called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures on the
Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate,
though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored
man had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout
not to be supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about
letting the two be entrusted with the same mission of catching a
chicken for the pot.

"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them
about it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to
dinner, as he always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve
now, and as I may be delayed talking business to these strangers,
you'd better get up a bigger meal than usual."

"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young
inventor, having seen that one of the men took the automobile to
the garage, went into the house.

"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out
into the hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for
you, my boy. I couldn't think what was keeping you."

"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine--nothing
serious."

A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed,
prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him.

"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out
his hand.