erning Field and
Melling.

"If their talk meant anything at all," reasoned the young inventor, "it
meant that there was some deal in which Josephus Baxter got the worst
of it. 'Putting it over on him in the fire,' could only mean that. Of
course it isn't any of my business, in a way, but I don't think it is
right to stand by and see a fellow inventor defrauded.

"Of course," mused Tom, while his helper put the finishing touches to
the carburetor, "it may have been a business deal in which one took as
many chances as the other. There are always two sides to every story.
Baxter says they took his formulae, but he may have taken something
from them to make it even. The only thing is that I'd trust Baxter
sooner than I would those two fellows, and he certainly had a narrow
squeak at the fire.

"But I have my own troubles, I guess, trying to perfect that
fire-fighting chemical, and I haven't much time to bother with Field
and Melling, unless they come my way."

"There, I reckon she'll work," said the mechanician, as he fastened the
last valve in the carburetor. "It was an easier job than I expected.
Wasn't as much trouble as I had over their car those two fellers you
were speaking of--Field and Melling. They're rich guys!"

"Yes?" replied Tom, questioningly.

"Sure! They've started a big dye company."

"A dye company?" repeated the young inventor, all his suspicions coming
back as he recalled that Baxter had said his formulae were more
valuable for dyes than for fireworks.

"Yes, they're trying to get the business that used to go to the Germans
before the war," went on the man.

"Yes, the Germans used to have a monopoly of the dye industry," said
Tom, hoping the man would talk on. He need not have worried. He was of
the talkative type.

"Well, if these fellers have their way they'll make a million in dyes,"
proceeded the mechanician, as he stepped down out of the airship.
"They've built a big plant, and they have offices in the Landmark
Building."

"Where's that?" asked Tom.

"Over in Newmarket," the man went on, naming the nearest large city to
Shopton. "The Landmark Building is a regular New York skyscraper.
Haven't you seen it?"

"No," Tom answered, "I haven't. Been too busy, I guess. So Field and
Melling have their offices there?"

"Yes, and a big plant on the outskirts for making dyes. They half
offered me a job at the factory, but I thought I'd try this out first;
I like it here."

"It is a nice