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instance； turning traitor and giving copies of the letters of my brother and
myself to our rivals。
〃Mind you； I don't say this was done； and I don't suspect any of our
employees； but it would be an easy matter for any 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 about the last； and he must have followed me here。
Then he sneaked up under the window； and tried to hear what we said。〃
〃Do you think he did？〃 asked Tom。
〃I wouldn't be surprised。 We took no pains to lower our voices。 But；
after all； he hasn't learned much that he didn't know before； if he knew I
was coming here。 He 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 known explosive。 We've tried every kind on
the market and we've failed。 We'll have to depend on you； Tom Swift； to
help us out with some of your giant cannon powder。〃
〃And I'm not sure that will work；〃 said the young inventor。 〃I think I'll
have to experiment and make a new explosive； if I conclude to go to
Peru。〃
〃Oh； you'll go all right！〃 declared Mr。 Titus with a smile。 〃I can see
that you are eager for the adventures I am sure you'll find there； and；
besides； your friend here； Mr。 Damon； needs you。〃
〃That's what I do； Tom！〃 exclaimed the odd man。 〃Bless my excursion
ticket； but you must come！〃
〃I'll have to invent the new powder first；〃 Tom said。
〃That's what I like to hear！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Titus。 〃It shows you are
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thinking of coming with us。〃
Tom only smiled。
〃I am so anxious to get the proper explosive；〃 Went on Mr。 Titus； 〃that
I would even purchase it from our rivals； Blakeson & Grinder； if I thought
they had it。 But I'm sure they have not； though they may think they can get
it。
〃That may be the reason they are following me so closely。 They may
want to know just when we will fail； and have to give up the contract； and
they may think they can step in and finish the work。 But I don't believe；
without your help； Tom Swift； that they can blast that hard rock； and〃
〃Well； I'll say this；〃 interrupted Tom； 〃first come； first served with me；
other things being equal。 You have applied to me and； like a lawyer； I
won't go over to the other side now。 I consider myself retained by your
firm； Mr。 Titus； to invent some sort of explosive； and if I am successful I
shall expect to be paid。〃
〃Oh； of course！〃 cried the contractor eagerly。 〃Very good；〃 Tom went
on。 〃You needn't fear that I'll help the other fellows。 Now to get down to
business。 I must see some samples of this rock in order to know what kind
of explosive force is needed to rend it。〃
〃I have some in New York；〃 went on the contractor。 〃I'll have it sent to
you at once。 I would have brought it； only it is too heavy to carry easily；
and I was not sure I could engage you。〃
〃Did that fellowWaddington； I believe you called him get away
from you？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Clean away；〃 the contractor answered。
〃He was a better runner than I。〃
〃It doesn't matter much；〃 Tom said。 〃He didn't hear anything that
would benefit him； and I'll give my men orders to be on the lookout for
him。 What sort of fellow is he； Mr。 Titus？〃
The contractor described the eavesdropper； and Mr。 Damon exclaimed：
〃Bless my turkey wish…bone！ I'm sure I passed that chap when I was
riding over to see you a while ago； Tom。〃
〃You did？〃
〃Yes； on the highway。 He inquired the way to your place。 But there
was nothing strange in that； since you employ a number of men； and I
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thought this one was coming to look for work。 I can't say I liked his
appearance； though。〃
〃No； he isn't a very prepossessing individual；〃 commented Mr。 Titus。
〃Well； now what's the first thing to be done； Tom Swift？〃
〃Get me some samples of the rock； so I can begin my experiments。〃
〃I'll do that。 And now let us consider about going to Peru。 For I'm sure
you will be successful in your experiments； and will find for us just the
powder or explosive we need。〃
〃We can go together。〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃I shall certainly feel more at
home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift is with me； and I will
appreciate the help of you and your friends； Mr。 Titus； in straightening out
the tangles of our drug business。〃
〃I'll do all I can for you； Mr。 Damon。〃
The three then talked at some length regarding possible plans。 Tom
sent out word to one of his men to keep a sharp watch around the house
and grounds； against the possible return of Waddington； but nothing more
was seen of him； at least for the time being。
Mr。 Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom； binding his
firm to pay a large sum in case the young inventor was successful； and
then the contractor left； promising to have the rock samples come on later
by express。
Mr。 Damon； after blessing a few dozen more or less impersonal objects；
took his departure； his fractious horse having quieted down in the
meanwhile； and Tom was left to himself。
〃I wonder what I've let myself in for now；〃 the youth mused； as he
went back to his laboratory。 〃It's a new field for metunnel blasting。 Well；
perhaps something may come of it。〃
But of the strange adventure that was to follow his agreement to help
Mr。 Titus； our hero； Tom Swift； had not the least inkling。
Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem； but he could
arrive at no satisfactory conclusion； and； tossing aside the papers； covered
with intricate figures； he exclaimed：
〃Oh； I'm going for a walk！ This thing is getting on my nerves。〃
He strolled through the Shopton streets； and as he reached the outskirts
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of the town； he saw just ahead of him the figure of a girl。 Tom quickened
his pace； and presently was beside her。
〃Where are you going； Mary？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； Tom！ How you startled me！〃 she exclaimed； turning around。 〃I
was just thinking of you。〃
〃Thanks！ Something nice？〃