"It would seem so," agreed Ned.
"Well, this all goes to show that my first impression is right," went on Tom. "Cunningham is a crook, I'm sure."
"Then we're better off leaving him alone," commented Ned.
They were about to go over some business papers again when the telephone rang once more.
"You answer, Ned," directed Tom. "If it's Cunningham say I will have no further communication with him!"
Ned picked up the instrument, listened a moment, and then cried:
"What's that? Who are you? What do you mean? Don't be a coward! Give me your name!"
"What's the matter?" asked Tom when Ned, by impatiently jiggling the receiver hook, indicated that the person at the other end of the wire had hung up. "Who was talking, Cunningham?"
"I don't think so. But it must have been one of his men. For he said: 'Tom Swift will regret not taking this contract! He'd better watch out!' I tried to make him tell who he was, but he wouldn't."
"So," said Tom musingly, and with a little smile, "they are beginning to threaten, are they? Well, I'm ready for them!"