Title: Tom Swift and His Chest of Secrets
First published: 1925
Description: Mr. Damon is up to his old tricks. The story opens with a bang, or rather a crash, as he lands his new Butterfly-style airplane on the roof of Tom's office. Otherwise, this is a straightforward tale of industrial espionage and theft. Tom has enough valuables in the form of blueprints, formulae and models lying around his office, that he is becoming concerned someone might steal them. He has constructed a large, heavy, brass-bound Oak chest to keep his goodies in until a proper underground vault can be built. Koku the giant, is posted as guard. The chest is heavy, but not heavy enough. Tom suffers the usual "cowardly blow" in mid-story, and wakes from the aftereffects to find his possessions, the chest and his giant manservant all missing. What a revolting development this is!