"
But the RED STREAK was not in sight, and, a little later, Tom had
run the ARROW into the boathouse, locked the door and was on his
way up to the mansion.
"I suppose Mrs. Baggert and Garret will be surprised to see me,"
he remarked. "Maybe they'll think we don't trust them, by coming
back in this fashion to see that everything is safe. But then, I
suppose, dad is naturally nervous about some of his valuable
machinery and inventions. I think I'll find everything all right,
though."
As Tom went up the main path and swung off to a side one, which
was a short cut to the house, he saw in the dusk, for it was now
early evening, a movement in the bushes that lined the walk.
"Hello, Garret!" exclaimed the lad, taking it for granted it was
the engineer employed by Mr. Swift.
There was no reply, and Tom, with a sudden suspicion, sprang
toward the bushes. The shrubbery was more violently agitated and,
as the lad reached the screen of foliage, he saw a man spring up
from the ground and take to his heels.
"Here! Who are you? What do you want?" yelled Tom.
Hardly had he spoken when from behind a big apple tree another man
sprung. It was light enough so that the lad could see his face,
and a glimpse of it caused him to cry out:
"Happy Harry, the tramp!"
Before he could call again the two men had disappeared.
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