THE LIGHT OF DAY
"What's that? Your dye formulae here in my office?" cried Mr. Keith,
for he had heard something of the chemist's loss, though he did not
directly associate Field and Melling with it.
"That's what this is! The very papers, containing all the rare secrets,
for which I have been so at a loss!" cried the delighted old man. "Now
I can give to the world the dyes for which it has long been waiting!
Oh, Tom Swift, you did more than you knew when you put out this fire!"
and he hugged the bundle of smoke-smelling papers to his breast.
"But how did they get here?" asked the young inventor. "I know that
Field and Melling had offices in this building. They were starting a
new dye concern, and, though Mr. Baxter and I suspected them of having
stolen his secret, we couldn't prove it."
"But we can now!" cried Mr. Baxter. "Though I don't know that I'll
bother even to accuse them, as long as I have back my previous papers.
I see how it happened. They had the formulae in their office. They
rushed out with the documents, and, when they found they couldn't get
past this floor, they went into Mr. Keith's office. There, in their
excitement, they dropped the papers, and you put the fire out just in
time, Tom, or they'd have been burned beyond hope of saving. You have
given me back something almost as valuable as life, Tom Swift!"
"I'm glad I could render you that service," said the young inventor.
"And I had no idea, when I dropped the chemicals, that I was saving
someone even more valuable than your secret formulae," and they all
knew he referred to Mary Nestor.
An examination of the papers found on Mr. Keith's office floor showed
that not one of the dye secrets was missing. Thus Mr. Baxter came into
possession of his own again, and when Field and Melling were
sufficiently recovered they were charged with the theft of the papers.
The charge was proved, and, in addition, other accusations were brought
against them which insured their remainder in jail for a considerable
period.
As Mr. Baxter had suspected, Field and Melling had, indeed, robbed him
of his dye formulae papers. They learned that he possessed them, and
they invited him to a night conference with the purpose of robbing him.
The fire in their factory was an accident, of which they took advantage
to make it appear that the chemist lost his papers in the blaze. But
they had taken them, and though they did not mean to leave poor Baxter
to his fate, that would have been the result of their selfish action
had not Tom and Ned come to the rescue. And it was of this "putting
over" that Field and Melling had boasted, the time Tom overheard their
talk at Meadow Inn.
As Mr. Baxter guessed, the letter delivered to him at Tom's place was
one that the two scoundrels would have retained, as they had others
like it, if they had seen it. But a new clerk forwarded it, and the
evidence it contained helped to convict Field and Melling.
As for the Landmark Building, while badly damaged, it would have been
worse burned but for Tom's prompt action. And though he was more than
glad that he had been on hand, he rather regretted that he could not
give the test for which he had set out.
Eventually the building was made more nearly fire-proof and the
fire-escapes were rebuilt, and Mr. Blake did not lose his money, as he
had feared, though Barton Keith said it was more owing to Tom Swift's
good luck than to Mr. Blake's management.
But, as it developed, nothing could have been more opportune than Tom's
action, for word of his quenching a bigger blaze than he would have had
to encounter in the official test reached the Denton fire department.
As a result there was a conference, and, after only a nominal showing
of his apparatus, it was adopted by a unanimous vote.
But this occurred some time afterward, for, following his rescue of
Mary Nestor and her uncle and the saving of the lives of Field and
Melling, as well as others in the building, by his prompt smothering of
the fire, Tom returned to Shopton.
He and his companions went in the Lucifer, minus, now, the big load of
chemicals, and on landing near the hangar Tom was surprised to see Koku
the giant running toward him. The big man showed every symptom of great
excitement as he cried:
"Oh, Master Tom! He see the light ob day! he see the light ob day now!
Oh, so glad! So glad!"
"Who sees the light of day?" asked the young inventor.
"Black Rad! Eradicate! Him eyes all better now! Pill man take off
cloth. Rad--he see light ob day!"
"Oh, I'm so glad! So thankful!" cried Tom. "How I've wished for this!
Is it really true, Koku?"
"Sure true! Pill man say Rad see K O now." The giant, doubtless, meant
"O K," but Tom understood. And it was true, as he learned more directly
a little later.
When Tom entered the room where Rad had been kept in the dark ever
since the explosion, the colored man looked at his master with seeing
eyes, though the apartment was still but dimly lighted.
"I's all right ag'in now, Massa Tom!" cried Rad. "See fine! I's all
ready to make more smellin' stuff to put out fires!"
"You won't have to, Rad!" cried Tom joyfully. "My chemical extinguisher
is completed, and you did your share in making it a success. But I
never would have felt like claiming credit for it if you had been--had
been left in the dark."
"No mo' dark, Massa Tom!" said Eradicate. "I kin see now as good as
eber, an' yo'-all won't hab to 'pend on dat lazy good-fo'-nuffin
cocoanut!" and he chuckled as he looked at the giant.
"Huh! Lazy!" retorted the big man. "I show you--black coon!"
"By golly!" laughed Rad. "Him an' me good friends now, Massa Tom. Neber
I fuss wif Koku any mo'! He suah was good to me when I had to stay in
de dark!"
Of course it would be too much to hope that Koku and Eradicate never
again quarreled, but for a long time their warm friendship was a thing
at which to marvel, considering the past.
"Well, I guess this settles it," said Tom to Ned one day, after going
over the day's mail.
"Settles what, Tom?"
"My aerial fire-fighting apparatus. Here's word from the National Fire
Underwriters Association that they have adopted it, and there will be a
big reduction of rates in all cities where it is a part of the fire
department equipment. It's been as great a success as Mr. Baxter's new
dye."
"Yes, and he has had wonderful success with that. But what are you
going to do now, Tom? What new line of endeavor are you going to aim
at?"
Tom arose and reached for his hat.
"I am now going," he said, with a grin, "to see somebody on private
business."
"You are going to see Mary Nestor!" broke out Ned.
"I am," said Tom.
And he did.
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every Volume
Complete in Itself.
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a
bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most
interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
THE DON STURDY SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by WALTER S. ROGERS
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted
scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful
knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY;
An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild
animals and crafty Arabs.
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS;
Don's uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes
to be found in South America--to be delivered alive!
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD;
A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings
in Egypt.
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE;
A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship of the explorers.
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES;
An absorbing tale of adventures among the volcanoes of Alaska.
DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS;
This story is just full of exciting and fearful experiences on the sea.
DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS;
A thrilling story of adventure in darkest Africa. Don is carried over a
mighty waterfall into the heart of gorilla land.
THE RADIO BOYS SERIES (Trademark Registered)
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc.
Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in
itself.
A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in
sending and receiving--telling how small and large amateur sets can be
made and operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and adventure out
of what they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly
fascinating, so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads
will peruse them with great delight.
Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well-known radio expert.
THE RADIO BOYS' FIRST WIRELESS
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS
THE RADIO BOYS ON SIGNAL ISLAND
THE RADIO BOYS IN GOLD VALLEY
THE RAILROAD SERIES
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Radio Boys," Etc.
Uniform Style of Binding, illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great
American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance--railroad
wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat"
locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on
board--but there is much more than this--the intense rivalry among
railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the
getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the manipulation
of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or ruin.
RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE;
Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.
RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER;
Or, Clearing the Track.
RALPH ON THE ENGINE;
Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.
RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS;
Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer.
RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER;
Or, the Mystery of the Pay Car.
RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN;
Or, The Young Railroader's Most Daring Exploit.
RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER;
Or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.
RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH;
Or, The Stolen Government Bonds.
THE RIDDLE CLUB BOOKS
By ALICE DALE HARDY
Individual Colored Wrappers. Attractively Illustrated. Every Volume
Complete in Itself.
Here is as ingenious a series of books for little folks as has ever
appeared since "Alice in Wonderland." The idea of the Riddle books is a
little group of children--three girls and three boys decide to form a
riddle club. Each book is full of the adventures and doings of these
six youngsters, but as an added attraction each book is filled with a
lot of the best riddles you ever heard.
THE RIDDLE CLUB AT HOME
An absorbing tale that all boys and girls will enjoy reading. How the
members of the club fixed up a clubroom in the Larue barn, and how
they, later on, helped solve a most mysterious happening, and how one
of the members won a valuable prize, is told in a manner to please
every young reader.
THE RIDDLE CLUB IN CAMP
The club members went into camp on the edge of a beautiful lake. Here
they had rousing good times swimming, boating and around the campfire.
They fell in with a mysterious old man known as The Hermit of Triangle
Island. Nobody knew his real name or where he came from until the
propounding of a riddle solved these perplexing questions.
THE RIDDLE CLUB THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
This volume takes in a great number of winter sports, including skating
and sledding and the building of a huge snowman. It also gives the
particulars of how the club treasurer lost the dues entrusted to his
care and what the melting of the great snowman revealed.
THE RIDDLE CLUB AT SUNRISE BEACH
This volume tells how the club journeyed to the seashore and how they
not only kept up their riddles but likewise had good times on the sand
and on the water. Once they got lost in a fog and are marooned on an
island. Here they made a discovery that greatly pleased the folks at
home.