or sell Liberty Bonds like Ned
Newton?" and Mr. Nestor looked sharply at his daughter. "Ned gave up a
big salary as the Swifts financial man--a place he had held for a
year--to go back to the bank for less, just so he could help the
Government in the financial end of this war. Is Tom doing as much for
his country?"

"I'm sure I don't know," answered Mary; and soon after, with averted
face, she left the room.

"Hum! Queer goings on," mused Mr. Nestor. "Tom Swift may be all right,
but he's got an unbalanced streak in him that will bear looking out
for, that's what I think!"

And having settled this matter, at least to his own satisfaction, Mr.
Nestor resumed his smoking and reading.

A little later the bell rang. There was a murmur of voices in the hall,
and Mr. Nestor, half listening, heard a voice he knew.

"There's Tom Swift now!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to find out why he
doesn't enlist!"

Chapter V

"Is He a Slacker?"

Mr. Nestor, whatever else he was, proved to be a prudent father. He did
not immediately go into the front room, whither Mary and Tom hastened,
their voices mingling in talk and laughter.

Mr. Nestor, after leaving the young folks alone for a while, with a
loud "Ahem!" and a rattling of his paper as he laid it aside, started
for the parlor.

"Good-evening, Mr. Nestor!" said Tom, rising to shake hands with the
father of his young and pretty hostess.

"Hello, Tom!" was the cordial greeting, in return. "What's going on up
at your place?" went on Mr. Nestor, as he took a chair.

"Oh, nothing very special," Tom answered. "We're turning out different
kinds of machines as usual, and dad and I are experimenting, also as
usual."

"I suppose so. But what nearly broke the fence to-night?"

Tom started, and looked quickly at his host.

"Were you there?" he asked quickly.

"Well, I happened to be passing--took a short cut home--and I heard
some queer goings on at your place. I was speaking to Mary about them,
and wondering--"

"Father, perhaps Tom doesn't want to talk about his inventions,"
interrupted Mary. "You know some of them are secret--"

"Oh, I wasn't exactly asking for information!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor
quickly. "I just happened to hear the fence crash, and I was wondering
if something was coming out at me. Didn't know but what that giant of
yours was on a rampage, Tom," and he laughed.

"No, it wasn't anything like that," and Tom's voice was more sober than
the occasion