The housekeeper, when consulted, said that no tramps had applied in the last few days.

“Why do you ask, Tom?” inquired his father.

“Because I had an experience with one, and I believe he was a member of the same gang who robbed me.”  And thereupon Tom told of his encounter with Happy Harry, and how the latter had broken the wire on the motor-cycle.

“You had a narrow escape,” commented Mr. Swift.  “If I had known the dangers involved I would never have allowed you to take the model to Albany.”

“Well, I didn’t take it there, after all,” said Tom with a grim smile, for he could appreciate a joke.

“I must hurry and pack my valise,” went on Mr. Swift.  “Mrs. Baggert, we will have an early supper, and I will start at once for Albany.”

“I wish I could go with you, dad, to make up for the trouble I caused,” spoke Tom.

“Tut, tut!  Don’t talk that way,” advised his father kindly.  “I will be glad of the trip.  It will ease my mind to be doing something.”

Tom felt rather lonesome after his father had left, but he laid out a plan of action for himself that he thought would keep him occupied until his father returned.  In the first place he made a tour of the house and various machine shops to see that doors and windows were securely fastened.

“What’s the matter?  Do you expect burglars, Master Tom?” asked Garret Jackson, the aged engineer.

“Well, Garret, you never can tell,” replied the young inventor, as he told of his experience and the necessity for Mr. Swift going to Albany.  “Some of those scoundrels, finding how easy it was to rob me, may try it again, and get some at dad’s other valuable models.  I’m taking no chances.”

“That’s right, Master Tom.  I’ll keep steam up in the boiler to-night, though we don’t really need it, as your father told me you would probably not run any machinery when he was gone.  But with a good head of steam up, and a hose handy, I can give any burglars a hot reception.  I almost wish they’d come, so I could get square with them.”

“I don’t, Garret.  Well, I guess everything is in good shape.  If you hear anything unusual, or the alarm goes off during the night, call me.”

“I will, Master Tom,” and the old engineer, who had a living-room in a shack adjoining the boiler-room, locked the door after Tom left.

The young inventor spent the early evening in attaching a new wire to his motor-cycle to replace the one he had purchased while on his disastrous trip.  The temporary one was not just the proper thing, though it answered well enough. then, having done some work on a new boat propeller he was contemplating patenting, Tom felt that it was time to go to bed, as he was tired.  He made a second round of the house, looking to doors and windows, until Mrs. Baggert exclaimed: 

“Oh, Tom, do stop!  You make me nervous, going around that way.  I’m sure I shan’t sleep a wink to-night, thinking of burglars and tramps.”