Chapter 25
Andy Gets His Reward
Flying swiftly through the air the young inventor and his twocompanions were soon within sight of Shopton. As they approached thetown from over the lake, and a patch of woods, they attracted noattention until they were near home, and the craft settled down easilyin the yard of the Swift property.
That the aged inventor was glad to see his son back need not be said,and Mrs. Baggert's welcome was scarcely less warm than that of Mr.Swift. Mr. Sharp and Mr. Damon were also made to feel that theirfriends were glad to see them safe again.
"We must go at once and see Mr. Pendergast, the bank president,"declared Mr. Swift. "We must take the money to him, and demand that hewithdraw the offer of reward for your arrest."
"Yes," agreed Tom. "I guess the reward will go to some one besides AndyFoger."
There was considerable surprise on the part of the bank clerks when ourhero, and his friends, walked in, carrying a heavy black bag. But theycould only conjecture what was in the wind, for the party wasimmediately closeted with the president.
Mr. Pendergast was so startled that he hardly knew what to say whenTom, aided by Mr. Sharp, told his story. But the return of the money,with documents from Sheriff Durkin, certifying as to the arrest ofMorse and Happy Harry, soon convinced him of the truth of the account.
"It's the most wonderful thing I ever heard," said the president.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked Mr. Damon. "You haveaccused Tom and myself of being thieves, and--"
"I apologize--I apologize most humbly!" exclaimed Mr. Pendergast. "Ialso--"
"What about the reward?" went on Mr. Damon. "Bless my bank notes, Idon't want any of it, for I have enough, but I think Tom and Mr. Sharpand the sheriff are entitled to it."
"Certainly," said the president, "certainly. It will be paid at once.I will call a meeting of the directors. In fact they are all in thebank now, save Mr. Foger, and I can reach him by telephone. If you willjust rest yourselves in that room there I will summon you before theboard, when it convenes, and be most happy to pay over the fivethousand dollars reward. It is the most wonderful thing I ever heardof--most wonderful!"
In a room adjoining that of the president, Tom, his father and Mr.Damon waited for the directors to meet. Mr. Foger could be heardentering a little later.
"What's this I hear, Pendergast?" he cried, rubbing his hands. "Thebank robbers captured, eh? Well, that's good news. Of course we'll paythe reward. I always knew my boy was a smart lad. Five thousand dollarswill be a tidy sum for him. Of course his chum, Sam Snedecker isentitled to some, but not much. So they've caught Tom Swift and thatrascally Damon, eh? I always knew he was a scoundrel! Putting money inhere as a blind!"
Mr. Damon heard, and shook his fist.
"I'll make him suffer for that," he whispered.
"Tom Swift arrested, eh?" went on Mr. Foger. "I always knew he was abad egg. Who caught them? Where are they?"
"In the next room," replied Mr. Pendergast, who loved a joke almost aswell as did Tom. "They may come out now," added the president, openingthe door, and sending Ned Newton in to summon Tom, Mr. Swift and Mr.Damon, who filed out before the board of directors.
"Gentlemen," began the president, "I have the pleasure of presenting toyou Mr. Thomas Swift, Mr. Barton Swift and Mr. Wakefield Damon. I alsohave the honor to announce that Mr. Thomas Swift and Mr. Damon havebeen instrumental in capturing the burglars who recently robbed ourbank, and I am happy to add that young Mr. Swift and Mr. Wakefeld Damonhave, this morning, brought to me all but a small part of the moneystolen from us. Which money they succeeded, after a desperate fight."
"A fight partly with seltzer bottles," interrupted Mr. Damon proudly."Don't forget them."
"Partly with seltzer bottles," conceded the president with a smile."After a fight they succeeded in getting the money back. Here it is,and I now suggest that we pay the reward we promised."
"What? Reward? Pay them? The money back? Isn't my son to receive thefive thousand dollars for informing as to the identity of thethief--isn't he?" demanded Mr. Foger, almost suffocating from hisastonishment at the unexpected announcement.
"Hardly," answered Mr. Pendergast dryly. "Your son's informationhappened to be very wrong. The tools he saw Tom have in the bag wereairship tools, not burglar's. And the same gang that once robbed Mr.Swift robbed our bank. Tom Swift captured them, and is entitled to thereward. It will be necessary for us directors to make up the sum,personally, and I, for one, am very glad to do so."
"So am I," came in a chorus from the others seated at the table.
"But--er--I understood that my son--" stammered Mr. Foger, who did notat all relish having to see his son lose the reward.
"It was all a mistake about your son," commented Mr. Pendergast."Gentlemen, is it your desire that I write out a check for young Mr.Swift?"
They all voted in the affirmative, even Mr. Foger being obliged to doso, much against his wishes. He was a very much chagrined man, when thedirectors' meeting broke up. Word was sent at once, by telegraph, toall the cities where reward posters had been displayed, recalling theoffer, and stating that Tom Swift and Mr. Damon were cleared. Mr. Sharphad never been really accused.
"Well, let's go home," suggested Tom when he had thefive-thousand-dollar check in his pocket.
"I want another ride in the Red Cloud as soon as it's repaired."
"So do I!" declared Mr. Damon.
The eccentric man and Mr. Swift walked on ahead, and Tom strolled downtoward the dock, for he thought he would take a short trip in hismotor-boat.
He was near the lake, not having met many persons, when he saw a figurerunning up from the water. He knew who it was in an instant Andy Foger.As for the bully, at the sight of Tom he hesitated, than came boldlyon. Evidently he had not heard of our hero's arrival.
"Ha!" exclaimed the red-haired lad, "I've been looking for you. Thepolice want you, Tom Swift."
"Oh, do they?" asked the young inventor gently.
"Yes; for robbery. I'm going to get the reward, too. You thought youwere smart, but I saw those burglar tools in your valise. I sent thepolice after you. So you've come back, eh? I'm going to tell ChiefSimonson. You wait."
"Yes," answered Tom, "I'll wait. So the police want me, do they?"
"That's what they do," snarled Andy. "I told you I'd get even with you,and I've done it."
"Well," burst out Tom, unable to longer contain himself, as he thoughtof all he had suffered at the hands of the red-haired bully, "I saidI'd get even with you, but I haven't done it yet. I'm going to now.Take off your coat, Andy. You and I are going to have a littleargument."
"Don't you dare lay a finger on me!" blustered the squint-eyed one.
Tom peeled off his coat. Andy, who saw that he could not escape, rushedforward, and dealt the young inventor a blow on the chest. That was allTom wanted, and the next instant he went at Andy hammer and tongs. Thebully tried to fight, but he had no chance with his antagonist, who wasrighteously angry, and who made every blow tell. It was asorry-looking Andy Foger who begged for mercy a little later.
Tom had no desire to administer more than a deserved reward to thebully, but perhaps he did add a little for interest. At any rate Andythought so.
"You just wait!" he cried, as he limped off. "I'll make you sorry forthis."
"Oh, don't go to any trouble on my account," said Tom gently, as he puton his coat. But Andy did go to considerable trouble to be revenged onthe young inventor, and whether he succeeded or not you may learn byreading the fourth book of this series, to be called "Tom Swift and HisSubmarine Boat; or, Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure," in which Ishall relate the particulars of a voyage that was marvelous in theextreme.
Tom reached home in a very pleasant frame of mind that afternoon.Things had turned out much better than he thought they would. A fewweeks later the two bank robbers, who were found guilty, were sentencedto long terms, but their companions were not captured. Tom sent SheriffDurkin a s
hare of the reward, and the lad invested his own share inbank stock, after giving some to Mr. Sharp. Mr. Damon refused to acceptany. As for Mr. Swift, once he saw matters straightened out, and hisson safe, he resumed his work on his prize submarine boat, his sonhelping him.
As for Tom, he alternated his spare time between trips in the airshipand his motor-boat, and frequently a certain young lady from theRocksmond Seminary was his companion. I think you know her name by thistime. Now, for a while, we will take leave of Tom Swift and hisfriends, trusting to meet them again.
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