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hush fell over the mob。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃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 some 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〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XVIII
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
Fogersfather and son。〃
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