mming and hawing and
consultation with the men in the automobile, Mr. Kanker said he would
accept the bonds. It was made clear that they were not in payment of
any damages, though Tom admitted he was liable for some, but that Uncle
Sam's war securities were only a sort of bail, given to indicate that,
some time later, when a jury had passed on the matter, the young
inventor would pay Mr. Kanker whatever sum was agreed upon as just.

"And now," said Tom, as politely as he could under the circumstances,
"I suppose we will be allowed to depart."

"Yes, take your old shebang offen my property!" ordered Mr. Kanker,
with no very good grace. "And if you go knocking down any more barns,
I'll double the price on you!"

"I guess he's a bit roiled because he couldn't hold the tank," observed
Ned to Tom, as they walked together to the big machine. "His
friends--our enemies--evidently hoped that was what could be done. They
want to get at some of the secrets."

"I suppose so," conceded Tom. "Well, we're out of that, and I've proved
all I want to."

"But I haven't--quite," said Ned.

"What's missing?" asked his chum, as they got back in the tank.

"Well, I'd like to make sure that the fellow who ran from the factory
was the same one I saw sneaking out of the barn. I believe he was, and
I believe that Simpson's crowd engineered this whole thing."

"I believe so, too," Tom agreed. "The next thing is to prove it. But
that will keep until later. The main thing is we've got our tank, and
now I'm going to get her ready for France."

"Will she be in shape to ship soon?" asked Ned.

"Yes, if nothing more happens. I've got a few little changes and
adjustments to make, and then she'll be ready for the last test--one of
long distance endurance mainly. After that, apart she comes to go to
the front, and we'll begin making 'em in quantities here and on the
other side."

"Good!" cried Ned. "Down with the Huns!"

Without further incident of moment they went back to the headquarters
of the tank, and soon the great machine was safe in the shop where she
had been made.

The next two weeks were busy ones for Tom, and in them he put the
finishing touches on his machine, gave it a long test over fields and
through woods, until finally he announced:

"She's as complete as I can make her! She's ready for France!"

Chapter XIX

Tom is Missing

With Tom Swift's announcement, that his tank was at last ready for real
action, c