ied Tom, as he handed out a
generous tip. "If I need a new tire I generally need a whole new
outfit."

"Oh, then--" Obviously the man was puzzled.

"We came in an aeroplane," Tom explained. "But we had to make a forced
landing. Is there a garage near here? I may need some help getting
started."

"We accommodate a few cars in what was once the barn, and we have a
good mechanic, sir. If you'd like to see him--"

"I would," interrupted Tom. "Tell the young lady to wait here for me.
I'll see if I can get the Scud to work. If not, I'll have to telephone
to town for a taxi. Did those men who just left come in a car?" and he
nodded in the direction taken by the two who had dined behind the
screen.

"Yes, sir. And they had engine trouble, I believe. Our man fixed up
their machine."

"Then he's the chap I want to see," thought Tom. "I'll have a talk with
him." He reasoned that he could get more about the identity of the two
mysterious men from the mechanic than from the waiter. Nor was he wrong
in this surmise.

"Oh, them two fellers!" exclaimed the mechanician, after he had agreed
to go with Tom to where the airship Scud was stalled. "They come from
over Shopton way. They own a fireworks factory--or they did, before it
burned."

"Are they Field and Melling?" asked Tom, trying not to let any
excitement betray itself in his voice.

"That's the names they gave me," said the man. "Little man's Field. He
gave me his card. I'm going to get a job overhauling his car. There
isn't enough work here to keep a man busy, and I told 'em I could do a
little on the outside. This place just started, and not many folks know
about it yet."

"So I judge," Tom said. "Well, I'll be glad to have you give me a hand.
I fancy the carburetor is out of order."

And this, when the young inventor and the mechanician from Meadow Inn
reached the stranded Scud, was found to be the case. The storm had
passed, and Mary told Tom she would not mind waiting at the Inn until
he found whether or not he could get his air craft in working order.

"There you are! That's the trouble!" exclaimed the mechanician, as he
took something out of the carburetor. "A bit of rubber washer choked
the needle valve."

"Glad you found it," said Tom heartily. "Now I guess we can ride back."

While preparations were being made to test the Scud after the
carburetor had been reassembled, Tom's mind was busy with many
thoughts, and chief among them were suspicions conc