Tom Swift and His Sky Racer | Page 6

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
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,
worked about the place.

In the first volume of this series, entitled "Tom Swift and his
Motor-Cycle," here was related how he came to possess that machine.
A certain Mr. Wakefield Damon, an eccentric gentleman, who was
always blessing himself, or something about him, owned the cycle, but
he came to grief on it, and sold it to Tom very cheaply.
Tom had a number of adventures on the wheel, and, after having used
the motor to save a valuable patent model from a gang of unscrupulous
men, the lad acquired possession of a power boat, in which he made
several trips, and took part in many exciting happenings.
Some time later, in company with John Sharp, an aeronaut, whom Tom
had rescued from Lake Carlopa, after the airman had nearly lost his life
in a burning balloon, the young inventor made a big airship, called the
Red Cloud. With Mr. Damon, Tom made several trips in this craft, as
set forth in the book, "Tom Swift and His Airship."
It was after this that Tom and his father built a submarine boat, and
went under the ocean for sunken treasure, and, following that trip Tom
built a speedy electric runabout, and by a remarkable run in that, with
Mr. Damon, saved a bank from ruin, bringing gold in time to stave off
a panic.
"Tom Swift and His Wireless Message"