Tom Swift and His Wireless Message | Page 3

splintered whip with energy.
"I said as how we'd better git along, Boomerang," went on the darkey,
raising his voice, "Dinnah am mos' ready, an' I'm goin' t' giv yo' an
extra helpin' ob oats."
The effect of these words seemed magical. The mule suddenly came to
life, and was about to start off.
"I done thought dat would cotch yo', Boomerang," chuckled Eradicate.
"Wait a minute, Rad," called Tom, who was tearing open the envelope
of the telegram. "I might want to send an answer back by you. I wonder
who is wiring me now?"
He read the message slowly, and Eradicate remarked:
"'Taint no kind ob use, Massa Tom, fo' t' send a message back wif me."
"Why not?" asked the young inventor, looking up from the sheet of

yellow paper.
"'Case as how I done promised Boomerang his airman, an' he won't do
nothin' till he has it. Ef I started him back t' town now he would jest lay
down in de road. I'll take de answer back fo' you dis arternoon."
"All right, perhaps that will do," assented Tom. "I haven't quite got the
hang of this yet. Drop around this afternoon, Rad," and as the colored
man, who, with his mule Boomerang, did odd jobs around the village,
started off down the highway, in another cloud of dust, Tom Swift
resumed the reading of the message.
"Hum, this is rather queer," he mused, when having read it once, he
began at it again. "It must have cost him something to send all this over
the wire. He could just as well have written it. So he wants my help, eh?
Well, I never heard of him, and he may be all right, but I had other
plans, and I don't know whether I can spare the time to go to
Philadelphia or not. I'll have to think it over. An electric airship, eh?
He's sort of following along the lines of my inventions. Wants my
aid--hum--well, I don't know--"
Tom's musings were suddenly cut short by the approach of an elderly
gentleman, who was walking slowly down the path that led from the
house to the country highway which ran in front of it.
"A telegram, Tom?" asked the newcomer.
"Yes, dad," was the reply. "I was just coming in to ask your advice
about it. Eradicate brought it to me."
"What, with his mule, Boomerang?" and the gentleman seemed much
amused. "How did he ever get up speed enough to deliver a telegram?"
"Oh, Eradicate has some special means he uses on his mule when he's
in a hurry. But listen to this message, dad. It's from a Mr. Hosmer
Fenwick, of Philadelphia. He says:"
"'Tom Swift--Can you come on to Philadelphia at once and aid me in

perfecting my new electric airship? I want to get it ready for a flight
before some government experts who have promised to purchase
several if it works well. I am in trouble, and I can't get it to rise off the
ground. I need help. I have heard about your airship, and the other
inventions you and your father have perfected, and I am sure you can
aid me. I am stuck. Can you hurry to the Quaker City? I will pay you
well. Answer at once!'"
"Well?" remarked Mr. Swift, questioningly, as his son finished reading
the telegram. "What are you going to do about it, Tom?"
"I don't exactly know, dad. I was going to ask your advice. What would
you do? Who is this Mr. Fenwick?"
"Well, he is an inventor of some note, but he has had many failures. I
have not heard of him in some years until now. He is a gentleman of
wealth, and can he relied upon to do just as he says. We are slightly
acquainted. Perhaps it would be well to aid him, if you can spare the
time. Not that you need the money, but inventors should be mutually
helpful. If you feel like going to Philadelphia, and aiding him in getting
his electric airship in shape, you have my permission."
"I don't know," answered Tom, doubtfully. "I was just getting my
monoplane in shape for a little flight. It was nothing particular, though.
Dad, I think I WILL take a run to Philadelphia, and see if I can help Mr.
Fenwick. I'll wire him that I am coming, to-morrow or next day."
"Very well," assented Mr. Swift, and then he and his son went into one
of the shops, talking of a new invention which they were about to
patent.
Tom little knew what a strange series of adventures were to follow his
decision to go to the Quaker City, nor the danger involved in aiding Mr.
Fenwick to operate his electric airship.
CHAPTER II