Bartholomew East and was engaged by Montagne Lewis to interfere
with any attempt the president of the H. & P. A. might make to
pull his railroad out of the financial quagmire into which it was
rapidly sinking, Tom would have preferred to have the spy not
suspect that he had been identified after his fiasco of the
previous evening.

For if this Western looking fellow was Andy O'Malley, whose
name had been mentioned by the railroad man, he was the person
who had robbed Tom of his wallet and had afterward attempted
reprisal upon the young inventor because the robbery had resulted
in no gain to the robber.

Of course, the fellow had been unable to read Tom's shorthand
notes of the agreement that he had discussed with Mr.
Bartholomew. Just what the nature of that agreement was, would be
a matter of interest to the spy's employer.

Having failed in this attempt to learn something which was not
his business, the spy might make other and more serious attempts
to learn the particulars of the agreement between the railroad
president and the Swifts. Tom was sorry that the fellow had now
been forewarned that his identity as the spy and footpad was
known to Tom and his friends.

Koku had made a bad mess of it. But Tom determined to say
nothing to his father regarding the discovery he had made. He did
not want to worry Mr. Swift. He meant, however, to redouble
precautions at the Swift Construction Company against any
stranger getting past the stockade gates.