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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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER VIII
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
sk