Tom watched his father anxiously. The young inventor knew the losshad been a heavy one, and he blamed himself for not having been morecareful.
"Tell me all about it, Tom," said Mr. Swift at length. "Are you surethe model and papers are gone? How did it happen?"
Then Tom related what had befallen him.
"Oh, that's too bad!" cried Mr. Swift. "Are you much hurt, Tom?Shall I send for the doctor?" For the time being his anxiety overhis son was greater than that concerning his loss.
"No, indeed, dad. I'm all right now. I got a bad blow on the head,but Mrs. Blackford fixed me up. I'm awfully sorry---"
"There, there! Now don't say another word," interrupted Mr. Swift."It wasn't your fault. It might have happened to me. I dare say itwould, for those scoundrels seemed very determined. They aredesperate, and will stop at nothing to make good the loss theysustained on the patent motor they exploited. Now they will probablytry to make use of my model and papers."
"Do you think they'll do that, dad?"
"Yes. They will either make a motor exactly like mine, or constructone so nearly similar that it will answer their purpose. I will haveno redress against them, as my patent is not fully granted yet. Mr.Crawford was to attend to that."
"Can't you do anything to stop them, dad? File an injunction, orsomething like that?"
"I don't know. I must see Mr. Crawford at once. I wonder if he couldcome here? He might be able to advise me. I have had very littleexperience with legal difficulties. My specialty is in other linesof work. But I must do something. Every moment is valuable. I wonderwho the men were?"
"I'm sure one of them was the same man who came here that night--theman with the black mustache, who dropped the telegram," said Tom. "Ihad a pretty good look at him as the auto passed me, and I'm sure itwas he. Of course I didn't see who it was that struck me down, but Iimagine it was some one of the same gang."
"Very likely. Well, Tom, I must do something. I suppose I mighttelegraph to Mr. Crawford--he will be expecting you in Albany--" Mr.Swift paused musingly. "No, I have it!" he suddenly exclaimed. "I'llgo to Albany myself."
"Go to Albany, dad?"
"Yes; I must explain everything to the lawyers and then he canadvise me what to do. Fortunately I have some papers, duplicates ofthose you took, which I can show him. Of course the originals willbe necessary before I can prove my claim. The loss of the model isthe most severe, however. Without that I can do little. But I willhave Mr. Crawford take whatever steps are possible. I'll take thenight train, Tom. I'll have to leave you to look after matters here,and I needn't caution you to be on your guard, though, having gotwhat they were after, I fancy those financiers, or their tools, willnot bother us again."
"Very likely not," agreed Tom, "but I will keep my eyes open, justthe same. Oh, but that reminds me, dad. Did you see anything of atramp around here while I was away?"
"A tramp? No; but you had better ask Mrs. Baggert. She usuallyattends to them. She's so kind-hearted that she frequently givesthem a good meal."
The housekeeper, when consulted, said that no tramps had applied inthe last few days.
"Why do you ask, Tom?" inquired his father.
"Because I had an experience with one, and I believe he was a memberof the same gang who robbed me." And thereupon Tom told of hisencounter with Happy Harry, and how the latter had broken the wireon the motor-cycle.
"You had a narrow escape," commented Mr. Swift. "If I had known thedangers involved I would never have allowed you to take the model toAlbany."
"Well, I didn't take it there, after all," said Tom with a grimsmile, for he could appreciate a joke.
"I must hurry and pack my valise," went on Mr. Swift. "Mrs. Baggert,we will have an early supper, and I will start at once for Albany."
"I wish I could go with you, dad, to make up for the trouble Icaused," spoke Tom.
"Tut, tut! Don't talk that way," advised his father kindly. "I willbe glad of the trip. It will ease my mind to be doing something."
Tom felt rather lonesome after his father had left, but he laid outa plan of action for himself that he thought would keep him occupieduntil his father returned. In the first place he made a tour of thehouse and various machi............