confiscated it!" declared the chemist. "But, in some
manner, perhaps through the error of a new clerk, this letter was
remailed to me here, and now I have it. It is of the utmost importance!"

"In what way?" asked Tom.

"Why, it is directed to me, outside and in, and it makes an inquiry
about the very dyes of the lost secret formulae, one dye in particular."

"I don't quite understand yet," said Tom.

"Well, it's this way," went on Mr. Baxter. "I had, in the office of
Field and Melling, all the papers telling exactly how to make the dyes.
After the fire, in which I was rendered unconscious, those papers
disappeared.

"The only way in which any one could make the dyes in question was by
following the formulae given in those papers. And now here is a letter,
addressed to me from a big firm, asking my prices on a certain dye,
which can only be made by the process bequeathed to me by the
Frenchman."

"Which means what?" asked Tom.

"It means that Field and Melling must have been writing to this firm on
their own hook, offering to sell them some of this dye. But, in some
way, my name must have appeared on the letter or papers sent on by the
scoundrels, and this big firm replies to me direct, instead of to Field
and Melling! Even then I would not have benefited if they had
confiscated this letter as I am sure, they have done in the case of
others. But, by some slip, I get this.

"And it proves, Tom Swift, that Field and Melling are in possession of
my dye formulae, and that they have tried to dispose of some of the dye
to this firm. Not knowing anything of this, the firm replies to me. So
now I have direct evidence--just what I wanted--and I can get on the
trail of the scoundrels who have cheated me of my rights."

Tom looked at the letter which, it appeared, had been left with Koku by
a special delivery boy from the post office. It was an inquiry about
certain dyes, and was addressed to Mr. Baxter in care of Field and
Melling, the former fireworks firm, which now had started a big dye
plant, with offices in the Landmark Building in Newmarket.

"It does look as though you might get at them through this," Tom said,
as he handed back the letter. "But I'm afraid you'll have to get
further evidence before you could convict them in a court of
law--you'll have to show that they actually have possession of your
formulae."

"That's what I wish I could do," said the chemist, somewhat wistfully.
His first enthusiasm had