"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Jr 20 - And His Megascope Space Prober" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

his chum.
Tom frowned at the news item. It was headed:
French scientist invents revolutionary new helium source!
With growing excitement, Tom read the story. It stated that Jacques
Gaspard, a French engineer, had developed a method of extracting helium from
the atmosphere. The United States now controlled the world's supply of helium
gas, but Gaspard's machine would make it economical to produce helium
anywhere.
Details of his invention were not given. A demonstration would take place
Monday of the following week in Paris, however, to which scientists from all over
the world were being invited.
"Quite a coincidence," Tom murmured.
"Coincidence my hat!" Bud snorted. "You just perfected the same kind of
machine a few days ago!"
Tom nodded. "I know. Of course, Gaspard might have thought it up himself.
But let's check, anyhow."
Tom slid the blueprint back into the file and the two boys hurried from the big
attractive double office at Swift Enterprises which Tom shared with his
distinguished scientist father. On its huge desks and conference table stood
colored plastic models of the Swifts' world-famous inventions.
Tom and Bud hopped into a jeep and sped off across the grounds of the
sprawling, four-mile-square experimental station.
When they reached a modernistic glass-walled building of striking design,
Tom braked to a halt. Inside was his private laboratory, crammed with the latest
in research equipment.
The boys sprinted to the lab, where Tom beamed an electronic key at a steel
wall cabinet.
SUSPICIOUS NEWS 3
The door slid open and Tom hastily ruffled through a sheaf of blueprints,
sketches, and typed data sheets.
"Nothing missing," he announced presently.
Bud, a husky, dark-haired young flier who was a space pilot for Swift
Enterprises, glared at the mass of papers. Then he shook his head, unconvinced.
"I still think there's something fishy about that guy's coming up with the same
invention!"
Tom gazed into space, a worried expression on his face. "I'll admit I'd like to
have a look at Gaspard's machine."
Bud snapped his fingers. "Hey! Wait a minute! Didn't that news story say
scientists from all over the world were being invited to Gaspard's demonstration?
So that includes you."
"But Dad and I haven't received an invitation."
Bud thumped his fist angrily on the laboratory workbench. "There's your
answer, pal. Tom Swift Jr. and Sr. are two of America's most famous scientists. If
anyone rated invitations, you both did-which proves Gaspard wasn't taking any
chances on being found out!"
By now Tom was almost as convinced as Bud. "Could be," he conceded.
"Let's check with Har-lan."
In moments the boys reached the office of Har-lan Ames, the slim, dark-
haired security chief of Swift Enterprises.
4 MEGASCOPE SPACE PROBER