CHAPTER XVII
A TOWN BLAZE
Mary's uncle, Jasper Blake, always an impetuous man, opened the door soquickly that Tom, who was standing near it talking to Mary, barely hadtime to move aside.
"Oh, Tom, excuse me! Didn't see you!" bruskly went on Mr. Blake. "Butthis thing has gotten on my nerves and I guess I'm a bit wrought up.
"There isn't any guessing about it, Uncle Jasper," said Mary, with alaugh and a look at Tom to warn him not to tell her relative that hehad just befriended Field and Melling. "For," as Mary said to Tomlater, "he would positively rave at you."
Tom was wise enough to realize this, and so, after some laughingreference to the effect that he would have to wear protective armor ifhe stood near doors when Mary's uncle opened them so suddenly, theconversation became general.
"I hope you never get roped in as I have been," said Mr. Blake, as hesat down. "Those scoundrels, Field and Melling, would rob a baby of hisfirst tooth if they had the chance!"
"No, I am not likely to have anything to do with them; though I havemet them," and Tom gave Mary a glance. "But did I hear you say they areembarking on a dye enterprise?" he asked. "I couldn't help overhearingwhat you said in the hall," he explained.
"That's the story they tell," said Uncle Jasper. "I was foolish enoughto invest in the Landmark Building, and now I'm likely to lose it allin a lawsuit."
"I mentioned it," said Mary.
"And that isn't the worst," went on Mr. Blake. "But Barton--that's yourfriend of the submarine--will give me the laugh, for he was asked toinvest in the same building, and didn't."
"Oh, maybe it will all turn out right," said Tom consolingly. "Myfriend Mr. Damon has a little stock in the same structure."
"Nothing those two scoundrels have anything to do with will turn outright," declared Mary's uncle. "And to think of their nerve when theyask me to go in with them on a dye scheme!"
"That's what interests me," said Tom.
"Well, take my advice and don't become interested to the extent ofinvesting any money," warned Mr. Blake. "I'm not going to."
"I didn't mean that way," said Tom. "But I happen to be acquainted withan expert dye maker who lost some secret formulae during a fire inField and Melling's factory."
"You don't say so!" cried Mr. Blake. "Tom Swift, there's somethingwrong here! Let you and me talk this over. I begin to see how I may beable to take a peep through the hole in the grindstone," a colloquialexpression which was as well understood by Tom as were some of Mr.Damon's blessing remarks.
"If you're going to talk business I think I'll excuse myself," saidMary.
"Don't go," urged Tom, but she said to him that she would see himbefore he left, and then she went out, leaving her uncle and the younginventor busily engaged in talking.
But though Mr. Blake had certain suspicions regarding Field andMelling, and though Tom Swift, too, believed they had something to dowith the disappearance of Baxter's secret formulae, it was anothermatter to prove anything.
Impetuous as he often was, Mr. Blake was for calling in the police atonce, and having the two men arrested. But Tom counseled delay.
"Wait until we get more evidence against them," he urged.
"But they may skip out!" objected Mary's uncle.
"They won't with that Landmark Building on their hands," said the younginventor.
"Their hands! Huh! They'll take precious good care that the trouble andresponsibility of it are on other people's hands before they go,"declared Mr. Blake. "However, I suppose you're right. Barton Keith setsa deal by your opinion since that undersea search, and while I don'talways agree with him, I do in this case. Especially since he is likelyto have the laugh on me."
"Oh, I wouldn't count everything lost in that building deal," said Tom."A way may be found out of the trouble yet. But I must be getting back.Dr. Henderson was to give a report today on the condition ofEradicate's eyes, and I want to be there."
"Mary was saying something about your faithful old retainer being introuble," said Mr. Blake. "I'm sorry to hear about it."
"We are all sorry for poor Rad," replied Tom slowly. "I only hope hegets his sight back. His last days will be very sad if he doesn't."
Tom found Mary waiting for him after he had left her uncle, and, aftera short talk with her, he made ready to ride back with Mr. Damon, who,after having attended to several other matters, was now outside in hiscar.
"When are you coming home, Mary?" Tom asked.
"In a week or two," she answered. "I'll send word when I'm ready andyou can come and get me."
"Delighted!" declared Tom. "Don't forget!" During the ride home theyoung inventor was unusually silent, so much so that Mr. Damon finallyexclaimed:
"Bless my phonograph, Tom Swift! but what is the matter? Has Marybroken the engagement?"
"Oh, no, nothing like that," was the answer. "Only I'm wondering aboutEradicate, and--other matters."
Other matters had to do with what Mary's uncle had told Tom about theinterest manifested by Field and Melling in some dye industry.
Tom's forebodings regarding his colored helper were nearly borne out,for Dr. Henderson gloomily shook his head when asked for the verdict.
"It's too early to say for a certainty," replied the medical man, "butI am not as hopeful as I was, Tom, I'm sorry to say."
"I'm sorry to hear it," returned Tom. "Is there anything we can do--anyhospital to which we can send him for special treatment?"
"No, he is doing as well as he can be expected to right here. Besides,he has his friends around him, and the companionship of that giant ofyours, absurd as it may seem, is really a tonic to Eradicate. I neversaw such devotion on the part of any one."
"Koku has certainly changed," said Tom. "He and Rad used always to bequarreling. But I guess that is all over," and Tom sighed.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," declared the medical man. "I haven't givenup, though there are some symptoms I do not like. However, I am goingto wait a week and then make another test."
Tom knew that the week would be an anxious one for him, but, as itdeveloped, he had so much to do in the next few days that, for the timebeing, he rather forgot about Eradicate.
Field and Melling, he heard incidentally, had their machine towed to agarage for repairs, but beyond that no word came from the two men.Josephus Baxter remained at work over his dye formulae in one of Tom'slaboratories, but the young inventor did not see much of thediscouraged old man.
Tom did not tell of the encounter with Field and Melling and ofextinguishing the fire in their car, for he knew it would only exciteMr. Baxter, and do no good.
It was within a few days of the time when Tom was to call in acommittee of fire insurance experts to give them a demonstration of theefficiency of his aerial fire-fighting machine. He was putting thefinishing touches to his craft and its extinguishing-dropping deviceswhen he received a call from Mr. Baxter.
"Well, how goes it?" asked Tom, trying to infuse some cheer into hisvoice.
"Not very well," was the answer. "I've tried, in every way I know, toget on the track of the missing methods perfected by that Frenchman,but I can't. I'd be a millionaire now, if I had that dye information."
"Do you really think they have them--actually have the formulae?" askedTom.
"I certainly do. And the reason I believe so is that I was over at achemical supply factory the other day when an order came in for aquantity of a very rare chemical."
"What has that to do with it?" asked Tom.
"This chemical is an ingredient called for by one of the dye formulaethat were stolen from me. I never heard of its being used for anythingelse. I at once became suspicious. I learned that this chemical hadbeen ordered sent to Field and Melling in their new offices in theLandmark Building."
"Maybe they intend to use it in making a new kind of fireworks,"suggested Tom.
Mr. Baxter shook his head.
"That chemical never would work in a skyrocket or Roman candle," hesaid. "I'm sure they're trying to che
at me out of my dye formulae. If Icould only prove it!"
"That's the trouble," agreed Tom. "But I'll give you all the help Ican. And, come to think of it, I believe you might interest Mr. Blake.He has no love for Field and Melling, and he has several keen lawyerson his staff. I believe it would be a good thing for you to talk to Mr.Blake."
"Please give me a letter of introduction to him," begged Mr. Baxter."What I need is legal talent and capital to fight these scoundrels. Mr.Blake may supply both."
"He may," agreed Tom. "I'll fix it so you can meet him. But what do youthink of this combination, Mr. Baxter? It is my very latest solutionfor putting out fires. I'm loading an airship up with some of the bombcontainers now, and--"
Tom's further remarks were interrupted by the noise of shouting andtumult in the street, and a moment later yells could be heard of:
"Fire! Fire! Fire!"
"Another blaze!" exclaimed Mr. Baxter, raising the shades which hadbeen drawn, since night had fallen.
"And not far away," said Tom, as he caught the reflection of a redgleam in the sky.
There was a ring at the front doorbell, and almost at once Ned Newton'svoice called:
"Tom! Tom Swift! There's quite a fire in town! Don't you want to tryyour new apparatus on it?"
"The very chance!" exclaimed the young inventor. "Come on, Mr. Baxter.There's room in the airship for you and Ned. I want you to see how mychemical works!"
Without waiting for a reply from the chemist, Tom caught him by thehand and led him toward the side door that gave egress to the yardwhere one of the airships was housed. Tom caught sight of Ned, who washastening toward him.
"Big fire, Tom!" said the young manager again. "Fierce one!"
"I'm going to try to put it out!" Tom answered. "Want to come?"
"Sure thing!" answered Ned.