Part 15 (1/2)

It may well be supposed that all these preparations ran intocost sheets Tom, however, was deaf to all his chum's protestations

[Illustration: A Special Truck Was Built]

”I had hoped your new bendable glass would ruh everything else'll go too The Swift Construction Company will soon be bankrupt, Tom Swift, if you don't slon!”

”What do you one? Why, I've had an application on file in the Patent Office for several months”

”Well, for Pete's sake, why didn't you tell !”

[Illustration: ”You'll Be Bankrupt!” Warned Ned]

”Sorry, old man But you know I've had a lot on et back the papers, for the thief can s pretty uncomfortable if he chooses to”

As Tom had found out, X would be useful only in an absolutely pure state To refine it to the proper degree was a painfully slow process, taking in this case a full six weeks While his che inventor's supervision, everything else had been made ready At last the new element was prepared The tons of yelloere dumped into the heated furnace

[Illustration: His Chemists Worked Away]

Three days later the stuff had cooled sufficiently for an inspection to becrane slowly hoisted the massive iron lid of the electric furnace Tom climbed a ladder and peered down

”It's perfect!” he shouted aanxiously with Ned and the work inventor's words the group gave a cheer

[Illustration: Tom Peered Down at the Disk]

”Blessabout like a boy ”I can hardly wait till you have your big glass set up!”

”It won't be long now,” proiant disk was being given a final electrical treatment, the youthful inventor was called to the police station The fugitive crook, Hammer, had finally been nabbed, still with the forlad to get this back, even though patent proceedings were under way, for anyone holding the papers could have instituted a costly legal contest

[Illustration: Hamreat disk rapped in hundreds of bales of cotton, suspended on racks and loaded onto the great truck To with his precious creation The rest of his party, including his father, Ned Newton, Mr Damon, Professor Standish, Koku and Rad, traveled by train to the foot of the mountain

[Illustration: The Disk Was Loaded on the Truck]

”Massa Toonna look about six scrillion miles froo space,” confided Eradicate Saro leaned heavily upon the s!”

”He surewith his old rival He had only the vaguest idea about what his

[Illustration: Koku and Rad Went Along]

When the entire group assembled on top the low that presaged a clear night, and now darkness overtook the expectant onlookers

At last Toiant telescope and adjusted it upon the planet Mars He electrified the ilowed, then could not be seen at all

Looking through the eyepiece, the young inventor stood as though transfixed One minute! Two!

[Illustration: Tom Stepped to the Telescope]