The two older men and Tom discussed this situation and other production problems facing the Swift Construction Company.
“In my opinion,” remarked Uncle Ned, “the worst problem facing us is a threatened shortage of good iron ore. Without ore, the mills can’t produce ATOMIC SPY 23
steel. And that could lead to a mighty dangerous situation for the whole free world!”
“What about the Ungava range up in Labrador?” asked Tom.
“That will help,” Uncle Ned admitted. “But it won’t supply all the world’s needs and in time it may peter out just like the Mesabi did.” He puffed thoughtfully on his pipe, then said, “Tom, can’t you figure out a new source of high-grade iron ore?”
The young inventor was staring intently off into space. It wasn’t the first time that he had given thought to this particular problem.
“I can do better than that,” he said finally. “I can name you a source of pure iron.”
“Where?”
“The center of the earth.”
Uncle Ned’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Impossible! No one could tap that!”
Tom disagreed. An amazing idea had just occurred to him.
“I think I could do it,” he said quietly.
CHAPTER 3
DANGER SIGNAL
UNCLE NED and Mr. Swift stared at the young scientist in amazement.
“Are you serious?” Uncle Ned asked.
“Very much so,” Tom replied.
“Serious about what?” put in a girl’s lively voice.
“Oh, come on in, Sandy. You too, Mother.”
Sandra and Mrs. Swift had just finished clearing away Tom’s dishes in the kitchen and had come to join the others. Instantly Tom drew up a chair for his mother, while Sandy perched on the arm of Mr. Swift’s chair.
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139