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."Dis, an' makin'dirt disappear, am de only perfessions I got.Doan't go 'ventin' no machine,Mistah Swift.""All right.I'll wait until you get rich.""Ha, ha! Den yo' gwine t' wait a pow'ful long time," chuckled Eradicate as hewent on with his whitewashing.Tom went into the house.He found his father busy with some papers at hisdesk."Ah, it's you, is it, Tom?" asked the inventor, looking up."I was justwishing you would come in.""What for, dad?""Well, I have quite an important mission for you.I want you to go on ajourney.""A journey? Where?""To Albany.You see, I've been thinking over matters, and I have been incorrespondence with my lawyers in regard to my turbine motor.I must takemeasures to protect myself.You know I have not yet taken out a completepatent on the machine.I have not done so because I did not want to put mymodel on exhibition inWashington.I was afraid some of those unscrupulous men would take advantageof me.Another point was that I had not perfected a certain device that goeson the motor.That objection is now removed, and I amTom Swift and His MotorcycleCHAPTER X.OFF TO ALBANY32Page 29 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlready to send my model to Washington, and take out the complete patent.""But I thought you said you wanted me to go to Albany.""So I do.I will explain.I have just had a letter from Reid Crawford, myWashington attorneys.Mr.Crawford, the junior member of the firm, will be inAlbany this week on some law business.He agrees to receive my model and somepapers there, and take them back to Washington with him.In this way they willbe well protected.You see, I have to be on my guard, and if I send the modelto Albany, instead of the national capital, I may throw the plotters off thetrack, for I feel that they are watching every move I make.As soon as you orI should start for Washington they would be on our trail.But you can go toAlbany unsuspected.Mr.Crawford will wait for you there.I want you to start day after tomorrow.""All right, dad.I can start now, if you say so.""No, there is no special need for haste.I have some matters to arrange.Youmight go to the station and inquire about trains to the State capital.""Am I going by train?""Certainly.How else could you go?"There was a look of excitement in Tom's eyes.He had a sudden idea."Dad," he exclaimed, "why couldn't I go on my motorcycle?""Your motorcycle?""Yes.I could easily make the trip on it in one day.The roads are good, and Iwould enjoy it.I can carry the model back of me on the saddle.It is not verylarge.""Well," said Mr.Swift slowly, for the idea was a new one to him, "I supposethat part would be all right.But you have not had much experience riding amotorcycle.Besides, you don't know the roads.""I can inquire.Will you let me go, dad?"Mr.Swift appeared to hesitate."It will be fine!" went on Tom."I would enjoy the trip, and there's anotherthing.If we want to keep this matter secret the best plan would be to let mego on my machine.If those men are on the watch, they will not think that Ihave the model.They will think I'm just going for a pleasure jaunt.""There's something in that," admitted Mr.Swift, and Tom, seeing that hisfather was favorably inclined, renewed his arguments, until the inventorfinally agreed."It will be a great trip!" exclaimed Tom."I'll go all over my machine now, tosee that it's in good shape.You get your papers and model ready, dad, andI'll take them to Albany for you.The motorcycle will come in handy."But had Tom only known the dangers ahead of him, and the risks he was to run,he would not have whistled so lightheartedly as he went over every nut andbolt on his machine.Tom Swift and His MotorcycleCHAPTER X.OFF TO ALBANY33Two days later, the valuable model, having been made into a convenientpackage, and wrapped in waterproof paper, was fastened back of the saddle onthe motorcycle.Tom carefully pinned in an inside packet the papers which wereto be handed to Mr.Crawford.He was to meet the lawyer at a hotel in Albany."Now take care of yourself, Tom," cautioned his father as he bade him goodby."Don't try to make speed, as there is no special rush.And, above all, don'tlose anything.""I'll not, dad," and with a wave of his hand to Mr.Swift and the housekeeper,who stood in the door to see him off, Tom jumped into the saddle, started themachine, and then, after sufficient momentum had been attained, he turned onthe gasolene and set the spark lever.With rattles and bangs, which werequickly subdued by the muffler, the machine gathered speed.Tom was off forPage 30 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlAlbany.CHAPTER XI.A VINDICTIVE TRAMPTHOUGH Tom's father had told him there was no necessity for any great speed,the young inventor could not resist the opportunity for pushing his machine tothe limit.The road was a level one and in good condition, so the motorcyclefairly flew along
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