Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 23 – And His Aquatomic Tracker

Tom Swiftl”

Tom beckoned him over.

“Cablegram, sir.” The boy held out a tray.

Tom tipped him, opened the message, and read it. The cablegram was from Harlan Ames:

INFORMER WHO ACCUSED YOU OF FRAUD IS AMERICAN ENGINEER

NAMED TRISTAN CARLOW.

CHAPTER VII

A TRANSATLANTIC CALL

TOM seethed with anger. So Tristan Carlow was the informer who had caused the two hydronauts such embarrassment! The young inventor repressed an impulse to reach across the table and shove the cablegram in Carlow’s face.

“Better wait and hear him out,” Tom decided. “It might be worthwhile to learn what the fellow’s up to now.”

Bud and the girls were curious about the cablegram, but they tactfully refrained from asking any questions. Apparently Carlow, too, was curious, judging from his expression.

“Sorry for the interruption, Mr. Carlow,” Tom said impassively. “Please go on.”

“Right! Now then, I’ve perfected an undersea television device capable of revealing objects at any depth,” Carlow resumed in a loud, confident voice. “You realize what this means?”

“I’m not sure I do,” Tom said, keeping his face a blank. “Suppose you tell me.”

58

A TRANSATLANTIC CALL 59

“Why, the device will be invaluable in ship salvage work! With my invention, it will be possible to pinpoint any wreck in any ocean of the world!” Carlow’s pale, bulging eyes shone with excitement. “There’s not a sunken treasure anywhere on the sea floor that can stay hidden from my underwater camera!”

“And where do I come in?” Tom asked.

“Mr. Swift, I’m proposing that Swift Enterprises form a partnership with me to exploit this amazing device. I’ve been trying to arouse government interest in Washington, but the fools are too blind to realize its full possibilities. You’re different-you have vision.” Carlow paused to let his words sink in, then added impressively, “At a conservative estimate, our profits should run into the millions!”