Tom hastily tore open the envelope. As he read the message a cry of rage and astonishment came to his lips.
CHAPTER XVI
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
“What’s the matter?” asked Ned Newton. He had been making the broadcasting studio ready for the performance he and Mr. Damon would soon give in there, so Tom could show his assembled party of guests what the new invention would do. “What’s wrong, Tom?” he asked again, entering the laboratory just as his chum finished reading the sinister message that Eradicate had handed him.
“Wrong is the word,” murmured Tom, again reading the warning. “What do you think of that?” and he handed the paper to his financial manager.
Ned scanned the scrawl—it was only that—words hastily scribbled on a piece of wrapping paper and enclosed in a dirty envelope.
“Whew!” whistled Ned as he read. And this is what his eyes took in:
“Tom Swift: If you exhibit your new talking pictures your whole plant will be blown to atoms. Take warning in time.”
“There’s no name signed to it,” remarked Ned.