citable Mr. Nestor.

"If she doesn't want it, perhaps Helen will take it," suggested Ned,
with a twinkle in his eyes. "Halloran said they were just in fresh--"

"Oh, you delightful boy!" cried Helen. "I'm just dying for some
chocolates! Let me open them, Mary, if you're afraid of dynamite."

"The only powder in them," said Tom, "is the powdered sugar. That can't
blow you up."

And then the young people made merry, Tom, for the time being,
forgetting all about his tank.

It was rather late when the two young men strolled back toward the
Swift home, Ned walking that way with his chum. Tom started out in the
direction of the building where the tank was housed.

"Going to have a good-night look at her?" asked Ned.

"Well, I want to make sure the watchman is on guard. We'll begin taking
her apart in a few days, and I don't want anything to happen between
now and then."

They walked on toward the big structure, and, as they approached from
the side, they were both startled to see a dark shadow--at least so it
seemed to the youths--dart away from one of the windows.

"Look!" gasped Ned.

"Hello, there!" cried Tom sharply. "Who's that? Who are you?"

There was no answer, and then the fleeing shadow was merged in the
other blackness of the night.

"Maybe it was the watchman making his rounds," suggested Ned.

"No," answered Tom, as he broke into a run. "If it was, he'd have
answered. There's something wrong here!"

But he could find nothing when he reached the window from which he and
Ned had seen the shadow dart. An examination by means of a pocket
electric light betrayed nothing wrong with the sash, and if there were
footprints beneath the casement they indicated nothing, for that side
of the factory was one frequently used by the workmen.

Tom went into the building, and, for a time, could not find the
watchman. When he did come upon the man, he found him rubbing his eyes
sleepily, and acting as though he had just awakened from a nap.

"This isn't any way to be on duty!" said Tom sharply. "You're not paid
for sleeping!"

"I know it, Mr. Swift," was the apologetic answer. "I don't know what's
come over me to-night. I never felt so sleepy in all my life. I had my
usual sleep this afternoon, too, and I've drunk strong coffee to keep
awake."

"Are you sure you didn't drink anything else?"

"You know I'm a strict temperance man."

"I know you are," said Tom; "but I thought maybe you might have a cold,
o