"I tell you that my belief doesn't satisfy me. I hate to go
West without being sure--positive. I want to know! I have tried
the locomotive out in the yard half a dozen times. It runs like a
fine watch. There doesn't seem to be a thing the matter with it
now. But what speed can I attain?"
"I don't see but you'll have to risk it, Tom."
"I mean to give her one more test. I'll run her out tonight
when there is nobody about but the watchmen--and you, if you want
to come. I'll arrange with the Electric Company for all the
current they can spare. By ginger! I've got to take some risk."
"By the way, Tom," said his chum, "did it ever strike you as
odd that that private detective agency never got any trace of
O'Malley?"
"Well, he's gone away. We needn't worry about him. Maybe the
detective wasn't very smart, at that."
"And yet he was here in town after you put the inquiry on foot.
I saw him in the bank. He came there occasionally. And either he,
or somebody he hired, placed that bomb in the locomotive."
"All those being facts, what of it?"
"Besides, there was that other fellow--the man with the Vandyke
beard. Might be a shyster lawyer, or something of the kind. He
wasn't spotted, either."
"To tell the truth, I didn't bother to give the Detective
Agency the description of that fellow, although you gave it to
me," and Tom laughed. "I must confess that I depend more upon my
man-trap electric wires to protect the invention than I do on the
private inquiry agent.
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