w this. Oh, I'll fool 'em
this time!"

"I hope you do. Well, when you get the machine done I'd like to ride in
it. Will it carry two, as your Butterfly does?"

"Yes, only it will be much different; and, of course, it will go much
faster. I'll give you a ride, all right, Ned. Well, now I must get busy
and see what material I need for what I hope will prove to be the
speediest aeroplane in the world."

"That's going some! I must be leaving now. Don't forget your promise. I
saw Mary Nestor on my way over here. She was asking for you. She said
you must be very busy, for she hadn't seen you in some time."

"Um!" was all Tom answered, but by the blush that mounted to his face
it was evident that he was more interested in Mary Nestor than his mere
exclamation indicated.

When Ned had gone Tom got out pencil and paper, and was busily engaged
in making some intricate calculations. He drew odd little sketches on
the margin of the sheet, and then wrote out a list of the things he
would need to construct the new aeroplane.

This finished, he went to Mr. Jackson, the engineer, and asked him to
get the various things together, and to have them put in the special
shop where Tom did most of his work.

"I want to get the machine together as soon as I can," he remarked to
the engineer, "for it will need to be given a good tryout before I
enter in the race, and I may find that I'll have to make several
changes in it."

Mr. Jackson promised to attend to the matter right away, and then Tom
went in to talk to his father about the motor that was to whirl the
propeller of the new air craft.

Mr. Swift had improved very much in the past few days, and though Dr.
Gladby said he was far from being well, the physician declared there
was no reason why he should not do some inventive work.

He and Tom were deep in an argument of gasoline motors, discussing the
best manner of attaching the fins to the cylinders to make them
air-cooled, when a voice sounded outside, the voice of Eradicate:

"Heah! Whar yo' goin'?" demanded the colored man. "Whar yo' goin'?"

"Somebody's out in the garden!" exclaimed Tom, jumping up suddenly.

"Perhaps it's the same person who took the plans!" suggested Mr. Swift.

"Hold on, dere!" yelled Eradicate again.

Then a voice replied:

"Bless my insurance policy! What's the matter? Have there been burglars
around? Why all these precautions? Bless my steam heater! Don't you
know me?"

"Mr. Damon!" cried To