CHAPTER XI
FAILURE AND SUCCESS
"You—you got my letter!" stammered Tom, holding out his hand for a missive which the General extended. "I—I don't exactly understand. My letter?"
"Yes, certainly," went on the officer. "It was very kind of you to remember me after—well, to be perfectly frank with you, I did resent, a little, your remarks about my unfortunate gun. But I see you are of a forgiving spirit."
"But I didn't write you any letter!" exclaimed Tom, feeling more and more puzzled.
"You did not? What is this?" and the General unfolded a paper. Tom glanced over it Plainly it was a request for the General to be present at the test on that day, and it was signed with Tom Swift's name.
But as soon as the young inventor saw it, he knew that it was a forgery.
"I never sent that letter!" he exclaimed. "Look,
87
