"No; and not for a good many days."
Ned looked at Mr. Damon, and the two exchanged uneasy
glances. Tom had certainly started for the Kanker farm, and
indeed had come to within a few miles of it. That much was
certain, as testified to by a number of residents along the
route from Shopton, who had seen the young inventor passing
in his car.
Now it appeared he had not arrived. The changed air of the
farmer seemed to indicate that he was speaking the truth.
Mr. Damon and Ned were inclined to believe him. If they had
any last, lingering doubts in the matter, they were
dispelled when Mr. Kanker said:
"You can search the place if you like. I haven't any
reason to feel friendly toward you, but I certainly don't
want to get into trouble with the Government. Look around
all you like."
"No, we'll take your word for it," said Ned, quickly
concluding that now they had got the farmer where they
wanted him, they could gain more by an appearance of
friendliness than by threats or harsh words. "Then you
haven't seen him, either?"
"Not a sign of him.
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