human
I'm glad to see you, Mr. Swift, said the chemist, who seemed to have aged several years in the few weeks that had intervened since the fire.
gpt
I want to thank you for giving me a chance to start over again.
human
Oh, that's all right, said Tom easily.
gpt
We inventors ought to help one another. Are you able to do anything here?
human
As much as possible without my secret formulae, was the answer.
gpt
If I only had those back from the rascals, Field and Melling, I would be able to go ahead faster. As it is, I am working in the dark. For some of the formulae were given to me by a Frenchman, and I had only one copy. I kept that in the safe of the fireworks concern, and after the fire it could not be found.
human
Was the safe destroyed?
gpt
No. But the doors were open, and much of what had been inside was in ashes and cinders. Amos Field claimed that the explosion had blown open the safe and burned a lot of their valuable fireworks formulae too.
human
And you believe they have yours?
gpt
I'm sure of it! was the fierce answer.
human
Those men are unprincipled rogues! They had been at me ever since I was foolish enough to tell them about my formulae to get me to sell them a share. But I refused, for I knew the secret mixtures would make my fortune when I could establish a new dye industry. Field and Melling claimed they wanted the formulae for their fireworks, but that was only an excuse. The formulae were not nearly so valuable for pyrotechnics as for dyes. The fireworks business is not so good, either, since so many cities have voted for a 'Sane Fourth of July.'
gpt
I can appreciate that, said Tom.
human
But what we called for, Mr. Baxter, is to find if you have room enough to let me do a little experimenting here. I am working on a new kind of fire extinguisher, to be dropped on tall buildings from an airship.
gpt
Sounds like a good idea,
human
Well, I have the airship, and I can see my way clear to perfecting a device to drop the chemicals in metal tanks or bombs, went on Tom.
gpt
But what bothers me is the chemical mixture that will put out fires better than the carbon dioxide mixtures now on the market.
human
I haven't given that much study myself, said Mr. Baxter.
gpt
But you are welcome to anything I have, Mr. Swift. The whole place, such as it is, will be at your disposal at any time. I intend to have it in better shape soon, but I have to proceed slowly, as I lost nearly everything I owned in that fire. If I could only get those formulae back!
human
Perhaps you may recall the combinations, suggested Ned.
gpt
Or can't you get them from that Frenchman?
human
He is dead, answered the chemist.
gpt
Everything seems to be against me!
human
Well, it's always darkest just before daylight, said Tom.
gpt
So let us hope for the best. We both have had a bit of bad luck. But when I think of Rad, who may lose his eyesight, I can stand my losses smiling.
human
Yes, agreed Mr. Baxter,