“Ned,” he suddenly exclaimed, “I’m with you! And if you weren’t already drawing a bigger salary than you’ll ever be worth, I’d give you an advance for the valuable suggestion. How about you, Mr. Newton? Will you come to the game?” he went on, thinking to take the man’s mind from his trouble over the missing Liberty Bonds. “Thank you, Tom, no. There are a few things I want to get straightened out on my books.” “Better let them go for a time,” suggested Tom. “You’ll do better work afterward. That’s the way I feel about it. I’m in a sort of maze on this train-stop device. I’m up against a stone wall. So I’m going to a ball game and I order you two to come with me!” “Oh, if it’s an order from the boss—that’s another matter,” laughed Mr. Newton. So, Tom, having seen to it that his chest of secrets was securely locked, brought around the electric runabout and all three went to the ball game. “Is there anything new in your case, Mr. Newton?” asked Tom, as they sat in the grandstand, watching the players warm up. “No, Tom, not a thing. I am leaving everything to Mr. Plum, as you suggested. He hasn’t reported anything new.” “Has that fellow, Fawn, or any of the firm pestered you about the missing bonds?” “No. But Fawn sneers every time he sees me. I fancy he is much put out that I am not in jail.” “You needn’t worry about that,” laughed Ned, though in his heart he keenly felt the disgrace that had come to his father. “Is this seat taken?” asked a young lady’s voice behind Tom, and he turned to look into the smiling face of Mary Nestor. “Of course not!” he exclaimed, rising, as did his two companions. “Always room for one more. I didn’t expect to see you here, Mary,” the young inventor added. “And you didn’t think of inviting me, I suppose,” said Mary demurely. “I think I will sit by Ned.” “If you do I’ll discharge him, and then he won’t like you,” said Tom, as he made room beside himself for the girl to whom he was engaged. “I’m awfully glad you’re here. We came in such a hurry—on the inspiration of a spontaneous suggestion by Ned—that I never thought to ’phone over and see if you wanted to come.” “Oh, all right—I’ll forgive you!” the girl laughed. But there was a quick exchange of looks between Mary and Ned. In fact, Mary had suggested privately to Ned that he bring Tom to the game, as she intended to meet him there. Often it was necessary to use a ruse to get Tom away from his absorbing work of inventing things. However, here he was, and soon he was enjoying the game with his friends. It was not much in the way of a ball contest, but it served to pass away the afternoon and change the current of all their thoughts. That evening after supper, Tom and his father drew their chairs together in the living room for one of their old-time chats. Mr. Swift was in a pleasant mood, for he had done some work on his book that afternoon which gratified him very much and about which he was enthusiastic.