Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight; or, on the border for Uncle Sam

ow Andy Foger wa

I didn't Ned! No

man working around it to-day as I came past. But he was a carpenter,

ack," remarked Tom, as he thought of the lad who had so long been his enemy, an

upposed to be sold. But I heard later that there was some flaw in the title, and the sale fell through. It is because he couldn't sell the place tha

y n

place for a poor man to keep u

marked Tom. "Well, I don't wish anybody bad luck but I certainly hope the Fogers keep po

Andy was to pay him a visit, but Andy didn't come then, for some reason or other

out coming back here?" and the young

"What makes you s

sometimes, trying to get the secret of some of my airships and machinery. And I admit I think it l

e house may be rented, and they may be fixing it up for a tenant. It's been

ay, you don't believe in

ame past the place quite late the other night he heard groans, and

and I guess my colored helper is 'seeing things,' as well as hearing them. But, as you say, it may be that the house

k, I b

day would be enoug

being afraid Andy will do you some ha

t of which the two lads had been talking. It was a shop where the young inventor con

me one may hear

e especially careful that Andy Foger doesn't spy on any of my inven

motor, that would give out no sound, no matter at how high a speed it was run. "That's gre

n his efforts to perfect this motor, which he intended to install on one of his airships. "If any one sa

d, for he realized that his

o the motor, a new sparking device, and an improved muffler. I think I could start my new airship in front of

do with it, when you

t together, and installed, and in that time something may turn up. Well, let's ta

I'd like to see

certain part to attach to the sparker, and I had

reak it on the way back, he's so strong.

ting for him, come on in the house, a

large old-fashioned residence, in the suburbs of Shopton. To

ctricity," explained the young inv

is one," and Ned picked up a dainty volume of verse. "'To Tom Swift, with the best wishes of Mary--'" but that was as far as he read, for Tom grabbe

reading poetry

ot it last Christmas. Now here's a dandy one on lion hunting, Ned," and to cove

ess you could give them some points on snappi

ly. "I may take the camera along on some trips in my noiseless a

y with him, was entering the front gate. He stopped to speak to Mr. Swift, Tom's father, who was se

f late, and the doctor had recommended him to be out of doors as m

nting to the giant. Then Tom an

of the wheel barrow. Then, as easily as if it was a pound weight, the big man lifted Mr. Swift, barrow, plants

Mr. Swift," exclaimed Koku with a la

entor with a smile at Koku's English, for the giant frequently got

is call me,"

t," exclaimed Ned, "and that w

any one strong enough to match Koku. And he's

o, I guess,

attachment?" asked Tom, as his

have taxed the strength of either of the boys to lift with one hand. But Koku's pockets were ver

nt him. He held it out on a couple of fingers, as one might

an taking some letters and papers from his pocket

rrected Tom with a laugh. "A

the post office gave me the female

emarked Ned. "But letter mail and a male

t. Well, then, Mr. Tom, here is your mail, that the female lad

then the giant continued to delve for more. One of the pa

it "outcame" with such suddenness that the paper was torn in half

Tom, as scraps of paper were scattered about

humbly, as he stooped over to pick

ndly. "That's only a big bund

g over to help Koku clear the rug of the litter.

ere's something new, and I

t is

border into the northern part of this state. The piece is torn, but there's something here

g airships!" cried Tom. "

ery way to catch them, and when they couldn't land 'em, the only theory they could

smuggler in an airship at night? Some excitement

d it closely. Then in his turn, he

t?" inquir

nk of that, Ned. Our town here, is in some way connected with the airship smugglers! We must find the rest of this scrap of paper, and paste it together. This may be a b