"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding
him. He won't get away."

"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may
have a secret pocket."

But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful
search did not reveal anything incriminating in the man's
garments.

"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said
Tom. "Maybe they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're
there they're safe enough. But have a search made of the ground
where this man ran."

This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even
dragged the mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his
father had a talk with the stranger, who refused to give his
name. The man was sullen and angry. He talked loudly about his
innocence and of "having the law on" Tom for having tripped him
into the mud.

"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said
the young inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why
did you come on my grounds?"

"I was going to ask for work. I'm a. good machinist and I
wanted a job."

"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?"