"Dad, I've got a clue!" exclaimed Tom, hurrying into the house latethat afternoon, following a quick trip from where he had metEradicate with his sawmill. "A good clue, and I'm going to startearly in the morning to run it down."
"Wait a minute, now, Tom," cautioned his father slowly. "You knowwhat happens when you get excited. Nothing good was ever done in ahurry."
"Well, I can't help being excited, dad. I think I'm on the trail ofthose scoundrels. I almost wish I could start to-night."
"Suppose you tell me all about it," and Mr. Swift laid aside ascientific book he was reading.
Whereupon Tom told of his meeting with the colored man, and whatEradicate had said about the tramp.
"But he may not be the same Happy Harry you are looking for,"interposed Mr. Swift. "Tramps who don't like to work, and who have ajolly disposition, also those who ask for money and have designstattooed on their hands, are very common."
"Oh, but I'm sure this is the same one," declared Tom. "He wants tostay in this neighborhood until he locates his confederates. That'swhy he's hanging around. Now I have an idea that the desertedmansion, where Eradicate used to work, and which once housed GeneralHarkness and his family, is the rendezvous of this gang of thieves."
"You are taking a great deal for granted, Tom."
"I don't think so, dad. I've got to assume something, and maybe I'mwrong, but I don't think so. At any rate, I'm going to try, ifyou'll let me."
"What do you mean to do?"
"I want to go to that deserted mansion and see what I can find. If Ilocate the thieves, well--"
"You may run into danger."
"Then you admit I may be on the right track, dad?"
"Not at all," and Mr. Swift smiled at the quick manner in which Tomturned the tables on him. "I admit there may be a band of tramps inthat house. Very likely there is--almost any deserted place would beattractive to them. But they may not be the ones you seek. In fact,I hardly see how they can be. The men who stole my model and patentpapers are wealthy. They would not be very likely to stay indeserted houses."
"Perhaps some of the scoundrels whom they hired might, and throughthem I can get on the track of the principals."
"Well, there is something in that," admitted Mr. Swift.
"Then may I go, dad?"
"I suppose so. We must leave nothing untried to get back the stolenmodel and papers. But I don't want you to run any risks. If youwould only take some one with you. There's your chum, Ned Newton.Perhaps he would go."
"No, I'd rather work it alone, dad. I'll be careful. Besides, Nedcould not get away from the bank. I may have to be gone a week, andhe has no motor-cycle. I can manage all right."
Tom was off bright and early. He had carefully laid his plans, andhad decided that he would not go direct to Pineford, which was thenearest village to the old Harkness mansion.
"If those fellows are in hiding they will probably keep watch on whocomes to the village," thought Tom. "The arrival of some one on amotor-cycle will be sure to be reported to them, and they may skipout. I've got to come up from another direction, so I think I'llcircle around, and reach the mansion from the stretch of woods onthe north."
He had inquired from Eradicate as to the lay of the land, and had agood general idea of it. He knew there was a patch of woodland onone side of the mansion, while the other sides were open.
"I may not be able to ride through the woods," mused Tom, "but I'lltake my machine as close as I can, and walk the rest of the way.Once I discover whether or not the gang is in the place, I'll knowwhat to do."
To follow out the plan he had laid down for himself meant that Tommust take a roundabout way. It would necessitate being a............