human
Not a sign of any one, murmured Tom.
gpt
Are you sure you didn't hear any noise, dad, when you dozed off?
human
Not a sound, Tom. In fact, it's rather unusual for me to go to sleep like that, but I suppose it's because of my illness. But I couldn't have been asleep long--not more than two minutes.
gpt
That's what I think. Yet in that time someone, who must have been on the watch, managed to get in here and take my plans for the new sky racer. I don't see how they got the wire screen open from the outside, though. It fastens with a strong hook.
human
And was the screen open?
gpt
Yes, it was unhooked. Either they pushed a wire in through the mesh, caught it under the hook, and pulled it up from the outside, or else the screen was opened from the inside.
human
I don't believe they could get inside to open the screen without some of us seeing them, spoke the older inventor.
gpt
More likely, Tom, it wasn't hooked, and they found it an easy matter to simply pull it open.
human
That's possible. I'll ask Mrs. Baggert if the screen was unhooked.
gpt
It's too bad! exclaimed Mr. Swift.
human
It's my fault, for dozing off that way.
gpt
No, indeed, it isn't!
human
Is the loss a serious one? asked his father.
gpt
Have you no copy of the plans?
human
Yes, I have a rough draft from which I made the completed drawings, and I can easily make another set. But that isn't what worries me--the mere loss of the plans.
gpt
What is it, then, Tom?
human
The fact that whoever took them must know that they are the plans for a sky racer that is to take part in the big meet. I have worked it out on a new principle, and it is not yet patented. Whoever stole my plans can make the same kind of a sky racer that I intended to construct, and so stand as good a chance to win the prize of ten thousand dollars as I will.
gpt
That certainly is too bad, Tom. I never thought of that. Do you suspect any one?
human
No one, unless it's Andy Foger. He's mean enough to do a thing like that, but I didn't think he'd have the nerve. However, I'll see if I can learn anything about him. He may have been sneaking around, and if he has my plans he'd ask nothing better than to make a sky racer and beat me.
gpt
Oh, Tom, I'm so sorry! exclaimed Mr. Swift
human
I--I feel very bad about it!
gpt
There, never mind! spoke the lad, seeing that his father was looking ill again.
human
Don't think any more about it, dad. I'll get back those plans. Come, now. It's time for your medicine, and then you must lie down.