was in the West.

"You will be in the enemy's country out there, Tom dear," she warned
him. "You won't be careless?"

"I know I shall be mighty busy," he told her, laughing. "I'll let Ned
play watch-dog. And you know, his is a cautious soul, Mary."

"I've every confidence in Ned's faithfulness," the girl said, still
with anxious tone. "But those men who are trying to ruin Mr.
Bartholomew's road will stop at nothing. I must hear from you
frequently, Tom, or I shall worry myself ill."

"Don't lose your courage, Mary," rejoined the inventor, more gravely.
"I do not think they will attack me personally again. Remember that
Koku is on the job, as well as Ned. And Mr. Damon declares he will
follow us West very shortly," and again Tom chuckled.

"Even Mr. Damon may be a help to you, Tom," declared Mary, warmly. "At
least, he is completely devoted to you."

"So is Rad Sampson," said Tom, with a little grimace. "I certainly had
my hands full convincing him that father needed him here at home. At
that, Rad is pretty warm over the fact that I sent Koku on with the
locomotive. If anything should chance to happen to my invention,
Eradicate Sampson is going to shout 'I told you so!' all over the shop."

Mary dabbed her eyes a little with her handkerchief, and Tom patted her
shoulder.

"Don't worry, Mary," he said more cheerfully. "There won't a thing
happen to me out there at Hendrickton. I'll keep the wires hot with
telegrams. And I'll write to both you and father, and give you the full
particulars of how we get along. You'll keep your eye on father, Mary,
won't you?"

"You may be sure of that," said the girl. "I will not leave him
entirely to the care of Rad," and she tried hard to smile again. But
it was a difficult matter.

Such a parting as this is always hard to endure. Tom wrung his father's
hand and warned him to be careful of his health. The train came along
and the two young men boarded it with their personal luggage.

They had a flash of the two faces--that of Mr. Swift's and Mary's
blooming countenance--as the express started again, and then the
outlook from the Pullman coach showed them the fast-receding environs
of Shopton.

"We're on our way, my boy," said Tom to his chum.

"We certainly are," said Ned, thoughtfully. "I wonder what the outcome
of the trip will be? It may not be all plain sailing."

"Don't croak," rejoined the young inventor, with a grin.

"I don't see how you can appear so cheerful