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〃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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
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。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃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…！〃 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！〃
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Mr。 Damon subsided。 Discretion was very plainly the better part of