"Well, I thought I had growed strong in de night, when I lifted dat
airship, but when I went to stop mah mule I couldn't do it. He won't
hab no respect fo' me now."

"Oh, I wouldn't let that worry me," commented Mr. Swift, and he
explained to Eradicate how it was that he had so easily lifted the end
of the bouyant ship, which weighed very little when filled with gas.

The colored man proceeded with his work of whitewashing, the inventor
was in his library, puzzling over tables of intricate figures, and
Mrs. Baggert was in the kitchen, sighing occasionally as she thought
of Tom, whom she loved almost as a son, high in the air, when two men
came up the walk, from the street, and knocked at the side door. Mrs.
Baggert, who answered the summons, was somewhat surprised to see Chief
of Police Simonson and Constable Higby.

"They probably came to see the airship start," she thought, "but
they're too late."

"Ah, good morning, Mrs. Baggert," greeted the chief. "Is Mr. Swift and
his son about this morning?"

"Mr. Swift is in his library, but Tom is gone."

"He'll be back though, won't he?" asked Constable Higby quickly-
anxiously, Mrs. Baggert thought.

"Oh, yes," she replied. "He and-"

"Just take us to see Mr. Swift," interrupted the chief, with a look of