按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃But I can't figure out why he was hanging around here；〃 mused Tom。
Then； as he found that his thoughts over the matter were interfering
with his work； he resolutely put them from him； and threw himself
energetically into the labor of completing his electric car。 The new
batteries； he found； were working well； and in the next two days he had
constructed several more； joining them so as to get the combined effect。
It was the afternoon of the third day from Tom's unexpected fall into
the brook that the young inventor decided on the first important test of his
new device。 He was going to try the motor； running it with his storage
battery。 Some of the connections were already in place； the wires being
fastened to the side of the shop； where they were attached to switches。
Tom did not go over these； taking it for granted that they were all right。 He
soon had the motor； which he was to install in his car； wired to the battery；
and then he attached a gauge； to ascertain； by comparison； how many
miles he could hope to travel on one charging of the storage battery。
〃Guess I'll call Dad and Mr。 Sharp in to see how it works； before I turn
on the current；〃 he said to himself。 He was about to summon his parent
and the aeronaut from an adjoining shop； where they were working over a
new form of dynamo； when the lad caught sight of the watch charm he had
left on his desk； in plain sight。
〃Better put that away；〃 he remarked。 〃Dad or Mr。 Sharp might see it；
57
… Page 58…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
and ask questions。 Then I'd have to explain； and I don't want to； not until I
get further toward the bottom of this thing。〃
He put the charm away； and then summoned his father and the
balloonist。
〃You're going to see a fine experiment；〃 declared Tom。 〃I'm going to
turn on the full strength of my battery。〃
〃Are you sure it's all right； Tom？〃 asked his father。 〃You can't be too
careful when you're dealing with electricity of high voltage； and great
ampere strength。
〃Oh； it's all right； Dad；〃 his son assured him 〃Now watch my motor
hum。〃
He walked over to a big copper switch； and grasped the black rubber
handle to pull it over which would send the current from the storage
battery into the combination of wheels and gears that he hoped； ultimately；
would propel his electric automobile along the highways； or on a track； at
the rate of a hundred miles an hour。
〃Here she goes！〃 cried Tom。 For an instant he hesitated and then pulled
the switch。 At the same time his hand rested on another wire； stretched
across a bench。
No sooner had the switch closed than there was a blinding flash； a
report as of a gun being fired； and Tom's body seemed to straighten out。
Then a blue flame appeared to encircle him and he dropped to the floor of
the shop； an inert mass。
〃He's killed！〃 cried Mr。 Swift； springing forward。
〃Careful！〃 cautioned the balloonist。 〃He's been shocked！ Don't touch
him until I turn off the current！〃 As he pulled out the switch； the
aeronaut gave a glance at the apparatus。
〃There's something wrong here！〃 he cried。 〃The wires have been
crossed！ That's what shocked Tom； but he never made the wrong
connections！ He's too good an electrician！ There's been some one in this
shop； changing the wires！〃
58
… Page 59…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XII
THE TRY OUT
Once the current was cut off it was safe to approach the body of the
young inventor。 Mr Sharp stooped over and lifted Tom's form from the
floor； for Mr。 Swift was too excited and trembled too much to be of any
service。 Our hero was as one dead。 His body was limp； after that first rigid
stretching out； as the current ran through him； his eyes were closed； and
his face was very pale。
〃Isis there any hope？〃 faltered Mr。 Swift。
〃I think so；〃 replied the balloonist。 〃He is still breathing… faintly。 We
must summon a doctor at once。 Will you telephone for one； while I carry
him in the house？〃
As Mr。 Sharp emerged from the shop； bearing Tom's body； an
automobile drew up in front of the place。
〃Bless my soul！〃 exclaimed a voice。 〃Tom's hurt！ How did it happen？
Bless my very existence！〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Damon； you're just in time！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Sharp； 〃Tom's
had a bad shock。 Will you go for a doctor in your auto？〃
〃Better than that！ Let me take Tom in the car to Dr。 Whiteside's
office；〃 proposed the eccentric man。 〃It will be better that way。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 agreed Mr。 Swift eagerly。 〃Put Tom in the auto！〃
〃If only it doesn't break down；〃 added Mr。 Damon fervently。 〃Bless my
spark plug； but it would be just my luck！〃
But they started off all right； Mr。 Swift riding in front with Mr。 Damon；
and Mr。 Sharp supporting Tom in the tonneau。 Only a little fluttering of the
eyelids； and a slow； faint breathing told that Tom Swift still lived。
Mr。 Damon never guided a car better than he did his auto that day。
Several speed laws were broken； but no one appeared to stop them； and； in
record time they had the young inventor at the physician's house。
Fortunately Dr。 Whiteside was at home； and； under his skillful treatment
Tom was soon out of danger。 His heart action was properly started； and
then it was only a question of time。 As the doctor had plenty of room it
59
… Page 60…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
was decided to let the lad remain that night； and Tom was soon installed in
a spare bedroom； with the doctor's pretty daughter to wait on him
occasionally。
〃Oh； I'm all right；〃 the youth insisted； when Miss Whiteside told him it
was time for his medicine。 〃I'm all right。〃
〃You're not！〃 she declared。 〃I ought to know； for I'm going to be a
nurse； some day； and help papa。 Now take this or I'll have to hold your
nose； as they do the baby's；〃 and she held out a spoonful of unpleasant
looking mixture； extending her dainty forefinger and thumb of her other
hand； as if to administer dire punishment to Tom； if he did not obey。
〃Well； I give in to superior strength；〃 he said with a laugh； as he noted；
with approval； the laughing face of his nurse。
Then he fell into a deep sleep； and was so much better the next
morning that he could be taken home in Mr。 Damon's auto。
〃But mind； no hard work for three or four days；〃 insisted the physician。
〃I want your heart to get in shape for that big race you were telling me
about。 The shock was a severe strain to it。〃
Tom promised； reluctantly； and； though he did no work； his first act； on
reaching home； was to go out to the shop； to inspect the battery and motor。
To his surprise the motor was running for the lad had established the
connection； in spite of his shock and his father and Mr。 Sharp had decided
to let the machinery run until he came back。
〃And look at the record it's made！〃 cried Tom delightedly as he
glanced at the gauge 〃Better than I figured on。 That battery is a wonder。 I'll
have the fastest electric runabout you ever saw。〃
〃If the wires don't get crossed again；〃 put in Mr。 Sharp。 〃You'd better
make an examination； Tom；〃 and； for the first time； the young inventor
learned how he had been shocked。
〃Crossed wires！ I should say they were crossed！〃 he exclaimed as he
looked at the switches and copper conductors。 〃Somebody has been
tampering with them。 No wonder I was shocked！〃
〃Who did it？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
Tom considered for a moment； before answering。 Then he said：
〃I believe it was Addison Berg。 He must have wanted to do some
60
… Page 61…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the