the locomotive. The speedometer
indicated fifty-five when I saw that fellow sprawling up there on the
fence. I would not have dared go much faster in any case."

"Why, you weren't half trying, Tom!" cried the delighted Ned.

"She did slide around easy, didn't she? Fifty-five on an almost
circular track is a good showing. I am not so scared as I was, my boy."

"You think that on a straight track you might accomplish what you set
out to do?"

"It looks like it. At any rate, I shall risk a trial on the H. & P. A.
tracks. I'm going to take her West. Be ready on Monday, Ned, for I
shall want you with me," declared Tom Swift.

Chapter XVI

Off for the West

Of course, as Tom supposed they would, the Blatz Detective Agency
denied that Joe Myrick, their one-time operative, had been engaged
through their bureau either to spy upon the Swift Construction Company
or to injure Tom's invention of the electric locomotive.

Nevertheless, three points were indisputable: Myrick had been caught
spying; in his possession was a can of explosive which could be set off
by concussion; and it was a fact that to Myrick had been first
entrusted the matter of hunting for Andy O'Malley when Tom had put the
search for the Westerner up to the Blatz people.

"He played traitor both to you, Mr. Swift, and to our agency," declared
Blatz to Tom. "I wash my hands of him. I hope the police send him away
for life!"

"He'll go to prison all right," said Tom, confidently. "But the main
point is that one of your operatives fell down on a simple job. I
wanted that Andy O'Malley traced. He's out of the way, now, of course.
If you had put an honest man to work for me, O'Malley would be behind
the bars himself."

"Some doubt of that, Mr. Swift," grumbled Blatz.

"Why?"

"Where's your evidence that this O'Malley was connected with the
attempt to blow up your locomotive the first time? Mr. Newton's
testimony would need corroboration."

"Never mind that," rejoined the young inventor, with a smile. "I'd
have him for highway robbery. I recognized him. He robbed me of a
wallet. Guess we could put O'Malley away for awhile on that charge. And
by the time he got out again my job for that Western railroad would be
completed."

"Humph! Nothing personal in your going after the fellow, then?" queried
the head of the detective agency.

"No. But I frankly confess that I am afraid of O'Malley. He is
undoubtedly in the employ of men who will pay him