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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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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〃
〃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 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃But not much faster than a wheelbarrow；〃 said his f