"

Chapter IV

Much to Think About

Although it was now nearing ten o'clock on this eventful evening, Tom
knew that he would find Ned Newton at home. When Mr. Damon's car
stopped before the house there was a light in Ned's room and the front
door opened almost as soon as Tom rang. Mr. Damon left the car and
entered with the young inventor at his invitation.

"What's up?" was Ned's greeting, looking at the two curiously as he
ushered them in. "I see this isn't entirely a social call," and he
laughed as he shook the older man's hand.

"Bless my particular star!" exclaimed the latter excitedly. "Of all the
thrilling adventures that anybody ever got into, it is this Tom Swift
who cooks them up! Why, Newton! do you know that we have been held up
by a highwayman within two blocks of this very house?"

"And that of course was Tom's fault?" suggested Ned, still smiling.

"It wouldn't have happened if he had not been with me," said Mr. Damon.

"I am curious," said Ned, as they seated themselves. "Who was the
footpad? What drew his attention to you two? Tell me about it."

"Bless my suspender buckles!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "You tell him, Tom.
I don't understand it myself, yet."

"I think I can explain. But whatever I tell you both, you must hold in
secret. Father and I have been entrusted with some private information
tonight and I am going to take you, Ned, and Mr. Damon, into the
business in a confidential way."

"Let's have it," begged Newton. "Anything to do with the works?"

"It is," answered Tom gravely. "We are going to take up a proposition
that promises big things for the Swift Construction Company."

"A big thing financially?"

"I'll say so. And it looks as though we were mixing into a conspiracy
that may breed trouble in more ways than one."

Tom went on to sketch briefly the situation of the Hendrickton & Pas
Alos Railroad as brought to the attention of the Swifts by the
railroad's president. First of all his two listeners were deeply
interested in the proposition Mr. Richard Bartholomew had made the
inventors. Ned Newton jotted down briefly the agreement to be
incorporated in the contract to be drawn and signed, by the Swift
Construction Company and the president of the H. & P. A. road.

"This looks like a big thing for the company, Tom," the young manager
said with enthusiasm, while Mr. Damon listened to it all with mouth and
eyes open.

"Bless my watch-charm!" murmured the latter. "An