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Chapter 3
CHAPTER III
BLESSINGS AND ENTHUSIASM
GREETINGS and inquiries as to health having been passed, not without numerous blessings on the part of Mr. Damon, the little party gathered in the library of the home of Tom Swift sat down and looked at one another.
On Professor Bumper’s face there was, plainly to be seen, a look of expectation, and it seemed to be shared by Mr. Damon, who seemed eager to burst into enthusiastic talk. On the other hand Tom Swift appeared a bit indifferent.
Ned himself admitted that he was frankly curious. The story of the big idol of gold had occupied his thoughts for many hours.
“Well, I’m glad to see you both,” said Tom again. “You got here all right, I see, Professor Bumper. But I didn’t expect you to meet and bring Mr. Damon with you.”
“I met him on the train,” explained the author of the book on the lost city of Pelone, as well
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as books on other antiquities. “I had no expectation of seeing him, and we were both surprised when we met on the express.”
“It stopped at Waterfield, Tom,” explained Mr. Damon, “which it doesn’t usually do, being an aristocratic sort of train, not given even to hesitating at our humble little town. There were some passengers to get off, which caused the flier to stop, I suppose. And, as I wanted to come over to see you, I got aboard.”
“Glad you did,” voiced Tom.
“Then I happened to see Professor Bumper a few seats ahead of me,” went on Mr. Damon, “and, bless my scarfpin! he was coming to see you also.”