"
"That's a good idea!"
Inquiry at the shop where the tank had been built and kept
disclosed the fact that, in addition to Koku, three of Tom's
men had gone in her to help manage the machine under the
direction of the man who bore the forged note. That he was
one of the plotters not hitherto observed by either Ned or
Tom seemed certain.
"And they took Koku and some of the men merely to make it
look natural and as if it were all right," Tom said.
"Naturally that deceived my father, who thought, of course,
that I was waiting for the machine. Well, it was a slick
trick, Ned, but we may fool them yet."
"I hope so, Tom."
Night had fully fallen when Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon
started away in the touring car.
Out onto the road rolled the automobile. During the little
daylight that had remained after his arrival at home and
following the discovery of the loss of the tank Tom and Ned
had traced it, by the marks of the big steel caterpillar
belts, to the main road. It had gone along that some
distance, just how far could not be said.
"But by using the searchlight of the auto we can trace her
as long as they keep her on the road," said Tom.
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