"Well, then I'll see him. I called to ask if Mr. Swift didn't want to take a few more bonds. We want to double our allotment for Shopton, and beat out some of the other towns in this section. I'll go to see Mr. Swift." On his way to find Tom's father Ned passed the big building in front of which Eradicate and Koku were on guard. They nodded to Ned, who passed them, wondering much as to what it was Tom was so secretive about. "It's the first time I remember when he worked on an invention without telling me something about it," mused Ned. "Well, I suppose it will all come out in good time. Anything new, Rad?" "No, Massa Ned, nuffin much. I'm detectin' around heah; keepin' Dutchmen spies away!" "And Koku is helping you, I suppose?" "Whut, him? Dat big, good-fo'-nuffin white trash? No, sah! I's detectin' by mahse'f, dat's whut I is!" and Eradicate strutted proudly up and down on his allotted part of the beat, being careful not to approach the building too closely, for that was Koku's ground. Ned smiled, and passed on. He found Mr. Swift, secured his subscription to more bonds, and was about to leave when he heard a call down the road and saw Tom coming in his small racing car, which had been taken to the depot by one of the workmen. "Hello, old man!" cried Ned affectionately, as his chum alighted with a jump. "Where have you been?" "Down to Washington. Had a bit of a chat with the President and gave him some of my views." "About the war, I suppose?" laughed Ned. "Yes." "Did you get your commission?" "Commission?" And there was a wondering look on Tom's face. "Yes. Mary Nestor said she thought maybe you were going to Washington to take an examination for the engineering corps or something like that. Did you get made an officer?" "No," answered Tom slowly. "I went to Washington to get exempted." "Exempted?" Cried Ned, and his voice sounded strained. Chapter VI Seeing Things For a moment Tom Swift looked at his chum. Then something of what was passing in the mind of the young bond salesman must have been reflected to Tom, for he said, "Look here, old man; I know it may seem a bit strange to go to all that trouble to get exempted from the draft, to which I am eligible, but, believe me, there's a reason. I can't say anything now, but I'll tell you as soon as I can--tell everybody, in fact. Just now it isn't in shape to talk about." "Oh, that's all right, Tom," and Ned tried to make his voice sound natural. "I was just wondering, that's all. I wanted to go to the front the worst way, but they wouldn't let me. I was sort of hoping you could, and come back to tell me about it." "I may yet, Ned." "You may? Why, I thought--" "Oh, I'm only exempted for a time. I've got certain things to do, and I couldn't do 'em if I enlisted or was drafted. So I've been excused for a time. Now I've got a pile of work to do. What are you up to Ned? Same old story?" "Liberty Bonds--yes. Your father just took some more."