The young inventor explained that a small machine to change the time set on the vault could have been smuggled into the bank by an accomplice working as a clerk or messenger. Inserted in the timer, it could change the hour at which the safe would open.

"Then the gang just walked in and cleaned out the money," said Bud.

"Yes," Tom replied, "that device would make the job a push-over."

"Do you think Flash Ludens' genius friend figured out the gimmick by experimenting on the timer we have with us?" Radnor asked.

"I'd say so," Tom answered, turning down a side road that led to Farmington.

Upon reaching police headquarters there, he found the place in an uproar. All off-duty policemen 60 .

had been called in and the captain was issuing orders to them in a clipped, authoritative tone.

Tom waited until the excitement died down, then he introduced himself and asked for a private interview with Captain English. Tom told as much of the story as he could without revealing his own special interest in the Briggin gang. After examining the device which the others carried in, the police officer exclaimed: "You've figured this out all right, Tom. The bank safe had the same kind of time-lock system as this one you found. The department's certainly grateful to you." As Tom arose to leave, the captain added with a grim smile, "Now if you'll nab the robbers themselves, we'll strike off a medal for you!"

The young inventor went home for a much-needed sleep. He was late for breakfast the next morning, but his mother, Sandy, and their friend Phyllis Newton were enjoying cocoa and doughnuts and having a lively discussion.

"Good morning," Tom said, kissing his mother and giving each of the girls an affectionate pat on the shoulder. "Hi, Phyl? How's tricks?"

"Tricks are bad, Tom. That's why I'm here. You're just the person to save the day."

Tom sat down, dug a spoon into half a grapefruit, and grinned. "Phyl, you're making a hero out of me even before I know why. What's the story?"

Phyl, a pretty girl, with dark hair and large brown eyes, was the daughter of Mr. Swift's lifelong friend A MECHANICAL COMEDIAN 61.

Ned Newton, who now managed the old Swift Construction Company. She was always Tom's date on parties, and Sandy and Bud often went along.

Sometimes the four young people would go off together on scientific treks. Sandy was an excellent pilot, and Phyl had a flare for sketching which many times had come in handy.

"It has to do with the entertainment tomorrow night," Phyl explained. "You remember, the big one to raise money for the hospital?" Tom nodded. He recalled that the girls were on the fund committee. "Well, our best act has been washed up. We've got to subst.i.tute something in a hurry. It's against the rules to engage a professional-only amateurs can be in it."

Tom gave the girl a long look. "You're not hinting that I become a song-and- dance man, I hope!"

Phyl laughed. "Not you, but one of your robots." she replied.

The young inventor stared in disbelief. "What! Why, Phyl, that would mean a major operation on the robot's interior. He'd have to be remote con trolled and it would take hours and hours of-"

"Tom," Mrs. Swift spoke up, "is what Phyl's asking an impossibility?"

"No, but-"

"If you worked at it today and tomorrow, with Bud and others helping, you could do it?"

"Yes, Mother. But-"

"Then I want you to do it," Mrs. Swift said. "So 62 .

far as I know, you've never used your scientific talents for charitable purposes." She smiled. "Unless your turning criminals over to the authorities without reward could be called working for humanity. Tom, I'd like you to do your share for the show tomorrow night."

"All right, Mother. I'll do it. But I'll need Sandy's and Phyl's help."

"Wonderful!" the two girls cried. "When do we start?"

"Come down to the lab at three tomorrow afternoon. We'll have the robot ready by then."

All day and the next morning Tom, Bud, and three engineers worked to perfect a portable control panel, inserting tapes to send messages to a six-foot- tall robot so that he could walk, dance, and sing. Record after record was tried and discarded before the mechanical man's steps synchronized with the music.

In the meantime, Arvid Hanson had been working on the head to make it look more presentable to an audience. By the time Sandy and Phyl arrived, the robot appeared as a deadpan, comical-faced creature whose eyes roved from side to side.

"Meet Herbert," Tom said. As the girls giggled, the robot bowed stiffly. "I'll give you a demonstration," the young inventor went on, "then show you just how to work these dials. It's as simple as running a record player."

Herbert went through his performance perfectly, A MECHANICAL COMEDIAN 63.

to the delight of the girls, then both worked the dials, doing a satisfactory job.

The four young people had an early supper at the Enterprises plant and at six thirty left for the armory where the entertainment was to take place.

By eight o'clock the auditorium was filled and the show began. Since the robot performance was to be the last number, Tom and Bud remained behind the scenes, carefully guarding the canvas-covered figure and the control panel until the curtain rang down on the preceding act.

Then the boys wheeled the robot to the center of the stage and took off the cover. Tom quickly reviewed the instructions for operating Herbert and turned the panel over to the girls. Then he and Bud took their places in the center of the second row in the audience.

Bud was smiling because he and another engineer had secretly made a few additions to the mechanical man. They had rigged up a secondary signal receiver that cut into the robot's main circuit. In Bud's pocket was a miniature control panel. When the girls finished their show, he planned to make the robot do a few tricks that were not on the program.

The master of ceremonies walked out. "And now," he said, chuckling, "we present a surprise number in place of the one on your program. World-renowned vaudeville trio: Swift, Newton-and Herbert the Robot."

The band struck up "Yankee Doodle." The cur- 64 .

tains parted and an amber spotlight revealed the inanimate Herbert standing between the two girls. They all bowed and the mechanical man lighted up in several places. As the audience broke into applause, the girls hurried to the wings to take over the controls.

Herbert began to jig across the stage. The crowd broke into uproarious laughter. As the girls worked the regulating dials, the robot launched into a series of disjointed acrobatics. His lights blinked on and off, and his big eyes rolled from side to side. The applause was deafening.

"Now we'll make him sing," said Sandy, and turned on the tape for this part of the act.

Herbert's voice was surprisingly like that of a famous crooner, making the audience laugh all the louder as the robot imitated the singer's well-known gestures.

Amid tremendous hand clapping the curtain went down. Then, as it arose again for a second bow from Herbert, Bud clicked a k.n.o.b in his pocket panel.

The robot walked to the front of the stage and stumped down the steps toward the audience. Bud's plan was to give people in the first row a little scare, then stop Herbert just as he reached them.

As he drew closer, the humanoid machine looked menacing. Had he gone out of control? the audience wondered. Would he harm someone?

"Oh!" cried a girl in the front row, shrinking back in her seat.

A MECHANICAL COMEDIAN 65.

Bud decided that the time had come to end his joke. He turned the k.n.o.b that would cause Herbert to reverse and march back up the steps to the stage.

But, to the boy's consternation, Herbert continued to advance. Something had gone wrong!

CHAPTER 8.

A SUSPICIOUS OFFER.

PANICKY, Bud threw the "off" switch of the control panel in his pocket to halt the robot's rampage. But Herbert continued to advance menacingly toward the audience.

"Tom!" Bud cried. "Let me get past! I've got to stop him!"

By this time, Herbert, arms stretched before him, was stalking for the side of the hall, where town officials were seated. The robot headed directly for the mayor of Shopton!

Bud was frantic. "Tom, do something!" he. pleaded.

"Okay."

To Bud's amazement, his friend did not seem to be the least bit upset.

Abruptly Herbert stopped, took a bow, then turned back and calmly sauntered in his awkward way up the stage steps. Here he bowed again, then walked to the wings, with the audience going into thunderous applause.

66.

A SUSPICIOUS OFFER.

67.

Tom hurried backstage with Bud at his heels. Sandy and Phyl stood speechless. "Wh-what happened?" they finally cried together.

Bud was about to confess his part when Tom replied, "Didn't you like it? Bud and I thought we'd have some fun. We both had small control panels in our pockets for Herbert's extra-surprise act."

"Well, I think you might have told us," said Sandy, while Bud's jaw dropped open in amazement. He realized now that Tom had discovered the additional tape he and the engineer had rigged up in the robot and had installed one of his own!

The robot headed directly for the mayor 68 .

"The joke's on me," Bud admitted.

"That's what you get," Phyl said archly, "for trying to put one over on Tom Swift!"

"Sh!" someone called. "The finale is going on!"

Everyone remained quiet while the chorus went through their last number.

Then Tom said, "We'll take Herbert back to the lab and go on to the party from there." The foursome were joining a group of the entertainers at the home of one of the girls.

"Pardon me, please," said a voice behind them. The group turned to face a tall man with a thin black mustache. He was dressed in evening clothes, although none of the other men in the audience had been.

"How do you do?" he said in a theatrical and affected voice. "I am Tsorka, a traveling magic ian. 1 was pa.s.sing through this town when I heard of the benefit performance and decided to attend. Very fine. Very fine. But your unusual act, young ladies, was by far the best. Your robot is magnificent. Beside it, even my shredded umbrella restoration is a pale trick. I must have your mechanical man for my act."

"He's not for sale," Tom said coolly.

"I am prepared to pay a rental fee of one thousand dollars a month for the use of your robot," Tsorka went on.

Tom was taken aback by the unexpected offer. "I'm sorry," he replied.

"Herbert belongs to me and is not for rent. He's only an experimental model and could easily go berserk. 1 couldn't take the risk."

A SUSPICIOUS OFFER 69.

The man drew himself up indignantly. "Now look here, sir. I've made a very liberal offer. Be reasonable. I'm sure we can come to terms. I'm prepared to pay you right here and now."

Instinctively Bud moved over in front of the robot. People did not ordinarily carry a thousand dollars around with them.

Tom, equally suspicious, wondered if Tsorka could be one of his mysterious enemies. Smiling, he said: "I'm sure, Mr. Tsorka, you could learn to run a robot with a few lessons. I'll be glad to design one to do stage specialty tricks for you. Where can I get in touch with you?"

The man's dark eyes glittered. "Very well," he said. "I rarely remain in the same city long. However, I'll be back in this vicinity in two days. I'll phone you then."

He turned and left. Sandy and Phyl protested to Tom that he should have nothing to do with the stranger.

Bud agreed. "I think he's a phony."

"Right," said Tom. "But one worth learning more about."

The young people deliberated awhile and decided to be very watchful to ensure Herbert's safe return to the plant. The boys directed the robot into the back of the truck, then Bud climbed in. The girls sat in the cab with Tom. He eased the truck out of the armory driveway and drove slowly through town.

70 .

Then, reaching open country, Tom headed for Swift Enterprises.

Bud was nervous. He called, "I think a pair of headlights are hanging onto us rather close, Tom."

In the reflector mirror the young inventor caught a glimpse of bright headlights swinging along the road behind them.

"This courier truck can beat him," Tom said grimly, giving it more speed. But the trailing car seemed to be gaining on them. Tom instructed the girls to keep down and told Bud to warn him if it got any closer or attempted to cut them off.