Tom Swift and His Wireless Message | Page 4

MISS NESTOR'S NEWS

"When do you think you will go to Philadelphia, Tom?" asked Mr.
Swift, a little later, as the aged inventor and his son were looking over
some blueprints which Garret Jackson, an engineer employed by them,
had spread out on a table.
"I don't exactly know," was the answer. "It's quite a little run from
Shopton, because I can't get a through train. But I think I'll start
tomorrow."
"Why do you go by train?" asked Mr. Jackson.
"Why--er--because--" was Tom's rather hesitating reply. "How else
would I go?"
"Your monoplane would be a good deal quicker, and you wouldn't have
to change cars," said the engineer. "That is if you don't want to take out
the big airship. Why don't you go in the monoplane?"
"By Jove! I believe I will!" exclaimed Tom. "I never thought of that,
though it's a wonder I didn't. I'll not take the RED CLOUD, as she's too
hard to handle alone. But the BUTTERFLY will be just the thing," and
Tom looked over to where a new monoplane rested on the three bicycle
wheels which formed part of its landing frame. "I haven't had it out
since I mended the left wing tip," he went on, "and it will also be a
good chance to test my new rudder. I believe I WILL go to
Philadelphia by the BUTTERFLY."
"Well, as long as that's settled, suppose you give us your views on this
new form of storage battery," suggested Mr. Swift, with a fond glance
at his son, for Tom's opinion was considered valuable in matters
electrical, as those of you, who have read the previous books in this
series, well know.
The little group in the machine shop was soon deep in the discussion of
ohms, amperes, volts and currents, and, for a time, Tom almost forgot
the message calling him to Philadelphia.
Taking advantage of the momentary lull in the activities of the young

inventor, I will tell my readers something about him, so that those who
have no previous introduction to him may feel that he is a friend.
Tom Swift lived with his father, Barton Swift, a widower, in the village
of Shopton, New York. There was also in the household Mrs. Baggert,
the aged housekeeper, who looked after Tom almost like a mother.
Garret Jackson, an engineer and general helper, also lived with the
Swifts.
Eradicate Sampson might also be called a retainer of the family, for
though the aged colored man and his mule Boomerang did odd work
about the village, they were more often employed by Tom and his
father than by any one else. Eradicate was so called because, as he said,
he "eradicated" the dirt. He did whitewashing, made gardens, and did
anything else that was needed. Boomerang was thus named by his
owner, because, as Eradicate said, "yo' nebber know jest what dat mule
am goin' t' do next. He may go forward or he may go backward, jest
laik them Australian boomerangs."
There was another valued friend of the family, Wakeneld Damon by
name, to whom the reader will be introduced in due course. And then
there was Mary Nestor, about whom I prefer to let Tom tell you himself,
for he might be jealous if I talked too much about her.
In the first book of this series, called "Tom Swift and His Motor-
Cycle," there was told how he became possessed of the machine, after
it had nearly killed Mr. Damon, who was learning to ride it. Mr.
Damon, who had a habit of "blessing" everything from his collar button
to his shoe laces, did not "bless" the motor-cycle after it tried to climb a
tree with him; and he sold it to Tom very cheaply. Tom repaired it,
invented some new attachments for it, and had a number of adventures
on it. Not the least of these was trailing after a gang of scoundrels who
tried to get possession of a valuable patent model belonging to Mr.
Swift.
Our second book, called "Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat," related
some exciting times following the acquisition by the young inventor of
a speedy craft which the thieves of the patent model had stolen. In the

boat Tom raced with Andy Foger, a town bully, and beat him. Tom also
took out on pleasure trips his chum, Ned Newton, who worked in a
Shopton bank, and the two had fine times together. Need I also say that
Mary Nestor also had trips in the motor-boat? Besides some other
stirring adventures in his speedy craft Tom rescued, from a burning
balloon that fell into the lake, the aeronaut, John Sharp. Later Mr.
Sharp and Tom built an airship, called the RED CLOUD, in which they
had some strenuous times.
Their adventures in this