Slender, attractive-looking Mrs. Swift tried not to show alarm over the boys’
story. Tom, who knew how his mother worried over his and Tom Sr.‘s adventures, did his best to reassure her.
Danger was nothing new to the young inventor. Ever since his first clash in his Flying Lab with a gang of South American rebels bent on seizing a priceless radioactive-ore deposit, Tom had battled spies and scientific enemies in outer space and far corners of the globe. Only recently he had returned from building his amazing Repelatron Skyway over an African jungle.
After a delicious fried chicken dinner, Tom and Bud were watching television in the living room when the announcement special news bulletin appeared on the screen and a voice cut in:
“According to a news flash just received, the ocean liner S.S. Centurion has sunk in the mid-Atlantic. A mysterious explosion aboard caused the sinking. The ship was carrying gold bullion destined for Fort Knox. It was also bringing to this country the statue known as the Delian Apollo. The world-famous art treasure was being loaned
SOS) 21
to the United States for a special exhibit. Details on the sinking are not yet available, but all passengers and crew are reported to have been rescued. The gold and the art treasure, however, went down.”
Bud whistled in awe. “Wow! What a loss I” Tom exclaimed excitedly, “Bud, this explains that weird radiophoto that baffled the CIA!”
CHAPTER 111
CHOW WINKLER, DETECTIVE
MR. Swift had gone to his study after dinner to consult some engineering texts. He was just returning to the living room when he heard the TV news flash, followed by Bud’s and Tom’s remarks.