"I wish I was an inventor."
"Oh, we inventors don't have such an easy time," said Mr. Swift.
"You never know when trouble is coming," and he little imagined
how near the truth he was.
A little later they were at the hotel dock. When Tom had tied up
his boat the three walked up the path to the broad veranda that
faced the lake. A boy in uniform met them.
"Some one has just called you on the telephone, Mr. Swift," he
reported.
"Some one wants me? Who is it?"
"I think he said his name is Jackson, sir, Garret Jackson, and he
says the message is very important."
"Tom, something has happened at home!" exclaimed the inventor as
he hurried up the steps. "I'm afraid there's bad news."
Unable to still the fear in his heart, Tom followed his father.
CHAPTER XX
NEWS OF A ROBBERY
With a hand that trembled so he could scarcely hold the receiver
of the telephone, Mr. Swift placed it to his ear.
"Hello! Hello!" he cried into the transmitter. "Yes, this is Mr.
Swift--yes, Garret. What is it?"
Then came a series of clicks, which Tom and Ned listened to. The
inventor spoke again.
"What's that? The same men? Broke in early this evening? Oh,
that's too bad! Of course, I'll come at once."
There followed more meaningless clicks, which Tom wished he could
translate.
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