SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS
"Off to Africa; eh?" remarked Ned, as Tom put the envelope in his pocket."That's another long jump.But I guess the Flyer can do it,"Yes, I think so.I say Ned, not so loud," said Tom, who had hurried to the side of his chum, whispered the last words.
"What's up?" inquired Ned quickly."Anything wrong?""I don't know.But I think we are being watched.Did you notice that fellow who was in here a minute ago, when I asked for a telegram?""Yes, what about him?"
"Well, he's looking in the door now I think.Don't turn round.Just look up into that mirror on the wall, and you can see his reflection.""I understand," whispered Ned, as he turned his gaze toward the mirror in question, a large one, with advertisements around the frame."I see him," he went on."There's some one with him.""That's what I thought," replied Tom."Take a good look.Whom do you think the other chap is?"Ned looked long and earnestly.By means of the mirror, he could see, perfectly plain, two men standing just outside the door of the telegraph office.The portal was only partly open.Ned drew an old letter from his pocket, and pretended to be showing it to Tom.But, all the while he was gazing earnestly at the two men.Suddenly one of them moved, giving Tom's chum a better view of his face.
"By Jove, Tom!" the lad exclaimed in a tense whisper."If it isn't that Eckert fellow I'm a cow.""That's what I thought," spoke Tom coolly."Not that you're a cow, Ned, but I believe that this man is one of the moving picture partners, who are rivals of Mr.Period.I wasn't quite sure myself after the first glance I had of him, so I wanted you to take a look.Do you know the other chap--the one who ran out when I asked for my telegram?""No, I've never seen him before as far as I know." "Same here.Come on.""What are you going to do?"
"Go back to the airship, and tell Mr.Nestor.As one of the directors in the concern I'm working for.I want his advice.""Good idea," replied Ned, and they turned to leave the office.The spying stranger, and William Eckert, were not in sight when the two lads came out.
"They got away mighty quick," remarked Tom, as he looked up and down the street.
"Yes, they probably saw us turn to come out, and made a quick get- away.They might be in any one of these places along here," for the street, on either side of the telegraph office, contained a number of hotels, with doors opening on the sidewalk.
"They must be on your trail yet," decided Mr.Nestor when Tom, reaching the anchored airship, told what had happened."Well, my advice is to go to Africa as soon as we can.In that way we'll leave them behind, and they won't have any chance to get your camera.""But what I can't understand," said Tom, "is how they knew I was coming here.It was just as if that one man had been waiting in the telegraph office for me to appear.I'm sorry, now, that I mentioned to Ned where we were ordered to.But I didn't think.""They probably knew, anyway," was Mr.Nestor's opinion."I think this may explain it.The rival concern in New York has been keeping track of Mr.Period's movements.Probably they have a paid spy who may be in his employ.They knew when he sent you a telegram, what it contained, and where it was directed to.Then, of course, they knew you would call here for it.What they did not know was when you would come, and so they had to wait.That one spy was on guard, and, as soon as you came, he went and summoned Eckert, who was waiting somewhere in the neighborhood." "Bless my detective story!" cried Mr.Damon."What a state of affairs!
They ought to be arrested, Tom."
"It would be useless," said Mr.Nestor."They are probably far enough away by this time.Or else they have put others on Tom's track.""I'll fight my own battles!" exclaimed the young inventor."I don't go much on the police in a case like this, especially foreign police.Well, mycamera is all right, so far," he went on, as he took a look at it, in the compartment where he kept it."Some one must always remain near it, after this.But we'll soon start for Africa, to get some pictures of a native battle.I hope it isn't the red pygmies we have to photograph.""Bless my shoe laces! Don't suggest such a thing," begged Mr.Damon, as he recalled the strenuous times when the dwarfs held the missionaries captive.
It was necessary to lay in some stores and provisions, and for this reason Tom could not at once head the airship for the African jungles.As she remained at anchor, just outside the city, crowds of Swiss people came out to look at the wonderful craft.But Tom and his companions took care that no one got aboard, and they kept a strict lookout for Americans, or Englishmen, thinking perhaps that Mr.Eckert, or the spy, might try to get the camera.However, they did not see them, and a few days after the receipt of the message from Mr.Period, having stocked up, they rose high into the air, and set out to cross the Mediterranean Sea for Africa.Tom laid a route over Tripoli, the Sahara Desert, the French Congo, and so into the Congo Free State.In his telegram, Mr.Period had said that the expected uprising was to take place near Stanley Falls, on the Congo River.
"And supposing it does not happen?" asked Mr.Damon."What if the natives don't fight, Tom? You'll have your trip for nothing, and Will run a lot of risk besides.""It's one of the chances I'm taking," replied the young inventor, and truly, as he thought of it, he realized that the perils of the moving picture business were greater than he had imagined.Tom hoped to get a quick trip to the Congo, but, as they were sailing over the big desert, there was an accident to the main motor, and the airship suddenly began shooting toward the sands.She was easily brought up, by means of the gas bags, and allowed to settle gently to the ground, in the vicinity of a large oasis.But, when Tom looked at the broken machinery, he said:
