Chapter XVIII
Ready for France
Such was the reaction following the crashing through of
the barn, coupled with the sudden appearance of the men in
the automobile and the threat of the farmer, that, for the
moment, Tom, Ned, or their companions from the tank could
say nothing. They just stood staring at the farmer with the
gun, while he grimly regarded them. It was Tom who spoke
first.
"What's the idea?" asked the young inventor. "Why don't
you want us to look through the ruins?"
"You'll learn soon enough!" was the grim answer.
But Tom was not to be put off with undecided talk.
"If there's been an accident," he said, "we're sorry for
it. But delay may be dangerous. If some one is hurt--"
"You'll be hurt, if I have my way about it!" snapped the
farmer, "and hurt in a place where it always tells. I mean
your pocketbook! That's the kind of a man I am--practical."
"He means if we've killed or injured any one we'll have to
pay damages," whispered Ned to Tom. "But don't agree to
anything until you see your lawyer. That's a hot one,
though, trying to claim damages before he knows who's hurt!"
"I've got to find out more about this," Tom answered.
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