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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
damage； to get even with us for getting that treasure away from him。〃
〃Berg？〃 questioned the balloonist； and Tom told of the night he had
been tripped into the brook； and exhibited the watch charm he had secured。
Mr。 Sharp recognized it at once。 A further examination confirmed the
belief that the submarine agent had sneaked into Tom's workshop； and had
altered the wires。
〃They were all right when I came out of the shop that night；〃 declared
Tom。 〃I left the old connections just as I thought I had arranged them； and
only added the new ones； when I went to try my battery。 The old
connections were crossed； but I didn't notice it。 Then when I turned on the
current I got the shock。 I don't s'pose Berg thought I'd be so nearly killed。
Probably he wanted to burn out my motor； and spoil it。 If it was Andy
Foger I could understand it； but a man like Berg〃
〃He's probably wild with anger because his submarine got the worst of
it in the race for the gold；〃 interrupted the balloonist。 〃Well； we'll have to
be on our guard； that's all。 What was the matter with Eradicate； that he
didn't see him enter the shop？〃
〃Rad went to a colored dance that night；〃 said Tom。 〃I let him off。 But
after this I'll have the shop guarded night and day。 My motor might have
been ruined； if that first charge hadn't gone through my body instead of
into the machinery。〃 The improper connections were soon removed and
others substituted。
It was agreed between Tom and Mr。 Sharp that they would say nothing
regarding Mr。 Berg to Mr。 Swift。 The aeronaut caused cautious inquiries to
be made； and learned that the agent had been discharged by the submarine
firm； because of some wrong… doing in connection with the craft Wonder；
and it was surmised that the agent believed Tom to be at the bottom of his
troubles。
In a few days the young inventor was himself again； and as further
trials of his battery showed it to be even better than its owner hoped；
arrangements were made for testing it in the car on the road。
The runabout was nearly finished； but it lacked a coat of varnish； and
some minor details； when Tom； assisted by his father； Mr Sharp and Mr。
Jackson； one morning； about a week later； installed the motor and battery
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
units。 It did not take long to gear up the machinery； connect the battery and；
though the car was rather a crude looking affair； Tom decided to give it a
try…out
〃Want to come along； Dad？〃 he asked； as he tightened up some
binding posts； and looked to see that the steering wheel； starting and
reverse levers worked properly； and that the side chains were well
lubricated。
〃Not the first time；〃 replied his father。 〃Let's see how it runs with you；
first。〃
〃Oh； I want some sort of a load in it；〃 went on the lad。 〃It won't be a
good test unless I have a couple of others besides myself。 How about you；
Mr。 Damon？〃 for the old gentleman was spending a few days at the Swift
homestead。
〃Bless my shoe buttons！ I'll come！〃 was the ready answer。 〃After the
experience I've been through in the airship and submarine； nothing can
scare me。 Lead on； I'll follow！〃
〃I don't suppose you'll hang back after that； will you； Mr。 Sharp？〃
asked the lad； with a laugh。
〃I don't dare to； for the sake of my reputation；〃 was the reply； for the
balloonist who had made many ascensions； and dropped thousands of feet
in parachutes； was naturally a brave man。
So he and Mr。 Damon climbed into the rear seats of the odd… looking
electric car； while Tom took his place at the steering wheel。
〃Are you all ready？〃 he asked。
〃Let her go！〃 fired back Mr。 Sharp。
〃Bless my galvanometer； don't go too fast on the start；〃 cautioned Mr。
Damon； nervously。
〃I'll not；〃 agreed the young inventor。 〃I want to get it warmed up
before I try any speeding。〃
He turned on the current。 There was a low； humming purr； which
gradually increased to a whine； and the car moved slowly forward。 It
rolled along the gravel driveway to the road； Tom listening to every sound
of the machinery； as a mother listens to the breathing of a child。
〃She's moving！〃 he cried。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃But not much faster than a wheelbarrow；〃 said his father； who
sometimes teased his son。
〃Wait！〃 cried the youth。
Tom turned more current into the motor。 The purring and humming
increased； and the car seemed to leap forward。 It was in the road now； and；
once assured that the steering apparatus was working well； Tom suddenly
turned on much more speed。
So quickly did the electric auto shoot forward that Mr。 Damon and Mr。
Sharp were jerked back against the cushions of the rear seats。
〃Here！ What are you doing？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃I'm going to show you a little speed；〃 answered Tom。
The car was now moving rapidly； and there was a smoothness and
lightness to its progress that was absent from a gasolene auto。 There was
no vibration from the motor。 Faster and faster it ran； until it was moving at
a speed scarcely less than that of Mr。 Damon's car； when it was doing its
best。 Of course that was not saying much； for the car owned by the odd
gentleman was not a very powerful one； but it could make fast time
occasionally。
〃Is this the best you can do？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Not that it isn't fast；〃
he hastened to add； 〃and I was wondering if it was your limit。〃
〃Not half！〃 cried Tom； as he turned on a little more power。 〃I'm not
trying for a record to…day。 I just want to see how the battery and motor
behaves。〃
〃Pretty well； I should say；〃 commented Mr。 Sharp。
〃I'm satisfiedso far；〃 agreed the lad。
They were now moving along the highway at a good speedmoving
almost silently； too； for the motor； save for a low hum； made no noise。 So
quiet was the car； in fact； that it was nearly the cause of a disaster。 Tom
was so interested in the performance of his latest invention； that； before he
knew it； he had come up behind a farmer； driving a team of skittish horses。
As the big machine went past them； giving no warning of its approach； the
steeds reared up； and would have bolted； but for the prompt action of the
driver。
〃Hey！〃 he cried； angrily； as Tom speeded past； 〃don't you know you
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
got to give warnin' when you're comin' with one of them ther gol…swizzled
things！ By Jehossephat I'll have th' law on ye ef ye do thet ag'in！〃
〃I forgot to ring the bell；〃 apologized Tom； as he sent out a peal from
the gong； and then； he let out a few more amperes； and the speed
increased。
〃Hold on！ I guess this is fast enough！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； as his hat
blew off。
〃Fast？〃 answered Tom。 〃This is nothing to what I'll do when I use the
full power。 Then I'll〃
He was interrupted by a sharp report； and a vivid flash of fire on a
switch board near the steering wheel。 The motor gave a sort of groan； and
stopped； the car rolling on a little way； and then becoming stationary。
〃Bless my collar button！〃 ejaculated Mr。 Damon。
〃What's the matter？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃Some sort of a blow…out；〃 answered Tom ruefully； as he shoved the
starting handle over； trying to move the car。 But it would not budge。 The
new auto had 〃gone dead〃 on her first tryout。 The young inventor was
grievously disappointed。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XIII
TOWED BY A MULE
〃Bless my gizzard！ Is it anything serious？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Will it
blow up； or anything like that？〃
〃No；〃 replied the lad