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Fogersfather and son。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XIX
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