“How does it seem to associate with criminals?” “I don’t know!” laughed the young inventor. “I haven’t been with any yet.” “Thanks!” replied Ned’s father. “I suppose I needn’t assure you, my friends, that I am innocent of this charge?” he added. “You don’t need to say a word!” cried Tom. “But what is it all about, Dad?” asked Ned. “What’s the game, anyhow, and why have they picked you for the goat?” “I don’t know,” was the sober answer. “I can’t tell. I wish I could. All I know is that the Liberty Bonds have been stolen—at least, so Fawn says—and the fellow accuses me.” “I wouldn’t be surprised if he had stolen them himself!” burst out Ned. “Be careful, son,” warned his father in a low voice. “Don’t get rash. But what will the next move be in this matter?” he asked the lawyer. “Oh, your case won’t come up for trial for several months,” was the answer. “Not until fall, anyhow. In the meanwhile, if you wish, I will look into it for you and prepare a defense.” “I was going to ask you to, Mr. Plum,” put in Tom. At the same time he gave the lawyer a glance which told that astute legal man that Mr. Newton was to be at no expense in the affair. As a matter of fact, Mr. Plum was under a yearly retainer to look after all the Swift interests. “Then perhaps, Mr. Newton, you had better come to my office and talk the matter over,” suggested Mr. Plum. So he and the late prisoner were deposited in town, and Tom, his father and Ned went back to the shop. “Well, a lot has happened in the last couple of hours,” remarked Ned, as he watched his friend put back into the chest the five thousand dollars which had not been used. “I should say so!” agreed Tom. “I think we might as well knock off work for the day, Ned. I sha’n’t need you any longer, and I guess you’ll be glad to get home and comfort your mother.” “I will. I telephoned her from the court house that dad would not have to sleep in a cell. But she’ll want to hear all the particulars. I’ll be on hand in the morning.” “Take your time, old man. There’s nothing special on. And on your way out please send Koku here and I’ll get him to shift this chest.” Ned looked at the substantially bound box and smiled faintly. “Some chest, I’ll say,” he observed. “And when you get all your patent papers and blue prints and other drawings in it, Tom, it will be a regular chest of secrets.” “So you observed before, Ned. And let me add, the chest of secrets will be a mighty valuable one.” Ned went off and a few minutes later Koku came in, grinning broadly to think that he was needed to help his master. With ease he moved the heavy chest and its valuable contents to a small room opening out of the main office where Tom worked. “Nobody but Koku move ’um big box like that!” exclaimed the giant a bit proudly when the transfer had been made. “Better not let Rad hear you say that,” chuckled Tom. “Pooh! Rad! Blow ’um head over ’um’s ears!” grunted the giant.