERIL
Upon inspection, it was found that three half-inch holes had been
drilled into each pontoon. It was evident that only an enemy of Tom or
of the Swift Company could have done such a thing.
"Ned, that proves it!" declared the young inventor gloomily.
[Illustration: Three Holes in Each Pontoon]
"Proves what?" Ned asked.
"Can't you see? It all ties in with Mr. Damon's so-called relatives, and
their knowledge of my formula for a bendable glass. Someone in our
shops is a traitor--or worse!"
"But what has a damaged hydroplane to do with that?" objected Ned.
"If we had landed on water with these damaged pontoons, we'd have
drowned most likely," replied Tom. "That would have suited the
villains who want my formula, and no one would have been the wiser
as to what caused the accident."
[Illustration: "We'd Have Been Drowned!"]
"Admitting you're right, the thing's a pretty serious mess," said Ned.
"But of course crooked people will go to long lengths for money, and if
your formula is a good one, it certainly will bring a lot of money to
someone or something."
"And that something is going to be the Swift Company!" declared Tom.
[Illustration: "It's a Pretty Serious Mess."]

"Since we can't take off in the hydroplane today," said Ned, "let's go
back to the office. I suppose it'll require some time to patch up those
holes."
Tom immediately sent for one of his skilled mechanics, a man whom
he knew to be trustworthy. He set the fellow to work welding patches
over the holes. After cautioning his employee to maintain strict silence,
he and Ned drove away.
[Illustration: He Welded Patches Over the Holes]
"Don't say anything to Dad about this," warned Tom as the two left the
field. "It would only worry him and could do no good. You and I must
work out this mess by ourselves."
After dinner that evening Tom went to his private laboratory to check
the thermostat controlling the temperature of the annealing oven in
which his batch of new glass was being slowly cooled. Then he spent
some time at his desk over certain intricate formulas. The room was in
semi-darkness, lighted only by a shaded reading lamp.
[Illustration: Tom Checked the Thermostat]
"Well, that's that," yawned the young inventor at length, locking up his
desk. "Guess I'd better put the valuable disk back in the vault before I
go home," he decided, switching on the ceiling lights and glancing
toward the corner where Koku had placed the telescope.
With a start he saw that his invention was gone!
[Illustration: His Invention Was Gone]
Quickly examining the instrument, he found that the green disk had
been jerked roughly from its clamps by someone who evidently had
been in too great a hurry to bother unscrewing the bolts which had held
it in place.
"Ho!" suddenly boomed a deep voice. Tom became aware of a

commotion outside the laboratory. "You no get 'way fum me! How you
like 'nother knock on top head?"
"Don't hit me again!" whined someone. "I won't try to escape!"
Tom flung open the door and saw his giant servant dragging a man up
the steps. A feeling of tremendous relief swept over young Swift as he
discovered his precious green disk in Koku's left hand.
[Illustration: Koku Was Dragging a Man]
"Ha, Master Tom! Catchum bad mans tryin' to sneak through gate! See
green thing stick out of pocket and grabbum--bringum here. Want me
hittum again?"
"Please don't let him hurt me, Mr. Swift," snivelled the man. "He hit me
an awful blow back there."
[Illustration: "Want Me Hittum Again?"]
"You had it coming to you," retorted Tom sternly. "Besides, you're not
hurt