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.Surely he might find a way to outwit his enemies.But the days passed, and no word came.A number of detectives had beenemployed, but they were no more successful than Tom.The latter had given uphis inventive work, for the time being, to devote all his time to the solutionof the mystery.Tom and Ned had been away from Shopton for three days, following the mostpromising clue they had yet received.But it had failed at the end, and oneafternoon they found themselves in a small town, about a hundred miles fromShopton.They had been motoring."I think I'll call up the house," said Tom."Dad may have received some news,or Mrs.Damon may have sent him some word.I'll get my father on the wire."Connection to Tom's house was soon made, and Ned, who was listening to hischum's remarks, was startled to hear him cry out:"What's that you say? My airship taken again? When did it happen? Yes, I'mlistening.Go on, Father!"Then followed a silence while Tom listened, breaking in now and then with anexcited remark, Suddenly he called:"Goodby, Dad! I'm coming right home!"Tom hung up the receiver with a bang, and turned to his chum."What do you think!" he cried."The Eagle was taken again last night! The sameway as before.Nobody got a glimpse of the thieves, though.Dad has beentrying to get in communication with me ever since.I'm glad Icalled up.Now we'll get right back to Shopton, and see what we can do.Thisis the limit! Peters and his crowd will be kidnapping us, next.""That's right," agreed Ned.He and Tom were soon off again, speeding in the auto toward Shopton.But theroads were bad, after a heavyTom Swift And His Photo TelephoneCHAPTER XXIV.THE LONELY HOUSE80Page 66 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlrain, and they did not make fast time.The coming of dusk found them with more than thirty miles to go.They were inan almost deserted section of the country when suddenly, as they were runningslowly up a hill, there was a sudden crack, the auto gave a lurch to one sideof the roadway and then settled heavily.Tom clapped on both brakes quickly,and gave a cry of dismay."Broken front axle!" he said."We're dished, Ned!"They got out, being no more harmed than by the jolting.The car was out ofcommission.The two chums looked around Except for a lonely house, that boreevery mark of being deserted, not a dwelling was in sight where they might askfor aid or shelter.And, as they looked, from that lonely house came a strange crya cry as thoughfor help!CHAPTER XXV.THE AIRSHIP CAPTURE"Did you hear that?" cried Ned."I certainly did," answered Tom."What was it.""Sounded to me like a cry of some sort.""It was.An animal, I'd say."The two chums moved away from the broken auto, and looked at each other.Then,by a common impulse, they started toward the lonely house, which was set backsome distance from the road."Let's see who it was," suggested Tom, "After all, though it looks deserted,there may be someone in the house, and we've got to have some kind of help.Idon't want to leave my car on the road all night, though it will have to berepaired before I can use it again.""It sure is a bad break," agreed Ned.As they walked toward the deserted House they heard the strange cry again.Itwas louder this time, and following it the boys heard a sound as if a blow hadbeen struck."Someone is being attacked!" cried Tom."Maybe some poor tramp has takenshelter in there and a dog is after them.Come on, Ned, we've got to help!"They started on a run for the lonely house, but while still some distance awaya curious thing happened.There was a sudden cryan appeal for help it seemedbut this time in the open.And, as Tom and Ned looked, they saw several men running from the rear of theold house.Between them they carried an inert form, "Something's wrong!"exclaimed Tom, "There's crooked work going on here, Ned.""You're right! It's up to us to stop it! Come on!"But before the boys had taken half a dozen more steps they heard that whichcaused them great surprise.ForTom Swift And His Photo TelephoneCHAPTER XXV.THE AIRSHIP CAPTURE81from a shed behind the house came the unmistakable throb and roar of a motor."They're going off in an auto!" cried Ned."And they're carrying someone with them!" exclaimed Tom.By this time they had gotten to a point where they could see the shed, andwhat was their astonishment to see being rolled from it a big biplane.At thesight of it Tom cried:"It's the Eagle! That's my airship, Ned!""You're right! How did it get here?""That's for us to find out.I shouldn't wonder, Ned, but what we're at last onthe trail of Peters and his crowd!"The menthere were four or five of them, Ned guessednow broke into a run, stillcarrying among them the inert form of another.The cries for help had ceased,and it seemed as if the unfortunate one was unconscious.A moment later, and before the boys could do anything, had they the power, themen fairly jumped aboardPage 67 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlTom Swift's biggest airship.The unconscious one was carried with them.Then the motor was speeded up.The roar and throbbing were almost deafening."Stop that! Hold on! That's my machine!" yelled Tom.He might as well have spoken to the wind.With a rush and a roar the big Eagleshot away and upward, carrying the men and their mysterious, unconsciouscompanion.It was getting too dark for Tom and Ned to make out the forms orfeatures of the strangers."We're too late!" said Ned, hopelessly."Yes, they got away," agreed Tom."Oh, if only I had my speedy littlemonoplane!""But who can they be? How did your airship get here? And who is that man theycarried out of the house?"cried Ned."I don't know the lastmaybe one of their crowd who was injured in a fight.""What crowd?""The Peters gang, of course.Can't you see it, Ned?"Unable to do anything, the two youths watched the flight of the Eagle.She didnot move at her usual speed, for she was carrying too heavy a load.Presently from the air overhead, and slightly behind them, the boys heard thesound of another motor.They turned quickly."Look!" cried Ned."Another airship, by all that's wonderful!""If we could only stop them!" exclaimed Tom."That's a big machine, and theycould take us aboard.Then weTom Swift And His Photo TelephoneCHAPTER XXV.THE AIRSHIP CAPTURE82could chase the Eagle.We could catch her, too, for she's overloaded!"Frantically he and Tom waved their caps at the man who was now almost overheadin his airship.The boys did not call.They well knew, with the noise of themotor, the occupant of the airship could not hear them.But they waved and pointed to the slowly moving Eagle.To their surprise and delight the man above them shut off his engine, andseemed about to come down.ThenTom cried, knowing he could be heard:"Help us capture that airship? It's mine and they've stolen it!""All right! Be with you in a minute!" came back the answer from above.The second biplane came down to earth, ands as it ceased running along on itsbicycle wheels, the occupant jumped out."Hello, Tom Swift!" he called, as he took off his goggles."Whywhy it's Mr.Halling!" cried the young inventor, in delight, recognizingthe birdman who had brought him the first news of Mr.Damon's trouble, the daythe airship became entangled in the aerials of the wireless on Tom's house."What are you doing here, Tom?" asked Mr.Hailing."What has happened?""We're looking for Mr.Damon.That's a bad crowd there," and he pointed towardthe other aircraft."They have my Eagle.Can you help me catch them?""I certainly canand will! Get aboard! I can carry four.""Then you have a new machine?""Yes, and a dandy! All the latest improvementsselfstarter and all! I'm glad ofa chance to show it to you.""And I'm glad, too!" cried Tom."It was providential that you happened along
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