ddon. "I am so interested."

Tom helped the girls out, receiving their thanks as well as those of
the children in the second boat. But as he walked with the young
ladies through the grove the young inventor registered a mental vow
that he would steer clear of explaining again how a gasoline engine
worked.

"Now come right over this way to our table," invited Miss Nestor. "I
want you to meet papa and mamma."

Tom followed her. As he stepped from behind a clump of trees he saw,
standing not far away, a figure that seemed strangely familiar. A
moment later the figure turned and Tom saw Andy Foger confronting him.
At the sight of our hero the bully turned red and walked quickly away,
while Tom's fingers touched the ring of keys in his pocket.

CHAPTER VII

A BRUSH WITH ANDY

So unexpected was his encounter with Andy that the young inventor
hardly knew how to act, especially since he was a guest of the young
ladies. Tom did not want to do or say anything to embarrass them or
make a scene, yet he did want to have a talk, and a very serious talk,
with Andy Foger.

Miss Nestor must have noticed Tom's sudden start at his glimpse of
Andy, for she asked: "Did you see some one you knew, Mr. Swift?"

"Yes," replied Tom, "I did--er--that is--" He paused in some confusion.

"Perhaps you'd like---that is prefer--to go with them instead of taking
lunch with girls who don't know anything about engines?" she persisted.

"Oh, no indeed," Tom hastened to assure her. "He--that is--the person
I saw wouldn't care to have me lunch with him," and the youth smiled
grimly.

"Would you like to bring him over to our table?" inquired Miss Carson.
"We have plenty for him."

"No, I think that would hardly do," continued the lad, who tried not to
smile at the picture of the red-haired and squint-eyed Andy Foger
making one of a party with the girls. The young ladies fortunately had
not noticed the bully, who was out of view by this time.

Tom was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, who told him how glad they
were to meet the young man who had been instrumental in saving their
daughter from injury, if not death. Tom was a bit embarrassed, but
bore the praise as well as he could, and he was very glad when a
diversion, in the shape of lunch, occurred.

After a meal on tables under the trees in the grove Tom took the girls
and some of their friends out in his motor-boat again. They covered
several miles around the lake befor