talk was that he engaged Mr. Baxter to do certain research work in the
Swift laboratories until such time as the chemist could perfect certain
other inventions on which he was working.

In return for his kindness to a fellow laborer, Tom received from Mr.
Baxter some valuable hints about fire-extinguishing chemicals, one
hint, alone, serving to bring about a curious situation.

It was several days after the accident to the motor boat from which the
young inventor and Ned Newton had rescued the party of pleasure seekers
that Tom was visited by Mr. Damon, who drove over in his car.

"Have you anything special to do, Tom?" asked the eccentric man. "If
you haven't I wish you'd take a ride with me. Not for mere pleasure!
Bless my excursion ticket, don't think that, Tom!" cried his friend
quickly.

"I know better than to ask you out for a pleasure jaunt. But I have
become interested in a certain candy-making machine that a man over in
Newmarket is anxious to sell me a share in, and I'd like to get your
opinion. Can you run over?"

"Yes," Tom answered. "As it happens I am going to Newmarket myself."

"Oh, I forgot about Mary Nestor being there!" laughed Mr. Damon. "Sly
dog, Tom! Sly dog!" and he nudged the youth in the ribs.

"It isn't altogether Mary. Though I am going to see her," Tom admitted.
"It has to do with a little apparatus I am getting up. I can capture
several birds in the same auto, so I'll go along."

This pleased Mr. Damon, and he and Tom were soon speeding over the
road. It was just outside Newmarket that they saw an automobile stalled
at the foot of a hill which they topped. It needed but a glance to show
that there was serious trouble. As Mr. Damon's car went down the slope
two men could be seen leaping from the other machine. And, as they did
so, flames burst out of the rear of the stalled machine.

"Fire! Fire!" cried Mr. Damon, rather needlessly it would seem, as any
one could see the blaze.

"Another chance!" exclaimed Tom, reaching down between his feet for a
wrapped object he had placed in Mr. Damon's car. "It's Field and
Melling!" he cried. "The two men who boasted of having put it over on
Mr. Baxter. Their car is blazing. Here's where I get a chance to heap
coals of fire on their heads!"

CHAPTER XVI

VIOLENT THREATS

Tom Swift's companion in the automobile was sufficiently acquainted
with this old expression to understand readily what it meant. And as he
directed his car as