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adopted a new gear； which would give greater speed。 He also completed
the exterior of the auto； giving it several coats of purple paint and varnish；
so that when it was finished； though it was different in shape from most
autos； it was as fine an appearing car as one could wish。 He arranged to
carry two extra wheels； with tires inflated； and； under the rear seats； or
tonneau； as he called it； Tom fitted up a complete tire…repairing outfit。 Mr。
Sharp agreed to ride there； and in case there was need to use more than
two spare wheels during the race； the rubber shoes or inner tubes could be
mended while the car was swinging around the track。
Mr。 Damon would ride in front with Tom on the cross…country trip； and
occasionally relieve him at steering； or would help to manage the electrical
connections。 Spare fuses； extra parts； wires and different things he thought
he might need； the young inventor stored in his car。 He also found means
to install a small additional storage battery； to give added power in case of
emergency。
Tom learned from the racing officials that if he made a trip from
Shopton to the cottage on the coast； near the city of Atlantis； and later
traveled from there to the track； it would fulfill the conditions of the
contest。
Finally all was in readiness； and one morning； having spent the better
part of the night going over his machine； to see that he had forgotten
nothing； Tom invited Mr。 Damon and Mr。 Sharp to enter； and prepare for
the trip to Long Island。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Well； Tom； I certainly hope you win that race；〃 remarked Mrs。
Baggert； as she stood in the doorway； waving a farewell。
〃If I do I'll buy you a pair of diamond earrings to match the diamond
ring I gave you from the money I got from the wreck；〃 promised the lad
with a laugh。
〃An' ef yo' sees dat Andy Foger；〃 added Eradicate Sampson； while he
rubbed the long ears of Boomerang； his mule； 〃ef yo' sees him； jest run
ober him once or twice fer mah sake； Mistah Swift。〃
〃I'll do it for my own； too；〃 agreed Tom。
The youth shook hands with his father； who wished him good luck；
and then； after a final look at his car； he climbed to his seat； and turned on
the power。 There was a low hum from the motor and the electric started off。
Would it return a winner or loser of the big race？
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XXII
IN A DITCH
Through the streets of Shopton went Tom Swift and his friends。 News
of the big contest the young inventor was about to take part in； had
circulated around town； and there were not wanting many to wish him
good luck。 The lad responded smilingly to the farewells he received。 As
they passed the bank； Ned Newton came out on the steps。
〃Wish I was going along；〃 he called。
〃So do I；〃 replied Tom。 〃How's everything？ Is the bank all right since
the run？〃 for he had not had time to pay much attention to the institution
since his memorable race against time； to get the money。
〃Stronger and better than ever；〃 was Ned's answer； as he came to the
curb； where Tom slowed up。 〃I hear；〃 he added in a whisper； 〃that the
other fellows are going out of businessFoger and his crowd you know。
They loaned money on unsecured notes to make a good showing； and now
they can't get it back But we're all right。 Hope you win the race。〃
〃So do I。〃
〃What will a certain person do while you're away？〃 went on Ned； with
a wink。
〃I don't know what you mean；〃 replied Tom； trying not to blush。 〃Do
you mean my dad or Mrs。 Baggert？〃
〃Neither； you old hypocrite you！ I meant Miss Mary Nestor。〃
〃Oh； hadn't you heard？〃 inquired Tom innocently。 〃She is going to
Long Island to visit some friends； and she'll be at the race。〃
〃You lucky dog；〃 murmured Ned with a laugh； as he went into the
bank。
Once more the electric auto started off； and was soon on the quiet
country road； where Tom speeded it up moderately。 He hoped to be able to
make the entire distance to the shore cottage on the single charge of
current he had put into the battery at home； and； as there was no special
need for haste； he wanted to save his power。 The machine was running
smoothly； and seemed able to make a long race against time
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
The travelers ate lunch that day at Pendleton； a town some distance
from Shopton。 They had covered a substantial part of their trip。 After a
brief rest they started on again。 Tom had planned to spend two days and
one night on the road； hoping to be able to reach the shore cottage on the
evening of the second day。 There； after recharging the battery； he would
spend a night； or two； and proceed to the track； ready for the race。
They found the roads fairly good； with bad stretches here and there；
which made it necessary for them to slow down。 This delayed them； and
they found the shadows lengthening； and darkness approaching； when they
were still several miles from Burgfield； where they intended to sleep。
〃Will it be all right to travel at night？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； a bit
nervously。
〃Why； are you thinking of hold…up men？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃No； but I was wondering about the condition of the roads；〃 replied the
eccentric man。 〃We don't want to run into a rock； or collide with
something。〃
〃I guess this will light up the road far enough in advance； so that we
can see where we are going；〃 suggested Tom； as he switched on the
powerful electric search…light。 Though it was not dark enough to
illuminate the highway to the best advantage； the powerful gleam shone
dazzlingly in front of the swiftly moving auto。
〃I guess that will show up every pebble in the road；〃 commented the
balloonist。 It's very powerful。〃
Tom turned off the light； as； until it was darker； he could see to better
advantage unaided by it。 He slowed down the speed somewhat； but was
still going at a good rate。