what the Humming-Bird can really do. You'll come,
won't you?"

"Oh, I suppose so. Bless my insurance policy! I might as well take the
same chance you do. But if you're going to have such a nerve-racking
thing as that on the program, you'd better get to bed early and have
plenty of sleep."

"Oh, I'm not tired. I think I'll go out this evening."

"Where?"

"Oh, just around town, to see some of the fellows." But if Tom was only
going around town merely to see his male friends, why did he dress so
carefully, put on a new necktie, and take several looks in the glass
before he went out? We think you can guess, and also the girl's name.

The young inventor got in rather late, and after a visit to the
aeroplane shed, to see that all was right there, he went to bed, first
connecting up the burglar-alarm wires that guarded the doors and
windows of the aerodrome.

How long he had been asleep Tom did not know, but he was suddenly
awakened by hearing the buzzing of the alarm at the head of his bed. At
first he took it for the droning and humming of the aeroplane motor, as
he had a hazy notion, and a sort of dream, that he was in his craft.

Then, with a start, he realized what it was--the burglar alarm.

"Some one's in the shed!" he gasped.

Out of bed he leaped, drawing on his trousers and coat, and putting on
a pair of slippers, with speed worthy of a fireman. He grabbed up a
revolver and rushed from his room, pounding on the door of Mr.
Jackson's apartment in passing.

"Some one in the shed, after the Humming-Bird!" shouted Tom. "Get a
gun, and come down!"

Chapter Eleven

Tom Is Hurt

As Tom passed down the hall on his way to the side door, from which he
could more quickly reach the aeroplane shed, he saw his father coming
from his room.

"What's the matter? What is it?" asked Mr. Swift, and alarm showed on
his pale face.

"It's nothing much, dad," said the youth, as quietly as he could, for
he realized that to excite his father might have a bad effect on the
invalid.

"Then why are you in such a hurry? Why have you that revolver? I know
there is something wrong, Tom. I am going to help you!"

In his father's present weakened state Tom desired this least of all,
so he said:

"Now, never mind, dad. I thought I heard a noise out in the yard, and
I'm not going to take any chances. So I roused Mr. Jackson, and I'm
going down to see what it is. Perhaps it may only be Eradicate's mule,
Boomerang, kic