Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel; Or, The Hidden City of the Andes

Expe

, what does that mean?" excl

"But the sight of some one looking in here se

e man who blessed everything he could think of. "The sight of his fac

e window," said Tom, decidedly.

er the tunnel contractor, who was running down t

ome one, Tom,"

ee he is.

ch his horse was still standing. Mr. Damon had washed the dirt from his hands a

unning Mr. Titus. They were in half a mind to join him, when they saw him pull

emarked Tom. "We'll walk down and meet M

or, who was breathing heavily after his run, f

ut I had to act quickly or lose the chance of catching that rascal. As it was, he got away, but I t

it?" as

d, as he walked back toward the house with Tom and Mr. Damon, "but I'm pretty sure t

ng information that ought not be

d the contractor. "Only perhaps we had b

brary. "It is best to be on the safe side. The face I saw, I'm sure, was that of Waddington, who is a tool of Blakeson & Grinder, rival tunnel con

n revolutionists and politicians, but we held our ground and began the work. Since then they have had spies and emissaries on ou

py, and I've found him dodging me several times of late. I suppose he wants t

e difficulties you are now meeting with in digging t

hard rock that is bothering us. Only for that we'd be all right, though we might have p

gton, if it was he, knew you

u, Tom Swift. That is, I announced my intention of coming to see you, and my

ce. There is nothing to prevent one of our stenographers, for instance, turning

one to know my plans. I never thought of making a secret of them, or of my trip here. In some way Waddington found out

nk he did?"

didn't learn the secret of the explosive that must be used, and that is the vital thing. For I defy him, or any other contractor, to blast that hard rock with any k

inventor. "I think I'll have to experiment and m

an see that you are eager for the adventures I am sure you'll fi

med the odd man. "Bless my excu

ent the new powde

claimed Mr. Titus. "It shows you

nly s

ould even purchase it from our rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, if I thought the

ll fail, and have to give up the contract, and they may think they can step in and finish the w

ave applied to me and, like a lawyer, I won't go over to the other side now. I consider myself retained by

" cried the con

ellows. Now to get down to business. I must see some samples of this r

it sent to you at once. I would have brought it, only it is to

believe you called him-get aw

actor answered. "He was

that would benefit him, and I'll give my men orders to be o

ed the eavesdropper, a

I passed that chap when I was ridin

u d

ing strange in that, since you employ a number of men, and I thought this o

ual," commented Mr. Titus. "Well, now what

of the rock, so I can

. For I'm sure you will be successful in your experiments,

wild country if I know Tom Swift is with me, and I will appreciate the help of you

I can for you

ne of his men to keep a sharp watch around the house and grounds, against the possibl

to pay a large sum in case the young inventor was successful, and then the

al objects, took his departure, his fractious horse having

, as he went back to his laboratory. "It's a new field for

ollow his agreement to help Mr. Titus, our

e could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, and, tossing as

walk! This thing is g

outskirts of the town, he saw just ahead of him the figure of

ou going, Ma

" she exclaimed, turning aroun

Somethi

and she blushed. "But

ng wit

othing if

until you're asked?" she

f, and then I'm going to invite you in here to have an ice cream soda

e glanced toward the door, and started at th

sked Mary. "Did you dr

y. But t

ted man hurry out of the candy sho

he?" the

, but I guess I don't," said Tom, q

nk you.

the man, for he thought he had recognized the face as the same that had peered in his window

but when he saw me he didn't care about it. I wonder if that

g any new adventure

hinking of g

nd when you get there will you write to me? I'm

reason you want me

softly, as she

d as he t

e samples from the Andes tunnel, and Tom at once began his experi

. Swift. "You'll never get an explosive

declared the