ught I had
seen them before and, sure enough I had. Two of the men belonged to
that Happy Harry gang!"

Tom made a quick motion of a caution, pointing to his father, but it
was not necessary, as Mr. Swift was absently-mindedly calculating on a
piece of paper he had taken from his pocket, and had not heard what Mr.
Damon said. The latter, however, knew what Tom meant, and went on.

"Well, I didn't like the looks of these men, and when I saw them sizing
me up, evidently thinking I had drawn money out instead of putting it
in, I decided to give them the slip. I got in my auto, but I was
startled to see them get in their car. I headed for here, as I was
coming to pay you a visit, anyhow, and the mysterious men kept after
me. It became a regular race. I put on all the speed I could and headed
for your house, Tom, for I thought you would help me. I went faster and
faster, and so did they. They were almost up to me, and I was just
thinking of slowing down to turn in here, when I lost control of my
machine, and--well, I did turn in here, but not exactly as I intended.
Bless my gaiters! I came in with rather more of a rush than I expected.
It was awful--positively awful, I assure you. You've no idea how
nervous I was. But I escaped those scoundrels, for they rushed on when
they saw what I had done--smashed the porch railing."

"Probably they thought you'd smash them," observed Tom with a laugh.
"But why did they follow you?"

"Can't imagine! Haven't the least idea. Bless my spark-plug, but they
might have imagined I had money. Anyhow I'm glad I escaped them!"

"It's lucky you weren't hurt," said Mr. Sharp.

"Oh, me? Bless my existence! I'm always having narrow escapes." Mr.
Damon caught sight of the Red Cloud which was out in front of the big
shed. "Bless my heart! What's that?" he added.

"Our new airship," answered Tom proudly. "We are just planning a long
trip in it, but we can't find a third member of the party to go along."

"A third member!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you really mean it?"

"We do."

"Bless my shoe laces! Will you take me along?"

"Do you mean that?" asked Tom in turn, foreseeing a way out of their
difficulties.

"I certainly do," answered the eccentric man. "I am much interested in
airships, and I might as well die up in the clouds as any other way.
Certainly I prefer it to being smashed up in an auto. Will you take me?"

"Of course!" cried Tom heartily, and Mr. Sharp nodded an assent. Then
T