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\title{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout\\
{\normalsize or The Speediest Car on the Road}}


\author{Victor Appleton}

\maketitle
\vspace*{\stretch{1}}

\noindent This public-domain (U.S.) text is the 5th in the Tom Swift
series. The original preparer of the Project Gutenberg text (designation
{}``05tom10'') was Anthony Matonac. The text was subsequently converted
to \LaTeX{} using \textbf{GutenMark} software and re-edited (formatting
only) by Ron Burkey. Report problems to info@sandroid.org. Revision
B1 differs from B in that {}``----'' has everwhere been replaced
by {}``---''.

\noindent \begin{center}Revision: B1\\
Date: 01/27/2008\end{center}

\vspace{\stretch{1}}

\frontmatter


\pagestyle{myheadings} {\small \tableofcontents{}}\newpage


\mainmatter



\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER I \mbox{---} Tom Hopes for a Prize}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER I \mbox{---} Tom Hopes for
a Prize}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Tom Hopes for a Prize}

{}``Father,'' exclaimed Tom Swift, looking up from a paper he was
reading, {}``I think I can win that prize!''

{}``What prize is that?'' inquired the aged inventor, gazing away
from a drawing of a complicated machine, and pausing in his task of
making some intricate calculations. {}``You don't mean to say, Tom,
that you're going to have a try for a government prize for a submarine,
after all.''

{}``No,'' not a submarine prize, dad,'' and the youth laughed.
{}``Though our \textit{Advance} would take the prize away from almost
any other under-water boat, I imagine. No, it's another prize I'm
thinking about.''

{}``What do you mean?''

{}``Well, I see by this paper that the Touring Club of America has
offered three thousand dollars for the speediest electric car. The
tests are to come off this fall, on a new and specially built track
on Long Island, and it's to be an endurance contest for twenty-four
hours, or a race for distance, they haven't yet decided. But I'm going
to have a try for it, dad, and, besides winning the prize, I think
I'll take Andy Foger down a peg.

{}``What's Andy been doing now?''

{}``Oh, nothing more than usual. He's always mean, and looking for
a chance to make trouble for me, but I didn't refer to anything special.
He has a new auto, you know, and he boasts that it's the fastest one
in this country. I'll show him that it isn't, for I'm going to win
this prize with the speediest car on the road.''

{}``But, Tom, you haven't any automobile, you know,'' and Mr.\ Swift
looked anxiously at his son, who was smiling confidently. {}``You
can't be going to make your motor-cycle into an auto; are you?''

{}``No, dad.''

{}``Then how are you going to take part in the prize contest? Besides,
electric cars, as far as I know, aren't specially speedy.''

{}``I know it, and one reason why this club has arranged the contest
is to improve the quality of electric automobiles. I'm going to build
an electric runabout, dad.''

{}``An electric runabout? But it will have to be operated with a
storage battery, Tom, and you haven't\mbox{---}''

{}``I guess you're going to say I haven't any storage battery, dad,''
interrupted Mr.\ Swift's son. {}``Well, I haven't yet, but I'm going
to have one. I've been working on\mbox{---}''

{}``Oh, ho!''\ exclaimed the aged inventor with a laugh. {}``So
that's what you've been tinkering over these last few weeks, eh, Tom?
I suspected it was some new invention, but I didn't suppose it was
that. Well, how are you coming on with it?''

{}``Pretty good, I think. I've got a new idea for a battery, and
I made an experimental one. I gave it some pretty severe tests, and
it worked fine.''

{}``But you haven't tried it out in a car yet, over rough roads,
and under severe conditions have you?''

{}``No, I haven't had a chance. In fact, when I invented the battery
I had no idea of using it on a car I thought it might answer for commercial
purposes, or for storing a current generated by windmills. But when
I read that account in the papers of the Touring Club, offering a
prize for the best electric car, it occurred to me that I might put
my battery into an auto, and win.''

{}``Hum,'' remarked Mr.\ Swift musingly. {}``I don't take much
stock in electric autos, Tom. Gasolene seems to be the best, or perhaps
steam, generated by gasolene. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. All
the electric runabouts I ever saw, while they were very nice cars,
didn't seem able to go so very fast, or very far.''

{}``That's true, but it's because they didn't have the right kind
of a battery. You know an electric locomotive can make pretty good
speed, Dad. Over a hundred miles an hour in tests.''

{}``Yes, but they don't run by storage batteries. They have a third
rail, and powerful motors,'' and Mr.\ Swift looked quizzically at
his son. He loved to argue with him, for he said it made Tom think,
and often the two would thus thresh out some knotty point of an invention,
to the interests of both.

{}``Of course, Dad, there is a good deal of theory in what I'm thinking
of,'' the lad admitted. {}``But it does seem to me that if you put
the right kind of a battery into an automobile, it could scoot along
pretty lively. Look what speed a trolley car can make.''

{}``Yes, Tom, but there again they get their power from an overhead
wire.''

{}``Some of them don't. There's a new storage battery been invented
by a New Jersey man, which does as well as the third rail or the overhead
wire. It was after reading about his battery that I thought of a plan
for mine. It isn't anything like his; perhaps not as good in some
ways, but, for what I want, it is better in some respects, I think.
For one thing it can be recharged very quickly.''

{}``Now Tom, look here,'' said Mr.\ Swift earnestly, laying aside
his papers, and coming over to where his son sat. {}``You know I
never interfere with your inventions. In fact, the more you think
of the better I like it. The airship you helped build certainly did
all that could be desired, and\mbox{---}''

{}``That reminds me. Mr.\ Sharp and Mr.\ Damon are out in it now,''
interrupted Tom. {}``They ought to be back soon. Yes, Dad, the airship
\textit{Red Cloud} certainly scooted along.''

{}``And the submarine, too,'' continued the aged inventor. {}``Your
ideas regarding that were of service to me, and helped in our task
of recovering the treasure, but I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed
in the storage battery. You may get it to work, but I don't believe
you can make it powerful enough to attain any great speed. Why don't
you confine yourself to making a battery for stationary work?''

{}``Because, Dad, I believe I can build a speedy car, and I'm going
to try it. Besides I want to race Andy Foger, and beat him, even if
I don't win the prize. I'm going to build that car, and it will make
fast time.''

{}``Well, go ahead, Tom,'' responded his father, after a pause.
{}``Of course you can use the shops here as much as you want, and
Mr.\ Sharp, Mr.\ Jackson, and I will help you all we can. Only don't
be disappointed, that's all.''

{}``I won't, Dad. Suppose you come out to my shop and I'll show you
a sample battery I've been testing for the last week. I have it geared
to a small motor, and it's been running steadily for some time. I
want to see what sort of a record it's made.''

Father and son crossed the yard, and entered a shop which the lad
considered exclusively his own. There he had made many machines, and
pieces of apparatus, and had invented a number of articles which had
been patented, and yielded him considerable of an income.

{}``There's the battery, Dad,'' he said, pointing to a complicated
mechanism in one corner

{}``What's that buzzing noise?''\ asked Mr.\ Swift. {}``That's
the little motor I run from the new cells. Look here,'' and Tom switched
on an electric light above the experimental battery, from which he
hoped so much. It consisted of a steel can, about the size of the
square gallon tin in which maple syrup comes, and from it ran two
wires which were attached to a small motor that was industriously
whirring away.

Tom looked at a registering gauge connected with it.

{}``That's pretty good,'' remarked the young inventor.

{}``What is it, Tom?'' and his father peered about the shop.

{}``Why this motor has run an equivalent of two hundred miles on
one charging of the battery! That's much better than I expected. I
thought if I got a hundred out of it I'd be doing well. Dad, I believe,
after I improve my battery a bit, that I'll have the very thing I
want! I'll install a set of them in a car, and it will go like the
wind. I'll\mbox{---}'' Tom's enthusiastic remarks were suddenly
interrupted by a low, rumbling sound.

{}``Thunder!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Swift. {}``The storm is coming,
and Mr.\ Sharp and Mr.\ Damon in the airship\mbox{---}''

Hardly had he spoken than there sounded a crash on the roof of the
Swift house, not far away. At the same time there came cries of distress,
and the crash was repeated.

{}``Come on, Dad! Something has happened!''\ yelled Tom, dashing
from the shop, followed by his parent. They found themselves in the
midst of a rain storm, as they raced toward the house, on the roof
of which the smashing noise was again heard.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER II \mbox{---} Mr. Damon's Steering}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER II \mbox{---} Mr. Damon's
Steering}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Mr. Damon's Steering}

Tom Swift was a lad of action, and his quickness in hurrying out to
investigate what had happened when he was explaining about his new
battery, was characteristic of him. Those of my readers who know him,
through having read the previous books of this series, need not be
told this, but you who, perhaps, are just making his acquaintance,
may care to know a little more about him.

As told in my first book, {}``Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle'' the
young inventor lived with his father, Barton Swift, a widower, in
the town of Shopton, New York. Mr.\ Swift was also an inventor of
note.

In my initial volume of this series, Tom became possessed of a motor-cycle
in a peculiar way. It was sold to him by a Mr.\ Wakefield Damon,
a wealthy gentleman who was unfortunate in riding it. On his speedy
machine, which Tom improved by several inventions, he had a number
of adventures. The principal one was being attacked by a number of
bad men, known as the {}``Happy Harry Gang,'' who wished to obtain
possession of a valuable turbine patent model belonging to Mr.\ Swift.
Tom was taking it to a lawyer, when he was waylaid, and chloroformed.
Later he traced the gang, and, with the assistance of Mr.\ Damon
and Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored man who made a living for himself
and his mule, Boomerang, by doing odd jobs, the lad found the thieves
and recovered a motor-boat which had been stolen. But the men got
away.

In the second volume, called {}``Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat,''
Tom bought at auction the boat stolen by, and recovered from, the
thieves, and proceeded to improve it. While he was taking his father
out on a cruise for Mr.\ Swift's health, the Happy Harry Gang made
a successful attempt to steal some valuable inventions from the Swift
house. Tom started to trace them, and incidentally he raced and beat
Andy Foger, a rich bully. On their way down the lake, after the robbery,
Tom, his father and Ned Newton, Tom's chum, saw a man hanging from
the trapeze of a blazing balloon over Lake Carlopa. The balloonist
was Mr.\ John Sharp and he was rescued by Tom in a thrilling fashion.
In his motor-boat, Tom had much pleasure, not the least of which was
taking out a young lady named Miss Mary Nestor, whose acquaintance
he had made after stopping her runaway horse, which his bicycle had
frightened. Tom's association with Miss Nestor soon ripened into something
deeper than mere friendship.

It developed that Mr Sharp, whom Tom had saved from the burning balloon,
was an aeronaut of note, and had once planned to build an airship.
After his recovery from his thrilling experience, he mentioned the
matter to Mr.\ Swift and his son, with whom he took up his residence.
This fitted right in with Tom's ideas, and soon father, son and the
balloonist were constructing the \textit{Red Cloud}, as they named
their airship. It was finally completed, as related in {}``Tom Swift
and His Airship,'' made a successful trial trip, and won a prize.
It was planned to make a longer journey, and Tom, Mr.\ Sharp and
Mr.\ Damon agreed to go together. Mr.\ Damon was an odd individual,
who was continuously blessing some part of his anatomy, his clothing
or some inanimate object but, for all that, he was a fine man.

The night before Tom and his friends started off in their airship,
the Shopton Bank vault was blown open and seventy-five thousand dollars
was taken. Tom and his friends did not know of this, but, no sooner
had the young inventor, Mr.\ Sharp and Mr.\ Damon sailed away, than
the police arrived at Mr.\ Swift's house to arrest them. They were
charged with the robbery, and with having sailed away with the booty.

It appeared that Andy Foger said he had seen Tom hanging around the
bank the night of the robbery, with a bag of burglar tools in his
possession. Search was immediately begun for the airship, the occupants
of which were, meanwhile, speeding on.

Tom and his two friends had trouble. They were nearly burned up in
a forest fire, and were fired upon by a crowd of people with rifles,
who, reading of the bank robbery and the reward offered for the capture
of the thieves, hoped to bring down the airship. The fact that they
were fired upon caused Tom and the two aeronauts to descend to make
an investigation, and for the first time they learned of the bank
theft. How they got track of the real robbers, took the sheriff with
them in the airship, and raided the gang will be found set down at
length in the book. Also how Tom administered well-deserved thrashing
to Andy Foger.

Mr.\ Swift did not accompany his son in the airship, and when asked
why he did not care to make the trip, said he was working on a new
type of submarine boat, which he hoped to enter in the government
trials, to win a prize. In the fourth volume of the series, called
{}``Tom Swift and his Submarine,'' you may read how successful Mr.\ Swift
was.

When the submarine, called the \textit{Advance}, was finished, the
party made a trip to recover three hundred thousand dollars in gold
from a sunken treasure ship, off the coast of Uruguay, South America.
They sailed beneath the seas for many miles, and were in great peril
at times. One reason for this was that a rival firm of submarine builders
got wind of the treasure, and tried to get ahead of the Swifts in
recovering it. How Tom and his friends succeeded in their quest, how
they nearly perished at the bottom of the sea, how they were captured
by a foreign war vessel, and sentenced to death, how they fought with
a school of giant sharks and how they blew up the wreck to recover
the money is all told of in the book.

On their return to civilization with the gold, Mr.\ Swift, Tom, and
their friends deposited the money in the Shopton Bank, where Ned Newton
worked. Ned was a bright lad, but had not been advanced as rapidly
as he deserved, and Tom knew this. He asked his father to speak to
the president, Mr.\ Pendergast, in Ned's behalf, and, as a result
the lad was made assistant cashier, for the request of a man who controlled
a three hundred thousand dollar deposit was not to be despised.

In building the submarine Tom and his father rented a large cottage
on the New Jersey seacoast, but, on returning from their treasure-quest
they went back to Shopton, leaving the submarine at the boathouse
of the shore cottage, which was near the city of Atlantis. That was
in the fall of the year, and all that winter the young inventor had
been busy on many things, not the least of which was his storage battery.
It was now spring, and seeing the item in the paper, about the touring
club prize for an electric auto, had given him a new idea.

But all thoughts of electric cars, and everything else, were driven
from the mind of the young man, when, with his father, he rushed out
to see the cause of the crash on the roof of the Swift homestead.

{}``There's something up there, Tom,'' called his father, as he
splashed on through the rain.

{}``That's right,'' added his son. {}``And somebody, too, to judge
by the fuss they're making.''

{}``Maybe the house has been struck by lightning!''\ suggested
the aged inventor.

{}``No, the storm isn't severe enough for that; and, besides, if
the house had been struck you'd hear Mrs.\ Baggert yelling, Dad.
She\mbox{---}''

At that moment a woman's voice cried out:

{}``Mr.\ Swift! Tom! Where are you? Something dreadful has happened!''

{}``There she goes!''\ remarked Mr.\ Swift, as he splashed into
a mud puddle.

{}``Bless my deflection rudder!''\ suddenly cried a voice from
the flat roof of the Swift house. {}``Hello! I say, is anyone down
there?''

{}``Yes, we are,'' answered Tom. {}``Is that you, Mr.\ Damon?''

{}``Bless my collar button! It certainly is.''

{}``Where's Mr.\ Sharp? I don't hear him.''

{}``Oh, I'm here all right,'' answered the balloonist. {}``I'm
trying to get the airship clear of the chimney. Mr.\ Damon\mbox{---}''

{}``Yes, I steered wrong!''\ interrupted the odd man. {}``Bless
my liver pin, but it was so dark I couldn't see, and when that clap
of thunder came I shifted the deflection rudder instead of the lateral
one, and tried to knock over your chimney.''

{}``Are either of you hurt?''\ asked Mr.\ Swift anxiously.

{}``No, not at all,'' replied Mr.\ Sharp. {}``We were moving slowly,
ready for a landing.''

{}``Is the airship damaged?'' inquired Tom.

{}``I don't know. Not much, I guess,'' was the answer of the aeronaut.
{}``I've stopped the engine, and I don't like to start it again until
I can see what shape we're in.''

{}``I'll come up, with Mr.\ Jackson,'' called Tom, and he hastily
summoned Garret Jackson, an engineer, who had been in the service
of Mr.\ Swift for many years. Together they proceeded to the roof
by a stairway that led to a scuttle.

{}``Is anyone killed?''\ asked Mrs.\ Baggert, as Tom hurried up
the stairs. {}``Don't tell me there is, Tom!''

{}``Well, I don't have to tell you, for no one is,'' replied the
young inventor with a laugh. {}``It's all right. The airship tried
to collide with the chimney, that's all.''

He was soon on the large, flat roof of the dwelling, and, with the
aid of lanterns he, the engineer, and Mr.\ Sharp made a hasty examination.

{}``Anything wrong?''\ inquired Mr.\ Damon, looking out from the
cabin of the \textit{Red Cloud} where he had taken refuge after the
crash, and to get out of the wet.

{}``Not much,'' answered Tom. {}``One of the forward planes is
smashed, but we can rise by means of the gas, and float down. Is all
clear, Mr.\ Sharp?''

{}``All clear,'' replied the balloonist, for the airship had now
been wheeled back from the entanglement with the chimney.

{}``Then here we go!''\ cried Tom, as he and the aeronaut entered
the craft, while Mr.\ Jackson descended through the scuttle.

There came a fiercer burst to the storm, and, amid a series of dazzling
lightning flashes and the muttering of thunder, the airship rose from
the roof. Tom switched on the search-light, and, starting the big
propellers, guided the craft skillfully toward the big shed where
it was housed when not in use.

With the grace of a bird it turned about in the air, and settled to
the ground. It was the work of but a few minutes to run it into the
shed. Then they all started for the house.

{}``Bless my umbrella! How it rains!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon, as he
splashed on through numerous puddles. {}``We got back just in time,
Mr.\ Sharp.''

{}``Where did you go?'' asked the lad.

{}``Why we took a flight of about fifty miles and stopped at my house
in Waterfield for supper. Were you anxious about us?''

{}``A little when it began to storm,'' replied Tom.

{}``Anything new since we left?'' asked Mr.\ Sharp, for it was
the custom of himself, or some of his friends, to take little trips
in the airship. They thought no more of it than many do of going for
a short spin in an automobile.

{}``Yes, there is something new,'' said Mr.\ Swift, as the party,
all drenched now, reached the broad veranda.

{}``Bless my gaiters!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``What is it? I
hope the Happy Harry gang hasn't robbed you again; nor Berg and his
men tried to take that treasure away from us, after we worked so hard
to get it from the wreck.''

{}``No, it isn't that,'' replied Mr.\ Swift. {}``The truth is
that Tom thinks he has invented a storage battery that will revolutionize
matters. He's going to build an electric automobile, he says.''

{}``I am,'' declared the lad, as the others looked at him, {}``and
it will be the speediest one you ever saw, too!''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER III \mbox{---} The Motorcycle Wins}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER III \mbox{---} The Motorcycle
Wins}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{The Motorcycle Wins}

{}``Well, Tom,'' remarked Mr.\ Sharp, after a pause following the
lad's announcement. {}``I didn't know you had any ambitions in that
line. Tell us more about the battery. What system do you use; lead
plates and sulphuric acid?''

{}``Oh, that's out of date long ago,'' declared the lad.

{}``Well, I don't know much about electricity,'' admitted the aeronaut.
{}``I'll take my chances in an airship or a balloon, but when it
comes to electricity I'm down and out.''

{}``So am I,'' admitted Mr.\ Damon. {}``Bless my gizzard, it's
all I can do to put a new spark plug in my automobile. Where is your
new battery, Tom?''

{}``Out in my shop, running yet if it hasn't been frightened by the
airship smash,'' replied the lad, somewhat proudly. {}``It's an
oxide of nickel battery, with steel and oxide of iron negative electrodes.''

{}``What solution do you use, Tom?'' asked Mr.\ Swift. {}``I didn't
get that far in questioning you before the crash came,'' he added.

{}``Well I have, in the experimental battery, a solution of potassium
hydrate,'' replied the lad, {}``but I think I'm going to change
it, and add some lithium hydrate to it. I think that will make it
stronger.''

{}``Bless my watch chain!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``It's all
Greek to me. Suppose you let us see it, Tom? I like to see wheels
go 'round, but I'm not much of a hand for chemical terms.''

{}``If you're sure you're not hurt by the airship smash, I will,''
declared the lad.

{}``Oh, we're not hurt a bit,'' insisted Mr.\ Sharp. {}``As I
said we were moving slow, for I knew it was about time to land. Mr.\ Damon
was steering\mbox{---}''

{}``Yes I thought I'd try my hand at it, as it seemed so easy,''
interrupted the eccentric man. {}``But never again\mbox{---}not
for mine! I couldn't see the house, and, before I knew it we were
right over the roof. Then the chimney seemed to stick itself up suddenly
in front of us, and\mbox{---}well, you know the rest. I'm willing
to pay for any damage I caused.''

{}``Oh, not at all!''\ replied Tom. {}``It's easy enough to put
on a new plane, or, for that matter, we can operate the \textit{Red
Cloud} without it. But come on, I'll show you my sample battery.''

{}``Here, take umbrellas!''\ Mrs.\ Baggert called after them as
they started toward the shop, for it was still raining.

{}``We don't mind getting wet,'' replied the young inventor. {}``It's
in the interests of science.''

{}``Maybe it is. You don't mind a wetting, but I mind you coming
in and dripping water all over the carpets!''\ retorted the housekeeper.

{}``Bless my overshoes, I'm afraid we have wet the carpets a trifle
now,'' admitted Mr.\ Damon ruefully, as he looked down at a puddle,
which had formed where he had been standing.

{}``That's the reason I want you to take umbrellas this trip,''
insisted Mrs.\ Baggert.

They complied, and were soon in the shop, where Tom explained his
battery. The small motor was still running and had, as the lad had
said, gone the equivalent of over two hundred miles.

{}``If a small battery does as well as that, what will a larger one
do?'' asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Much better, I hope,'' replied the youth. {}``But Dad doesn't
seem to have much faith in them.''

{}``Well,'' admitted Mr.\ Swift, {}``I must say I am skeptical.
Still, I acknowledge Tom has done some pretty good work along electrical
lines. He helped me with the positive and negative plates on the submarine,
and, maybe\mbox{---}well, we'll wait and see,'' he concluded.

{}``If you build a car I hope you give me a ride in it,'' said Mr.\ Damon.
{}``I've ridden fast in the air, and swiftly on top of, and under,
the water. Now I'd like to ride rapidly on top of the earth. The gasolene
auto doesn't go very fast.''

{}``I'll give you a ride that will make your hair stand up!''\ prophesied
Tom, and the time was to come when he would make good that prediction.

The little party in the machine shop talked at some length about Tom's
battery. He showed them how it was constructed, and gave them some
of his ideas regarding the new type of auto he planned to build.

{}``Well,'' remarked Mr.\ Swift at length, {}``if you want to
keep your brain fresh, Tom, you must get to bed earlier than this.
It's nearly twelve o'clock.''

{}``And I want to get up early!''\ exclaimed the lad. {}``I'm
going to start to build a larger battery to-morrow.''

{}``And I'm going to repair the airship,'' added Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``Bless my night cap, I promised my wife I'd be home early to-night,
too!''\ suddenly exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``I don't fancy making
the trip back to Waterfield in my auto, though. Something will be
sure to happen. I'll blow out a tire, or a spark plug will get sooty
on me and\mbox{---}''

{}``It's raining harder than ever,'' interrupted Tom. {}``Better
stay here to-night. You can telephone home.'' Which Mr.\ Damon did.

Tom was up early the next morning, in spite of the fact that he did
not go to bed in good season, and before breakfast he was working
at his new storage battery. After the meal he hurried back to the
shop, but it was not long before he came out, wheeling his motor-cycle.

{}``Where are you going, Tom?''\ asked Mrs.\ Baggert.

{}``Oh, I've got to go to Mansburg to get some steel tubes for my
new battery,'' he replied. {}``I thought I had some large enough,
but I haven't.'' Mansburg was a good-sized town, near Shopton.

{}``Then I wish you'd bring me a bottle of stove polish,'' requested
the housekeeper. {}``The liquid kind. I'm out of it, and the stove
is as red as a cow.''

{}``All right,'' agreed the lad, as he leaped into the saddle and
pedaled off down the road. A moment later he had turned on the power,
and was speeding along the highway, which was in good condition on
account of the shower of the night before.

Tom was thinking so deeply of his new invention, and planning what
he would do when he had his electric runabout built, that, almost
before he knew it, he had reached Mansburg, purchased the steel tubes,
and the stove polish, and was on his way back again.

As he was speeding along on a level road, he heard, coming behind
him, an automobile. The lad turned to one side, but, in spite of this
the party in the car began a serenade of the electric siren, and kept
it up, making a wild discord.

{}``What's the matter with those fellows!''\ inquired Tom of himself.
{}``Haven't I given them enough of the road, or has their steering
gear broken?''

He looked back over his shoulder, and it needed but a glance to show
that the car was all right, as regarded the steering apparatus. And
it needed only another glance to disclose the reason for the shrill
sound of the siren.

{}``Andy Foger!''\ exclaimed Tom. {}``I might have known. And
Sam and Pete are with him. Well, if he wants to make me get off the
road, he'll find that I've got as much right as he has!''

He kept on a straight course, wondering if the red-haired, and squint-eyed
bully would dare try to damage the motor-cycle.

A little later Andy's car was beside Tom.

{}``Why don't you get out of the way,'' demanded Sam, who could
usually be depended on to aid Andy in all his mean tricks.

{}``Because I'm entitled to half the road,'' retorted our hero.

{}``Humph! A slow-moving machine like yours hasn't any right on the
road,'' sneered Andy, who had slowed down his car somewhat.

{}``I haven't, eh?'' demanded Tom. {}``Well, if you'll get down
out of that car for a few minutes I'll soon show you what my rights
are!''

Now Andy, more than once, had come to personal encounters with Tom,
much to the anguish of the bully. He did not relish another chastisement,
but his mean spirit could not brook interference.

{}``Don't you want a race?''\ he inquired of Tom, in a sneering
tone. {}``I'll give you a mile start, and beat you! I've got the
fastest car built!''

{}``You have, eh?''\ asked Tom, while a grim look came over his
face. {}``Maybe you'll think differently some day.''

{}``Aw, he's afraid to race; come on,'' suggested Pete. {}``Don't
bother with him, Andy.''

{}``No, I guess it wouldn't be worth my while,'' was the reply of
the bully, and he threw the second gear into place, and began to move
away from the young inventor.

Tom was just as much pleased to be left alone, but he did not want
Andy Foger to think that he could have matters all his own way. Tom's
motor-cycle, since he had made some adjustments to it, was very swift.
In fact there were few autos that could beat it. He had never tried
it against Andy's new car, and he was anxious to do so.

{}``I wonder if I would stand any chance, racing him?''\ thought
the young inventor, as he saw the car slowly pulling away from him.
{}``I think I'll wait until he gets some distance ahead, and then
I'll see how near I can come to him. If I get anywhere near him I'm
pretty sure I can pass him. I'll try it.''

When Andy and his cronies looked back, Tom did not appear to be doing
anything save moving along at moderate speed on his machine.

{}``You don't dare race!''\ Pete Bailey shouted to him.

{}``Wait,'' was what Tom whispered to himself.

Andy's car was now some distance ahead. The young inventor waited
a little longer, and then turned more power into his machine. It leaped
forward and began to {}``eat up the road,'' as Tom expressed it.
He had seen Andy throw in the third gear, but knew that there was
a fourth speed on the bully's car.

{}``I don't know whether I can beat him on that or not,'' thought
the lad dubiously. {}``If I try, and fail, they'll laugh at me. But
I don't think I'm going to fail.''

Faster and faster he rode. He was rapidly overhauling Andy's car now,
and, as they heard him approach, the three cronies turned around.

{}``He's going to race you, after all, Andy!''\ cried Sam.

{}``You mean he's going to try,'' sneered Andy. {}``I'll give him
all the racing he wants!''

In another few seconds Tom was beside the auto, and would have passed
it, only Andy opened his throttle a little more. For a moment the
auto jumped ahead, and then, as our hero turned on still more power,
he easily held his own.

{}``Aw, you can never beat us!''\ yelled Pete.

{}``Of course not!''\ added Sam.

{}``I'll leave him behind in a second,'' prophesied Andy. {}``Wait
until I throw in the other gear,'' he added to his cronies in a low
voice. {}``He thinks he's going to beat me. I'll let him think so,
and then I'll spurt ahead.''

The two machines were now racing along side by side. Andy's car was
going the limit on third gear, but he still had the fourth gear in
reserve. Tom, too, still had a little margin of speed.

Suddenly Andy reached forward and yanked on a lever. There was a grinding
of cogs as the fourth gear slipped into place, for Andy did not handle
his car skillfully. The effect, however, was at once apparent. The
automobile shot forward.

{}``Now where are you, Tom Swift?''\ cried Sam.

Tom said nothing. He merely shifted a lever, and got a better spark.
He also turned on a little more gasolene and opened the muffler The
quickness with which his motor-cycle shot forward almost threw him
from the saddle, but he had a tight grip on the handle bars. He whizzed
past the auto, but, as the latter gathered speed, it crept up to him,
and, once more was on even terms. Much chagrined at seeing Tom hold
pace with him, even for an instant, Andy shouted;

{}``Get over on your own side there! You're crowding me!''

{}``I am not!''\ yelled back Tom, above the explosions of his machine.

The two were now racing furiously, and Andy, with a savage look, tried
to get more speed out of his car. In spite of all the bully did, Tom
was gradually forging ahead. A little hill was now in view.

{}``Here's where I make him take my dust!''\ cried Andy, but, to
his surprise Tom still kept ahead. The auto began to lose ground,
for it was not made to take hills on high gear.

{}``Change to third gear quick!''\ cried Sam.

Andy tried to do it. There was a hesitancy on the part of his car.
It seemed to balk. Tom, looking back, slowed up a trifle. He could
afford to, as Andy was being beaten.

{}``Go on! Go on!''\ begged Pete. {}``You'll have to keep on fourth
gear to beat him, Andy.''

{}``That's what!''\ murmured the bully. Once more he shifted the
gears. There was a grinding, smashing sound, and the car lost speed.
Then it slowed up still more, and finally stopped. Then it began to
back down hill.

{}``I've stripped those blamed gears!''\ exclaimed Andy ruefully.

{}``Can't you beat him?''\ asked Pete.

{}``I could have, easily, if my gears hadn't broken,'' declared
the bully, but, as a matter of fact, he could not have done so. {}``I
oughtn't to have changed, going up hill,'' he added, as he jammed
on the brakes, to stop the car from sliding down the slope.

Tom saw and heard.

{}``I thought you were so anxious to race,'' he said, exultantly,
as well he might. {}``I don't want to try a contest down hill, though,
Andy,'' and he laughed at the red-haired lad, who was furious.

{}``Aw, go on!''\ was all the retort the squint-eyed one could
think of to make.

{}``I am going on,'' replied our hero. {}``Just to show you that
I can go down hill, watch me.''

He turned his motor-cycle, and approached Andy's stalled car, for
Tom was some distance in advance of it, up the slope by this time.
As he approached the auto, containing the three disconcerted cronies,
something bounded out of Tom's pocket. It was the bottle of stove
blacking he had purchased for Mrs.\ Baggert. The bottle fell in the
soft dirt in front of his forward wheel, and a curious thing happened.
Perhaps you have seen a bicycle or auto tire strike a stone at an
angle, and throw it into the air with great force. That was what happened
to the bottle. Tom's front wheel struck the cork, which fitted tightly,
and, just as when you hit one end of the wooden {}``catty'' and
it bounds up, the bottle described a curve through the air, and flew
straight toward Andy's car. It struck the brass frame of the wind
shield with a crash.

The bottle broke, and in an instant the black liquid was spattered
all over Andy, Sam and Pete. It could not have been done more effectively
if Tom had thrown it by hand. All over their clothes, their hands
and faces, and the front of the car went the dreary black. Tom looked
on, hardly able to believe what he saw.

{}``Wow! Wup! Ug! Blug! Mug!''\ spluttered Sam, who had some of
the stuff in his mouth.

{}``Oh! Oh!''\ yelled Pete.

{}``You did that on purpose, Tom Swift!''\ shouted Andy, wiping
some of the blacking from his left eye. {}``I'll have you arrested
for that! You've ruined my car, and look at my suit!''

{}``Mine's worse!''\ murmured Sam, glancing down at his light trousers,
which were of the polka-dot pattern now.

{}``No, mine is,'' insisted Pete, whose white shirt was of the hue
of a stove pipe.

Andy wiped some of the black stuff from his nose, whence it was dropping
on the steering wheel.

{}``You just wait!''\ the bully called to Tom. {}``I'll get even
with you for this!''

{}``It was an accident! I didn't mean to do that,'' explained Tom,
trying not to laugh, as he dismounted from his motorcycle, ready to
render what assistance he could.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER IV \mbox{---} Talk of a New Bank}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER IV \mbox{---} Talk of a New
Bank}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Talk of a New Bank}

The three cronies were in a sorrowful plight. The black fluid dripped
from them, and formed little puddles in the car. Andy had used his
handkerchief to wipe some of the stuff from his face, but the linen
was soon useless, for it quickly absorbed the blacking.

{}``There's a little brook over here,'' volunteered Tom. {}``You
might wash in that. The stuff comes off easily. It isn't like ink,''
and he had to laugh, as he thought of the happening.

{}``Here! You quit that!''\ ordered Andy. {}``You've gone too
far, Tom Swift!''

{}``Didn't I tell you it was an accident?''\ inquired the young
inventor.

{}``It wasn't!''\ cried Sam. {}``You threw the bottle at us! I
saw you!''

{}``It slipped from my pocket,'' declared the youth, and he described
how the accident occurred. {}``I'll help you clean your car, Andy,''
he added.

{}``I don't want your help! If you come near me I'll\mbox{---}I'll
punch your nose!''\ cried Andy, now almost beside himself with rage.

{}``All right, if you don't want my help I don't care,'' answered
Tom, glad enough not to have to soil his hands and clothes. He felt
that it was partly his fault, and he would have done all he could
to remedy matters, but his good offers being declined, he felt that
it was useless to insist further.

He remounted his motor-cycle, and rode off, the last view he had of
the trio being one where they were at the edge of the brook, trying
to remove the worst traces of the black fluid. As Tom turned around
for a final glimpse, Andy shook his fist at him, and called out something.

{}``I guess Andy'll have it in for me,'' mused Tom. {}``Well, I
can't help it. I owed him something on account, but I didn't figure
on paying it in just this way,'' and he thought of the time the bully
had locked him in the ballast tanks of the submarine, thereby nearly
smothering him to death.

That night Andy Foger told his father what had happened, for Mr.\ Foger
inquired the reason for the black stains on his son's face and hands.
But Andy did not give the true version. He said Tom had purposely
thrown the bottle of blacking at him.

{}``So that's the kind of a lad Tom Swift is, eh?''\ remarked Andy's
father. {}``Well, Andy, I think you will soon have a chance to get
even with him.''

{}``How, pop?''

{}``I can't tell you now, but I have a plan for making Tom sorry
he ever did anything to you, and I will also pay back some old scores
to Mr.\ Swift and Mr.\ Damon. I'll ruin their bank for them, that's
what I'll do.''

{}``Ruin their bank, pop? How?''

{}``You wait and see. The Swift crowd will get off their high horse
soon, or I'm mistaken. My plans are nearly completed, but I can't
tell you about them. I'll ruin Mr.\ Swift, though, that's what I'll
do,'' and Mr.\ Foger shook his head determinedly.

Tom was soon at his home, and Mrs.\ Baggert, hearing the noise of
his machine, as it entered the front yard, came to the side door.

{}``Where's my blacking?''\ she asked, as our hero dismounted and
untied the bundle of steel tubes he had purchased.

{}``I\mbox{---}I used it,'' he answered, laughing.

{}``Tom Swift! You don't mean to say you took my stove polish to
use in your battery, do you?''

{}``No, I used it to polish off Andy Foger and some of his cronies,''
and the young inventor told, with much gusto, what had happened. Mrs.\ Baggert
could not help joining in the laugh, and when Tom offered to ride
back and purchase some more of the polish for her, she said it did
not matter, as she could wait until the next day.

The lad was soon busy in his machine shop, making several larger cells
for the new storage battery. He wanted to give it a more severe test.
He worked for several days on this, and when he had one unit of cells
complete, he attached the motor for an efficiency trial.

{}``We'll see how many miles that will make,'' he remarked to his
father.

{}``Have you thought anything of the type of car you are going to
build?''\ asked the aged inventor of his son.

{}``Yes, somewhat. It will be almost of the regulation style, but
with two removable seats at the rear, with curtains for protection,
and a place in front for two persons. This can also be protected with
curtains when desired.''

{}``But what about the motors and the battery?''

{}``They will be located under the middle of the car. There will
be one set of batteries there, together with the motor, and another
set of batteries will be placed under the removable seats in what
I call the tonneau, though, of course, it isn't really that. A smaller
set will also be placed forward, and there will be ample room for
carrying tools and such things.''

{}``About how far do you expect your car will go with one charging
of the battery?''

{}``Well, if I can make it do three hundred miles I'll be satisfied,
but I'm going to try for four hundred.''

{}``What will you do when your battery runs out?''

{}``Recharge it.''

{}``Suppose you're not near a charging station?'' 

{}``Well, Dad, of course those are some of the details I've got to
work out. I'm planning a register gauge now, that will give warning
about fifty miles before the battery is run down. That will leave
me a margin to work on. And I'm going to have it fixed so I can take
current from any trolley line, as well as from a regular charging
station. My battery will be capable of being recharged very quickly,
or, in case of need, I can take out the old cells and put in new ones.

{}``That's a very good idea. Well, I hope you succeed.''

A few evenings after this, when Tom was busy in his machine shop,
he heard some one enter. He looked up from the gauge of the motor,
which he was studying, and, for a moment, he could make out nothing
in the dark interior of the shop, for he was working in a brilliant
light.

{}``Who's there?''\ he called sharply, for, more than once unscrupulous
men had endeavored to sneak into the Swift shops to steal ideas of
inventions; if not the actual apparatus itself.

{}``It's me\mbox{---}Ned Newton,'' was the cheerful reply.

{}``Oh, hello, Ned! I was wondering what had become of you,'' responded
Tom. {}``Where have you been lately?''

{}``Oh, working overtime.''

{}``What's the occasion?''

{}``We're trying out a new system to increase the bank business.''

{}``What's the matter? Aren't you folks getting business enough,
after the big deposits we made of the bullion from the wreck?''

{}``Oh, it's not that. But haven't you heard the news? There is talk
of starting a rival bank in Shopton, and that may make us hustle to
hold what business we have, to say nothing of getting new customers.''

{}``A new bank, eh? Who's going to start it?'' 

{}``Andy Foger's father, I hear. You know he was a director in our
bank, but he got out last week.''

{}``What for?''

{}``Well, he had some difficulty with Mr.\ Pendergast, the president.
I fancy you had something to do with it, too.''

{}``I?''\ Tom was plainly surprised.

{}``Yes, you know you and Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Sharp captured the
bank robbers, and got back most of the money.''

{}``I guess I do remember it! I wish you could have seen the gang
when we raided them from the clouds, in our airship!''

{}``Well, you know Andy Foger hoped to collect the five thousand
dollars reward for telling the police that you were the thief, and
of course he got fooled, for you got the reward. Mr.\ Foger expected
his son would collect the money, and when Andy got left, it made him
sore. He's had a grudge against Mr.\ Pendergast, and all the other
bank officials ever since, and now he's going to start a rival bank.
So that's why I said it was partly due to you.''

{}``Oh, I see. I thought at first you meant that it was on account
of something that happened the other day.''

{}``What was that?''

{}``Andy, Sam and Pete got the contents of a bottle of stove blacking,''
and Tom related the occurrence, at which Ned laughed heartily.

{}``I wouldn't be surprised though,'' added Ned, {}``to learn that
Mr.\ Foger started the new bank more for revenge than anything else.''

{}``So that's the reason you've been working late, eh?''\ went
on Tom. {}``Getting ready for competition. Do you think a new bank
will hurt the one you're with?''

{}``Well, it might,'' admitted Ned. {}``It's bound to make a change,
anyhow, and now that I have a good position I don't want to lose it.
I take more of an interest in the institution now that I'm assistant
cashier, than I did when I was a clerk. So, naturally, I'm a little
worried.''

{}``Say, don't let it worry you,'' begged Tom, earnestly.

{}``Why not?''

{}``Because I know my father and Mr.\ Damon will stick to the old
bank. They won't have anything to do with the one Andy Foger's father
starts. Don't you worry.''

{}``Well, that will help some,'' declared Ned. {}``They are both
heavy depositors, and if they stick to the old bank we can stand it
even if some of our smaller customers desert us.''

{}``That's the way to talk,'' went on the young inventor. {}``Let
Foger start his bank. It won't hurt yours.''

{}``What are you making now?''\ asked Ned, a little later, looking
with interest at the machinery over which Tom was bending, and to
which he was making adjustments.

{}``New electric automobile. I want to beat Andy Foger's car worse
than I did on my motorcycle, and I also want to win a prize,'' and
the lad proceeded to relate the incidents leading up to his construction
of the storage battery.

Tom and Ned were in the shop until long past midnight, and then the
bank employee, with a look at his watch, exclaimed:

{}``Great Scott! I ought to be home.''

{}``I'll run you over in Mr.\ Damon's car,'' proposed Tom. {}``He
left it here the other day, while he and his wife went off on a trip,
and he said I could use it whenever I wanted to.''

{}``Good!'' cried Ned.

The two lads came from Tom's particular workshop. As the young inventor
closed the door he started suddenly, as he snapped shut the lock.

{}``What's the matter?''\ asked Ned quickly.

{}``I thought I heard a noise,'' replied Tom.

They both listened. There was a slight rustling in some bushes near
the shop.

{}``It's a dog or a cat,'' declared Ned.

Tom took several cautious steps forward. Then he gave a spring, and
made a grab for some one or something.

{}``Here! You let me be!'' yelled a protesting voice.

{}``I will when I find out what you mean by sneaking around here,''
retorted Tom, as he came back toward Ned, dragging with him a lad.
{}``It wasn't a dog or a cat, Ned,'' spoke the young inventor. {}``It's
Sam Snedecker,'' and so it proved.

{}``You let me alone!'' demanded Andy Foger's crony. {}``I ain't
done nothin' to you,'' he whined.

{}``Here, Ned, you hold him a minute, while I make an investigation,''
called Tom, handing his prisoner over to his chum. {}``Maybe Pete
or Andy are around.''

{}``No, they ain't. I came alone,'' said Sam quickly, but Tom, not
heeding, opened the shop, and, after turning on the electric lights,
procured a lantern. He began a search of the shrubbery around the
shop, while Ned held to the struggling Sam.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER V \mbox{---} A Midnight Encounter}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER V \mbox{---} A Midnight Encounter}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{A Midnight Encounter}

The moment Tom disappeared behind his machine shop, Sam Snedecker
began a desperate struggle to escape from Ned Newton. Now Ned was
a muscular lad, but his work in the bank was confining, and he did
not have the chance to get out doors and exercise, as Sam had. Consequently
Ned had his hands full in holding to the squirming crony of Andy Foger.

{}``You let me go!''\ demanded Sam, as he tried to twist loose.

{}``Not if I know it!''\ panted Ned.

Sam gave a sudden twist. Ned's foot slipped in the grass, and in a
moment he went down, with Sam on top of him. Still he did not let
go, and, finding he was still a prisoner Sam adopted new tactics.

Using his fists Sam began to pound Ned, but the bank employee, though
suffering, would not call for help, to summon back Tom, who was, by
this time, at the rear of the shop, looking about. Silently in the
dark the two fought, and Ned found that Sam was getting away. Then
Ned's hand came in contact with Sam's ear. It was the misfortune of
the bully to have rather a large hearing apparatus, and once Ned got
his fingers on an ear there was room enough to afford a good grip.
He closed his hold tightly, and began to twist. This was too much
for Sam. He set up a lusty howl.

{}``Wow! Ouch! Let go!''\ he pleaded, and he ceased to pound Ned,
and no longer tried to escape. Tom came back on the run.

{}``What's the matter?''\ he cried. Then his light flashed on the
two prostrate lads, and he understood without asking any further questions.

{}``Get up!''\ he cried, seizing Sam by the back of his neck, and
yanking him to his feet. Ned arose, and secured a better grip on the
sneaking lad.

{}``What's up?''\ demanded Tom, and Ned explained, following it
by the question:

{}``See any more of 'em?''

{}``No, I guess he was here all alone,'' replied the young inventor.
{}``What do you mean by sneaking around here this time of night?''
he demanded of the captive.

{}``Don't you wish you knew?''\ was Sam's answer, with a leer.
He realized that he had a certain advantage.

{}``You'd better tell before I turn you over to the police!''\ said
Tom, sternly.

{}``You\mbox{---}you wouldn't do that; would you?''\ and Sam's
voice that had been bold, became shaky.

{}``You were trespassing on our property, and that's against the
law,'' declared Tom. {}``We have signs posted, warning people to
keep off.''

{}``I didn't mean any harm,'' whined Sam.

{}``Then what were you doing here, at this hour?''

{}``I was just taking a short cut home. I was out riding with Andy
in his auto, and it broke down. I had to walk home, and I came this
way. I didn't know you didn't allow people to cross your back lot.
I wasn't doin' anything.''

Tom hesitated. Sam might be telling the truth, but it was doubtful.

{}``What happened to Andy's auto?'' the young inventor asked.

{}``He broke a wheel, going over a big stone on Berk's hill. He went
to tell some one in the repair shop to go after the car, and I came
on home. You've got no right to arrest me.''

{}``I ought to, on general principles,'' commented Tom. {}``Well,
skip out, and don't you come around here again. I'm going to get a
savage bull dog, and the first one who comes sneaking around here
after dark will be sorry. Move along now!''

Tom and Ned released their holds of Sam, and the latter lost no time
in obeying the injunction to make himself scarce. He was soon lost
to sight in the darkness.

{}``Think he was up to some mischief?'' asked Ned.

{}``I'm almost sure of it,'' replied Tom, {}``but I can't see anything
wrong. I guess we were too quick for him. I believe he, Andy and Pete
Bailey tried to put up some job on me.''

{}``Maybe they wanted to damage your new battery or car,'' suggested
Ned.

{}``Hardly that. The car hasn't been started yet, and as for the
battery, no one knows of it outside of you and my friends here. I'm
keeping it secret. Well, if I'm going to take you home I'd better
get a move on. Wait here and I'll run out Mr.\ Damon's car.''

In a short time Tom was guiding the machine over the road to Shopton,
Ned on the seat beside him. The young assistant cashier lived about
a mile the other side of the village, and the two chums were soon
at his house. Asking his friend to come and see him when he had a
chance. Ned bid his chum good night, and the young inventor started
back home.

He was driving slowly along, thinking more of his new invention than
anything else, even more than of the mysterious visit of Sam Snedecker,
when the lights on Mr.\ Damon's car flashed upon something big, black
and bulky on the road just ahead of him. Tom, brought suddenly out
of his fit of musing, jammed on the brakes, and steered to one side.
Then he saw that the object was a stalled auto. He had only time to
note this when a voice hailed him:

{}``Have you a tire pump you could lend us? Ours doesn't work, and
we have had a blowout.''

There was something about the voice that was strangely familiar, and
Tom was wondering where he had heard it before, when into the glare
of the lamps on his machine stepped Mr.\ Foger\mbox{---}Andy's father!

{}``Why, Mr.\ Foger!'' exclaimed Tom. {}``I didn't know it was
you.''

{}``Oh, it's Tom Swift,'' remarked the man, and he did not seem
especially pleased.

{}``Hey! What's that?'' cried another voice, which Tom had no difficulty
in recognizing as belonging to Andy. {}``What's the matter, Dad?''

{}``Why it happens to be your\mbox{---}ahem! It's Tom Swift in this
other auto,'' went on Mr.\ Foger. {}``I didn't know you had a car,''
he added.

{}``I haven't,'' answered the lad. {}``This belongs to Mr.\ Damon.
But can you see to fix your tire in the dark?'' for Mr.\ Foger and
his son had no lamps lighted.

{}``Oh, we have it all fixed,'' declared the man, {}``and, just
as we were going to pump it up out lamps went out. Then we found that
our pump wouldn't work. If you have one I would be obliged for the
use of it,'' and he spoke somewhat stiffly.

{}``Certainly,'' agreed Tom, cheerfully, for he had no special grudge
against Mr.\ Foger, though had he known Andy's father's plans, perhaps
our hero would not have so readily aided him. The young inventor got
down, removed one of his oil lamps in order that there might be some
light on the operation, and then brought over his pump.

{}``I heard you had an accident,'' said Tom, a chain of thoughts
being rapidly forged in his mind, as he thought of what Sam had told
him.

{}``You heard of it?'' repeated Mr.\ Foger, while Andy was busy
pumping up the tire.

{}``Yes, a friend who was out riding with you said you had broken
a wheel on Berk's hill. But I see he was slightly wrong. You're a
good way from Berk's hill, and it's a tire that is broken, not a wheel.''

{}``But I don't understand,'' said Mr.\ Foger. {}``No friend has
been out riding with us. My son and I were out on a business trip,
and\mbox{---}''

{}``Come on, pop. I've got it all pumped up. Jump in. There's your
pump, Tom Swift. Much obliged,'' muttered Andy hastily. It was very
evident that he wanted to prevent any further conversation between
his parent and Tom.

{}``But I don't understand,'' went on the banker, clearly puzzled.
{}``What friend gave you such information, Mr.\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}Tom
Swift?''

{}``Sam Snedecker,'' replied the lad quickly. {}``I caught him
sneaking around my machine shop about an hour ago, and when I asked
him what he was doing he said he'd been out riding with Andy, and
that they broke a wheel. I'm glad it was only a blown-out tire,''
and Tom's voice had a curious note in it.

{}``But there must be some mistake,'' insisted Mr.\ Foger. {}``Sam
Snedecker was not riding with us this evening. We have been over to
Waterfield\mbox{---}my son and I, and\mbox{---}''

{}``Come on, pop!'' cried Andy desperately. {}``We must hurry home.
Mom will be worried.''

{}``Yes, I think she will. But I can't understand why Sam should
say such a thing. However, we are much obliged for the use of your
pump, Swift, and\mbox{---}''

But Andy prevented any further talk by starting the car with the muffler
open, making a great racket, and he hurriedly drove off, almost before
his father was seated, leaving Tom standing there in the road, beside
his pump and lantern.

{}``So,'' mused the young inventor, {}``there's some game on. Sam
wasn't with Andy, yet Andy evidently knew where Sam was, or he wouldn't
have been so anxious to choke off talk. Mr.\ Foger knew nothing of
Sam, naturally. But why have Andy and his father been on a midnight
trip to Waterfield?''

That last question caused Tom to adopt a new line of thought.

{}``Waterfield,'' he mused. {}``That's where Mr.\ Damon lives.
Mr.\ Damon is a heavy depositor in the old bank. Mr.\ Foger is going
to start a new bank. I wonder if there's any connection there? This
is getting mysterious. I must keep my eyes open. I never expected
to meet Andy and his father tonight, any more than I expected to find
Sam Snedecker sneaking around my shop, but it's a good thing I discovered
both parties. I guess Andy must have had nervous prostration when
I was talking to his father,'' and Tom grinned at the thought. Then,
picking up the pump, and fastening the lantern in place, he drove
Mr.\ Damon's auto slowly back home.

Tom said nothing to his father or Mr.\ Sharp, the next morning, about
the incidents of the previous night. In the first place he could not
exactly understand them, and he wanted to devote more time to thinking
of them, before he mentioned the matter to his parent. Another reason
was that Mr.\ Swift was a very nervous person, and the least thing
out of the ordinary worried him. So the young inventor concluded to
keep quiet.

His first act, after going to look at the small motor, which was being
run with the larger, experimental storage battery, was to get out
pencil and paper.

{}``I've got to plan the electric auto now that my battery is in
a fair way to success,'' he said, for he noted that the one cell
he had constructed had done over twice as much mileage in proportion,
as had the small battery. {}``I'll soon start building the car,''
mused Tom, {}``and then I'll enter it in the race. I must write to
that touring club and find how much time I have.''

All that morning the young inventor drew plan after plan for an electric
runabout, and rejected them. Finally he threw aside paper and pencil
and exclaimed:

{}``It's no use. I can't think to-day. I'm dwelling too much on what
happened last night. I must clear my brain.

{}``I know what I'll do. I'll get in my motor-boat and take a run
over to Waterfield to see Mr.\ Damon. Maybe he's home by this time.
Then I can ask him what Mr.\ Foger wanted to see him about, if he
did call.''

It was a fine May morning, and Tom was soon in his boat, the Arrow,
gliding over Lake Carlopa, the waters of which sparkled in the sun.
As he speeded up his craft, the lad looked about, thinking he might
catch sight of Andy Foger, for the bully also owned a boat, called
the \textit{Red Streak} and, more than once, in spite of the fact
that Andy's craft was the more powerful, Tom had beaten him in impromptu
races. But there was no sign of his rival this morning, and Tom kept
on to Waterfield. He found that Mr.\ Damon had not yet returned home.

{}``So far I've had my run for nothing,'' mused the youth. {}``Well,
I might as well spend the rest of the morning in the boat.''

He swung his craft out into the lake, and headed back toward Mansburg,
intending to run up to the head of the body of water, which offered
so many attractions that beautiful morning.

As Tom passed a small dock he saw a girl just putting out in a rowboat.
The figure looked familiar and, having nothing special to do, the
lad steered over closer. His first view was confirmed, and he called
out cheerfully:

{}``Good morning, Miss Nestor. Going for a row?''

{}``Oh! Mr.\ Swift!'' exclaimed the girl with a blush. {}``I didn't
hear you coming. You startled me.''

{}``Yes, the engine runs quite silently since I fixed it,'' resumed
Tom. {}``But where are you going?''

{}``I was going for a row,'' answered the girl, {}``but I have
just discovered that one of the oar locks is broken, so I am not going
for a row,'' and she laughed, showing her white, even teeth.

{}``That's too bad!'' remarked the lad. {}``I don't suppose,''
he added doubtfully, {}``that I could induce you to accept a motor-boat
as a substitute for a rowing craft, could I?'' and he looked quizzically
at her.

{}``Are you asking me that as a hypothetical question?'' she inquired.

{}``Yes,'' said Tom, trying not to smile.

{}``Well, if you are asking for information, merely, I will say that
I could he induced to make such a change,'' and her face was nearly
as grave as that of the young inventor's.

{}``What inducement would have to be used?'' he asked.

{}``Suppose you just ask me in plain English to come and have a ride?''
she suggested.

{}``All right, I will!''\ exclaimed the youth.

{}``All right, then I'll come!''\ she retorted with a laugh, and
a few minutes later the two were in the Arrow, making a pretty picture
as they speeded up the lake.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER VI \mbox{---} Building the Car}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER VI \mbox{---} Building the
Car}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Building the Car}

{}``Well,'' remarked Tom to himself, about two hours later, when
he had left Mary Nestor at her dock, and was on his way home, {}``I
feel better than I did, and now I must do some hard thinking about
my runabout. I want to get it the right shape to make the least resistance.''
He began to make some sketches when he got home, and at dinner he
showed them to his father and Mr.\ Sharp. He said he had gotten an
idea from looking at the airship.

{}``I'm going to make the front part, or what corresponds to the
engine-hood in a gasolene car, pointed,'' he explained. {}``It will
be just like the front of the aluminum gas container of the airship,
only built of steel. In it will be a compartment for a set of batteries,
and there will be a searchlight there. From the top of some supporters
in front of the two rear seats, a slanting sheet of steel will come
right down to meet the sloping nose of the car. First I was going
to have curtains close over the top of the driver's seat, but I think
a steel covering, with a celluloid opening will be better and make
less wind resistance. I'll use leather side curtains when it rains.
Under the front seats will be a compartment for more batteries, and
there will be a third place under the rear seats, where I will also
carry spare wheels and a repair kit. The motors will be slung under
the body of the car, amidships, and there will also be room for some
batteries there.''

{}``How are you going to drive the car?'' asked Mr.\ Sharp. {}``By
a shaft?''

{}``Chain drive,'' explained Tom. {}``I can get more power that
way, and it will be more flexible under heavy loads. Of course it
will be steered in the usual way, and near the wheel will be the starting
and reversing levers, and the gear handle.''

{}``Gears!'' exclaimed the aged inventor. {}``Are you going to
gear an electric auto? I never heard of that. Usually the motor directly
connected is all they use.''

{}``I'm going to have two gears on mine,'' decided Tom.

{}``That's a new idea,'' commented the aeronaut.

{}``It is,'' admitted the lad, {}``and that's why my car is going
to be so speedy. I'll make her go a hundred miles an hour, if necessary!''

{}``Nonsense!''\ exclaimed his father.

{}``I will!''\ cried the young inventor, enthusiastically. {}``You
just wait and see. I couldn't do it but for the gears, but by using
them I'll secure more speed, especially with the big reserve battery
power I'll have. I know I've got the right idea, and I'm going to
get right to work.''

His father and Mr.\ Sharp were much interested, and closely examined
his sketches. In a few days Tom had made detailed drawings, and the
aged inventor looked at them critically. He had to admit that his
son's theory was right, though how it would work out in practice was
yet to be demonstrated. Mr.\ Swift offered some suggestions for minor
changes, as did Mr.\ Sharp, and the lad adopted some of them. Then,
with Mr.\ Jackson to help him, work was started on constructing the
car.

Certain parts of it could be better purchased in the open market instead
of being manufactured in Mr.\ Swift's shop, and thus Tom was able
to get his new invention into some sort of shape sooner than would
otherwise have been the case. He also started making the batteries,
many of which would be needed.

Gradually the car began to take form on the floor of Tom's shop. It
was rather a curious looking affair, the sharp forward part making
it appear like some engine of war, or a projectile for some monster
gun. But Tom cared little for looks. Speed, strength and ease of control
were the chief features the lad aimed at, and he incorporated many
new ideas into his electric car.

He was busy in the shop, one morning, when, above the noise caused
by filing a piece of steel he heard some one exclaim:

{}``Bless my gizzard! If you aren't as busy as ever!''

{}``Mr.\ Damon!'' cried Tom in delight. {}``When did you get back?''

{}``Last night,'' replied the eccentric man. {}``My wife and I
stayed longer than we meant to. And whom do you think we met when
we were off on our little trip?''

{}``Some of the Happy Harry gang?''

{}``Oh no. You'd never guess, so I'll tell you. It was Captain Weston.''

{}``Indeed! And how has he been since he went in the submarine with
us, and helped recover the gold from the wreck?''

{}``Very well. The first thing he said to me was: `How is Tom Swift
and his father, if I may be permitted to ask?'''

{}``Ha!\ Ha!''\ laughed the lad, at the recollection of the odd
sea captain, who generally tagged on an apologetic expression to most
of his remarks.

{}``He was getting ready to take part in some South American revolution,''
went on Mr.\ Damon. {}``He used most of his money that he got from
the wreck to help finance their cause.''

{}``I must tell Mr.\ Sharp,'' went on the lad. {}``He'll be interested.''

{}``Anything new since I've been away?'' asked the odd man. {}``Bless
my shoe laces, but I'm glad to get back!''

Tom told of the prospect of a new bank being started, and of Sam's
midnight visit, as well as the encounter with Mr.\ Foger and Andy.

{}``I went over to see what Mr.\ Foger wanted of you,'' went on
the young inventor, {}``but you weren't home. Did he call?''

{}``The servant said he had been there, not once, but several times,''
remarked Mr.\ Damon. {}``That reminds me. He left a note for me,
and I haven't read it yet. I'll do so now.''

He tore open the letter, and hastily perused the contents.

{}``Ha!''\ he exclaimed. {}``So that's what he wanted to see me
about!''

{}``What?''\ inquired Tom, with the privilege of an old friend.

{}``Mr.\ Foger says he's going to start a new bank, and he wants
me to withdraw my deposit from the old one, and put it in his institution.
Says he'll pay me bigger interest. And he adds that some of the old
employees have gone with him.''

{}``I hope you're not going to change,'' spoke Tom, thinking of
his chum, Ned.

{}``Indeed I'm not. The old bank is good enough for me. By the way,
doesn't a friend of yours work there?''

{}``Yes, Ned Newton. I'm wondering how he'll be affected?''

{}``Don't you worry!'' exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``Bless my check
book! I'll speak to Pendergast about your friend. Maybe there'll be
a chance to advance him further. I've got some mortgages falling due
pretty soon, and I'll deposit the money from them in the old bank.
Then we'll see what we can do about Ned.''

{}``They'll make you a bank director, if you keep on putting in money,''
remarked our hero, with a smile.

{}``Not much they won't!'' was the quick answer. {}``Bless my stocks
and bonds! I've got trouble enough without becoming a bank director.
My doctor says my liver is out of order again, and I've got to eat
a lemon every morning before breakfast.''

{}``Eat a lemon?''

{}``Well, drink the juice! It's the same thing. But how is the electric
runabout coming on?''

{}``Pretty good.''

{}``Have you entered it in the races yet?''

{}``No, but I've written for information. I have until September
to finish it. The races take place then.''

{}``Let's see; they're on Long Island; aren't they? How do you calculate
to do; run from here to there?''

{}``No, Dad still has the cottage he rented when we built the submarine
and I think I'll make that my headquarters during the race. It's easy
to run from there over to the Long Island track. They're building
a new one, especially for the occasion.

{}``Well, I hope you win the prize. I must go to town now, as I have
to attend to some business. I don't s'pose you want to come in my
auto. I'm pretty sure something will break before I get there, and
I'd like to have you along to fix it.''

{}``Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't go,'' replied the lad. {}``I
must get this car done, and then I've got to start on the batteries.''

Mr.\ Damon rather reluctantly went off alone, looking anxiously at
his car, for the machine got out of order on every trip he took.

It was a few days after this that Tom received a call from Ned one
evening. The bank employee's face wore a happy smile.

{}``What's the matter; some one left you a fortune?'' asked Tom.

{}``Pretty nearly as good. I've got a better position.''

{}``What? Have you left the old bank, and gone to the new one?''

{}``No, I'm still in the same bank, but I'm one of the two cashiers
now. Mr.\ Foger took several of the old employees when he opened
his new bank, and that left vacancies. I was promoted, and so were
one or two others. Mr.\ Damon spoke a good word for me.''

{}``That's fine! He's a friend worth having.''

{}``That's right. Your father also recommended me. But how are things
with you? Has Andy made any more trouble?''

{}``No, and I don't believe he will. I guess he'll steer clear of
me.''

But Tom was soon to learn he was mistaken.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER VII \mbox{---} Tom is Captured}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER VII \mbox{---} Tom is Captured}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Tom is Captured}

Meanwhile the young inventor, aided by his father, Mr.\ Sharp and
Garret Jackson, the engineer, worked hard over his new car, and the
powerful batteries. A month passed, and such was the progress made
that Tom felt justified in making formal entry of his vehicle for
the races to be held by the Touring Club of America.

He paid a contingent fee and was listed as one of the competitors.
As is usual in an affair of this kind, the promoters of it desired
publicity, and they sought it through the papers.

Consequently each new entrant's name was published. In addition something
was said about his previous achievements in the speed line.

No sooner was the name of Tom Swift received by the officials of the
club, than it was at once recalled that young Swift had had a prominent
part in the airship \textit{Red Cloud}, and the submarine \textit{Advance}.
This gave an enterprising reporter a chance for a {}``special''
for the Sunday supplement of a New York newspaper.

Tom, it was stated, was building a car which would practically annihilate
distance and time, and there were many weird pictures, showing him
flying along without touching the ground, in a car, the pictorial
construction of which was at once fearful and wonderful.

Tom and his friends laughed at the yarn, at first, but it soon had
undesirable results. The young inventor had desired to keep secret
the fact that he was building a new electric vehicle, and a novel
storage battery, but the article in the paper aroused considerable
interest. Many persons came a long distance, hoping for a sight of
the wonderful car, as pictured in the Sunday supplement, but they
had to be denied. The news, thus leaking out, kept the Swift shops
almost constantly besieged by many curious ones, who sought, by various
means, to gain admission. Finally Tom and his father, after posting
large signs, warning persons to keep away, added others to the effect
that undesirable visitors might find themselves unexpectedly shocked
by electricity, if they ventured too close. This had the desired effect,
though the wires which were strung about carried such a mild charge
that it would not have harmed a child. Then the only bothersome characters
were the boys of the town, and, fearless and careless lads, they persisted
in hanging around the Swift homestead, in the hope of seeing Tom dash
away at the rate of five hundred miles an hour, which one enthusiastic
writer predicted he would do.

{}``I've got a plan!'' exclaimed Tom one day when the boys had been
particularly troublesome.

{}``What is it?'' asked his father.

{}``We'll hire Eradicate Sampson to stand guard with a bucket of
whitewash. He'll keep the boys away.''

The plan was put into operation, and Eradicate and his mule, Boomerang,
were installed on the premises.

{}``Deed an' Ah'll keep dem lads away,'' promised the colored man.
{}``Ah'll splash white stuff all ober 'em, if dey comes traipsin'
around me.''

He was as good as his word, and, when one or two lads had received
a dose of the stuff, which punishment was followed by more severe
from home, for having gotten their clothes soiled, the nuisance ceased,
to a certain extent. Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey were two who received
a liberal sprinkling of the lime, and they vowed vengeance on Tom.

{}``And Andy Foger will help us, too,'' added Sam, as he withdrew,
after an encounter with Eradicate.

{}``Doan't let dat worry yo', Mistah Swift!'' exclaimed the darkey.
{}``Jest let dat low-down-good-fo-nuffin' Andy Foger come 'round
me, an' Ah'll make him t'ink he's de inside ob a chicken coop, dat's
what Ah will.''

Perhaps Andy heard of this, and kept away. In the meanwhile Tom kept
on perfecting his car and battery. From the club secretary he learned
that a number of inventors were working on electric cars, and there
promised to be many of the speedy vehicles in the race.

After considerable labor Tom had succeeded in getting together one
set of the batteries. He had them completed one afternoon, and wanted
to give them a test that night. But, when he went to his father's
chemical laboratory for a certain powder, which he needed to use in
the battery solution, he found there was none.

{}``I'll have to ride in to Mansburg for some,'' he decided. {}``I'll
go after supper, on my motorcycle, and test the battery to-night.''

The young inventor left his house immediately after the evening meal.
Along the road toward Mansburg he speeded, and, as he came to the
foot of a hill, where once Andy Foger had put a big tree, hoping Tom
would run into it and be injured, the youth recalled that circumstance.

{}``Andy has been keeping out of my way lately,'' mused Tom. {}``I
wonder if he's up to any mischief? I don't like the way Sam Snedecker
is hanging around the shop, either. It looks as if they were plotting
something. But I guess Eradicate and his pail of whitewash will scare
them off.''

Tom got the powdered chemical he wanted in the drug store, and, after
refreshing himself with some ice cream soda, he started back. As he
rode along through the streets of the town he kept a lookout, and
those of you who know how fond the lad was of a certain young lady,
do not need to be told for whom he was looking. But he did not see
her, and soon turned into the main highway leading to Shopton.

It was dark when he reached the hill, where once he had been so near
an accident, and he slowed up as he coasted down it, using the brake
at intervals.

Tom got safely to the bottom of the declivity, and was about to turn
on the power of his machine, when, from the bushes that lined either
side of the roadway, several figures sprang suddenly. They ranged
themselves across the road, and one cried: {}``Halt!'' in tones
that were meant to be stern, but which seemed to Tom, to tremble somewhat.
The young inventor was so surprised that he did not open the gasolene
throttle, nor switch on his spark. As a consequence his motor-cycle
lost momentum, and he had to take one foot from the pedal and touch
the ground, to prevent himself from toppling over.

{}``Hold on there!''\ cried another voice. {}``We've got you where
we want you, now! Hold on! Don't go!''

{}``I wasn't going to go,'' responded Tom calmly, trying to recognize
the voice, which seemed to be unnatural. {}``What do you want, and
who are you?''

{}``Never mind who we are. We want you and we've got you! Get off
that wheel!''

{}``I don't see why I should!'' exclaimed Tom, and he suddenly shifted
his handle bars, so as to flash the bright headlight he carried, upon
the circle of dark figures that opposed his progress. As the light
flashed on them he was surprised to see that all the figures wore
masks over their faces.

Tom started. Was this the Happy Harry gang after him again? He hoped
not, yet the fact that the persons had on masks made the hold-up have
an ugly look. Once more Tom flashed the light on the throng. There
were exclamations of dismay.

{}``Douse that glim, somebody!''\ called a sharp voice, which Tom
could not recognize.

A stone came whizzing through the air, from some one in the crowd.
There was a smashing of glass as it hit the lantern, and the road
was plunged in darkness. Tom tried to throw one leg over the saddle,
and let down the supporting stand from the rear wheel, so the motorcycle
would remain upright without him holding it. He determined to have
revenge for that act of vandalism in breaking his lamp.

But, just as he was free of the seat, he was surrounded by a dozen
persons, and several hands were laid on him.

{}``We've got you now!''\ some one fairly hissed in his ear. {}``Come
along, and get what's coming to you!''

Tom tried to fight, but he was overpowered by numbers and, a little
later, was dragged off into the woods in the darkness by the masked
figures. His arms were securely bound with ropes, and a handkerchief
was tied over his eyes. Tom Swift was a prisoner.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER VIII \mbox{---} A Blinding Flash}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER VIII \mbox{---} A Blinding
Flash}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{A Blinding Flash}

Stumbling on through the dark woods, led by his captors, Tom tried
to pierce the gloom and identify the persons who had firm grips on
either side of him. But it was useless. A little light sifted down
from the starlit sky above, but it was not sufficient. The young inventor
was beginning to think, after all, that he had fallen into the hands
of the Happy Harry gang, and he knew that if this was so he need expect
no mercy.

But two things were against this belief. One was that the principal
members of the gang were still in jail, or at least they were supposed
to be, and another was that there were too many of the captors. Happy
Harry's crowd never numbered so many.

{}``Maybe they're highwaymen,'' thought our hero, as he was dragged
along {}``But that can't be,'' he reasoned further. {}``If they
wanted to rob me they'd have done it back there in the road, and not
brought me off here in the woods. Besides, I haven't anything for
them to steal.''

Suddenly Tom stumbled over a projecting root, and nearly fell, dragging
along with him the person who had hold of his left arm.

{}``Look out there! What's the matter with you?'' exclaimed one
of the throng quickly, and at the sound of the voice Tom started.

{}``Andy Foger!''\ cried the young inventor, as he recovered himself,
for he had recognized the voice of the red-haired bully. {}``What
do you mean by holding me up in this way?'' he demanded.

{}``Quiet!''\ urged a voice in his ear, and the tones were unfamiliar.
{}``Mention no names!''

{}``I'm on to your game!''\ retorted Tom. {}``I know you're here,
Andy, and Sam and Pete; and Jack Reynolds and Sid Holton,'' and he
named two rather loose-charactered lads, who were often in the company
of Andy and his cronies. {}``You'd better quit this nonsense,''
Tom went on. {}``I'll cause the arrest of all of you if you make
trouble for me. I know who you are now!''

{}``You think you do,'' answered the voice in his ear, and the young
inventor concluded that it must be some lad whom he did not know.
{}``Nor is this nonsense,'' the other went on. {}``You are about
to receive the punishment due you.''

Our hero did not answer, but he was doing some hard thinking. He wondered
why Andy and his crowd had captured him.

Suddenly the blackness of the woods was illuminated by the fitful
gleam of a distant fire. Tom could see more plainly now, and he managed
to count about ten dusky figures hurrying along, four being close
to him, to prevent his escape, and the others running on ahead. The
light became stronger, and, a moment later the prisoner and his captors
emerged into a little clearing, where a fire was burning. Two figures,
masked with black cloth, as were all in the crowd, stood about the
blaze, putting on sticks of wood.

{}``Did you get him?'' asked one of these figures eagerly.

{}``Yes, they got me, Sam Snedecker,'' answered Tom quickly, recognizing
Sam's tones. {}``And they'll wish they hadn't before I'm done with
them.''

{}``Quiet!'' ordered an unknown voice. {}``Members of the Deep
Forest Throng, the prisoner is here!'' the lad went on.

{}``'Tis well, bind the captive to the sacrificial tree,'' was the
response from some one in the crowd.

Tom laughed. He was at ease now, for he recognized that those who
had taken him prisoner were all lads of Andy's character. Most of
them were Shopton youths, but some, evidently, were strangers in town.
Tom felt he had little to fear.

{}``Bring him over here,'' ordered one, and Tom cried out:

{}``You wouldn't be giving those orders, Andy Foger, if my arms weren't
tied. And if you'll untie me, I'll fight any two of you at once,''
offered the young inventor fiercely, for he hated the humiliation
to which he was being subjected.

{}``Don't do it! Don't untie him!''\ begged some one.

{}``No danger, they won't. They're afraid to, Pete Bailey,'' replied
Tom quickly, for he had recognized the voice of the other one of Andy's
particular cronies.

{}``Aw, he knows who we are,'' whispered Sam, but not so low but
that our hero heard him.

{}``No matter,'' was Andy's retort. {}``Let's go ahead with it.
Tie him to that tree.''

It was useless for Tom to struggle. He was bound too tightly by the
rope, and the crowd was too many for him. In a few minutes he was
securely fastened to a tree, not far from the camp-fire, which was
replenished from time to time.

{}``Now for the judgment!'' called one of the masked lads, in what
he meant to be a sepulchral tone. {}``What is the charge against
the prisoner? Brother Number One of the Deep Forest Throng, what is
your accusation?''

{}``He's a regular snob, that's what's the trouble,'' answered Andy
Foger, though whether he was {}``Brother Number One,'' did not appear.
{}``He's too fresh and\mbox{---}and\mbox{---}''

{}``I'll make you wish you felt fresh when I get hold of you, Andy,''
murmured Tom.

{}``Quiet!'' cried a tall lad. {}``What's the next charge?''

{}``He keeps an old colored man on guard at his place,'' was the
answer, and Tom had no difficulty in recognizing the voice of Sid
Holton. {}``The coon throws whitewash all over us. I got some of
it.''

{}``You wouldn't have, if you'd minded your own business,'' retorted
Tom. {}``It served you right!''

{}``What is the verdict on the prisoner?'' asked one who seemed
to be the leader.

{}``I say let's tar and feather him!'' cried Andy suddenly. {}``There's
a barrel of tar back in the woods here, and we can get some feathers
from a chicken coop. That would make him so he wouldn't be so uppish,
I guess!''

{}``That's right! Tar and feathers!'' exclaimed several.

Our hero's heart sank. He was not afraid, but he did not relish the
indignity that was proposed. He resolved to fight to the last ounce
of his strength against the masked lads.

{}``Can we get a kettle to heat the tar in?'' asked some one.

{}``We'll find one,'' answered Sam Snedecker. {}``Come on, let's
do it. You'll look pretty, Tom Swift, when we're through with you,''
he exulted.

Tom did not answer, but there was fierce anger in his heart. The tar
and feather proposal seemed to meet with general favor.

{}``Members of the Deep Forest Throng, we will hold a consultation,''
proposed the leader, in his assumed deep voice. {}``Come over here,
to one side. Brother Number Six, guard the prisoner well.''

{}``There ain't no need to,'' answered a lad who had been instructed
to mount guard over Tom. {}``He's tied so tight he can't move. I
want to hear what you say.''

{}``Very well then,'' assented the leader, {}``But look to his
bonds.''

The lad made a hasty examination of the ropes binding the young inventor
to the tree, and Tom was glad that the examination was a hasty one.
For he feared the guard might discover that one hand had been worked
nearly free. The young inventor had done this while he leered at his
captors.

Tom was not going to submit tamely to the nonsense, and from the moment
he had been tied, he had been trying to get loose. He had nearly succeeded
in freeing one hand when the crowd of masked boys moved off to one
side, where they presently began to talk in excited whispers.

{}``I wonder how they came to catch me,'' thought the prisoner,
as he worked feverishly to further loosen the ropes. {}``This looks
as if it was a put-up job, with the masks, and everything.'' Later
he learned that the idea was the outcome of a proposal of one of the
new arrivals in town. He had organized the {}``Deep Forest Throng,''
as a sort of secret society, and Andy and his cronies had been induced
to join. It was Andy's proposal to capture Tom, though, and, having
seen him depart for Mansburg on his motor-cycle, and knowing that
he would return along a road that ran near the woods where the Throng
met, suggested that they take Tom captive. The idea was enthusiastically
received, and Andy and his cronies thought they saw a chance to be
revenged.

Tom, while he picked at the ropes, listened to what the boys were
saying. He heard frequent mention of tar and feathers, and began to
believe, that unless he could get free, while they were off there
consulting, he might be forced to submit to the humiliating ordeal.

He managed to get one hand comparatively free, so that he could move
it about, but then he struck several hard knots, and could make no
further progress. The conference seemed on the point of breaking up.

{}``One of you go for a big kettle to boil the tar in,'' ordered
the leader, {}``and the rest of you dig up some feathers.''

{}``I must get loose!''\ thought Tom desperately. {}``If they
try to tar and feather me it will be a risky business. I've got to
get loose! They may burn me severely!''

But, though he tried with all his strength, the ropes would not loosen
another bit. He had one hand free, and that was all. The crowd was
moving back toward him.

{}``My knife!'' thought the captive quickly. {}``If I can reach
that in my pocket I can cut the ropes! Once I get loose I'll fight
the whole crowd!''

He managed to get his free hand into his pocket. His fingers touched
something. It was not his knife, and, for a moment he felt a pang
of disappointment. Then, as he realized what it was that he had grasped,
a new idea came to him.

{}``This will be better than the knife!'' he thought exultantly.
The crowd of lads was now surrounding him, some distance from the
fire, which burned in front of the captive.

{}``Sentence has been passed upon you,'' remarked the leader. {}``Prepare
to meet thy doom! Get the materials, brothers!''

{}``One moment!'' called Tom, for he wanted the crowd all present
to witness what he was about to do. {}``I'll give you one chance
to let me go peaceably. If you don't\mbox{---}''

{}``Well, what will you do?'' demanded Andy sneeringly, as he pulled
his mask further over his face. {}``I guess you won't do anything,
Tom Swift.''

{}``I'll give you one chance to let me go, and I'll agree to say
nothing about this joke,'' went on Tom. {}``If you don't I'll blow
this place up!''

For a moment there was a silence.

{}``Ha!\ Ha!\ Ho!\ Ho!''\ laughed Sam Snedecker. {}``Listen
to him! He'll blow the place up! I'd like to see you do it! You can't
get loose in the first place, and you haven't anything to blow it
up with in the second. I'd like to see you do it; hey, fellers?''

{}``Sure,'' came the answering chorus.

{}``Would you?''\ asked Tom quickly. {}``Then watch. Stand back
if you don't want to get hurt, and remember that I gave you a chance
to let me go!''

Tom made a rapid motion with the hand he had gotten loose. He threw
something to ward the blazing fire, which was now burning well. Something
white sailed through the air, and fell amid the hot embers.

There was a moment's pause, and then a blinding flash of blue fire
lighted up the woods, and a dull rumble, as when gun-powder is lighted
in the open followed. A great cloud of white smoke arose, as the vivid
blue glare died away, and it seemed as if a great wind swept over
the place. Several of the masked lads were knocked down by the explosion,
and when the rumble died away, and deep blackness succeeded the intense
blue light, there came cries of pain and terror. The fire had been
scattered, and extinguished by the explosion which Tom, though still
bound to the tree had caused to happen in the midst of the Deep Forest
Throng. Then, as the smoke rolled away, Andy Foger cried:

{}``Come on, fellows! Something's happened. I guess a volcano blew
up!''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER IX \mbox{---} Tom is Rescued}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER IX \mbox{---} Tom is Rescued}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Tom is Rescued}

The Deep Forest Throng needed no urging to flee from the place of
the mysterious explosion. Their prisoner, helpless as he had seemed,
had proved too much for them. Slipping and stumbling along in the
darkness, the masked lads had but one thought\mbox{---}to get away
before they saw more of that blue fire, and the force of the concussion.

{}``Gee! My eyebrows are all singed off!''\ cried Sam Snedecker,
as he tore loose his mask which had been rent in the explosion, and
felt of his face.

{}``And my hands are burned,'' added Pete Bailey. {}``I stood closer
to the fire than any of you.''

{}``You did not! I got the worst of it!''\ cried Andy. {}``I was
knocked down by the explosion, and I'll bet I'm hurt somewhere. I
guess\mbox{---}Oh! Help! I'm falling in a mud hole!''

There was a splash, and the bully disappeared from the sight of his
companions who, now that the moon had risen, could better see to flee
from their prisoner.

{}``Help me out, somebody!''\ pleaded Andy. {}``I'm in a mud hole!''

They pulled him out, a sorry looking sight, and the red-haired lad,
whose locks were now black with muck, began to lament his lot.

{}``Dry up!'' commanded Sid Holton. {}``It's all your fault, for
proposing such a fool trick as capturing Tom Swift. We might have
known he would get the best of us.''

{}``What was that stuff he used, anyhow?'' asked Cecil Hedden, the
lad responsible for the organization of the Deep Forest Throng. {}``He
must be a wonder. Does he do sleight-of-hand tricks?''

{}``He does all sorts of tricks,'' replied Pete Bailey, feeling
of a big lump on his head, caused by falling on a stone in the mad
rush. {}``I guess we were chumps to tackle him. He must have put
some kind of chemical in the fire, to make it blow up.''

{}``Or else he summoned his airship by wireless, and had that balloonist,
Mr.\ Sharp, drop a bomb in the blaze,'' suggested another lad.

{}``But how could he do anything? Wasn't he tied fast to that tree?''
asked Cecil, the leader.

{}``You never know when you've got Tom Swift tied,'' declared Jack
Reynolds. {}``You think you've got him, and you haven't. He's too
slick for us. It's Andy's fault, for proposing to capture him.''

{}``That's right! Blame it all on me,'' whined the squint-eyed bully.
{}``You was just as anxious as I was to tar and feather him.''

{}``Well, we didn't do it,'' commented Pete Bailey, dryly. {}``I
s'pose he's loose now, laughin' at us. Gee, but that was an explosion
though! It's a wonder some of us weren't killed! I guess I've had
enough of this Deep Forest Throng business. No more for mine.''

{}``Aw, don't be afraid,'' urged Cecil. {}``The next time we get
him we'll be on our guard.''

{}``You'll never catch Tom Swift again,'' predicted Pete.

{}``I'll go back now to where he is, if you will,'' agreed Cecil,
who was older than the others.

{}``Not much!'' cried Pete. {}``I've had enough.''

This seemed to be the sentiment of all. Away they stumbled through
the woods, and, emerging on the road, scattered to their several homes,
not one but who suffered from slight burns, contusions, torn and muddy
clothes or injured feelings as the outcome of the {}``joke'' on
the young inventor.

But our hero was not yet free from the bonds of his enemies. When
they scattered and ran, after the vivid blue light, and the dull explosion,
which, being unconfined, did no real damage, Tom was still fast to
the tree. As his eyes became accustomed to the semi-darkness that
followed the glare, he remarked:

{}``Well, I don't know that I'm much better off. I gave those fellows
a good scare, but I'm not loose. But I can work to better advantage
now.''

Once more he resumed the effort to free himself, but in spite of the
crude manner in which the knots had been made, the lad could not get
loose. The more he pulled and tugged the tighter they seemed to become.

{}``This is getting serious,'' Tom mused. {}``If I could only reach
my knife I could cut them, but it's in my pocket on the other side,
and that bond's fast. Guess I'll have to stay here all night. Maybe
I'd better call for help, but\mbox{---}''

His words, spoken half aloud, were suddenly interrupted by a crash
in the underbrush. Somebody was approaching. At first Tom thought
it was Andy and his cronies coming back, but a voice that called a
moment later proved that this was not so.

{}``Is any one here?''\ shouted a man. {}``Any one hurt? What
was that fire and explosion?''

{}``I'm here,'' replied Tom. {}``I'm not hurt exactly, but I'm
tied to a tree. I'll be much obliged if you'll loosen me.''

{}``Who are you?''

{}``Tom Swift. Is that you, Mr.\ Mason?''

{}``Yes. By jinks! I never expected to find you here, Tom. Over this
way, men,'' he added calling aloud. {}``I've found him; it's Tom
Swift.''

There was the flicker of several lanterns amid the trees, and soon
a number of men had joined Mr.\ Mason, and surrounded Tom. They were
farmers living in the neighborhood.

{}``What in the name o' Tunket happened?'' asked one. {}``Did you
get hit by a meteor or a comet? Who tied you up; highwaymen?''

{}``Cut him loose first, and ask questions afterward,'' suggested
Mr.\ Mason.

{}``Yes,'' added Tom, with a laugh, {}``I wish you would. I'm beginning
to feel cramped.''

With their knives, the farmers quickly cut the ropes, and some of
them rubbed the arms of the lad to restore the circulation.

{}``What was it\mbox{---}highwaymen?'' asked a man, unable to longer
restrain his curiosity. {}``Did they rob you?''

{}``No, it wasn't highwaymen,'' replied the youth. {}``It was a
trick of some boys I know,'' and to Tom's credit be it said that
he did not mention their names. {}``They did it for a joke,'' he
added.

{}``Boys' trick? Joke?''\ queried Mr.\ Mason. {}``Pretty queer
sort of a joke, I think. They ought to be arrested.''

{}``Oh, I fancy I gave them what was coming to them,'' went on the
young inventor.

{}``Did they try to blow ye up, too?'' asked Mr.\ Hertford. {}``What
in th' name of Tunket was that blue light, and that explosion? I heard
it an' saw it way over to my house.''

{}``So did I,'' remarked Mr.\ Mason, and several others said the
same thing. {}``We thought a meteor had fallen,'' he continued,
{}``and we got together to make an investigation.''

{}``It's a good thing for me you did,'' admitted Tom, {}``or I
might have had to stay here all night.''

{}``But was it a meteor?'' insisted Mr.\ Hertford.

{}``No,'' replied the lad, {}``I did it.''

{}``You?''

{}``Yes. You see after they tied me I found I could get one hand
free. I reached in my pocket for my knife, but instead of it I managed
to get hold of a package of powder I had.''

{}``Gunpowder?'' asked Mr.\ Mason.

{}``No, a chemical powder I use in an electrical battery. The powder
explodes in fire, and makes quite a blue flash, and a lot of smoke,
but it isn't very dangerous, otherwise I wouldn't have used it. When
the boys were some distance away from the fire, I threw the powder
in the blaze. It went off in a moment, and\mbox{---}''

{}``I guess they run some; didn't they?'' asked Mr.\ Mason with
a laugh.

{}``They certainly did,'' agreed Tom.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER X \mbox{---} Tom Has a Fall}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER X \mbox{---} Tom Has a Fall}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Tom Has a Fall}

The young inventor told more details of his adventure in the woods,
but, though the farmers questioned him closely, he would not give
a single name of his assailants.

{}``But I should think you'd want to have them punished,'' remarked
Mr.\ Mason.

{}``I'll attend to that part later,'' answered Tom. {}``Besides,
most of them didn't know what they were doing. They were led on by
one or two. No, I'll fight my own battles. But I wish you'd lend me
a lantern long enough to find my motor-cycle. The moon doesn't give
much light in the woods, and those fellows may have hidden my machine.''

Mr.\ Mason and his companions readily agreed to accompany Tom on
a search for his wheel. It was found just where he had dismounted
from it in the road. Andy and his cronies had evidently had enough
of their encounter with our hero, and did not dare to annoy him further.

{}``Do you think you can ride home?'' asked one of the farmers of
the lad, when he had ascertained that his machine was in running order.

{}``Well, it's risky without my lantern,'' answered Tom. {}``They
smashed that for me. But I guess I can manage.''

{}``No, you can't!''\ insisted Mr.\ Mason. {}``You're stiff from
being tied up; and you can't ride. Now you just wheel that contraption
over to my place, and I'll hitch up and take you home. It isn't far.''

{}``Oh, I couldn't think of troubling you,'' declared Tom. At the
same time he felt that he was in no condition to ride.

{}``It's no trouble at all,'' insisted Mr.\ Mason. {}``I guess
your father and I are good enough friends to allow me to have my way.
You can come over and get your choo-choo bicycle in the morning.''

A little later Tom was being rapidly driven toward his home, where
he found his father and Mrs.\ Baggert, to say nothing of Mr.\ Sharp,
somewhat alarmed over his absence, as it was getting late. The youth
told as much of his adventure as he thought would not alarm his father,
making a sort of joke of it, and, later, related all the details to
the balloonist.

{}``We'll have to get after Andy again,'' declared the aeronaut.
{}``He needs another toning down.''

{}``Yes, similar to the one he got when we nearly ran away with his
automobile, by catching the airship anchor on it,'' added Tom with
a laugh. {}``But I fancy Andy will steer clear of me for a while.
I'm sorry I had to use up that chemical powder, though. Now I can't
start my battery until to-morrow.'' But the next day Tom made up
for lost time, by working from early until late. He went over to Mr.\ Mason's,
got his motor-cycle, procured some more of the chemical, and soon
had his storage battery in running order. Then he arranged for a more
severe test, and while that was going on he worked at completing the
body of the electric runabout. The vehicle was beginning to look like
a car, though it was not of the regulation pattern.

For the next week Tom was very busy, so occupied, in fact, that he
scarcely took time for his meals, which caused Mrs.\ Baggert no little
worriment, for she was a housekeeper who liked to see others enjoy
her cooking.

{}``Well, Tom, how are you coming on?'' asked his father one night,
as they sat on the porch, Mr.\ Sharp with them.

{}``Pretty well, Dad,'' was the answer of the young inventor. {}``I'll
put the wheels on tomorrow, and then set the batteries. I've got the
motor all finished; and all I'll have to do will be to connect it
up, and then I'll be ready for a trial on the road.''

{}``And you still think you'll beat all records?''

{}``I'm pretty sure of it, Dad. You see the amperage will be exceptionally
high, and my batteries will have a large amount of reserve, with little
internal resistance. But do you know I'm so tired I can hardly think.
It's more of a job than I thought it would be.''

Tom, a little later, strolled down the road. As he turned back toward
the house and walked up the shrubbery lined path he heard a noise.

{}``Some one's hiding in there!'' thought the lad, and he darted
to an opening in the hedge to reach the other side. As he did so he
saw a figure running away. Whether it was a man or a boy he could
not tell in the darkness.

{}``Hold on there!'' cried the young inventor, but, naturally, the
fleeing one did not stop. Tom began to sprint, and as it was slightly
down hill, he made good time. The figure ahead of him was running
well, too, but Tom who could see better, now that he was out from
under the trees, noticed that he was gaining. The fleeing one came
to a little brook, and hesitated a moment before leaping across. This
enabled Tom to catch up, and he made a grab for the figure, just as
the man or boy sprang across the little stream.

Tom missed his grip, but he was not going to give up. He scarcely
slackened his speed, but, with the momentum he had acquired in racing
down the hill, he, too, leaped across the brook. As he landed on the
other side he made another grab for the figure, a man, as Tom could
now see, but he could make out no features, as the person's hat was
pulled down over his face.

{}``I've got you now!'' cried Tom exultantly, reaching out his hand.
His fingers clutched something, but the next instant the young inventor
went sprawling. The other had put out his foot, and tripped him neatly
and, Tom throwing out his hands to save himself in the fall that was
inevitable, went splashing into the brook at full length. The unknown,
pausing a moment to view what he had done, turned quickly and raced
off in the darkness.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XI \mbox{---} Crossed Wires}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XI \mbox{---} Crossed Wires}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Crossed Wires}

More surprised than hurt, and with a feeling of chagrin and anger
at the trick which had been played on him, Tom managed to scramble
out of the brook. The water was not deep, but he had splashed in with
such force that he was wet all over. And, as he got up, the water
dripping from his clothes, the lad was conscious of a pain in his
head. He put up his hand, and found that contact with a stone had
raised a large lump on his forehead. It was as big as a hen's egg.

{}``Humph! I'll be a pretty sight to-morrow,'' murmured Tom. {}``I
wonder who that fellow was, anyhow, and what he wanted? He tripped
me neatly enough, whoever he was. I've a good notion to keep on after
him.''

Then, as he realized what a start the fleeing one had, the young inventor
knew that it would be fruitless to renew the chase. Slowly he ascended
the sloping bank, and started for home. As he did so he realized that
he had, clasped in his fingers, something he had grabbed from the
person he was pursuing just before his unlucky tumble.

{}``It's part of his watch chain!'' exclaimed Tom, as he felt of
the article. {}``I must have ripped it loose when I fell. Wonder
what it is? Evidently some sort of a charm. Maybe it will be a clue.''
He tried to discern of what style it was, but in the dark woods this
was impossible. Then the lad tried to strike a match, but those in
his pocket had become wet from his unexpected bath. {}``I'll have
to wait until I get home,'' he went on, and he hastened his steps,
for he was anxious to see what he had torn loose from the person who
appeared to be spying on him.

{}``Why Tom, what's the matter?'' exclaimed Mrs.\ Baggert, when
he entered the kitchen, dripping water at every step. {}``Is it raining
outside? I didn't hear any storm.''

{}``It was raining where I was,'' replied Tom angrily. {}``I fell
in the brook. It was so hot I thought I'd cool off.''

{}``With your best suit on!'' ejaculated the housekeeper.

{}``It isn't my best,'' retorted the lad. {}``But I went in before
I thought. It was an accident; I fell,'' he added, lest Mrs.\ Baggert
take his joking remarks seriously. He did not want to tell her of
the chase.

The chief concern of the lad now was to look at the charm and, as
soon as Mrs.\ Baggert's attention was attracted elsewhere, Tom glanced
at the object he still held tightly clenched in his hand. As the light
from the kitchen fell upon it he could hardly repress an exclamation
of astonishment.

For the charm that he held in his hand was one he had seen before
dangling from the watch chain of Addison Berg, the agent for Bentley
\& Eagert, submarine boat builders, which firm had, as told in {}``Tom
Swift and His Submarine,'' tried unsuccessfully to secure the gold
treasure from the sunken wreck. Berg and his associates had even gone
so far as to try to disable the \textit{Advance}, the boat of Tom
and his father, by ramming her when deep down under the ocean, but
Mr.\ Swift's use of an electric cannon had broken the steering gear
of the \emph{Wonder}, the rival craft, and from that time on Tom and
his friends had a clear field to search for the bullion held fast
in the hold of the \emph{Boldero}. {}``Addison Berg,'' murmured
Tom, as he looked at the watch charm. {}``What can he be doing in
this neighborhood? Hiding, too, as if he wanted to overhear something.
That's the way he did when we were building our submarine, and now
he's up to the same trick when I'm constructing my electric car. I'm
sure this charm is his. It is such a peculiar design that I'm positive
I can't be mistaken. I thought, when I was chasing after him, that
it would turn out to be Andy Foger, or some of the boys, but it was
too big for them. Addison Berg, eh? What can he be doing around here?
I must not tell Dad, or he'd worry himself sick. But I must be on
my guard.''

Tom examined the charm closely. It was a compass, but made in an odd
form, and was much ornamented.

The young inventor had noticed it on several occasions when he had
been in conversation with Mr.\ Berg previous to the attempt on the
part of the owners of the rival submarine to wreck Tom's boat. He
felt that he could not be mistaken in identifying the charm.

{}``Berg was afraid I'd catch him, and ask for an explanation that
would have been awkward to make,'' thought the lad, as he turned
the charm over in his hand. {}``That's why he tripped me up. But
I'll get at the bottom of this yet. Maybe he wants to steal my ideas
for an electric car.''

Tom's musings were suddenly interrupted by Mrs.\ Baggert.

{}``I hope you're not going to stand there all night,'' she said,
with a laugh. {}``You're in the middle of a puddle now, but when
you get over dreaming I'd like to mop it up.''

{}``All right,'' agreed the young inventor, coming to himself suddenly.
{}``Guess I'd better go get some dry clothes on.''

{}``You'd better go to bed,'' advised Mrs.\ Baggert. {}``That's
where your father and Mr.\ Sharp are. It's late.''

The more Tom thought over the strange occurrence the more it puzzled
him. He mused over the presence of Berg as he went about his work
the next day, for that it was the agent whom he had pursued he felt
positive.

{}``But I can't figure out why he was hanging around here,'' mused
Tom.

Then, as he found that his thoughts over the matter were interfering
with his work, he resolutely put them from him, and threw himself
energetically into the labor of completing his electric car. The new
batteries, he found, were working well, and in the next two days he
had constructed several more, joining them so as to get the combined
effect.

It was the afternoon of the third day from Tom's unexpected fall into
the brook that the young inventor decided on the first important test
of his new device. He was going to try the motor, running it with
his storage battery. Some of the connections were already in place,
the wires being fastened to the side of the shop, where they were
attached to switches. Tom did not go over these, taking it for granted
that they were all right. He soon had the motor, which he was to install
in his car, wired to the battery, and then he attached a gauge, to
ascertain, by comparison, how many miles he could hope to travel on
one charging of the storage battery.

{}``Guess I'll call Dad and Mr.\ Sharp in to see how it works, before
I turn on the current,'' he said to himself. He was about to summon
his parent and the aeronaut from an adjoining shop, where they were
working over a new form of dynamo, when the lad caught sight of the
watch charm he had left on his desk, in plain sight.

{}``Better put that away,'' he remarked. {}``Dad or Mr.\ Sharp
might see it, and ask questions. Then I'd have to explain, and I don't
want to, not until I get further toward the bottom of this thing.''

He put the charm away, and then summoned his father and the balloonist.

{}``You're going to see a fine experiment,'' declared Tom. {}``I'm
going to turn on the full strength of my battery.''

{}``Are you sure it's all right, Tom?'' asked his father. {}``You
can't be too careful when you're dealing with electricity of high
voltage, and great ampere strength.''

{}``Oh, it's all right, Dad,'' his son assured him {}``Now watch
my motor hum.''

He walked over to a big copper switch, and grasped the black rubber
handle to pull it over which would send the current from the storage
battery into the combination of wheels and gears that he hoped, ultimately,
would propel his electric automobile along the highways, or on a track,
at the rate of a hundred miles an hour.

{}``Here she goes!'' cried Tom. For an instant he hesitated and
then pulled the switch. At the same time his hand rested on another
wire, stretched across a bench.

No sooner had the switch closed than there was a blinding flash, a
report as of a gun being fired, and Tom's body seemed to straighten
out. Then a blue flame appeared to encircle him and he dropped to
the floor of the shop, an inert mass.

{}``He's killed!'' cried Mr.\ Swift, springing forward.

{}``Careful!'' cautioned the balloonist. {}``He's been shocked!
Don't touch him until I turn off the current!'' As he pulled out
the switch, the aeronaut gave a glance at the apparatus.

{}``There's something wrong here!'' he cried. {}``The wires have
been crossed! That's what shocked Tom, but he never made the wrong
connections! He's too good an electrician! There's been some one in
this shop, changing the wires!''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XII \mbox{---} The Try Out}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XII \mbox{---} The Try Out}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{The Try Out}

Once the current was cut off it was safe to approach the body of the
young inventor. Mr Sharp stooped over and lifted Tom's form from the
floor, for Mr.\ Swift was too excited and trembled too much to be
of any service. Our hero was as one dead. His body was limp, after
that first rigid stretching out, as the current ran through him; his
eyes were closed, and his face was very pale.

{}``Is \mbox{---} is there any hope?'' faltered Mr.\ Swift.

{}``I think so,'' replied the balloonist. {}``He is still breathing\mbox{---}faintly.
We must summon a doctor at once. Will you telephone for one, while
I carry him in the house?''

As Mr.\ Sharp emerged from the shop, bearing Tom's body, an automobile
drew up in front of the place.

{}``Bless my soul!'' exclaimed a voice. {}``Tom's hurt! How did
it happen? Bless my very existence!''

{}``Oh, Mr.\ Damon, you're just in time!'' exclaimed Mr.\ Sharp,
{}``Tom's had a bad shock. Will you go for a doctor in your auto?''

{}``Better than that! Let me take Tom in the car to Dr. Whiteside's
office,'' proposed the eccentric man. {}``It will be better that
way.''

{}``Yes, yes,'' agreed Mr.\ Swift eagerly. {}``Put Tom in the
auto!''

{}``If only it doesn't break down,'' added Mr.\ Damon fervently.
{}``Bless my spark plug, but it would be just my luck!''

But they started off all right, Mr.\ Swift riding in front with Mr.\ Damon,
and Mr.\ Sharp supporting Tom in the tonneau. Only a little fluttering
of the eyelids, and a slow, faint breathing told that Tom Swift still
lived.

Mr.\ Damon never guided a car better than he did his auto that day.
Several speed laws were broken, but no one appeared to stop them,
and, in record time they had the young inventor at the physician's
house. Fortunately Dr.\ Whiteside was at home, and, under his skillful
treatment Tom was soon out of danger. His heart action was properly
started, and then it was only a question of time. As the doctor had
plenty of room it was decided to let the lad remain that night, and
Tom was soon installed in a spare bedroom, with the doctor's pretty
daughter to wait on him occasionally.

{}``Oh, I'm all right,'' the youth insisted, when Miss Whiteside
told him it was time for his medicine. {}``I'm all right.''

{}``You're not!'' she declared. {}``I ought to know, for I'm going
to be a nurse, some day, and help papa. Now take this or I'll have
to hold your nose, as they do the baby's,'' and she held out a spoonful
of unpleasant looking mixture, extending her dainty forefinger and
thumb of her other hand, as if to administer dire punishment to Tom,
if he did not obey.

{}``Well, I give in to superior strength,'' he said with a laugh,
as he noted, with approval, the laughing face of his nurse.

Then he fell into a deep sleep, and was so much better the next morning
that he could be taken home in Mr.\ Damon's auto.

{}``But mind, no hard work for three or four days,'' insisted the
physician. {}``I want your heart to get in shape for that big race
you were telling me about. The shock was a severe strain to it.''

Tom promised, reluctantly, and, though he did no work, his first act,
on reaching home, was to go out to the shop, to inspect the battery
and motor. To his surprise the motor was running for the lad had established
the connection, in spite of his shock and his father and Mr.\ Sharp
had decided to let the machinery run until he came back.

{}``And look at the record it's made!'' cried Tom delightedly as
he glanced at the gauge {}``Better than I figured on. That battery
is a wonder. I'll have the fastest electric runabout you ever saw.''

{}``If the wires don't get crossed again,'' put in Mr.\ Sharp.
{}``You'd better make an examination, Tom,'' and, for the first
time, the young inventor learned how he had been shocked.

{}``Crossed wires! I should say they were crossed!''\ he exclaimed
as he looked at the switches and copper conductors. {}``Somebody
has been tampering with them. No wonder I was shocked!''

{}``Who did it?'' asked Mr.\ Sharp.

Tom considered for a moment, before answering. Then he said:

{}``I believe it was Addison Berg. He must have wanted to do some
damage, to get even with us for getting that treasure away from him.''

{}``Berg?''\ questioned the balloonist, and Tom told of the night
he had been tripped into the brook, and exhibited the watch charm
he had secured. Mr.\ Sharp recognized it at once. A further examination
confirmed the belief that the submarine agent had sneaked into Tom's
workshop, and had altered the wires.

{}``They were all right when I came out of the shop that night,''
declared Tom. {}``I left the old connections just as I thought I
had arranged them, and only added the new ones, when I went to try
my battery. The old connections were crossed, but I didn't notice
it. Then when I turned on the current I got the shock. I don't s'pose
Berg thought I'd be so nearly killed. Probably he wanted to burn out
my motor, and spoil it. If it was Andy Foger I could understand it,
but a man like Berg\mbox{---}''

{}``He's probably wild with anger because his submarine got the worst
of it in the race for the gold,'' interrupted the balloonist. {}``Well,
we'll have to be on our guard, that's all. What was the matter with
Eradicate, that he didn't see him enter the shop?''

{}``Rad went to a colored dance that night,'' said Tom. {}``I let
him off. But after this I'll have the shop guarded night and day.
My motor might have been ruined, if that first charge hadn't gone
through my body instead of into the machinery.'' The improper connections
were soon removed and others substituted.

It was agreed between Tom and Mr.\ Sharp that they would say nothing
regarding Mr.\ Berg to Mr.\ Swift. The aeronaut caused cautious
inquiries to be made, and learned that the agent had been discharged
by the submarine firm, because of some wrong-doing in connection with
the craft \emph{Wonder}, and it was surmised that the agent believed
Tom to be at the bottom of his troubles.

In a few days the young inventor was himself again, and as further
trials of his battery showed it to be even better than its owner hoped,
arrangements were made for testing it in the car on the road.

The runabout was nearly finished, but it lacked a coat of varnish,
and some minor details, when Tom, assisted by his father, Mr.\ Sharp
and Mr.\ Jackson, one morning, about a week later, installed the
motor and battery units. It did not take long to gear up the machinery,
connect the battery and, though the car was rather a crude looking
affair, Tom decided to give it a try-out.

{}``Want to come along, Dad?''\ he asked, as he tightened up some
binding posts, and looked to see that the steering wheel, starting
and reverse levers worked properly, and that the side chains were
well lubricated.

{}``Not the first time,'' replied his father. {}``Let's see how
it runs with you, first.''

{}``Oh, I want some sort of a load in it,'' went on the lad. {}``It
won't be a good test unless I have a couple of others besides myself.
How about you, Mr.\ Damon?'' for the old gentleman was spending
a few days at the Swift homestead.

{}``Bless my shoe buttons! I'll come!''\ was the ready answer.
{}``After the experience I've been through in the airship and submarine,
nothing can scare me. Lead on, I'll follow!''

{}``I don't suppose you'll hang back after that; will you, Mr.\ Sharp?''
asked the lad, with a laugh.

{}``I don't dare to, for the sake of my reputation,'' was the reply,
for the balloonist who had made many ascensions, and dropped thousands
of feet in parachutes, was naturally a brave man.

So he and Mr.\ Damon climbed into the rear seats of the odd-looking
electric car, while Tom took his place at the steering wheel.

{}``Are you all ready?'' he asked.

{}``Let her go!'' fired back Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``Bless my galvanometer, don't go too fast on the start,'' cautioned
Mr.\ Damon, nervously.

{}``I'll not,'' agreed the young inventor. {}``I want to get it
warmed up before I try any speeding.''

He turned on the current. There was a low, humming purr, which gradually
increased to a whine, and the car moved slowly forward. It rolled
along the gravel driveway to the road, Tom listening to every sound
of the machinery, as a mother listens to the breathing of a child.

{}``She's moving!'' he cried.

{}``But not much faster than a wheelbarrow,'' said his father, who
sometimes teased his son.

{}``Wait!'' cried the youth.

Tom turned more current into the motor. The purring and humming increased,
and the car seemed to leap forward. It was in the road now, and, once
assured that the steering apparatus was working well, Tom suddenly
turned on much more speed.

So quickly did the electric auto shoot forward that Mr.\ Damon and
Mr.\ Sharp were jerked back against the cushions of the rear seats.

{}``Here! What are you doing?'' inquired Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``I'm going to show you a little speed,'' answered Tom.

The car was now moving rapidly, and there was a smoothness and lightness
to its progress that was absent from a gasolene auto. There was no
vibration from the motor. Faster and faster it ran, until it was moving
at a speed scarcely less than that of Mr.\ Damon's car, when it was
doing its best. Of course that was not saying much, for the car owned
by the odd gentleman was not a very powerful one, but it could make
fast time occasionally.

{}``Is this the best you can do?'' asked Mr.\ Damon. {}``Not that
it isn't fast,'' he hastened to add, {}``and I was wondering if
it was your limit.''

{}``Not half!'' cried Tom, as he turned on a little more power.
{}``I'm not trying for a record to-day. I just want to see how the
battery and motor behaves.''

{}``Pretty well, I should say,'' commented Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``I'm satisfied\mbox{---}so far,'' agreed the lad.

They were now moving along the highway at a good speed\mbox{---}moving
almost silently, too, for the motor, save for a low hum, made no noise.
So quiet was the car, in fact, that it was nearly the cause of a disaster.
Tom was so interested in the performance of his latest invention,
that, before he knew it, he had come up behind a farmer, driving a
team of skittish horses. As the big machine went past them, giving
no warning of its approach, the steeds reared up, and would have bolted,
but for the prompt action of the driver.

{}``Hey!''\ he cried, angrily, as Tom speeded past, {}``don't
you know you got to give warnin' when you're comin' with one of them
ther gol-swizzled things! By Jehossephat I'll have th' law on ye ef
ye do thet ag'in!''

{}``I forgot to ring the bell,'' apologized Tom, as he sent out
a peal from the gong, and then, he let out a few more amperes, and
the speed increased.

{}``Hold on! I guess this is fast enough!'' cried Mr.\ Damon, as
his hat blew off.

{}``Fast?'' answered Tom. {}``This is nothing to what I'll do when
I use the full power. Then I'll\mbox{---}''

He was interrupted by a sharp report, and a vivid flash of fire on
a switch board near the steering wheel. The motor gave a sort of groan,
and stopped, the car rolling on a little way, and then becoming stationary.

{}``Bless my collar button!''\ ejaculated Mr.\ Damon.

{}``What's the matter?'' inquired Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``Some sort of a blow-out,'' answered Tom ruefully, as he shoved
the starting handle over, trying to move the car. But it would not
budge. The new auto had {}``gone dead'' on her first tryout. The
young inventor was grievously disappointed.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XIII \mbox{---} Towed by a Mule}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XIII \mbox{---} Towed by
a Mule}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Towed by a Mule}

{}``Bless my gizzard! Is it anything serious?'' asked Mr.\ Damon.
{}``Will it blow up, or anything like that?''

{}``No,'' replied the lad, as he leaped out of the car, and began
to make an examination. Mr.\ Sharp assisted him.

{}``The motor seems to be all right,'' remarked the balloonist,
as he inspected it.

{}``Yes,'' agreed our hero, {}``and the batteries have plenty of
power left in them yet. The gauge shows that. I can't understand what
the trouble can be, unless\mbox{---}'' He paused in his remark and
uttered an exclamation. {}``I've found it!'' he cried.

{}``What?'' demanded the aeronaut.

{}``Some of the fuses blew out. I turned on too much current, and
the fuses wouldn't carry it. I put them in to save the motor from
being burned out, but I didn't use heavy enough ones. I see where
my mistake was.''

{}``But what does it mean?'' inquired Mr.\ Damon.

{}``It means that we've got to walk back home,'' was Tom's sorrowful
answer. {}``The car is stalled, for I haven't any extra fuses with
me.''

{}``Can't you connect up the battery by using some extra wire?''
asked Mr.\ Sharp. {}``I have some,'' and he drew a coil of it from
his pocket.

{}``I wouldn't dare to. It might be so heavy that it would carry
more current than the motor could stand. I don't want to burn that
out. No, I guess we'll have to walk home, or rather I will. You two
can stay here until I come back with heavier fuses. I'm sorry.''

Tom had hardly ceased speaking, when, from around the turn in the
road proceeded a voice, and, at the sound of it all three started,
for the voice was saying:

{}``Now it ain't no use fer yo' to act dat-a-way, Boomerang. Yo'
all ain't got no call t' git contrary now, jest when I wants t' git
home t' mah dinner. I should t'ink you'd want t' git t' de stable,
too. But ef yo' all ain't mighty keerful I'll cut down yo' rations,
dat's what I'se goin' to do. G'lang, now, dat's a good feller. Ho!
Ho! I knowed dat'd fetch yo' all. When yo' all wiggles yo' ears dat-a-way,
dat's a suah sign yo' all is gwine t' move.''

Then followed the sound of a rattletrap of a wagon approaching.

{}``Eradicate! It's Eradicate!''\ exclaimed Tom.

{}``And his mule, Boomerang!''\ added Mr.\ Sharp. 

{}``He's just in time!''\ commented Mr.\ Damon with a sigh of
relief, as the ancient outfit, in charge of the aged colored man,
came along. Eradicate had been sent to Shopton to get a load of wood
for Mr.\ Swift, and was now returning. At the sight of the stalled
auto the mule pricked up his long ears, and threw them forward.

{}``Whoa dar, now, Boomerang!'' cried Eradicate. {}``Doan't yo'
all commence t' gittin' skittish. Dat machine ain't gwine t' hurt
yo'. Why good land a' massy! Ef 'tain't Mistah Swift!'' cried the
colored man, as he caught sight of Tom. {}``What's de trouble?''
he asked.

{}``Broke down,'' answered the young inventor briefly. {}``You
always seem to come along when I'm in trouble, Rad.''

{}``Dat's right,'' assented the darkey, with a grin. {}``Me an'
trouble am ole acquaintances. Sometimes she hits me a clip on de haid,
den, ag'in Boomerang, mah mule, gits it. He jest had his trouble.
Got a stone under his shoe, an' didn't want t' move. Den when I did
git him started he balked on me. But I'se all right now. But I suah
am sorry fo' you. Can't I help yo' all, Mistah Swift?''

{}``Yes, you can, Rad,'' answered Tom. {}``Drive home as fast as
you can, and ask Dad to send back with you some of those fuses he'll
find on my work bench. He knows what I want. Hurry there and hurry
back.''

Eradicate shook his head doubtfully.

{}``What's the matter? Don't you want to go?'' asked Mr.\ Sharp,
a trifle nettled. {}``We can't get the car started until we have
some new fuses..''

{}``Oh, I wants t' go all right 'nuff, Mistah Sharp,'' was Eradicate's
prompt answer. {}``Yo' all knows I'd do anyt'ing t' 'blige yo' or
Mistah Swift. But hits dish yeah mule, Boomerang. I jest done promised
him dat we were gwine home t' dinnah, an' he 'spects a manger full
ob oats. Ef I got to Mistah Swift's house wid him, I couldn't no mo'
git him t' come back widout his dinnah, dan yo' all kin git dat 'ar
car t' move widout dem fusin' t'ings yo' all talked about.''

{}``Bless my necktie!'' exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``That's all nonsense!
You don't suppose that mule understands what you say to him, do you?
How does he know you promised him his dinner?''

{}``I doan't know how he know, Mistah Damon,'' replied Eradicate,
{}``but he do know, jest de same. I know hit would be laik pullin'
teeth an' wuss too, t' git Boomerang t' start back wid dem foosd t'ings
until after he's had his dinner. Wouldn't it, Boomerang?''

The mule waved his long ears as if in answer.

{}``Bless my soul, I believe he does understand!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Of course he do,'' put in the colored man. {}``I'se awful sorry.
Now if it were afternoon I could bring back dem what-d'ye-call-'ems
in a jiffy, 'cause Boomerang allers feels good arter he has his dinnah,
but befo' dat\mbox{---}'' and Eradicate shook his head, as if there
was no more to be said on the subject.

{}``Well,'' remarked Tom, sadly, {}``I guess there's no help for
it. We'll have to walk home, unless you two want to wait until I can
ride back with Eradicate, and come back on my motor cycle. Then I'll
have to leave the cycle here, for I can't get it in the car.''

{}``Bless my collar button!'' cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``It's like
the puzzle of the fox, the goose and the bag of corn on the banks
of a stream. I guess we'd better all walk.''

{}``Hold on!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Sharp. {}``Is your mule good and
strong, Eradicate?''

{}``Strong? Why dish yeah mule could pull a house ober\mbox{---}dat
is when he's got a mind to. An' he'd do most anyt'ing now, 'ca'se
he's anxious t' git home t' his dinnah; ain't yo' all, Boomerang?''

Once more the mule waved his ears, like signal flags.

{}``Then I have a proposition to make,'' went on the balloonist.
{}``Unhitch the mule from the load of wood, and hitch him to the
auto. We've got some rope along, I noticed. Then the mule can pull
us and the runabout home.''

{}``Good idea!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Dat's de racket!'' ejaculated Eradicate. {}``I'll jest sequesterate
dish year load ob wood side ob de road, an' hitch Boomerang to de
auto.''

Tom said nothing for a few seconds. He gazed sadly at his auto, which
he hoped would win the touring club's prize. It was a bitter pill
for him to swallow.

{}``Towed by a mule!'' he exclaimed, shaking his head, and smiling
ruefully. {}``The fastest car in this country towed by a mule! It's
tough luck!''

{}```Tain't half so bad as goin' widout yo' dinnah, Mistah Swift!''\ remarked
Eradicate, as he began to harness the mule to the electric runabout.

Boomerang made no objection to the transfer. He looked around once
or twice as he was being made fast to the auto and, when the word
was given he stepped out as if pulling home stalled cars was his regular
business. Tom sat beside Eradicate on the front seat, and steered,
while the colored man drove the mule, and Mr.\ Sharp and Mr.\ Damon
were in the {}``tonneau'' seats as Tom called them.

{}``I hope no one sees us,'' thought Tom, but he was doomed to disappointment.
When nearly home he heard an auto approaching, and in it were Andy
Foger, Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey. The three cronies stared at
the odd sight of Boomerang ambling along, with his great ears flapping,
drawing Tom's speedy new car.

{}``Ha!\ Ha!''\ laughed Andy. {}``So that's the motive power
he's going to use! Look at him, fellows. I thought his new electric,
that was going to beat my car, and win the prize, was to be two hundred
horse power. Instead it's one mule power! That's rich!'' and Andy's
chums joined in the laugh at poor Tom.

The young imventor said nothing, for there was nothing he could say.
In dignified silence he passed the car containing his enemies, they,
meanwhile, jeering at him.

{}``Dat's all right,'' spoke Eradicate, sympathizing with his young
employer. {}``Maybe dey'll want a tow derselves some day, an' when
dey does, I'll make Boomerang pull 'em in a ditch.''

But this was small comfort to Tom. He made up his mind, though, that
he would demonstrate that his car could do all that he had claimed
for it, and that very soon.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XIV \mbox{---} A Great Run}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XIV \mbox{---} A Great Run}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{A Great Run}

Boomerang did not belie the reputation Eradicate had given him as
a beast of strength. Though the electric runabout was heavy, the mule
managed to move it along the road at a fair speed, with the four occupants.
Perhaps the animal knew that at the end of his journey a good feed
awaited him. At any rate they were soon within sight of the Swift
home.

Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Sharp refrained from making any comments that
might hurt Tom's feelings, for they realized the chagrin felt by the
young inventor in having his apparatus go back on him at the first
trial. But our hero was not the kind of a lad who is disheartened
by one failure, or even half a dozen.

The humor of the situation appealed to him, and, as he turned the
auto into the driveway, and noticed Boomerang's long ears waving to
and fro, he laughed.

The lad insisted on putting new fuses in the car before he ate his
dinner, and then, satisfied that the motor was once more in running
order, he partook of a hasty meal, and began making several changes
which he had decided were desirable. He finished them in time to go
for a little run in the car all alone on a secluded road late that
afternoon.

Tom returned, with eyes shining, and cheeks flushed with elation.

{}``Well, how did it go? asked his father.

{}``Fine! Better than I expected,'' responded his son enthusiastically.
{}``When it gets to running smoothly I'll pass anything on the road.''

{}``Don't be too sure,'' cautioned Mr.\ Swift, but Tom only smiled.

There was still much to do on the electric runabout, and Tom spent
the next few days in adjusting the light steel wind-shield, that was
to come down over the driver's seat. He also put in a powerful electric
search-light, which was run by current from the battery, and installed
a new speedometer and an instrument to tell how much current he was
using, and how much longer the battery would run without being exhausted.
This was to enable him to know when to begin re-charging it. When
the current was all consumed it was necessary to store more in the
battery. This could be done by attaching wires from a dynamo, or,
in an emergency by tapping an electric light wire in the street. But
as the battery would enable the car to run many miles on one charging,
Tom did not think he would ever have to resort to the emergency charging
apparatus. He had a new system for this, one that enabled him to do
the work in much less than the usual time.

With his new car still unpainted, and rather rough and crude in appearance,
the lad started out alone one morning, his father and Mr.\ Sharp
having declined to accompany him, on the plea of business to attend
to, and Mr.\ Damon not being at the Swift house.

Tom rode about for several hours, giving his car several severe tests
in the way of going up hills, and speeding on the level. He was proceeding
along a quiet country road, in a small town about fifteen miles from
Shopton, when, as he flashed past the small railroad station, he saw
a familiar figure standing on the platform.

{}``Why, Ned!'' called Tom, {}``what are you doing over here?''

{}``I might ask the same thing of you. Is that your new car? It doesn't
look very new.''

{}``Yes, this is it. I haven't had a chance to paint and varnish
it yet. But you ought to see it go. What are doing here, though?''

{}``I came over on some bank business. A customer here had some bonds
he wanted to dispose of and I came for them. You see we're enlarging
our business since the new bank started.''

{}``Has it hurt your bank any?''

{}``Not yet, but Foger and his associates are trying hard to make
us lose money. Say, did you ever see such a place as this? I've got
to wait two hours for a train back to Shopton.''

{}``No you haven't.''

{}``Why not? Have they changed the timetable since I came over this
morning?''

{}``No, but you can ride back with me. I'm going, and I'll show you
what my new electric car can do.''

{}``Good!''\ cried the young bank cashier. {}``You're just in
time. I was wondering how I could kill two hours, but now I'll get
in your new car and\mbox{---}''

{}``And maybe we'll kill a few chickens, or a dog or two when we
get her speeded up,'' put in Tom, with a laugh in which Ned joined.

The two lads, seated in the front part of the auto, were soon moving
down the hard highway. Suddenly Tom pulled a lever and the steel wind-shield
came sliding down from the top case, meeting the forward battery compartment,
and forming a sort of slanting roof over the heads of the two occupants.

{}``Here! What's this?'' cried Ned.

{}``We're going to hit it up in a few minutes,'' replied the young
inventor, {}``and I want to reduce the wind resistance.''

{}``Oh, I thought maybe we were going through a bombardment. It's
all right, go ahead, don't mind me. I'm game.''

There was a celluloid window in the steel wind-shield, and through
this the lads could observe the road ahead of them.

As they swung along it, the speed increasing, Ned saw an auto ahead
of them.

{}``Whose car is that?'' he asked.

{}``Don't know,'' replied Tom. {}``We'll be up to it in about half
a minute, though.''

As the electric runabout, more dilapidated looking than ever from
the layer of dust that covered it, passed the other auto, which was
a powerful car, the solitary occupant of it, a middle-aged man, looked
to one side, and, seeing the queer machine, remarked:

{}``You fellows are going the wrong way to the junk heap. Turn around.''

{}``Is that so?'' asked Tom, his eyes flashing at the cheap wit
of the man. {}``Why we came out here to show you the way!''

{}``Do you want to race?'' asked the man eagerly, too eagerly, Ned
thought. {}``I'll give you a brush, if you do, and a handicap into
the bargain.''

{}``We don't need it,'' replied the young inventor quickly.

{}``I'll wager fifty dollars I can beat you bad on this three-mile
stretch,'' went on the autoist. {}``How about it?''

{}``I'll race you, but I don't bet,'' answered Tom, a bit stiffly.

{}``Oh, be a sport,'' urged the man.

Tom shook his head. He had slowed down his machine, and was running
even with the gasolene car now. He noticed that it was a new one,
of six cylinders, and looked speedy. Perhaps he was foolish to pit
his untried car against it. Yet he had confidence in his battery and
motor.

{}``Well, we'll race for the fun of it then,'' went on the man.
{}``Do you want a handicap?''

Tom shook his head again, and there came around his mouth a grim look.

{}``All right,'' assented the other. {}``Only you're going to be
beat badly. I never saw an electric car yet that could do anything
except to crawl along.''

{}``You're going to see one now,'' was all the retort Tom permitted
himself.

{}``Here we go then!'' cried the man, and he gave his gear handle
a yank, and shoved over the sparking and gasolene levers.

His car instantly shot ahead, and went {}``chug chugging'' down
the road in a cloud of dust. At the same moment Tom, in answer to
a look from Ned, who feared his friend was going to be left behind,
turned more power into the motor. The humming, purring sound increased
and the electric car forged ahead.

{}``Can you catch him?'' asked Ned.

{}``Watch,'' was all Tom said.

The hum of the motor became a sort of whine, and the electric rapidly
acquired speed. It crept up on the gasolene car, as an express train
overtakes a freight, and the man, looking back, and expecting to see
his rival far behind was surprised to note the queer looking vehicle
lapping his rear wheels.

{}``Well, you are coming on, aren't you?'' he asked. {}``Maybe
you'll keep up now!'' He shifted the gears, using a little more gasolene.
For a moment his car opened a wide gap between it and Tom's, but the
young inventor had only begun to race. Still louder purred the motor,
and in a few minutes Tom was running on even terms with his competitor.
The man looked annoyed, and tried, by the skilful use of gasolene
and sparking levers, to leave Tom behind. But the electric held her
own.

{}``I've got to go the limit I see,'' remarked the man at last,
glancing sideways at the other car. {}``I'll tell 'em you're coming,''
he added, {}``though I must say your electric does better than any
of its kind I ever came across.''

{}``I'm not done yet,'' was the comment of our hero. But the man
did not hear him, for he was yanking into place the lever that enabled
him to run on direct drive for fourth speed.

Forward shot his car, and, for perhaps a quarter of a mile it led.
The racers were almost at the end of the three-mile level stretch
of road, and if Tom was going to win the impromptu contest it seemed
high time he began.

{}``Can you catch him?'' asked Ned anxiously.

{}``Watch,'' was his chum's reply. {}``I haven't used my high speed
gear yet. I'm afraid the fuses won't stand it, but here goes for a
try, anyhow.''

He threw over a switch, changed a lever and then, having pushed into
place the last gear, he grasped the steering wheel more firmly.

There was need of it, for, in an instant, the electric runabout, with
the motors fairly roaring, swept up the road, after the gasolene car
that was almost hidden from sight in a cloud of dust. Faster and faster
went Tom's car. The young inventor was listening with critical ear
to the song of the machinery. He wanted to learn if it was running
sweet and true, for that is how a careful mechanic tests his apparatus.
Foot by foot the distance between the two cars lessened. Now the electric
was lapping the rear wheels of the gasolene machine, but the driver
did not know it. His whole attention was on the road ahead of him.

{}``Half a mile more!'' cried Ned, naming the distance which yet
remained of the straight stretch. {}``Can you do it, Tom?''

His chum nodded. He shoved the controller handle over to the last
notch, and then waited an anxious second. Would the fuse carry the
extra load? It seemed so, for there was a slight increase of power.

An instant later Tom gave a sudden twist to the steering wheel. It
was well that he did, for he was passing the gasolene car dangerously
close. Then he was ahead of it, and in a second he was three lengths
in advance.

Desperately the man opened his muffler, and sought to gain by this
advantage, but though his car gave off explosions like a battery of
guns in action, he could not gain on Tom. The electric shot around
a curve in the road, winner of the impromptu race by an eighth of
a mile.

{}``Well,'' asked Tom of his chum, as he slowed down, for the road
now was not so good, {}``did I do it?''

{}``You certainly did. Whew! But we did scoot along?''

{}``Eighty miles an hour there one spell,'' went on the young inventor,
glancing at a gauge. {}``But I've got to do better than that to win
the big race.''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XV \mbox{---} Andy Foger's Black Eye}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XV \mbox{---} Andy Foger's
Black Eye}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Andy Foger's Black
Eye}

Around the bend came the six-cylinder touring car. The driver, with
a surprised look on his face, was slacking up. He ran his machine
up alongside of Tom's.

{}``Say,'' he asked, in dazed tones, {}``did you take a short cut,
or anything like that to get ahead of me?''

{}``No,'' answered the youth.

{}``And you didn't jump me in the air?''

{}``No,'' was Tom's answer, smilingly given.

{}``Well, all I've got to say is that you've got a wonderful car
there, Mr.\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}'' He paused suggestively.

{}``Swift is my name,'' our hero answered. {}``Thomas Swift, of
Shopton.''

{}``Ah, I've heard of you. My name is Layton\mbox{---}Paul Layton.
I'm from Netherton. Let's see, you built an airship, didn't you?''

{}``I helped,'' Tom admitted modestly.

{}``Well, you beat me fair and square, and if I do say it myself
I've got a fairly speedy car. Took two firsts at the Indianapolis
meet last month. But you certainly scooted ahead of me. Where did
you buy that electric, if I may ask?''

{}``I made it.''

{}``I might have known,'' admitted the man. {}``But are you going
to put them on the market? If you are I'd like to get one. I want
the fastest car going, and you seem to have it.''

{}``I hadn't thought of manufacturing them for sale,'' said the
young inventor. {}``If I do, I'll let you know.''

{}``I wish you would. My! I had no idea you could beat me, but you
did\mbox{---}fair and square.''

There was some more talk, and then Mr.\ Layton started on, after
exacting from Tom a further promise to let him know if any electrics
were to be made for sale.

{}``You certainly have a wonderful car,'' complimented Ned, as he
and his chum took a short cut to Shopton.

{}``Well, I'm not quite satisfied with it,'' declared Tom.

{}``Why not?''

{}``Well, I've set a hundred miles an hour as my limit. I didn't
make but eighty to-day. I've got to have more speed if I go up against
the crowd that will race for the touring club's prize.''

{}``Can you make a hundred miles?''

{}``I think so. I've got to change my gears, though, and use heavier
fuses. I was afraid every second that one of the fuses would melt,
and leave me stranded. But they stood pretty well. Of course, when
the car, geared as it is now, has been run a little longer it will
go faster, but it won't come up to a hundred miles an hour. That's
what I want, and that's what I'm going to get,'' and the lad looked
very determined.

Ned was taken to the bank, and, as Tom turned his machine around,
to go home, he saw, standing on the steps of the new bank, which was
almost across the street from the old one, Andy Foger, and the bully's
father. The red-haired lad laughed at Tom's rough looking car, and
said something to his parent, but Mr.\ Foger did not notice Tom.
Not that this caused our hero any uneasiness, however.

But, as he swung away from the bank, he saw, coming up the street
a figure that instantly attracted his attention. It was that of Mr.\ Berg,
and Tom at once recalled the night he had pursued the submarine agent,
and torn loose his watch charm. Mr.\ Berg was evidently going to
enter the new bank, for, at the sight of the former agent, Mr.\ Foger
descended the steps, and went to meet him.

Tom, however, had decided upon a plan of action. He steered his machine
in toward the curb, ran up the steel wind-shield, and called:

{}``Mr.\ Berg!''

{}``Eh? What's that?''\ asked the agent, in some surprise. Then,
as he caught sight of Tom, and recognized him, he added: {}``I'm
very busy now, my young friend. You'll have to excuse me.''

{}``I won't detain you a moment,'' went on Tom, casually. {}``I
have something of yours that I wish to return to you.''

{}``Something of mine?''\ Mr.\ Berg was evidently puzzled. He
approached the electric car, in spite of the fact that Mr.\ Foger
was calling him. {}``Something of mine? What is it?''

{}``This!''\ exclaimed Tom suddenly, extending the compass watch
charm, which he always carried with him of late.

{}``That! Where did you get that. I lost it\mbox{---}''

Mr.\ Berg paused in some confusion.

{}``I grabbed it off your watch chain the night you were hiding in
our shrubbery, and tripped me into the brook,'' answered the lad,
looking the man squarely in the eye.

{}``Hiding? Tripped you? Grabbed that off my chain\mbox{---}''
stammered Mr.\ Berg. He had taken the charm up in his fingers, but
now he quickly dropped it back into Tom's hand. {}``I guess you're
mistaken,'' he added quickly. {}``That's not mine. I never had one\mbox{---}I\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}that's
not mine\mbox{---}at least\mbox{---}Oh, you'll have to excuse me,
young man, I'm in a hurry, and I have an important engagement!''
and with that Mr.\ Berg wheeled off, and joined Mr.\ Foger, who
stood on the sidewalk, waiting for him.

{}``I thought sure it was yours,'' said Tom, easily. {}``Perhaps
Mr.\ Foger will keep it in one of the safety-deposit boxes of his
bank, until the owner claims it,'' and he looked at the banker.

{}``What's that?'' asked Andy's father.

{}``This watch charm which I grabbed off Mr.\ Berg's chain the night
he was sneaking around our house, and crossed the electric wires,''
went on the lad.

{}``Don't listen to him. He doesn't know what he is saying!''\ exclaimed
the former submarine boat agent. {}``It's not my charm. He's crazy!''

{}``Oh, am I?'' thought Tom, with a grim look on his face. {}``Well,
we'll see about that, Mr.\ Berg,'' and, putting the charm back in
his pocket, Tom swung his machine toward home, while the agent and
the banker entered the new institution.

{}``So they're getting chummy,'' mused Tom. {}``Andy and Berg were
friends when Andy shut me up in the submarine tank, and now Berg comes
here to do business, and Foger and his associates are trying to put
the old bank out of business. I wonder if there's any connection there?
I must keep my eyes open. Berg is an unscrupulous man, and so is Andy's
father, to say nothing of the red-haired bully himself. He had nerve
to deny that was his charm. Well, maybe I'll catch him some day.''

Tom spent a busy week making new adjustments to his electric car,
changing the gear and providing for heavier fuses. He was planning
for another trip on the road, as the time for the great race was drawing
near, and he wanted the mechanism to be in perfect shape.

One evening, as he was preparing for a short night trip to Mansburg,
where he had promised to call for Miss Nestor, Tom left his machine
standing in the road in front of the house, while he went back to
get a robe, as it threatened to be chilly.

As he came back to enter the car, he saw some one standing near it.

{}``Is that you, Ned?'' he called. {}``Come, take a spin.''

Hardly had he spoken than there sounded from the machine a whirr that
told of the current being turned on.

{}``Don't do that!''\ cried Tom, knowing at once that it could
not be Ned, who never meddled with the machinery.

A blinding flash and a loud report followed, and Tom saw some one
leap from his car, and try to run away. But the figure stumbled, and,
a moment later the young inventor was upon him, grappling with him.

{}``Here! Let me go!''\ cried a voice, and Tom uttered an exclamation
of surprise.

{}``Andy Foger!''\ he cried. {}``I've caught you! You tried to
damage my car!''

{}``Yes, and I'm hurt, too!''\ whined Andy. {}``My father will
sue you for damages if I die.''

{}``No danger of that; you're too mean,'' murmured Tom, as he maintained
a tight grip on the bully.

{}``You let me go!''\ demanded Andy, squirming to get away.

{}``Wait until I see what damage you've done,'' retorted the young
inventor. {}``The worst, though, would be the blowing out of a fuse,
for I had the gear disconnected. You wait a minute now. Maybe it's
you who'll have to pay damages.''

{}``You let me go!''\ fairly screamed Andy, and he aimed a blow
at Tom. It caught our hero on the chest and Tom's fighting blood was
up in an instant. He drew back his left hand, and delivered a blow
that landed fairly on Andy's right eye. The bully staggered and went
down in the dust.

{}``There!''\ cried Tom, righteously angry. {}``That will teach
you not to try to damage my car, and then hit me into the bargain!
Now clear out, before I give you some more!''

Whining and blubbering Andy arose to his feet.

{}``You just wait. I'll get square with you for this,'' he threatened.

{}``You can accept part of that as pay for what you did in the tar
and feathering game,'' added Tom. Then, as Andy moved in front of
one of the electric side lamps on the car, Tom uttered a whistle of
surprise. For both of Andy's eyes were bruised and swollen, though
Tom had only hit him once.

{}``Look at me!''\ cried the bully, more squint-eyed than ever.
{}``Look at me! You hit me in one eye, and that explosion hit me
in the other! My father will sue you for this.''

As he hurried off down the road Tom understood. Andy coming along,
had seen Tom's car standing there, and, thinking to do some mischief,
had climbed in, and turned on the power. Perhaps he hoped it would
run into the roadside ditch and be smashed. But as the gear was out,
turning on the electric current had a different effect. As the bully
pulled the handle over too quickly, throwing almost the entire force
of the battery into the wires at once, the load was too heavy for
them. A safety fuse blew out, causing the flare and the explosion,
and a piece of the soft lead-like metal had hit the red-haired lad
in the eye. Tom's fist had completed the work on the other optic,
and for several days thereafter Andy Foger remained in seclusion.
When he did go out there were many embarrassing questions put to him,
as to when he had had the fight. Andy didn't care to answer. As for
Tom, it did not take long to put a new fuse in his car, and he greatly
enjoyed his ride with Miss Nestor that night.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XVI \mbox{---} Trouble at the Bank}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XVI \mbox{---} Trouble at
the Bank}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Trouble at the Bank}

Coming in rather late from his trip to Mansburg, and thinking of some
things he and Miss Nestor had talked about, Tom was rather surprised,
on reaching the house, to see a light in his father's particular room,
where the aged inventor did his reading and his planning of new devices.

{}``Dad's up rather late,'' said Tom to himself. {}``I wonder if
he's studying over some new machine.''

The lad ran his auto into the temporary garage he had built for it,
and connected the wires of a burglar alarm he had arranged, to give
warning in case any of his enemies should seek to damage the car.

Tom encountered Garret Jackson, the aged inventor who was going his
rounds, seeing that everything was all right about the various shops.

{}``Anybody with my father, Garret?'' asked the lad. {}``I see
he's still up.''

{}``Yes,'' was the rather unexpected reply. {}``Mr.\ Damon is
with him. They've been in your father's room all the evening\mbox{---}ever
since you went away in the car.''

{}``Anything the matter?'' inquired the young inventor, a bit anxious,
as he thought of the Happy Harry gang.

{}``Well, I don't know,'' and the engineer seemed puzzled. {}``They
called me in once to know if everything was all right outside, and
to inquire if you were back. I saw, then, that they were busy figuring
over something, but I didn't take much notice. Only I heard Mr.\ Damon
say: `There's going to be trouble if we can't realize on those bonds,'
and then I came away.''

{}``Is that all he said?'' asked Tom.

{}``No, he said `Bless my buttons,' or something like that; but he
blesses so many things I didn't pay much attention.''

{}``That's right,'' agreed the lad. {}``But I wonder what the trouble
is about? I must go see.''

As he passed along the hall, out of which his father's combined study
and library opened, the aged inventor came to the door.

{}``Is that you, Tom?'' he asked.

{}``Yes, Dad.''

{}``Come in here, if you haven't anything else to do. Mr.\ Damon
is here.''

Tom needed but a single glance at the faces of his father and Mr.\ Damon
to see that something was troubling the two. The table in front of
them was littered with papers covered with rows of figures.

{}``What's the matter?'' asked Tom.

{}``Well, I suppose I ought not to let it bother me, but it does,''
replied his father.

{}``Something wrong with your patents, Dad? Has the crowd of bad
men been bothering you again?''

{}``No, it isn't that. It's trouble at the bank, Tom.''

{}``Has it been robbed again?'' asked the lad quickly. {}``If it
has I can prove an alibi,'' and he smiled at the recollection of
the time he and Mr.\ Damon had been accused of looting the vault,
as told in {}``Tom Swift and His Airship.''

{}``No, it hasn't been robbed in just that way,'' put in Mr.\ Damon.
{}``But, bless my shoe laces, it's almost as bad! You see, Tom, since
Mr.\ Foger started the new bank he's done his best to cripple the
one in which your father and I are interested. I may say we are very
vitally interested in it, for, since the withdrawal of Foger and his
associates, your father and I have been elected directors.''

{}``I didn't know that,'' remarked the lad.

{}``No, I didn't tell you, because you were so busy on your electric
car,'' rejoined Mr.\ Swift. {}``But Mr.\ Damon and I, being both
large depositors, were asked to assume office, and, as I was not very
busy on patent affairs, I consented.''

{}``But what is the trouble?'' inquired Tom.

{}``I'm coming to it,'' resumed Mr.\ Damon. {}``Bless my check
book, I'm coming to it! You see we have lost several good customers,
by reason of Foger opening the new bank. That wouldn't have mattered
so much, as between your father and myself, and one or two others,
we have enough capital to carry on the business of the bank. But there
is a more serious matter. We hold a number of very good securities,
but they are of a class hard to realize cash for, on short notice.
In other words they are not active bonds, though they are issued by
reliable concerns. Then, too, the bank has lost considerable money
by not doing as much business as it formerly did. In short we don't
know just what to do, Tom, and your father and I were discussing it,
when you came in.''

{}``Do you need more money?''\ asked Tom. {}``I have some, that
is my share from the submarine treasure, and some I have allowed to
accumulate as royalties from my patents. It's about ten thousand dollars,
and you're welcome to it.''

{}``Thank you, Tom,'' spoke his father. {}``We may use your cash,
but we'll need a great deal more than that.''

{}``But why?''\ asked the lad. {}``I don't understand. If you
have good bonds, can't you dispose of them, and get the money?''

{}``We could, Tom, yes, if we had time,'' replied Mr.\ Damon. {}``But
to throw the bonds on the market at short notice would mean that we
would not get a good price for them. We would lose considerable.''

{}``But why do it in a hurry?''

{}``Because there is need of hurry,'' responded Mr.\ Swift.

{}``That's it,'' joined in Mr.\ Damon. {}``We have to have cash
in a hurry, Tom, to meet pressing demands, and we don't just see our
way clear to get it. I am trying to raise it on some private securities
I own, but I can't get an answer within several days. Meanwhile the
bank may fail, because of lack of funds. Of course no one would lose
anything, ultimately, as we could go into the hands of a receiver,
and, eventually pay dollar for dollar. Your father and I, and some
of the other directors, might lose a little, but the depositors would
not. But your father and I don't like the idea of failing. It's something
I've never done, and I'm too old to start in now, bless my cash ledger
if I'm not!''

{}``And for the sake of my reputation in this community I don't want
to see the bank close its doors,'' added Mr.\ Swift. {}``It would
give Foger too good a chance to crow over us.''

{}``And you need cash in a hurry,'' went on Tom. {}``How much?''

{}``Fifty thousand dollars at least,'' replied Mr.\ Damon.

{}``And if you don't get it?''

The eccentric man shrugged his shoulders.

{}``Well,'' remarked Mr.\ Swift musingly, {}``I don't see that
we need worry you about it, Tom. Perhaps\mbox{---}''

Mr.\ Swift was interrupted by a ring at the front door. The three
looked at each other. It was late for a caller, and Mrs.\ Baggert
had gone to bed.

{}``I'll answer it,'' volunteered Tom. He switched on the electric
light in the hall, and opened the door. He was confronted by Mr.\ Pendergast,
the president of the bank.

{}``Is your father in?'' asked Mr.\ Pendergast, and he seemed to
be much agitated.

{}``Yes, he is,'' replied the lad. {}``Come this way, please.''

{}``I want to see him on important business,'' went on the president,
as he followed the young inventor. {}``I'm afraid I have bad news
for him and Mr.\ Damon. Bad news, Tom, bad news,'' and the aged
banker's voice trembled. Tom, with a chill of apprehension seeming
to clutch his heart, threw open the library door.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XVII \mbox{---} A Run on the Bank}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XVII \mbox{---} A Run on
the Bank}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{A Run on the Bank}

{}``Why, Mr.\ Pendergast!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon, rising quickly
as Tom ushered in the aged president. {}``Whatever is the matter?
You here at this hour? Bless my trial balance! Is anything wrong?

{}``I'm afraid there is,'' answered the bank head. {}``I have just
received word which made it necessary for me to see you both at once.
I'm glad you're here, Mr.\ Damon.''

He sank wearily into a chair which Tom placed for him, and Mr.\ Swift
asked:

{}``Have you been able to raise any cash, Mr.\ Pendergast?''

{}``No, I am sorry to say I have not, but I did not come here to
tell you that. I have bad news for you. As soon as we open our doors
in the morning, there will be a run on the bank.'' 

{}``A run on the bank?''\ repeated Mr.\ Swift.

{}``The moment we begin business in the morning,'' went on Mr.\ Pendergast.

{}``Bless my soul, then don't begin business!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``We must,'' insisted Mr.\ Pendergast. {}``To keep the doors
closed would be a confession at once that we have failed. No, it is
better to open them, and stand the run as long as we can. When we
have exhausted our cash\mbox{---}'' he paused.

{}``Well?'' asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Then we'll fail\mbox{---}that's all.''

{}``But we mustn't let the bank fail!''\ cried Mr.\ Swift. {}``I
am willing to put some of my personal fortune into the bank capital
in order to save it. So is my son here.''

{}``That's right,'' chimed in Tom heartily. {}``All I've got. I'm
not going to let Andy Foger get ahead of us; nor his father either.''

{}``I'll help to the limit of my ability,'' added Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I appreciate all that,'' continued the president. {}``But the
unfortunate part of it is that we need cash. You gentlemen, like myself,
probably, have your money tied up in stocks and bonds. It is hard
to get cash quickly, and we must have cash as soon as we open in the
morning, to pay the depositors who will come flocking to the doors.
We must prepare for a run on the bank.''

{}``How do you know there will be a run?'' asked the young inventor.

{}``I received word this evening, just before I came here,'' replied
Mr.\ Pendergast. {}``A poor widow, who has a small amount in the
bank, called on me and said she had been advised to withdraw all her
cash. She said she preferred to see me about it first, as she did
not like to lose her interest. She said a number of her acquaintances,
some of whom are quite heavy depositors, had also been warned that
the bank was unsound, and that they ought to take out their savings
and deposits at once.''

{}``Did she say who had thus warned her?'' inquired Mr.\ Swift.

{}``She did,'' was the reply, {}``and that shows me that there
is a conspiracy on foot to ruin our bank. She stated that Mr.\ Foger
had told her our institution was unsound.''

{}``Mr.\ Foger!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``So this is one of his
tricks to bolster up his new bank! He hopes the people who withdraw
their money from our bank will deposit with him. I see his game. He's
a scoundrel, and if it's possible I'm going to sue him for damages
after this thing is over.''

{}``Did he warn the others?''\ inquired the aged inventor.

{}``Not all of them,'' answered the president. {}``Some received
letters from a man signing himself Addison Berg, warning them that
our bank, was likely to fail any day.''

{}``Addison Berg!''\ exclaimed Tom. {}``That must have been the
important business he had with Mr.\ Foger, the day I showed him the
watch charm! They were plotting the ruin of our bank then,'' and
he told his father about his disastrous pursuit of the submarine agent.

{}``Very likely Foger is working with Berg,'' admitted Mr.\ Damon.
{}``We will attend to them later. The question is, what can we do
to save the bank?''

{}``Get cash, and plenty of it,'' advised Mr.\ Pendergast. {}``Suppose
we go over the whole situation again?''\ and they fell to talking
stocks: bonds, securities, mortgages and interest, until the youth,
interested as he was in the situation, could follow it no longer.

{}``Better go to bed, Tom,'' advised his father. {}``You can't
help us any, and we have many details to go over.''

The lad reluctantly consented, and he was soon dreaming that he was
in his electric auto, trying to pull up a thousand pound lump of gold
from the bottom of the sea. He awoke to find the bedclothes in a lump
on his chest, and, removing them, fell into a deep slumber.

When the young inventor awoke the next morning, Mrs.\ Baggert told
him that his father and Mr.\ Damon had risen nearly an hour before,
had partaken of a hearty breakfast, and departed.

{}``They told me to tell you they were at the bank,'' said the housekeeper.

{}``Did Mr.\ Pendergast stay all night?''\ inquired Tom.

{}``I heard some one go away about two o'clock this morning,'' replied
the housekeeper. {}``I don't know who it was.''

{}``They must have had a long session,'' thought Tom, as he began
on his bacon, eggs and coffee. {}``I'll take a run down to the bank
in my electric in a little while.''

The car was still in rather crude shape, outwardly, but the mechanism
was now almost perfect. Tom charged the batteries well before starting
put.

The youth had no sooner come in sight of the old Shopton bank, to
distinguish it from the Second National, which Mr.\ Foger had started,
than he was aware that something unusual had occurred. There was quite
a crowd about it, and more persons were constantly arriving to swell
the throng.

{}``What's the matter?'' asked Tom, of one of the few police officers
of which Shopton boasted, though the lad did not need to be told.

{}``Run on the bank,'' was the brief answer. {}``It's failed.''

Tom felt a pang of disappointment. Somehow, he had hoped that his
father and his friends might have been able to stave off ruin. As
he approached nearer Tom was made aware that the crowd was in an ugly
mood.

{}``Why don't they open the doors and give us our money?'' cried
one excited woman. {}``It's ours! I worked hard for mine, an' now
they want to keep it from us. I wish I'd put it in the new bank.''

{}``Yes, that's the best place,'' added another. {}``That Mr.\ Foger
has lots of money.''

{}``I can see the hand of Andy's father, and that of Mr.\ Berg,
at work here,'' thought Tom, {}``They have spread rumors of the
bank's trouble, and hope to profit by it. I wish I could find a way
to beat them at their own game.''

As the minutes passed, and the bank was not opened, the ugly temper
of the crowd increased. The few police could do nothing with the mob,
and several, bolder than the rest, advocated battering down the doors.
Some went up the steps and began to pound on the portals. Tom looked
for a sight of his father or Mr.\ Damon, but could not see either.

It was not the regular hour for opening the bank, but when the police
reminded the people of this they only laughed.

{}``I guess they ain't going to open anyhow!'' shouted a man. {}``They've
got our money, and they're going to keep it. What difference is an
hour, anyway?''

{}``Yes, if they have the money, why don't they open, and not wait
until ten o'clock?'' cried another. {}``I've got a hundred and five
dollars in there, and I want it!''

More excited persons were arriving every minute. The crowd surged
this way, and that. Many looked anxiously at the clock in the tower
of the town hall. The gilded hands pointed to a few minutes of ten.
Would the bank open its doors when the hour boomed out? Many were
anxiously asking this question.

Tom sat in his electric car, near the front of the bank. The interest
of the crowd, which under ordinary circumstances would have been centered
in the queer vehicle, was not drawn toward it. The people were all
thinking of their money.

Suddenly one of the two doors of the bank slowly opened. There was
a yell from the crowd, and a rush to get in. But the police managed
to hold the leaders back, and then Tom saw that it was Ned Newton,
who stood in the partly-opened portal. He held up his hand to indicate
silence, and a hush fell over the mob.

{}``The bank is open for business,'' Ned announced, {}``but there
must be no rush. The building is not large enough to accommodate you
all. If you form a line, you will be admitted in turn. The bank hopes
to pay you all.''

{}``Hopes!''\ cried a woman scornfully. {}``We can't eat hopes,
young man, nor yet pay the rent with it. Hopes indeed!''

But Ned had said all he cared to, and, with rather a white face, he
went back inside. The one door remained open and, with a policeman
on either side, a line of anxious depositors was slowly formed. Tom
watched them crowding and surging forward, all eager to be first to
get their cash out, lest there be not enough for all. As he watched,
the young inventor was aware that someone was signaling to him from
the big window of the bank. He looked more closely and saw Ned Newton
beckoning to him, and the young cashier was motioning Tom to go around
to the rear, where a door of the bank opened on a small alley. Wondering
what was wanted, Tom slowly ran his machine down the side street,
and up the alley. No one paid any attention to him.

A porter admitted the lad, and he made his way to the private offices,
where he knew his father and Mr.\ Damon would be. In the corridors
he could hear the murmur of the throng and the chink of money, as
the tellers paid it out.

{}``Well, Tom, this is bad business,'' remarked Mr.\ Swift, as
he saw his son. The lad noticed that Mr.\ Damon was in the telephone
booth.

{}``Yes, Dad,'' admitted Tom. {}``It's a run, all right. What are
you going to do?''

{}``The best we can. Pay out all the cash we have, and hope that
before that time, the people will come to their senses. The bank is
all right if they would only wait. But I'm afraid they won't and,
after we pay out all the cash we have, we'll have to close the doors.
Then there's sure to be an unpleasant scene, and maybe some of the
more hot-headed ones will advocate violence. We have given orders
to the tellers to pay out as slowly as possible, so as to enable us
to gain some time.''

{}``And all you need is money; is that it, Dad?''

{}``That's it, Tom, but we have exhausted every possibility. Mr.\ Damon
is trying a forlorn hope now, but, even if he is successful\mbox{---}''

Before Mr.\ Swift had ceased speaking, Mr.\ Damon fairly burst from
the telephone booth. He was much excited.

{}``I've got it! I've got it!''\ he cried.

{}``What?''\ asked Mr.\ Swift and Tom in the same breath.

{}``The cash, or, what's just as good, the promise of it. I called
up Mr.\ Chase, of the Clayton National Bank, and he has agreed to
take the railroad securities I offered him as collateral, and let
me have sixty thousand dollars on them! That will give us cash enough
to weather the storm. Hurrah! We're all right now. Bless my check
book!''

{}``The Clayton National Bank,'' remarked Mr.\ Swift, and his voice
was hopeless. {}``It's forty miles away, Mr.\ Damon, and no railroad
around here runs anywhere near it. No one could get there and back
with the cash to-day, in time to save us from ruin. It's impossible!
Our last chance is gone.''

{}``How far did you say it was, Dad?''\ asked Tom quickly.

{}``Forty miles there, over forty, I guess, and not very good roads.
We would need to have the cash here before three o'clock to be of
any service to us. No, it's out of the question. The bank will have
to fail!''

{}``No!''\ cried the young inventor, and his voice rang out through
the room. {}``I'll get the cash for you!''

{}``How?''\ gasped Mr.\ Damon. {}``You can't get there and back
in time?''

{}``Yes, I can!''\ cried Tom. {}``In my electric runabout! I can
make it go a hundred miles an hour, if necessary! Probably I'll have
to run slow over the bad roads; but I can do it! I know I can. I'll
get the sixty thousand dollars for you!''

For a moment there was silence. Then Mr.\ Damon cried:

{}``Good! And I'll go with you and deliver the securities to Mr.\ Chase.
Come on, Tom Swift! Bless my collar button, but maybe we can yet save
the old bank after all!''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XVIII \mbox{---} After the Cash}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XVIII \mbox{---} After the
Cash}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{After the Cash}

Tom's proposal as a way out of the difficulty, and the prompt seconding
of it by Mr.\ Damon, seemed to deprive the other bank officials,
Mr.\ Swift included, of the power of speech for a few moments. Then,
as there came to the room where the scene had taken place, the sound
of the mob outside, clamoring for cash, Mr.\ Pendergast, the president,
remarked in a low voice:

{}``It seems to be the only way. Do you think you can do it, Tom
Swift?''

{}``I'm sure of it, as far as my electric car is concerned,'' replied
the young inventor. {}``If we get the cash I'll have it back here
on time. The runabout is all ready for a fast trip.''

{}``Then don't lose any time, Tom,'' advised his father. {}``Every
minute counts.''

{}``Yes,'' added Mr.\ Damon. {}``Come on. I've got the securities
in my valise, and we can bring the cash back in the same satchel.
Come on, Tom.''

The eccentric character caught up his valise, and started from the
room. Tom followed.

{}``Now, my son, be careful,'' advised his father. {}``You know
the need of haste, but don't take unnecessary risks. You'd better
go out the back way, as the crowd is easily excited.''

Little more was said. Mr.\ Swift clasped his son's hand in a firm
pressure, and the bank president nervously bade the lad good-by. Then,
slipping out of the bank, by the rear entrance, the porter closing
the door after them, Tom and Mr.\ Damon took their places in the
electric machine.

{}``Just imagine you're racing for that three-thousand-dollar prize,
offered by the Touring Club of America, Tom,'' observed Mr.\ Damon,
as he deposited the valise at his feet.

{}``I don't have to do that,'' replied the youth. {}``I'm trying
for a bigger prize than that. I want to save the bank, and defeat
the schemes of the Fogers\mbox{---}father and son.''

Tom turned on the power, and the machine rolled out on the main street.
As it turned the corner, leaving the impatient crowd of depositors,
now larger than ever, behind, Mr.\ Damon glanced over at the new
bank, and, as he did so, he called to Tom:

{}``There are the Fogers now.''

The young inventor looked, and saw Andy and his father on the steps
of the new institution.

At the sight of the electric car, speeding along, Andy turned and
spoke to his parent. What he said seemed to impress Mr.\ Foger, for
he started, and looked more intently at Tom and Mr.\ Damon. Then,
as Tom watched, he saw the two excitedly conversing, and a moment
later Andy ran off in the direction in which Sam Snedecker and Pete
Bailey lived.

{}``I wonder if he's up to any tricks?'' thought Tom, as he turned
on more power. {}``Well, if he is, I'll soon be where he can't reach
me.''

The young inventor did not dare send his car at full speed through
the streets of the town, and it was not until several minutes had
passed that they could go at more than the ordinary rate. But once
the open country was reached Tom {}``opened her up full,'' and the
song the motor sung was one of power. The vehicle quickly gathered
headway and was soon fairly whizzing along.

{}``If we keep this up we'll be there and back in good time,'' remarked
Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Yes, but we can't do it,'' replied his companion. {}``The road
to Clayton is a poor one, and we'll soon be on it. Then we'll have
to go slow. But I'll make all the time I can until then.''

So, for several miles more they crept along, at times having to reduce
to almost a walking pace, because of bad roads. Mr.\ Damon looked
at his watch almost every other minute.

{}``Eleven o'clock,'' he remarked, as they passed a milestone, {}``and
we're not half way there. Bless my gizzard, but I'm afraid we won't
make it, Tom. We left about ten, and we ought to be back by two o'clock
to do any good. That's four hours, and it will take some time to transfer
the securities, and get the cash. Every minute counts.''

{}``I know it,'' answered Tom, {}``and I'm going to count every
minute.''

With eager eyes he watched every inch of the road, to steer to the
best advantage. His hands gripped the wheel until his knuckles showed
white with the strain, and, every now and then his right hand adjusted
the speed lever or the controller handle, while his foot was on the
emergency brake, ready to stop the car at the first sign of danger.

And there was danger, not infrequently, for the road was up and down
hill, over frail bridges, and along steep cliffs. It was no pleasure
tour they were on.

When a little over half the distance had been made they came to a
better road, and Tom was able to use full speed ahead. Then the electric
went so fast that, had it not been for the steel wind-shield in front,
Mr.\ Damon, at any rate, would have been short of breath.

{}``This is going some!'' he cried to Tom. The lad nodded grimly,
and shoved the controller handle over to the last notch. Then came
a bad stretch and they had to slow down again. As they were about
out of it there came a little flash of fire and the motor stopped.

{}``Bless my overshoes!'' cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``What's that; a
fuse blown out?''

{}``No,'' replied Tom, with a puzzled air. {}``But something has
gone wrong.'' Hastily he got out, and made an examination. He found
it was only one of the unimportant wires which had short-circuited,
and it was soon adjusted. But they had lost five precious minutes.
Tom tried to make up for lost time, but came to a hill a little later,
and this reduced their speed.

{}``Do you think we can make it before twelve?'' asked Mr.\ Damon
anxiously. {}``We've got to, if we're to get back before three, Tom.''

{}``I'll try,'' was the calm answer, and Tom's jaw was shut still
more tightly. Once again came more favorable roads and pushing the
car to the limit the occupants were rejoiced, a little later, as they
topped a hill, to come in sight of a fairly large city.

{}``There's Clayton!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.

Ten minutes later they were rolling through the main street, and as
they stopped in front of the bank, the noon whistles blew shrill and
noisily.

{}``You did it, Tom!'' cried Mr.\ Damon, springing out with the
valise of securities. {}``Now be ready for the return trip. I'll
be with you as soon as possible.''

He went up the bank steps three at a time, like some boy instead of
an elderly man. Tom looked after him for a second and then got down
to oil up his car, and make some adjustments that had rattled loose
from the rough road. Unmindful of the curious throng that gathered
he crawled under the machine with his oil-can.

He had finished his work, and was back in his seat, ready to start,
but Mr.\ Damon had not reappeared.

{}``It's taking him a good while to get that cash,'' thought Tom.
{}``Maybe the securities were no good.''

But, a few minutes later, Mr.\ Damon came hurrying from the bank.
The valise he carried seemed much heavier than when he went in.

{}``It's all right, Tom,'' he said. {}``I've got it. Now for the
trip home, and I hope we don't have any accidents. It took longer
than I thought to check over the bonds and receipt for them. But I've
got the cash. Now to save the bank!''

He took his place beside the young inventor, holding the valise between
his knees, while Tom turned on the power and sent his car dashing
down the street, and toward the road that led to Shopton.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XIX \mbox{---} Stopped on the Road}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XIX \mbox{---} Stopped on
the Road}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Stopped on the Road}

{}``Did Mr.\ Chase make any objection to giving you the cash?''
asked Tom, as he shoved the controller over another notch, and caused
the motor to make a higher note in its song of speed.

{}``Oh, no, he was very nice about it,'' replied Mr.\ Damon. {}``He
said he hoped our bank would pull through. Said if we needed more
cash we could have it.''

It was nearly one o'clock, and they had the worst part of the journey
yet to go. Thirty miles of stiff roads lay between them and Shopton,
the last five and the first five being fairly good, with, here and
there, soft spots.

Up hill and down went the electric auto. At every opportunity Tom
let out all the speed he could draw from the motor, but there were
many times when he had to slow down. He had just made the ascent of
a steep hill, and was turning into a fairly good road, skirting the
edge of a steep cliff, when there came a sharp report.

{}``Bless my soul! That's a fuse, I'm sure of it!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``No,'' announced Tom, as he quickly shut off the power. {}``It's
a puncture. One of the inner tubes of the tire has been pierced. I
was afraid of that tube.''

{}``What have you got to do; put on a new tire?'' asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``No, I'm going to put on a new wheel. I carry two spare ones with
tires all ready inflated. It won't take long.''

But the process of changing wheels consumed more time than Tom anticipated
for the nut was stuck, and he and Mr.\ Damon had to exert all their
strength before they could loosen it. When the new wheel was in place
ten minutes had been lost.

{}``Hold on now, I'm going to speed her!'' cried Tom, when they
were once more in their seats, and speed the machine he did. The road
was rough, but despite this the lad turned on almost full power. Over
the bumps they went, around curves and into rain-washed ruts careening
from side to side, and throwing Mr.\ Damon about, as he expressed
it afterward, {}``like a bean inside of a football.'' As for the
young inventor his grasp of the steering wheel, and the manner in
which he could brace himself against the foot pedals, held him more
firmly in place. On and on they rushed, covering mile after mile,
and approaching Shopton where so much depended on their arrival.

Good and bad stretches of the road alternated, but now that Tom had
seen of what mettle his car was made, he did not spare it as much
as he had on the first trip. He saw that his machine would stand hard
knocks, and the way the battery and motor was behaving was a joy to
him. He knew that if he could make that eighty-mile run in safety
he stood a good chance of winning the prize, for no harder test could
have been devised.

But the race was still far from won. There was a particularly unsafe
stretch of road yet to be covered, and then would come a smooth highway
into Shopton.

{}``Ten miles more,'' observed Mr Damon, snapping shut his big gold
watch. {}``Ten miles more, and it's a quarter of two now. We ought
to be there at a quarter after, and that will be in good time, eh,
Tom?''

{}``I think so, but I don't know about this piece of road we're coming
to. It seems worse than when we passed over it this morning.''

As he spoke the auto began to slow up, for the wheels had struck some
heavy sand, and it was necessary to reduce the current. Tom turned
back the controller handle, but watched with eager eyes for a sign
that the roadbed was harder, so that he could increase speed.

As the car turned around a curve, passing through a lonely stretch
of country, with woods on either side of the highway, Tom glancing
up, uttered a cry of astonishment.

{}``What's the matter; something gone wrong?'' asked his companion.

For answer Tom pointed. There, just ahead of them, was a big load
of hay, and it was evident that the driver, was in no particular hurry.

{}``We can't pass that without getting in over.\ our hubs!'' cried
Tom. {}``If we turn out the side ditches are so soft that we'll need
help to pull out, and the road is so narrow for several miles that
we'll have to trail along behind that fellow.''

{}``Bless my check book!'' cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``Are we going
to lose, after all, on account of a load of hay? No, I'll buy it from
him first, at double the market price, tip it over, set fire to it,
toss it in the ditch, and then we can go past!''

{}``Maybe that will answer,'' retorted Tom, smiling grimly.

He put on a little more speed, and was soon close up behind the load
of hay, ringing his electric bell as a warning.

{}``I say!'' called Mr.\ Damon to the unseen driver, {}``can't
you turn out and let us pass?''

{}``Ha! Hum! Wa'al I guess not!''\ came the answer, in unmistakable
farmer's accents. {}``You automobile fellers is too gol-hanged smart,
racin' along th' roads. I've got just as good a right here as you
fellers have, by heck!'' The driver did not show himself.

{}``We know that,'' responded Tom, as quickly as he could, for he
did not want to anger the man. {}``But our machine is so heavy that
if we turn into the ditch I'm afraid we'll be mired.''

{}``Huh! So'll I,'' was the retort from the unseen driver.. {}``Think
I want t' spile my load of hay?''

{}``But you have wide tires on, and you wouldn't sink in far,''
answered the young inventor. {}``Besides, it's very necessary that
we get past. A great deal depends on our speed.''

{}``So it does on mine,'' was the reply. {}``Ef I git t' market
late I'll have t' stay all night, an' spend money on a hotel bill.''

{}``I'll pay it! I'll pay your bill if you'll only pull out!''\ cried
Mr.\ Damon. {}``I'll give you a hundred dollars

He suddenly ceased speaking. From the bushes along the road sprang
several ragged, masked figures. Each one, aiming his weapon at Tom,
said in a low voice, that could not have been heard by the driver
of the hay wagon:

{}``Slow up your machine, young feller! We want to speak with you,
and don't you make a loud noise, or it won't be healthy for you!''

{}``Why of all the\mbox{---}!''\ began Mr.\ Damon, but another
of the footpads leveling his weapon at the eccentric man growled:

{}``Dry up, if you don't want to get shot!''

Mr.\ Damon subsided. Discretion was very plainly the better part
of valor. Tom had shut off the current. The load of hay continued
on ahead. Tom thought perhaps the driver of it might have been in
collusion with the thieves, to cause the auto to slow up.

{}``What do you want with us?''\ asked the young inventor, trying
to speak calmly, but finding it a hard task, with a revolver pointed
at him.

{}``You know what we want,''\ exclaimed the leader, in a low voice.
{}``We want that cash you got from the bank, and we're going to have
it! Come, now, shell out!'' and he advanced toward the automobile.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XX \mbox{---} On Time}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XX \mbox{---} On Time}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{On Time}

Close around the electric auto crowded the members of the hold-up
gang. Their eyes seemed to glare through the holes in their black
masks. Instantly Tom thought of the other occasion when he was halted
by masked figures. Could these, by any possibility, be the same individuals?
Was this a trick of Andy Foger and his cronies?

Tom tried to pierce through the disguises. Clearly the persons were
men\mbox{---}not boys\mbox{---}and they wore the ragged clothes
of tramps. Also, there was an air of dogged determination about them.

{}``Well, are you going to shell out?''\ asked the leader, taking
a step nearer, {}``or will we have to take it?''

{}``Bless my very existence! You don't mean to say that you're going
to take the money\mbox{---}I mean how do you know we have any money?''
and Mr.\ Damon hastily corrected himself. {}``What right have you
to stop us in this way? Don't you know that every minute counts? We
are in a hurry.''

{}``I know it,'' spoke the leading masked figure with a laugh. {}``I
know you have considerable money in that shebang, and I know what
you hope to do with it, prevent the run on the Shopton National Bank.
But we need that money as much as some other people and, what's more,
we're going to have it! Come on, shell out!''

{}``Oh, why didn't we bring a gun!'' lamented Mr.\ Damon in a low
voice to Tom. {}``Isn't there anything we can do? Can't you give
them an electric shock, Tom?''

{}``I'm afraid not. If it wasn't for that hay wagon we could turn
on the current and make a run for it. But we'd only go into the ditch
if we tried to pass now.''

The load of hay was down the road, but as Tom looked he noticed a
curious thing. It seemed to be nearer than it was when the attack
of the masked men came. The wagon actually seemed to have backed up.
Once more the thought came to the lad that possibly the load of fodder
might be one of the factors on which the thieves counted. They might
have used it to make the auto halt, and the man, or men, on it were
probably in collusion with the footpads. There was no doubt about
it, the load of hay was coming nearer, backing up instead of moving
away. Tom couldn't understand it. He gave a swift glance at the robbers.
They had not appeared to notice this, or, if they had, they gave no
sign.

{}``Then we can't do anything,'' murmured Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I don't see that we can,'' replied the young inventor in a low
voice.

{}``And the money we worked so hard to get won't do the bank any
good,'' and Mr.\ Damon sighed.

{}``It's tough luck,'' agreed Tom.

{}``Come now, fork over that cash!'' called the leader, advancing
still closer. {}``None of that talk between you there. If you think
you can work some trick on us you're mistaken. We're desperate men,
and we're well armed. The first show of resistance you make, and we
shoot\mbox{---}get that, fellows?'' he added to his followers, and
they nodded grimly.

{}``Well,'' remarked Mr.\ Damon with an air of submission, {}``I
only want to warn you that you are acting illegally, and that you
are perpetrating a desperate crime.''

{}``Oh, we know that all right,'' answered one of the men, and Tom
gave a start. He was sure he had heard that voice before. He tried
to remember it\mbox{---}tried to penetrate the disguise\mbox{---}but
he could not.

{}``I'll give you ten seconds more to hand over that bag of money,''
went on the leader. {}``If you don't, we'll take it and some of you
may get hurt in the process.''

There seemed nothing else to do. With a white face, but with anger
showing in his eyes Mr.\ Damon reached down to get the valise. Tom
had retained his grip of the steering wheel, and the starting lever.
He hoped, at the last minute, he might see a chance to dash away,
and escape, but that load of hay was in the path. He noted that it
was now quite near, but the thieves paid no attention to it.

Tom might have reversed the power, and sent his machine backward,
but he could not see to steer it if he went in that direction, and
he would soon have gone into the ditch. There was nothing to do save
to hand over the cash, it seemed.

Mr.\ Damon had the bag raised from the car, and the leader of the
thieves was reaching up for it, when there came a sudden interruption.

From the load of hay there sounded a fusillade of pistol shots, cracking
out with viciousness. This was instantly followed by the appearance
of three men who came running from around the load of hay, down the
road toward the thieves. Each man carried a pitchfork, and as they
ran, one of the trio shouted:

{}``Right at 'em, boys! Jab your hay forks clean through the scoundrels!
By Heck, I guess we'll show 'em we know how t' tackle a hold-up gang
as well as the next fellow! Right at 'em now! Charge 'em! Stick your
forks right through 'em!'' Again there sounded a fusillade of pistol
shots.

The thieves turned as one man, and glanced at the relief so unexpectedly
approaching. They gave one look at the three determined looking farmers,
with their sharp, glittering pitchforks, and then, without a word,
they turned and fled, leaping into the bushes that lined the roadway.
The underbrush closed after them and they were hidden from sight.

On came the three farmers, waving their effective weapons, the pistol
shots still ringing out from the load of hay. Tom could not understand
it, and could see no one firing\mbox{---}could detect no smoke.

{}``Are they gone? Did they rob ye?'' asked the foremost of the
trio, a burly, grizzled farmer. Bust my buttons, but I guess we skeered
'em all right!''

{}``Bless my shoe buttons, but you certainly have!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon,
descending from the automobile, and wringing the hand of the farmer,
while Tom, thrust the bag of money under his legs and waited further
developments. The pistol shots rang out until one of the men called:

{}``That'll do, Bub! We've skeered 'em like Mrs.\ Zenoby's pet cat!
You needn't crack that whip any more.''

{}``Whip!'' cried Tom. {}``Was that a whip?''

{}``That's what it was,'' explained the leading farmer. {}``Bub
Armstrong, my nephew, can crack it to beat th' band,'' and as if
in proof of this there emerged from behind the load of hay a small
lad, carrying a large whip, to which he gave a few trial cracks, like
pistol shots, as if to show his ability.

{}``It's all right, Bub,'' his uncle assured him. {}``We made 'em
run.''

{}``But I don't exactly understand,'' spoke Mr.\ Damon. {}``I
thought you were in league with those thieves, stopping us as you
did with your big load.''

{}``So did I,'' admitted Tom.

{}``Ha!\ Ha!''\ laughed the farmer. {}``That's a pretty good
joke. Excuse me for laughin'. My name's Lyon, Jethro Lyon, of Salina
Township, an' these is my two sons, Ade and Burt. You see we're on
our way to Shopton, an' my nephew, Bub, he went along. We thought
you was some of them sassy automobile fellers at first when you hollered
to us you wanted to pass. Then when we looked back, we seen them burglars
goin' t' rob you, at least that's what we suspicioned,'' and he paused
suggestively.

{}``That was it,'' Tom said.

{}``Wa'al, when we seen that, we held a sort of consultation on thet
load of hay, where they couldn't see us. It was so big you know,''
he needlessly explained. {}``Wa'al, we calcalated we could help you,
so I jest quietly backed up, until we was near enough. I told Bub
to take the long whip, an' crack it for all he was wuth, so's it would
sound like reinforcements approachin' with guns, an' he done it.''

{}``He certainly done it,'' added Burt.

{}``Wa'al,'' resumed Mr.\ Lyon, {}``then me an my sons we jest
slipped down off the front seat, an' come a runnin' with our pitchforks.
I reckoned them burglars would run when they see us an' heard us,
an' they done so.''

{}``Yep, they done so,'' added Ade, like an echo.

{}``I can't tell you how much obliged we are to you,'' said Mr.\ Damon.
{}``We have sixty thousand dollars in this valise, and they would
have had it in another minute, and the bank would have failed.''

{}``Sixty thousand dollars!'' gasped Mr.\ Lyon, and his sons and
nephew echoed the words. Mr.\ Damon briefly explained about the money,
and he and the young inventor again thanked their rescuers, who had
so unexpectedly, and in such a novel manner, put the thieves to flight.

{}``An' you've got t' git t' Shopton before three o'clock with thet
cash?'' asked Mr.\ Lyon.

{}``That's what we hoped to do,'' replied Tom {}``but I'm afraid
we won't now. It's half past two, and\mbox{---}''

{}``Don't say another word,'' interrupted Mr.\ Lyon. {}``I know
what ye mean. My hay's in the road. But don't let that worry ye none.
I'll pull out of your road in a jiffy, an' if we do go down in th'
ditch, why we can throw off part of th' load, lighten th' wagon, an'
pull out again. You've got t' hustle if ye git t' Shopton by three
o'clock.''

{}``I can do it with a clear road,'' declared Tom, confidently.

{}``Then ye'll have th' clear road,'' Mr.\ Lyon assured him. {}``Come
boys, let's git th' hay t' one side.''

The farmers pulled into the ditch. As they had feared the wagon went
in almost to the hubs, but they did not mind, and, even as Tom and
Mr.\ Damon shot past them, they fell to work tossing off part of
the fodder, to lighten the wagon. The young inventor and his companion
waved a grateful farewell to them as they fairly tore past, for Tom
had turned on almost the full current.

{}``Do you suppose that was the Happy Harry gang, or some members
of it who were not captured and sent to jail?'' asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I don't believe so,'' answered the lad, shaking his head. {}``Maybe
they didn't really want to rob us. Perhaps they only wanted to delay
us so we wouldn't get to the bank on time.''

{}``Bless my top knot, you may be right!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.

Further conversation became difficult, as they struck a rough part
of the road, where the vehicle swayed and jolted to an alarming degree.
But Tom never slackened pace. On and on they rushed, Mr.\ Damon frequently
looking at his watch.

{}``We've got twenty minutes left,'' he remarked as they came out
on the smooth stretch of road, that led directly into Shopton.

Then Tom turned all the reserve power into the motor. The machinery
almost groaned as the current surged into the wires, but it took up
the load, and the electric car, swaying more than ever, dashed ahead
with its burden of wealth.

Now they were in the town, now speeding down the street leading to
the bank. One or two policemen shouted after them, for they were violating
the speed laws, but it was no time to stop for that. On and on they
dashed.

They came in sight of the bank. A long line of persons was still in
front. They seemed more excited than in the morning, for the hour
of three was approaching, and they feared the bank would close its
doors, never to open them again.

{}``The run is still on,'' observed Mr.\ Damon.

{}``But it will soon be over,'' predicted Tom.

Some news of the errand of the automobile must have penetrated the
crowd, for as Tom swung past the front entrance to the bank, to go
up the rear alley, he was greeted with a cheer.

{}``They've got the cash!'' a man cried. {}``I'm satisfied now.
I don't draw out my deposit.''

{}``I want to see the cash before I'll believe it,'' said another.

Tom slowed up to make the turn into the alley. As he did so he glanced
across the street to the new bank. In the window stood Andy Foger
and his father. There was a look of surprise on their faces as they
saw the arrival of the powerful car, and, Tom fancied, also a look
of chagrin.

Up the alley went the car, police keeping the crowd from following.
The porter was at the door. So, also, was Mr\  Pendergast and Mr.\ Swift,
while some of the other officers were grouped behind them.

{}``Did you get the money?'' gasped the president.

{}``We did,'' answered Tom. {}``Are we on time, Dad?''

{}``Just on time, my boy! They're paying out the last of the cash
now! You're on time, thank fortune!''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXI \mbox{---} Off to the Big Race}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXI \mbox{---} Off to the
Big Race}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Off to the Big Race}

From their task of handing out money to eager depositors, the wearied
tellers looked up as Tom and Mr.\ Damon entered with the big valise
crammed full of money. It was opened, and the bundles of bills turned
out on a table.

{}``Perhaps you'd better make an announcement to the crowd, Mr.\ Pendergast,''
suggested Mr.\ Swift. {}``Tell them we now have cash enough to meet
all demands, and that the bank will be kept open until every one is
paid.''

{}``I will,'' agreed the aged president. His announcement was received
with cheers, and had exactly the effect the inventor hoped it would.

Many, learning that the bank was safe, and that they could have their
money whenever they wanted it, concluded not to withdraw it, thus
saving the interest. Scores in the waiting crowd turned out of line
and went home. Their example was contagious, and, though many still
remained to get their deposits, the run was broken. Only part of the
sixty thousand dollars Tom and Mr.\ Damon had brought through after
a race with time, was needed. But had it not been for the moral effect
of the cash arriving as it did, the bank would have failed.

{}``You have a great car, Tom Swift,'' complimented Mr.\ Pendergast,
when the excitement had somewhat cooled down, and the story of the
hold-up had been told.

{}``I think so myself,'' agreed the young inventor modestly. {}``I
must get ready for the races now.''

{}``And as for those farmers, I think I'll send them a reward,''
went on the president. {}``They deserve something for the trouble
they had with the load of hay. I certainly shall send them a reward,''
which he did, and a substantial one, too.

Of course the hold-up was at once reported to the police after the
run had quieted down, but Chief Simonson surprised Tom by saying that
he had expected it.

{}``The gang that held you up,'' said the police officer, {}``was
one that escaped from a jail, about twenty miles away. I got a tip
after you left, that they were going to rob you, for, in some way,
they learned about the money you and Mr.\ Damon were to bring from
the bank. The unfortunate part of it was that the tip I got was to
the effect that the hold-up would take place just outside of Clayton.
I telephoned to the police there, just after you left, and they said
they'd send out a posse. But the gang changed their plans; and held
you up near here, where I wasn't expecting it. But I'll get 'em yet.''

Chief Simonson did not arrest the gang, but some other police officers
did, and they were taken back to jail. They were not prosecuted for
the attempted robbery of Tom, as it was considered difficult to fix
the guilt on them, but they received such a long additional sentence
for breaking jail, that it will be many years before they are released.

When Tom reached home that night he found some mail from the officials
of the Touring Club of America. It was to the effect that arrangements
for the big contest had been completed, and that contesting cars must
be on the ground by September first.

{}``That gives me two weeks yet,'' thought our hero.

He read further of the regulations covering the race. Each car must
proceed from the home town or city of the owner, and go to the track
under its own power. This was a new regulation, it was stated, and
was adopted to better develop the industry of building electric autos.
Two passengers, or one in addition to the driver, must be carried,
it was stated, and this one would also be expected to be in the car
during the entire race.

Regarding the race proper it was stated that at first it had been
decided to make it a twenty-four hour endurance contest, but that
for certain reasons this was changed, as it was found that few storage
batteries could go this length of time without a number of rechargings.
Therefore the race was to be one for distance\mbox{---}five hundred
miles, on the new Long Island track, and the car first covering that
distance would win. Cars were allowed to change their batteries as
often as they needed to, but all time lost would count against them.
There were other rules and regulations of minor importance.

{}``Well,'' remarked Tom, as he read through the circulars, {}``I
must get my car in shape. It will be quite a tip to Long Island, and
I think my best plan will be to go direct to the cottage we had when
we were building the submarine, and from there proceed to the track.
That will comply with the rules, I think. But who will I get to go
with me? I suppose Mr.\ Damon or Mr.\ Sharp will be willing. I'll
ask them.''

He broached the matter to his two friends that night, and they both
agreed to go to Long Island in the car, though only Mr.\ Sharp would
accompany Tom in the race. The next two weeks were busy ones for Tom.
He worked night and day over his car, getting it in shape for the
big event.

The young inventor made some changes in his battery, and also adopted
a new gear, which would give greater speed. He also completed the
exterior of the auto, giving it several coats of purple paint and
varnish, so that when it was finished, though it was different in
shape from most autos, it was as fine an appearing car as one could
wish. He arranged to carry two extra wheels, with tires inflated,
and, under the rear seats, or tonneau, as he called it, Tom fitted
up a complete tire-repairing outfit. Mr.\ Sharp agreed to ride there,
and in case there was need to use more than two spare wheels during
the race, the rubber shoes or inner tubes could be mended while the
car was swinging around the track.

Mr.\ Damon would ride in front with Tom on the cross-country trip,
and occasionally relieve him at steering, or would help to manage
the electrical connections. Spare fuses, extra parts, wires and different
things he thought he might need, the young inventor stored in his
car. He also found means to install a small additional storage battery,
to give added power in case of emergency.

Tom learned from the racing officials that if he made a trip from
Shopton to the cottage on the coast, near the city of Atlantis, and
later traveled from there to the track, it would fulfill the conditions
of the contest.

Finally all was in readiness, and one morning, having spent the better
part of the night going over his machine, to see that he had forgotten
nothing, Tom invited Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Sharp to enter, and prepare
for the trip to Long Island.

{}``Well, Tom, I certainly hope you win that race,'' remarked Mrs.\ Baggert,
as she stood in the doorway, waving a farewell.

{}``If I do I'll buy you a pair of diamond earrings to match the
diamond ring I gave you from the money I got from the wreck,'' promised
the lad with a laugh.

{}``An' ef yo' sees dat Andy Foger,'' added Eradicate Sampson, while
he rubbed the long ears of Boomerang, his mule, {}``ef yo' sees him,
jest run ober him once or twice fer mah sake, Mistah Swift.''

{}``I'll do it for my own, too,'' agreed Tom.

The youth shook hands with his father, who wished him good luck, and
then, after a final look at his car, he climbed to his seat, and turned
on the power. There was a low hum from the motor and the electric
started off. Would it return a winner or loser of the big race?


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXII \mbox{---} In a Ditch}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXII \mbox{---} In a Ditch}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{In a Ditch}

Through the streets of Shopton went Tom Swift and his friends. News
of the big contest the young inventor was about to take part in, had
circulated around town, and there were not wanting many to wish him
good luck. The lad responded smilingly to the farewells he received.
As they passed the bank, Ned Newton came out on the steps.

{}``Wish I was going along,'' he called.

{}``So do I,'' replied Tom. {}``How's everything? Is the bank all
right since the run?'' for he had not had time to pay much attention
to the institution since his memorable race against time, to get the
money.

{}``Stronger and better than ever,'' was Ned's answer, as he came
to the curb, where Tom slowed up. {}``I hear,'' he added in a whisper,
{}``that the other fellows are going out of business\mbox{---}Foger
and his crowd you know. They loaned money on unsecured notes to make
a good showing, and now they can't get it back But we're all right.
Hope you win the race.''

{}``So do I.''

{}``What will a certain person do while you're away?'' went on Ned,
with a wink.

{}``I don't know what you mean,'' replied Tom, trying not to blush.
{}``Do you mean my dad or Mrs.\ Baggert?''

{}``Neither, you old hypocrite you! I meant Miss Mary Nestor.''

{}``Oh, hadn't you heard?'' inquired Tom innocently. {}``She is
going to Long Island to visit some friends, and she'll be at the race.''

{}``You lucky dog,'' murmured Ned with a laugh, as he went into
the bank.

Once more the electric auto started off, and was soon on the quiet
country road, where Tom speeded it up moderately. He hoped to be able
to make the entire distance to the shore cottage on the single charge
of current he had put into the battery at home, and, as there was
no special need for haste, he wanted to save his power. The machine
was running smoothly, and seemed able to make a long race against
time

The travelers ate lunch that day at Pendleton, a town some distance
from Shopton. They had covered a substantial part of their trip. After
a brief rest they started on again. Tom had planned to spend two days
and one night on the road, hoping to be able to reach the shore cottage
on the evening of the second day. There, after recharging the battery,
he would spend a night, or two, and proceed to the track, ready for
the race.

They found the roads fairly good, with bad stretches here and there,
which made it necessary for them to slow down. This delayed them,
and they found the shadows lengthening, and darkness approaching,
when they were still several miles from Burgfield, where they intended
to sleep.

{}``Will it be all right to travel at night?'' asked Mr.\ Damon,
a bit nervously.

{}``Why, are you thinking of hold-up men?'' inquired Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``No, but I was wondering about the condition of the roads,''
replied the eccentric man. {}``We don't want to run into a rock,
or collide with something.''

{}``I guess this will light up the road far enough in advance, so
that we can see where we are going,'' suggested Tom, as he switched
on the powerful electric search-light. Though it was not dark enough
to illuminate the highway to the best advantage, the powerful gleam
shone dazzlingly in front of the swiftly moving auto.

{}``I guess that will show up every pebble in the road,'' commented
the balloonist. It's very powerful.''

Tom turned off the light, as, until it was darker, he could see to
better advantage unaided by it. He slowed down the speed somewhat,
but was still going at a good rate.

{}``There's a bridge somewhere about here,'' remarked the lad, when
they had gone on a mile further. I remember seeing it on my road map.
It's not very strong, and we'll have to run slow over it.''

{}``Bless my gizzard, I hope we don't go through it!'' cried Mr.\ Damon.
{}``Is your car very heavy, Tom?''

{}``Not heavy enough to break the bridge. Ah, there it is. Guess
I'll turn on the light so we can see what we're doing.''

Just ahead of them loomed up the super-structure of a bridge, and
Tom turned the searchlight switch. At the instant he did so, whether
he did not keep a steady hand on the steering wheel, or whether the
auto went into a rut from which it could not be turned, did not immediately
develop, but the car suddenly shot from the straight road, and swerved
to one side. There was a lurch, and the front wheels sank down.

{}``Look out! We're going into the river!'' yelled Mr.\ Damon.

Tom jammed on the brakes and shut off the current. The auto came to
a sudden stop. The young inventor turned the searchlight downward,
to illuminate the ground directly in front of the car.

{}``Are we in the river?'' asked Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``No,'' replied Tom in great chagrin. {}``We're in a muddy ditch.
One at the side of the road. Wheels in over the hubs! There should
have been a guard rail here. We're stuck for fair!''


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXIII \mbox{---} The Power Gone}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXIII \mbox{---} The Power
Gone}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{The Power Gone}

{}``Bless my overshoes!'' cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``Stuck in the mud,
eh?''

{}``Hard and fast,'' added Tom, in disgust.

{}``What's to be done?'' inquired Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``I should say we'll have to stay here until daylight, and wait
for some other auto to come along and pull us out,'' was Mr.\ Damon's
opinion. {}``It's might unpleasant, too, for there doesn't seem to
be any place around here where we can spend the night in any kind
of comfort. If we had the submarine or the airship, now, it wouldn't
so much matter.''

{}``No, and this won't matter a great deal,'' remarked the young
inventor quickly. {}``We'll soon be out of this, but it will be hard
work.''

{}``What do you mean?'' asked Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``I mean that we've got to pull ourselves out of this mud hole,''
explained the lad, as he prepared to descend. {}``I was afraid something
like this would happen, so I came prepared for it. I've got ropes
and pulleys with me, in the car. We'll fasten the rope to the machine,
attach one pulley to the bridge, another to the car, and I guess we
can get out of the mud. We'll try, anyhow.''

{}``Well, I must say you looked pretty far ahead,'' complimented
Mr.\ Damon.

From a box under the tonneau Tom took out a thin but strong rope and
two compound pulleys, which would enable considerable force to be
applied. Mr.\ Sharp detached one of the powerful oil lamps, and the
three travelers took a look at the auto. It was indeed deep in the
mud and it seemed like a hopeless task to try to get it out unaided.
But Tom insisted that they could do it, and the rope was soon attached,
the hook of one pulley being slipped around one of the braces of the
bridge.

{}``Now, all together!'' cried the lad, as he and his friends grasped
the long rope. They gave a great heave. At first it seemed like pulling
on a stone wall. The rope strained and the pulleys creaked.

{}``I \mbox{---} guess \mbox{---} we \mbox{---} will \mbox{---}
pull \mbox{---} the \mbox{---} bridge \mbox{---} over!'' gasped
Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``Something's got to give way!'' puffed Tom. {}``Now, once more!
All together!''

Suddenly they felt the rope moving. The pulleys creaked still more
and, by the light of the lamp, they could see that the auto was slowly
being pulled backward, out of the mud, and onto the hard road. In
a few minutes it was ready to proceed again.

The rope and pulleys were put away, and, after Tom had made an examination
of the car to see that it had sustained no damage, they were off again,
making good time to the hotel in Burgfield, where they spent the night.
They had an early breakfast, and, as Tom went out to the barn to look
at his car, he saw it surrounded by a curious throng of men and boys.
One of the boys was turning some of the handles and levers.

{}``Here! Quit that!''\ yelled Tom, and the meddlesome lad leaped
down in fright. {}``Do you want to start the car and have it smash
into something?'' demanded the young inventor.

{}``Aw, nothin' happened,'' retorted the lad. {}``I pulled every
handle on it, an' it didn't move.''

{}``Good reason,'' murmured Tom, for he had taken the precaution
to remove a connecting plug, without which the machine could not be
started.

The three were soon under way again, and covered many miles over the
fine country roads, the weather conditions being delightful. On inquiry
they found that by taking an infrequently used highway, they could
save several miles. It was over an unoccupied part of country, rather
wild and desolate, but they did not mind that.

They were whizzing along, talking of Tom's chances for winning the
race when, after climbing a slight grade, the auto came to a sudden
stop on the summit.

{}``What's the matter?''\ asked Mr.\ Sharp. {}``Why are you stopping
here, Tom?''

{}``I didn't stop,'' was the surprising answer, and the lad shoved
the starting lever back and forth.

But there was no response. There was no hum from the motor. The machine
was {}``dead.''

{}``That's queer,'' murmured the young inventor.

{}``Maybe a fuse blew out,'' suggested Mr.\ Damon, that seeming
to be his favorite form of trouble.

{}``If it had you'd have known it,'' remarked Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``There's plenty of current in the battery, according to the registering
gauge, murmured the lad. {}``I can't understand it.'' He reversed
the current, thinking the wires might have become crossed, but the
machine would move neither backward nor forward, yet the dial indicated
that there was enough power stored away to send it a hundred miles
or more.

{}``Perhaps the dial hand has become caught,'' suggested Mr.\ Sharp.
{}``That sometimes happens on a steam gauge, and indicates a high
pressure when there isn't any. Hit it slightly, and see if the hand
swings back.''

Tom did so. At once the hand fell to zero, indicating that there was
not an ampere of current left. The battery was exhausted, but this
fact had not been indicated on the gauge.

{}``I see now!'' cried Tom. {}``It was those fellows at the hotel
barn! They monkeyed with the mechanism, short circuited the battery,
and jammed the gauge so I couldn't tell when my power was gone. If
I had known there wasn't enough to carry us I could have recharged
the battery at the hotel. But I figured that I had enough current
for the entire trip, and so there would have been, if it hadn't leaked
away. Now we're in a pretty pickle.''

{}``Bless my hat band!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``Does that mean
we can't move?''

{}``Guess that's about it,'' answered Mr.\ Sharp, and Tom nodded.

{}``Well, why can't we go on to some place where they sell electricity,
and get enough to take us where we want to go?''\ asked the odd
character, whose ideas of machinery were somewhat hazy.

{}``The only trouble is we can't carry the heavy car with us,''
replied Tom. {}``It's too big to pick up and take to a charging station.''

{}``Then we've got to wait until some one comes along with a team
of horses, and tows us in,'' commented Mr.\ Sharp. {}``And that
will be some time, on this lonely road.''

Tom shook his head despondently. He went all over the car again, but
was forced to the first conclusion, that the reserve current had leaked
away, in consequence of the meddling prank of the youth at the hotel.
The situation was far from pleasant, and the delay would seriously
interfere with their plans.

Suddenly, as Tom was pacing up and down the road, he heard from afar,
a peculiar humming sound. He paused to listen.

{}``Trolley car,'' observed Mr.\ Sharp. {}``Maybe one of us could
go somewhere on the trolley and get help. There it is,'' and he pointed
to the electric vehicle, moving along about half a mile away, at the
foot of a gentle slope.

At the sight of the car Tom uttered a cry. {}``I have it!'' he exclaimed.
{}``None of us need go for help! It's right at hand!'' His companions
looked curiously, as the young inventor pointed triumphantly to the
fast disappearing electric.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXIV \mbox{---} On the Track}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXIV \mbox{---} On the Track}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{On the Track}

{}``What do you mean?'' asked Mr.\ Damon. {}``Will the electric
trolley pull us to a charging station?''

{}``No, we'll not need to go to a station,'' answered the youth.
{}``If we can get my car to the trolley tracks I can charge my battery
from there. And I think we can push the auto near enough. It's down
hill, and I've got a long wire so we won't have to go too close.''

{}``Good!''\ cried Mr.\ Sharp. {}``But attach the rope to the
front of the car, Tom. Mr.\ Damon and I will pull it. You'll have
to ride in it to steer it.''

{}``We can take turns at riding,'' was Tom's answer, for he did
not want his companions to do all the work.

{}``Nonsense! You ride,'' said Mr.\ Damon. {}``You're lighter
than we are, and can steer better. It won't be any trouble at all
to pull this car down hill.''

It proved to be an easy task, and in a short time the {}``dead''
auto was near enough to the electric line to permit Tom to run his
charging wire over to it.

{}``Why bless my soul!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon, looking up. {}``There's
no overhead trolley wire. The car must run on storage batteries.''

{}``Third rail, more likely,'' was the opinion of Mr.\ Sharp and
so it proved.

{}``I can charge from either the third rail or the trolley wire,''
declared Tom, who was insulating his hands in rubber gloves, and getting
his wires ready. In a short time he had the proper connections made,
and the much-needed current was soon flowing into the depleted battery,
or batteries, for there were several sets, though the whole source
of motive power was usually referred to as a {}``storage battery.''

{}``How long will it take?'' asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``About two hours,'' answered the lad. {}``We'll probably have
to disconnect our wires several times, whenever a trolley car comes
past. By my system I can recharge the battery very quickly.

{}``Do you suppose the owners of the road will make any objection?''\ asked
the balloonist.

{}``I'm going to pay for the current I use,'' explained the young
inventor. {}``I have a meter which tells how much I take.''

The hum of an approaching car was heard, and Tom took the wires from
the third rail. The car came to a stop opposite the automobile, the
passengers, as well as the crew, looking curiously at the queer racing
machine. Tom explained to the conductor what was going on, and asked
the fare-collector to notify those in charge of the power station
that all current used would be paid for. The conductor said this would
be satisfactory, he was sure, and the car proceeded, Tom resuming
the charging of his battery.

Allowing plenty of reserve power to accumulate, and making sure that
the gauge would not stick again, and deceive him, the owner of the
speedy electric was soon ready to proceed again. They had been delayed
a little over three hours, for they had to make several shifts, as
the cars came past.

They reached their shore cottage late that night, and, after seeing
that the runabout was safely locked in the big shed where the submarine
had been built, they all went to bed, for they were very tired.

Tom sent word, the next day, to the managers of the race, that he
would be on hand at the time stipulated, and announced that he had
made part of the trip, as required, under the power of the auto itself.

The next day was spent in overhauling the machinery, tightening up
some loose bearings, oiling different parts, and further charging
the battery. Tires were looked to, and the ones on the spare wheels
were gone over to prepare for any emergency that might arise when
the race was started.

On the third day, Tom, Mr.\ Sharp and Mr.\ Damon, leaving the cottage
completed the trip to Havenford, Long Island, where the new track
had been constructed.

They reached the place shortly before noon, and, if they had been
unaware of the location they could not have missed it, for there were
many autos speeding along the road toward the scene of the race, which
would take place the following day.

Several electric cars passed Tom and his friends, whizzing swiftly
by, but the young inventor was not going to show off his speed until
the time came. Besides, he did not want to run any risks of an accident.
But some of the contestants seemed anxious for impromptu {}``brushes,''
and more than one called to our hero to {}``speed up and let's see
what she can do.'' But Tom smiled, and shook his head.

There were many gasolene and some steam autos going out to the new
track, which was considered a remarkable piece of engineering. It
was in the shape of an octagon, and the turns were considered very
safe. It was a five mile track, and to complete the race it would
be necessary to make a hundred circuits.

Through scores of autos Tom and his friends threaded their way, the
young inventor keeping a watchful eye on the various types of machine
with which he would soon have to compete.

There were many kinds. Some were larger and some smaller than his.
Many obviously carried very large batteries, but whether they had
the speed or not was another question. Some, in spurts, seemed to
Tom, to be fully as fast as his own, and he began to have some doubts
whether he would win the race.

{}``But I'm not going to give up until the five hundredth mile is
finished,'' he thought, grimly.

They were now in sight of the track, and noted many machines speeding
around it.

{}``Go on in and try your car, Tom,'' urged Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``Yes, do,'' added Mr.\ Damon. {}``Let's see how it travels.''

{}``I will, after I notify the proper officials that I have arrived,''
decided the lad.

The formalities were soon complied with. Tom received his entry card,
after paying the fee, made affidavit that he had completed the entire
trip from home under his own power, save for the little stretch when
the car was pulled, which did not count against him, and was soon
ready to go on the track. Only electric cars were allowed there.

As the young inventor guided his latest effort in the machine line
onto the big track there were murmurs of surprise from the throngs.

{}``That's a queer machine,'' said one.

{}``Yes, but it looks speedy,'' was another's opinion.

{}``There's the car for my money,'' added a third, pointing to a
big red electric which was certainly whizzing around the track. Tom
noted the red car. Behind it was a green one, also moving at a fast
rate of speed.

{}``Those will be my nearest rivals,'' thought the lad, as he guided
his car onto the track. A moment later he was sending the auto ahead
at moderate speed, while the other contestants looked at the new arrival,
as if trying to discover whether in it they would have a dangerous
competitor.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXV \mbox{---} Winning the Prize}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXV \mbox{---} Winning the
Prize}

\markboth{Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout}{Winning the Prize}

After making two circuits of the track at moderate speed, Tom turned
on more power, deciding to see how the machine would behave on the
turns, going at a fast speed. As it happened he forged ahead just
as the big red car was coming up behind him. The driver of it took
this for a challenge and threw his controller handle forward.

{}``Come on!'' he cried to our hero, when even with him.

Tom did not want to decline the invitation, and the impromptu race
was under way. Soon the green car came rushing up, and for two miles
the three kept almost in line. It was evident that neither the green
nor the red car drivers wanted to {}``open out,'' until they saw
Tom do so.

He was willing to oblige them, and suddenly increased his speed. They
did the same, and went ahead of him. Then Tom turned on a little more
juice and got the lead, but the two men were right after him, and
they see-sawed like this for two more miles. Then, with a cry the
man in the red car, with a sudden burst of speed, left Tom and the
green car behind. The green car was soon up to its rival, but Tom
decided he would not spurt.

The lad and his friends spent the early part of the night in making
a final inspection of the machinery, finding it in good order. Then,
with his head filled with visions of the race on the morrow Tom went
to bed. He had made inquiries, by telephone, of the friends of Miss
Nestor, and learned that she had not arrived. Tom felt a distinct
sense of disappointment.

The day of the race could not have been better. It was ideal weather,
and conditions at the track were just right. Tom was up early, and
went over every inch of his car with a nervous dread that he might
find something the matter.

The final details of the race were completed, and the entrants given
their numbers and places. Tom drew a good position, not the best,
but he had no reason to complain. Half an hour before the start he
again telephoned to see if Miss Nestor had arrived, but she had not,
and it was with rather gloomy thoughts that the lad entered his car,
in which Mr.\ Sharp had already taken his place. Mr.\ Damon went
to the grandstand to watch the race.

{}``I wanted Mary to see me win,'' thought our hero, for he had
grimly set his mind on coming in ahead.

There was a great crowd in the grandstand and scattered about the
big track, which took in a large extent of territory. In spite of
its size\mbox{---}five miles around\mbox{---}it seemed solidly packed
for the entire length with autos, containing gay parties who had come
to see the electric contest. There was a band playing gay airs, as
Tom guided his machine through the entrance gate, and onto the track.

The judges made their final inspection. There were twenty cars entered,
but it was obvious that some of them would not last long, as their
battery capacity was not large enough. Their owners might have relied
on recharging, but how they could do this under the usual slow system,
and hope to win, Tom could not see. He hoped to run the entire distance
on the single charge, but, if by some accident part of his current
should leak away, his battery could be charged in a short time, by
means of his new system, to run for a considerable distance, or he
could install a new one already charged, for he had two sets on hand.
Tom glanced over the cars of his competitors. They were to be sent
away in batches, the affair being a handicap one, with time allowance
for the smaller powered cars. Tom noted that his car and the red and
the green ones were in the same bunch. Tom's car was purple.

{}``Are you all ready?''\ asked the starter of the first group
of races.

{}``Ready,'' was the low-voiced response.

{}``Crack!''\ went the pistol, and there followed the hum of the
motors as the current set the mechanism to work. Forward went the
cars, amid the crash of the band and the cheers of the crowd. The
big race was under way.

{}``Do you feel nervous, Tom?''\ asked Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``Not a bit,'' replied the lad.

Around and around the track flew the speedy electrics. It was evident
that the holding of a meet solely for cars of this character had brought
out many new ideas that would be to the benefit of the industry. Some
cars were {}``freaks'' and others, like Tom's, showed a distinct
advance over previous styles of construction.

A five-hundred mile race around a track is rather a monotonous affair,
except for what happens, and things very soon began to happen at this
race.

As Tom had expected, several of the machines were forced to withdraw.
Tire troubles beset some, and others found that they were hopelessly
out of it because of low power, or lack of battery capacity.

Tom determined not to let the red or the green car gain any advantage
over him, and so he watched those two vehicles narrowly. On the other
hand, the red and the green electrics were evidently afraid of one
another and of Tom.

They all three kept pretty much together for the first thirty miles.
By this time the race had settled down into a steady grind. There
was some excitement when the steering gear of one car broke, and it
crashed into the fence, injuring the driver, but the race went on.

The young inventor was holding his own with his two chief rivals,
and was feeling rather proud of his car, when there came from it a
report like a pistol shot.

{}``Blow out!'' yelled Tom desperately, steering to one of the several
repair stations on the inner side of the track. {}``Be ready with
the extra wheel, Mr.\ Sharp!''

{}``Right you are!'' cried the balloonist. The car was scarcely
stopped when he had leaped out, and had the lifting jack under the
left rear wheel, where the tire had gone to the bad. He and Tom labored
like Trojans to take off the wheel, and put on the other. They lost
five minutes, and when they got under way again the red and the green
cars were three quarters of a lap ahead.

{}``You've got to catch them!'' declared Sharp firmly.

But the red and the green car drivers saw their advantage, and were
determined to hold it. Tom could not catch them without going his
limit, and he did not want to do this just yet. However, he had his
opportunity when about two hundred miles had been covered. Both the
red and the green cars had tire troubles, but the red one was delayed
scarcely two minutes as there was a corps of mechanics on hand to
take off the defective wheel and put on another. Still Tom regained
his lost ground, and once more the race between those three cars was
even.

In the rear of Tom's car Mr.\ Sharp was mending the blown-out tire,
though there was still one spare wheel on reserve. Tom, in front,
peered eagerly at the track. Nearly side by side raced the red and
the green cars, the latter somewhat to the rear.

It was at the three hundred and fiftieth mile that Tom had another
blow-out. This time it took a little longer to change the wheel, and
the red and green cars gained a full lap on him. The track was now
so dusty that it was difficult to see the contesting cars. Many had
dropped out, and more were on the verge of giving up.

With the odds against him, Tom started in to regain the lost ground.
Narrowly he watched his electric power. Slowly he saw it dropping.
Would he have enough left to finish out the race? He feared not. The
hours were passing. Still there was a hundred miles yet to go\mbox{---}twenty
circuits of the track. Some of the spectators were getting weary and
leaving. The band played spasmodically.

Suddenly Tom saw the red car shoot to one side of the track, toward
a charging station; The green car followed.

{}``That's our cue!'' cried the young inventor {}``We need a little
more `juice' and now is the time to get it.''

The lad ran to the shed where his charging wires were, and they were
connected in a trice. He allowed twenty-five minutes for the charging,
as he knew with his improved battery he could get enough current in
that time to finish the contest. Before the red and green car drivers
had finished installing new batteries, for they could not recharge
as quickly as could our hero, Tom was on the track again. But, in
a little while, his two rivals were after him.

It was now a spectacular race. Around and around swept the three big
cars. All the others were practically out of it. The crowd became
lively airs. Mile after mile was reeled off. The day was passing.
Tired and covered with dust from the track, Tom still sat at the steering
wheel.

{}``Two laps more!'' cried Mr.\ Sharp, as the starter's pistol
gave this warning. {}``Can you get away from 'em, Tom?''

The red and the green cars were following closely. The young inventor
looked back and nodded. He turned on more power, almost to the limit\mbox{---}that
he was saving for the final spurt. But after him still came the two
big cars. Suddenly the red car shot ahead, just as the last lap was
beginning. The green tried to follow, but there was a flash of fire,
a loud report, and Tom knew a fuse had blown out. There was no time
for his rival to put in a new one. The race was now between Tom and
the red car. Could the lad catch and pass it?

They were now only a mile from the finish. The red car was three lengths
ahead. With a quick motion Tom turned on the last bit of power. There
seemed to come a roar from his motor and his car shot ahead. It was
on even terms with the red car when what Tom had been fearing for
the last five minutes happened\mbox{---}his fuse blew out.

{}``Too bad! It's all up with us!''\ cried Mr.\ Sharp.

{}``No!''\ cried Tom in a ringing voice. {}``I've got an emergency
fuse ready!'' He snapped a switch in place, putting into commission
another fuse. The motor that had lost speed began to pick it up again.
Tom had pulled back the controller handle, but he now shoved it forward
again, notch by notch, until it was at the limit. He had fallen back
from the red car, and the occupants of that, with a yell of triumph,
prepared to cross the line a winner.

But, like a race horse that nerves himself for the last desperate
spurt, Tom's machine fairly leaped ahead. With his hands gripping
the rim of the steering wheel, until it seemed that the bones of his
fingers would protrude, Tom sent his car straight for the finishing
tape. There was a yell from the spectators. Men were standing up,
waving their hats and shouting. Women were fairly screaming. Mr.\ Damon
was blessing everything within sight. Mr.\ Sharp, in his excitement,
was pushing on the back of the front seats as if to shove the car
ahead.

Then, as the pistol announced the close of the race, Tom's car, with
what seemed a mighty leap, like a hunter clearing a ditch, forged
ahead, and crossed the line a length in advance of the red car. Tom
Swift had won.

Amid the cheers of the crowd the lad slowed up, and, at the direction
of the judges, wheeled back to the stand, to receive the prize. A
certified check for three thousand dollars was handed him, and he
received the congratulations of the racing officials. The driver of
the red car also generously praised him.

{}``You won fair and square,'' he said, shaking hands with Tom.

The young inventor and his friends drove their car to their shed.
As Tom was descending, weary and begrimed with dust he heard a voice
asking:

{}``Mayn't I congratulate you also?''

He wheeled around, to confront Mary Nestor, immaculate in a summer
gown.

{}``Why \mbox{---} why,'' he stammered. {}``I \mbox{---} I thought
you didn't come.''

{}``Oh, yes I did,'' she answered, laughing. {}``I wouldn't have
missed it for anything. I arrived late, but I saw the whole race.
Wasn't it glorious. I'm so glad you won!'' Tom was too, now, but
he shrank back when Miss Nestor held out both daintily gloved hands
to him. His hands were covered with oil and dirt.

{}``As if I cared for my gloves!''\ she cried, and she took possession
of his hands, a proceeding to which Tom was nothing loath. {}``Are
you going to race any more?'' she asked, as he walked along by her
side, away from the gathering crowd.

{}``I don't know,'' he replied. {}``My car is speedier than I thought
it was. Perhaps I may enter it in other contests.''

But what Tom Swift did later on will be told in another volume, to
be called, {}``Tom Swift and His Wireless Message; or, The Castaways
of Earthquake Island\char`\"{}\mbox{---}a strange tale of ship-wreck
and mystery.

The run back home was made without incident, save for a broken chain,
easily repaired, the day following the race, and Tom later received
a number of invitations to give exhibitions of speed. Several automobile
manufacturers wanted to secure the rights to his machine, but he said
he desired to consider the matter before acting. He did not forget
his promise to Mrs.\ Baggert, regarding the diamond earrings, and
bought her the finest pair he could find.

{}``Come on, Mr.\ Sharp,'' proposed Tom, a week or so after the
big race, {}``let's go for a spin in the airship. I want to see how
it feels to be among the clouds once more,'' and they were soon soaring
aloft.

The new bank, started by Mr.\ Foger, did not flourish long. It closed
its doors in less than six months, but the old institution was stronger
than ever. Mr.\ Berg disappeared, and Tom never learned whether the
agent really was the man he had chased, and whose watch charm he tore
loose, though he always had his suspicions. Nor did it ever develop
who crossed the electric wires, so that Tom was so nearly fatally
shocked. Andy Foger disliked our hero more than ever, and on several
occasions caused him not a little trouble, but Tom was able to look
after himself.
\end{document}
