b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第2节
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eccentric colored man who was employed by the inventor and his son to
help around the place。 〃Very likely it was Eradicate； Tom。〃
〃I don't think so；〃 was the lad's answer。 〃He went to the village a while
ago； and said he wouldn't be back until late to…night。 He had to get some
medicine for his mule； Boomerang； who is sick。 No； it wasn't Eradicate；
but some one was under that window； trying to hear what we said。〃
As he spoke in guarded tones； Tom went softly to the casement and
looked out。 He could observe nothing； as the night was dark； and the new
moon； which had been shining； was now dimmed by clouds。
〃See anything？〃 asked Mr。 Gunmore as he advanced to Tom's side。
〃No；〃 was the low answer。 I can't hear anything now； either。〃
〃I'll go speak to Mrs。 Baggert； the housekeeper；〃 volunteered Mr。 Swift。
〃Perhaps it was she； or she may know something about it。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
He started from the room； and as he went Tom noticed； with something
of a start； that his father appeared older that night than he had ever looked
before。 There was a trace of pain on the face of the aged inventor； and his
step was lagging。
〃I guess dad needs a rest and doctoring up；〃 thought the young
inventor as he turned the electric chandelier off by a button on the wall； in
order to darken the room； so that he might peer out to better advantage。 〃I
think he's been working too hard on his wireless motor。 I must get Dr。
Gladby to come over and see dad。 But now I want to find out who that was
under this window。〃
Once more Tom looked out。 The moon had emerged from behind a
thin bank of clouds； and gave a little light。
〃See anything？〃 asked Mr。 Gunmore cautiously。
〃No；〃 whispered the youth； for it being a warm might； the windows
were open top and bottom； a screen on the outside keeping out mosquitoes
and other insects。 〃I can't see a thing；〃 went on Tom； 〃but I'm sure〃
He paused suddenly。 As he spoke there sounded a rustling in the
shrubbery a little distance from the window。
〃There's something！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Gunmore。
〃I see！〃 answered the young inventor。
Without another word he softly opened the screen； and then； stooping
down to get under the lower sash （for the windows in the library ran all the
way to the floor）； Tom dropped out of the casement upon the thick grass。
As he did so he was aware of a further movement in the bushes。 They
were violently agitated； and a second later a dark object sprang from them
and sprinted along the path。
〃Here！ Who are you？ Hold on！〃 cried the young inventor。
But the figure never halted。 Tom sprang forward； determined to see
who it was； and； if possible； capture him。
〃Hold on！〃 he cried again。 There was no answer。
Tom was a good runner； and in a few seconds he had gained on the
fugitive； who could just be seen in the dim light from the crescent moon。
〃I've got you！〃 cried Tom。
But he was mistaken； for at that instant his foot caught on the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
outcropping root of a tree； and the young inventor went flat on his face。
〃Just my luck！〃 he cried。
He was quickly on his feet again； and took after the fugitive。 The latter
glanced back； and； as it happened； Tom had a good look at his face。 He
almost came to a stop； so startled was he。
〃Andy Foger！〃 he exclaimed as he recognized the bully who had
always proved himself such an enemy of our hero。 〃Andy Foger sneaking
under my windows to hear what I had to say about my new aeroplane！ I
wonder what his game can be？ I'll soon find out！〃
Tom was about to resume the chase； when he lost sight of the figure。 A
moment later he heard the puffing of an automobile； as some one cranked
it up。
〃It's too late！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃There he goes in his car！〃 And
knowing it would be useless to keep up the chase； the youth turned back
toward his house。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Two
Mr。 Swift is Ill
〃Who was it？〃 asked Mr。 Gunmore as Tom again entered the library。
〃A friend of yours？〃
〃Hardly a friend；〃 replied Tom grimly。 〃It was a young fellow who has
made lots of trouble for me in the past； and who； lately； with his father；
tried to get ahead of me and some friends of mine in locating a gold claim
in Alaska。 I don't know what he's up to now； but certainly it wasn't any
good。 He's got nerve； sneaking up under our windows！〃
〃What do you think was his object？〃
〃It would he hard to say。〃
〃Can't you find him to…morrow； and ask him？〃
〃There's not much satisfaction in that。 The less I have to do with Andy
Foger the better I'm satisfied。 Well； perhaps it's just as well I fell； and
couldn't catch him。 There would have been a fight； and I don't want to
worry dad any more than I can help。 He hasn't been very well of late。〃
〃No； he doesn't look very strong；〃 agreed the secretary。 〃But I hope he
doesn't get sick； and I hope no bad consequences result from the
eavesdropping of this Foger fellow。〃
Tom started for the hall； to get a brush with which to remove some of
the dust gathered in his chase after Andy。 As he opened the library door to
go out Mr。 Swift came in again。
〃I saw Mrs。 Baggert； Tom；〃 he said。 〃She wasn't out under the window；
and； as you said； Eradicate isn't about。 His mule is in the barn； so it
couldn't have been the animal straying around。〃
〃No； dad。 It was Andy Foger。〃
〃Andy Foger！〃
〃Yes。 I couldn't catch him。 But you'd better go lie down； father。 It's
getting late； and you look tired。〃
〃I am tired； Tom； and I think I'll go to bed。 Have you finished your
arrangements with Mr。 Gunmore？〃
〃Well； I guess we've gone as far as we can until I invent the new
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
aeroplane；〃 replied Tom； with a smile。
〃Then you'll really enter the meet？〃 asked the secretary eagerly。
〃I think I will；〃 decided Tom。 〃The prize of ten thousand dollars is
worth trying for； and besides that； I'll be glad to get to work again on a
speedy craft。 Yes； I'll enter the meet。〃
〃Good！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Gunmore； shaking hands with the young
inventor。 〃I didn't have my trip for nothing； then。 I'll go back in the
morning and report to the committee that I've been successful。 I am greatly
obliged to you。〃
He left the Swift home； after refusing Tom's invitation to remain all
night； and went to his hotel。 Tom then insisted that his father retire。
As for the young inventor； he was not satisfied with the result of his
attempt to catch Andy Foger。 He had no idea why the bully was hiding
under the library window； but Tom surmised that some mischief might be
afoot。
〃Sam Snedecker or Pete Bailey； the two cronies of Andy； may still be
around here； trying to play some trick on me；〃 mused Tom。 〃I think I'll
take a look outside。〃 And taking a stout cane from the umbrella rack； the
youth sallied forth into the yard and extensive grounds surrounding his
house。
While he is thus looking for possible intruders we will tell you a little
more about him than has been possible since the call of the aviation
secretary。
Tom Swift lived with his father； Barton Swift； in the town of Shopton；
New York State。 The young man had followed in the footsteps of his
parent； and was already an inventor of note。
Their home was presided over by Mrs。 Baggert； as housekeeper； since
Mrs。 Swift had been dead several years。 In addition； there was Garret
Jackson； an engineer； who aided Tom and his father； and Eradicate
Sampson； an odd colored man； who； with his mule； Boomerang；
