Sighing, she would reply to another.
“Central Seaboard, calling Tom Swift. Central Seaboard-” The same answer.
“Elheimer, West Coast … do you read me? Do you read me?”
“Call back later.”
“Rick Dalton to Swift Enterprises. Come in, Swift.”
The trunk lines tangled and crossed. Buzzers rang incessantly throughout the main building, in the underground hangar, at all the testing laboratories in a search for the young inventor, but he could not be found.
88
STEEL SINEWS 89
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Miss Trent to Marco, the elderly night watchman for the section. He was late going off duty. “It isn’t young Mr. Swift’s way of doing things. He doesn’t place advance calls and not arrive to receive them. What could have happened?”
Marco frowned and shrugged as the secretary took a long-distance call from Tom’s father, who was phoning from the atomic energy plant.
“No, Mr. Swift, Tom hasn’t been in touch with the house since he left some time ago. I’ve tried there twice. They say he started out as usual. Just a minute, Mr. Swift. Here comes Bud Barclay.”
Bud picked up an extension phone. “Hello, Mr. Swift. Sorry, but we haven’t located Tom yet. I’ve been searching the buildings and grounds. Sandy says he left for the plant over two hours ago. As soon as he arrives, I’ll have him call you.”
“I don’t like this, Bud,” Mr. Swift said, deep concern in his voice. “Call the house again. If Tom hasn’t established contact, take out the bloodhounds and get on his trail.”
“Right, sir,” Bud promised, hanging up. He checked the Swift home again, but Tom had not called. Bud told Miss Trent the plan and hurried off.
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