say he in hurry." The giant spoke softly, as though he felt the
gentle rebuke Tom administered. "Koku run quick tell you--bang on door."

"Yes, you banged all right, Koku. Well, it can't be helped, I reckon.
Where is this strange man? Who is he? Did you ever see him before?"

"Me no can tell, Master. Not sure. But him now be at the outer gate.
Eradicate watch."

"All right. I'll go and see who it is. I don't want any strangers
poking around here, especially with the plans of my new gyroscope lying
in plain view."

Before he left the laboratory Tom swept into a desk drawer the mass of
papers and blue prints, and locked the receptacle.

"No use taking any chances," he remarked. "I've had too much trouble
with people trying to get inside information about dad's and my
patents. Now, Koku, I'll go and see this man."

The buildings composing the plant of Tom Swift and his father at
Shopton were enclosed by a high, board fence, and at one of the
entrances was a sort of gate-house, where some one was always on guard.
Only those who could give a good account of themselves, workmen in the
plant, or those known to the sentinel were admitted.

It happened that the colored man, Eradicate, was on guard at the gates
this day when the stranger asked to see Tom. Koku, working on the
airship engine not far away, saw the stranger. Hearing the man say he
was in a hurry and noting the slow progress of the aged Eradicate, who
was troubled with rheumatism, the giant took matters into his own hands.

Tom Swift entered the gate-house and saw, seated in a chair, a man who
was impatiently tapping the floor with his thick-soled shoe.

"Looks like a detective or a policeman in disguise," thought Tom, for,
almost invariably, members of this profession wear very thick-soled
shoes. Opposite the stranger sat Eradicate, a much-injured look on his
honest, black face.

"Oh, Massa Tom!" exclaimed Eradicate, as soon as the young inventor
entered. "Dat Koku he--he--he done gone and cotch me by de collar ob
mah coat, an' den he lif' me up, an' he sot me down so hard--so
hard--dat he jar loose all mah back teef!" and Eradicate opened his
mouth wide to display his gleaming ivories.

"Eradicate, he no can come quick. He walk like so fashion!" and Koku,
who had followed the young inventor, imitated the limping gait of the
colored man with such a queer effect that Tom could not help laughing,
and the stranger smiled.

"Ef I gits holt on yo'--ef I d