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shots still ringing out from the load of hay。 Tom could not understand it；
and could see no one firingcould detect no smoke。
〃Are they gone？ Did they rob ye？〃 asked the foremost of the trio； a
burly； grizzled farmer。 Bust my buttons； but I guess we skeered 'em all
right！〃
〃Bless my shoe buttons； but you certainly have！〃 cried Mr。 Damon；
descending from the automobile； and wringing the hand of the farmer；
while Tom； thrust the bag of money under his legs and waited further
developments。 The pistol shots rang out until one of the men called：
〃That'll do； Bub！ We've skeered 'em like Mrs。 Zenoby's pet cat！ You
needn't crack that whip any more。〃
〃Whip！〃 cried Tom。 〃Was that a whip？〃
〃That's what it was；〃 explained the leading farmer。 〃Bub Armstrong；
my nephew； can crack it to beat th' band；〃 and as if in proof of this there
emerged from behind the load of hay a small lad； carrying a large whip； to
which he gave a few trial cracks； like pistol shots； as if to show his ability。
〃It's all right； Bub；〃 his uncle assured him。 〃We made 'em run。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃But I don't exactly understand；〃 spoke Mr。 Damon。 〃I thought you
were in league with those thieves； stopping us as you did with your big
load。〃
〃So did I；〃 admitted Tom。
〃Ha！ Ha！〃 laughed the farmer。 〃That's a pretty good joke。 Excuse me
for laughin'。 My name's Lyon； Jethro Lyon； of Salina Township； an' these
is my two sons； Ade and Burt。 You see we're on our way to Shopton； an'
my nephew； Bub； he went along。 We thought you was some of them sassy
automobile fellers at first when you hollered to us you wanted to pass。
Then when we looked back； we seen them burglars goin' t' rob you； at
least that's what we suspicioned；〃 and he paused suggestively。
〃That was it；〃 Tom said。
〃Wa'al； when we seen that； we held a sort of consultation on thet load
of hay； where they couldn't see us。 It was so big you know；〃 he needlessly
explained。 〃Wa'al； we calcalated we could help you； so I jest quietly
backed up； until we was near enough。 I told Bub to take the long whip； an'
crack it for all he was wuth； so's it would sound like reinforcements
approachin' with guns； an' he done it。〃
〃He certainly done it；〃 added Burt。
〃Wa'al；〃 resumed Mr。 Lyon； 〃then me an my sons we jest slipped down
off the front seat； an' come a runnin' with our pitchforks。 I reckoned them
burglars would run when they see us an' heard us； an' they done so。〃
〃Yep； they done so；〃 added Ade； like an echo。
〃I can't tell you how much obliged we are to you；〃 said Mr。 Damon。
〃We have sixty thousand dollars in this valise； and they would have had it
in another minute； and the bank would have failed。〃
〃Sixty thousand dollars！〃 gasped Mr。 Lyon； and his sons and nephew
echoed the words。 Mr。 Damon briefly explained about the money； and he
and the young inventor again thanked their rescuers； who had so
unexpectedly； and in such a novel manner； put the thieves to flight。
〃An' you've got t' git t' Shopton before three o'clock with thet cash？〃
asked Mr。 Lyon。
〃That's what we hoped to do；〃 replied Tom 〃but I'm afraid we won't
now。 It's half past two； and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Don't say another word；〃 interrupted Mr。 Lyon。 〃I know what ye
mean。 My hay's in the road。 But don't let that worry ye none。 I'll pull out
of your road in a jiffy； an' if we do go down in th' ditch； why we can throw
off part of th' load； lighten th' wagon； an' pull out again。 You've got t'
hustle if ye git t' Shopton by three o'clock。〃
〃I can do it with a clear road；〃 declared Tom； confidently。
〃Then ye'll have th' clear road；〃 Mr。 Lyon assured him。 〃Come boys；
let's git th' hay t' one side。〃
The farmers pulled into the ditch。 As they had feared the wagon went
in almost to the hubs； but they did not mind； and； even as Tom and Mr。
Damon shot past them； they fell to work tossing off part of the fodder； to
lighten the wagon。 The young inventor and his companion waved a
grateful farewell to them as they fairly tore past； for Tom had turned on
almost the full current。
〃Do you suppose that was the Happy Harry gang； or some members of
it who were not captured and sent to jail？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃I don't believe so；〃 answered the lad； shaking his head。 〃Maybe they
didn't really want to rob us。 Perhaps they only wanted to delay us so we
wouldn't get to the bank on time。〃
〃Bless my top knot； you may be right！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
Further conversation became difficult； as they struck a rough part of
the road； where the vehicle swayed and jolted to an alarming degree。 But
Tom never slackened pace。 On and on they rushed； Mr。 Damon frequently
looking at his watch。
〃We've got twenty minutes left；〃 he remarked as they came out on the
smooth stretch of road； that led directly into Shopton。
Then Tom turned all the reserve power into the motor。 The machinery
almost groaned as the current surged into the wires； but it took up the load；
and the electric car； swaying more than ever； dashed ahead with its burden
of wealth。
Now they were in the town； now speeding down the street leading to
the bank。 One or two policemen shouted after them； for they were
violating the speed laws； but it was no time to stop for that。 On and on
they dashed。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
They came in sight of the bank。 A long line of persons was still in front。
They seemed more excited than in the morning； for the hour of three was
approaching； and they feared the bank would close its doors； never to open
them again。
〃The run is still on；〃 observed Mr。 Damon。
〃But it will soon be over；〃 predicted Tom。
Some news of the errand of the automobile must have penetrated the
crowd； for as Tom swung past the front entrance to the bank； to go up the
rear alley； he was greeted with a cheer。
〃They're got the cash！〃 a man cried。 〃I'm satisfied now。 I don't draw
out my deposit。〃
〃I want to see the cash before I'll believe it；〃 said another。
Tom slowed up to make the turn into the alley。 As he did so h