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.""I will, Master Tom," and the old engineer, who had a livingroom in a shackadjoining the boilerroom, locked the door after Tom left.The young inventor spent the early evening in attaching a new wire to hismotorcycle to replace the one he had purchased while on his disastrous trip.The temporary one was not just the proper thing, though it answered wellenough.Then, having done some work on a new boat propeller he wascontemplating patenting, Tom felt that it was time to go to bed, as he wastired.He made a second round of the house, looking to doors and windows,until Mrs.Baggert exclaimed:"Oh, Tom, do stop! You make me nervous, going around that way.I'm sure Ishan't sleep a wink tonight, thinking of burglars and tramps."Tom laughingly desisted, and went up to his room.He sat up a few minutes,writing a letter to a girl of his acquaintance, for, in spite of the fact thatthe young inventor was very busy with his own and his father's work, he foundtime for lighter pleasures.Then, as his eyes seemed determined to close ofPage 49ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmltheir own accord, if he did not let them, he tumbled into bed.Tom fancied it was nearly morning when he suddenly awoke with a start.Heheard a noise, and at first he could not locate it.Then his trained eartraced it to the diningroom."Why, Mrs.Baggert must be getting breakfast, and is rattling the dishes," hethought."But why is she up so early?"It was quite dark in Tom's room, save for a little gleam from the crescentmoon, and by the light of this Tom arose and looked at his watch.Tom Swift and His MotorcycleCHAPTER XVIII.HAPPY HARRY AGAIN55"Two o'clock," he whispered."That can't be Mrs.Baggert, unless she's sick,and got up to take some medicine."He listened intently.Below, in the diningroom, he could hear stealthymovements."Mrs.Baggert would never move around like that," he decided."She's tooheavy.I wonder it's a burglar one of the gang has gotten in!" he exclaimed intense tones."I'm going to catch him at it!"Hurriedly he slipped on some clothes, and then, having softly turned on theelectric light in his room, he took from a corner a small rifle, which he madesure was loaded.Then, having taken a small electric flashlight, of the kindused by police men, and sometimes by burglars, he started on tiptoe toward thelower floor.As Tom softly descended the stairs he could more plainly hear the movements ofthe intruder.He made out now that the burglar was in Mr.Swift's study, whichopened from the diningroom."He's after dad's papers!" thought Tom."I wonder which one this is?"The youth had often gone hunting in the woods, and he knew how to approachcautiously.Thus he was able to reach the door of the diningroom without beingdetected.He had no need to flash his light, for the intruder was doing thatso frequently with one he carried that Tom could see him perfectly.The fellowwas working at the safe in which Mr.Swift kept his more valuable papers.Softly, very softly Tom brought his rifle to bear on the back of the thief.Then, holding the weapon with one hand, for it was very light, Tom extendedthe electric flash, so that the glare would be thrown on the intruder andwould leave his own person in the black shadows.Pressing the spring whichcaused the lantern to throw out a powerful glow, Tom focused the rays on thekneeling man."That will be about all!" the youth exclaimed in as steady a voice as he couldmanage.The burglar turned like a flash, and Tom had a glimpse of his face.It was thetramp Happy Harry whom he had encountered on the lonely road.CHAPTER XIX.TOM ON A HUNTTOM held his rifle in readiness, though he only intended it as a means ofintimidation, and would not have fired at the burglar except to save his ownlife.But the sight of the weapon was enough for the tramp.He crouchedmotionless.His own light had gone out, but by the gleam of the electric hecarried Tom could see that the man had in his hand some tool with which he hadbeen endeavoring to force the safe."I guess you've got me!" exclaimed the intruder, and there was in his tones notrace of the tramp dialect."It looks like it," agreed Tom grimly."Are you a tramp now, or in some otherdisguise?""Can't you see?" asked the fellow sullenly, and then Tom did notice that theman still had on his tramp makeup."What do you want?" asked Tom."Hard to tell." replied the burglar calmly."I hadn't got the safe open beforeyou came down and disturbed me.Page 50ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlI'm after money, naturally."Tom Swift and His MotorcycleCHAPTER XIX.TOM ON A HUNT56"No, you're not!" exclaimed Tom."What's that?" and the man seemed surprised."No, you're not!" went on Tom, and he held his rifle in readiness."You'reafter the patent papers and the model of the turbine motor.But it's gone.Your confederates got it away from me.They probably haven't told you yet, andyou're still on the hunt for it [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]