Chapter 12
Some Startling News
"Well, there they go," remarked Mrs. Baggert to Mr. Swift, as shestrained her eyes toward the sky, against the blue of which the airshipwas now only a large, black ball.
"Yes, and a fine start they made," replied the inventor. "I almost wishI had accompanied them, but I must not stop work on my submarineinvention."
"I do hope nothing will happen to them," went on the housekeeper. "Ideclare, though, I feel just as if something was going to happen."
"Nervousness, pure nervousness," commented Mr. Swift. "Better take alittle--er--I suppose catnip tea would be good."
"Catnip tea! The very idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Baggert. "That shows howmuch you know about nervousness, Mr. Swift," and she seemed a littleindignant.
"Ha! Hum! Well, maybe catnip tea wouldn't be just the thing. But don'tworry about Tom. I'm sure he can look after himself. As for Mr. Sharphe has made too many ascensions to run into any unnecessary danger."
"Nervous!" went on the housekeeper, who seemed to resent this statebeing applied to her. "I'm sure I'm not half as nervous as that Mr.Damon. He gives me the fidgets."
"Of course. Well, I must get back to my work," said the inventor. "Ah,are you hurt, Eradicate?" he went on, as the colored man came back,driving Boomerang, who had been stopped just before reaching the road.
"No, Mistah Swift, I ain't exactly damaged, but mah feelin's am suahhurted."
"How's that?"
"Well, I thought I had growed strong in de night, when I lifted datairship, but when I went to stop mah mule I couldn't do it. He won'thab no respect fo' me now."
"Oh, I wouldn't let that worry me," commented Mr. Swift, and heexplained to Eradicate how it was that he had so easily lifted the endof the buoyant ship, which weighed very little when filled with gas.
The colored man proceeded with his work of whitewashing, the inventorwas in his library, puzzling over tables of intricate figures, and Mrs.Baggert was in the kitchen, sighing occasionally as she thought of Tom,whom she loved almost as a son, high in the air, when two men came upthe walk, from the street, and knocked at the side door. Mrs. Baggert,who answered the summons, was somewhat surprised to see Chief of PoliceSimonson and Constable Higby.
"They probably came to see the airship start," she thought, "butthey're too late."
"Ah, good morning, Mrs. Baggert," greeted the chief. "Is Mr. Swift andhis son about this morning?"
"Mr. Swift is in his library, but Tom is gone."
"He'll be back though, won't he?" asked Constable Higbyquickly--anxiously, Mrs. Baggert thought.
"Oh, yes," she replied. "He and--"
"Just take us to see Mr. Swift," interrupted the chief, with a look ofcaution at his aide. "We'll explain matters to him."
Wondering what could be the mission of the two officers, Mrs. Baggertled them to the library.
"It's queer," she thought, "that they don't ask something about theairship. I suppose that was what they came for. But maybe it's aboutthe mysterious men who robbed Mr. Swift."
"Ah, gentlemen, what can I do for you?" asked the inventor, as he roseto greet the officials.
"Ahem, Mr. Swift. Ahem--er--that is--well, the fact is, Mr. Swift,"stammered the chief, "we have come upon a very painful errand."
"What's that?" cried Tom's father. "I haven't been robbed again, haveI?'
"There has been a robbery committed," spoke the constable quickly.
"But you are not the victim," interposed the chief.
"I'm glad of that," said Mr. Swift.
"Where is your son, Tom?" asked the head of the Shopton police force,sharply.
"What do you want with him?" inquired the inventor, struck by somestrange tone in the other's voice.
"Mr. Swift," went on the chief, solemnly, "I said we came upon a verypainful errand. It is painful, as I have known Tom since he was alittle lad. But I must do my duty, no matter how painful it is. I havea warrant for the arrest of your son, Thomas Swift, and I have come toserve it. I need not tell you that it is your duty to give him up tous--the representatives of the law. I call upon you to produce yourson."
Mr. Swift staggered to his feet.
"My son! You have come to arrest my son?" he stammered.
The chief nodded grimly.
"Upon what charge?" faltered the father.
"On a charge of breaking into the Shopton National Bank last night, andstealing from the vault seventy-five thousand dollars in currency!"
"Seventy-five thousand dollars! Tom accused of robbing the bank!"faltered Mr. Swift.
"That is the charge, and we've come to arrest him," broke in ConstableHigby.
"Where is he?" added the chief.
"This charge is false! Absolutely false!" shouted the aged inventor.
"That may be," admitted the chief shaking his head. "But the charge hasbeen made, and we hold the warrant. The courts will settle it. We mustnow arrest Tom. Where is he?"
"He isn't here!" cried Mr. Swift, and small blame to him if there was anote of triumph in his voice. "Tom sailed away not half an hour ago inthe airship Red Cloud! You can't arrest him!"
"He's escaped!" shouted the constable. "I told you, chief, that he wasa slippery customer, and that we'd better come before breakfast!"
"Dry up!" commanded the chief testily. "So he's foiled us, eh? Run awaywhen he knew we were coming? I think that looks like guilt, Mr. Swift."
"Never!" cried the inventor. "Tom would never think of robbing thebank. Besides, he has all the money he wants. The charge ispreposterous! I demand to be confronted with the proof."
"You shall be," answered Chief Simonson vindictively. "If you will cometo the bank you can see the rifled vault, and hear the testimony of awitness who saw your son with burglar tools in his possession lastnight. We also have a warrant for Mr. Wakefield Damon. Do you knowanything of him?"
"He has gone with my son in the airship."
"Ha! The two criminals with their booty have escaped together!" criedthe chief. "But we'll nab them if we have to scour the whole country.Come on, Higby! Mr. Swift, if you'll accompany me to the bank, I thinkI can give you all the proof you want," and the officials, followed bythe amazed and grief-stricken inventor, left the house.