CHAPTER XXIV 

TOM CARRIES A LETTER 

After that it was a comparatively easy matter to get the old man to talk, and he told James Monday and the boys practically all he knew about Sack Todd and his followers. 

He said it was commonly supposed that Sack Todd had some invention that he was jealously guarding. Some folks thought the man was a bit crazy on the subject of his discoveries, and so did not question him much concerning them. The machinery and other material which arrived from time to time were all supposed to be parts of the wonderful machine Sack Todd was having made at various places. 

While he was talking, the old man looked at Tom many times in curiosity. 

"Might I ask your name?" he said at length. 

"What do you want 'to know that for?" returned Tom. 

"Because you look so wonderfully like my son Bud--an' you talk like him, too. But Bud's skin is a bit darker nor yours." 

"My name is Tom Rover." 

"Talking about looking alike," broke in Fred. "There's a strong resemblance," and he pointed to the detective and the old man. "Of course, you don't look quite so old," he added to James Monday. 

"I am glad that you think we look alike," smiled back the government official. "I was banking on that." 

"What do you mean?" came from Songbird. 

"I will show you in a minute. Mr. Cashaw, I'll trouble you to exchange hats, coats and collars with me," the detective continued, turning to the old man. 
And its title?
TOM CARRIES A LETTER 