"No, I knew you'd find nothing, and you have had your trouble for
your pains."

"Oh, Uncle Sam doesn't mind trouble."

"And you have caused me much annoyance!" said Mr. Foger sharply.

"I'm afraid we'll have to cause you more," was the agent's comment.
"I want to have a look in the gardener's house, from where Tom Swift
saw the load going away."

"There is nothing there!" declared Mr. Foger quickly. "That is,
nothing but some old furniture. I sold a lot of it, and I suppose
the man who bought it came for it to-night."

"We'll take a look," repeated the agent, "I am very fond of old
furniture."

"Very well," responded the bully's father, as he eyed Tom and Ned
blackly.

He led the way out of the house, and soon they stood before the
small cottage. It was dark, and when Mr. Foger unlocked the door he
turned on the gas, and lighted it.

"I left the gas on until all the furniture should be taken out," he
explained. "But you will find nothing here."

It needed but a glance about the place to show that only some odds