"
"Oh, I believe you all right," answered Tom, for there could be no
doubting Andy's manner, even though he and the young inventor were
not on good terms. "But how did your keys get in my boat?"
"I don't know, unless you found them, kept them and dropped them
there," was the insolent answer.
"You know better than that," exclaimed Tom.
"Well, I owe you a reward of two dollars for giving them back to
me," continued the bully patronizingly. "Here it is," and he
hauled out some bills.
"I don't want your money!" fired back Tom.
"But I'd like to know who it was that was in my boat."
"And I'd like to know who it was took my keys," and Andy stuffed
the money back in his pocket. Tom did not answer. He was
puzzling over a queer matter and he wanted to be alone and think.
He turned aside from the red-haired lad and walked toward his
motor-boat.
"I'll give you a surprise in a few days," Andy called after him,
but Tom did not turn his head nor did he inquire what the surprise
might be.
Mr. Swift was somewhat puzzled when his son related the outcome of
the key incident. He agreed with Tom that some one might have
found the ring and kept it, and that the same person might have
been the one whom Tom had surprised in the boathouse.
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