"So it is," exclaimed the lad. "I will use my catboat. I had
forgotten all about it of late. I'm glad you spoke."

He was soon sailing down the lake in the direction of the boathouse on
the waterfront of Mr. Foger's property. It needed but a glance around
the dock to show him that the RED STREAK was not there, but Tom
recollected the accident to the steering gear and thought perhaps Andy
had taken his boat to some wharf where there was a repair shop and
there left it to return home himself. But inquiry of Mrs. Foger, who
was as nice a woman as her son was a mean lad, gave Tom the information
that his enemy was not at home.

"He telephoned to me that his boat was damaged," said Mrs. Foger
gently, "and that he had taken it to get fixed. Then, he said, he and
some friends were going on a little cruise and might not be back
to-night."

"Did he say where he was going?" asked our hero, who did not tell
Andy's mother why he wanted to see her son.

"No, and I'm worried about him. Sometimes I think Andy is too--well,
too impetuous, and I'm afraid he will get into trouble."

Tom, in spite of his trouble, could hardly forbear smiling. Andy's
mother was totally unaware of the mean traits of her son and thought
him a very fine chap. Tom was not going to undeceive her.

"I'm afraid something will happen to him," she went on. "Do you think
there is any danger being out on the lake in a motor-boat, Mr. Swift?
I understand you have one."

"Yes, I have one," answered Tom. He was going to say he had once had
one, but thought better of it. "No, there is very little danger this
time of year," he added.

"I am very glad to hear you say so," went on Mrs. Foger with a sigh.
"I shall feel more at ease when Andy is away now. When he returns
home, I shall tell him you called upon him and he will return your
visit. I am glad to see that the custom of paying calls has not died
out among the present generation. It is a pleasant habit, and I am
glad to have my son conform to it. He shall return your kind visit."

"Oh, no, it's of no consequence," replied Tom quickly, thinking grimly
that his visit was far from a friendly one. "There is no need to tell
your son I was here. I will probably see him in a day or two.

"Oh, but I shall tell him," insisted Mrs. Foger with a kind smile.
"I'm sure he will appreciate your call."

There was much doubt concerning this in the mind of the young inventor,
but he did not express it a