CHAPTER XV

A TRIAL FLIGHT Tom Swift and Ned Newton watched the odd man curiously. Afterward Ned said he thought Mr. Damon had gone to the door to ascertain if his wife might be eavesdropping, since she did not altogether approve of many of the things he did in connection with the young inventor. “I thought maybe he was going to get his checkbook,” Tom said later. He was always a very hopeful individual. But when Mr. Damon returned to his seat after his tiptoeing visit to the closed door he remarked in a low voice: “You can’t …