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in a cloud of dust。 At the same moment Tom； in answer to a look from Ned；
who feared his friend was going to be left behind； turned more power into
the motor。 The humming； purring sound increased and the electric car
forged ahead。
〃Can you catch him？〃 asked Ned。
〃Watch；〃 was all Tom said。
The hum of the motor became a sort of whine； and the electric rapidly
acquired speed。 It crept up on the gasolene car； as an express train
overtakes a freight； and the man； looking back； and expecting to see his
rival far behind was surprised to note the queer looking vehicle lapping his
rear wheels。
〃Well； you are coming on； aren't you？〃 he asked。 〃Maybe you'll keep
up now！〃 He shifted the gears； using a little more gasolene。 For a moment
his car opened a wide gap between it and Tom's； but the young inventor
had only begun to race。 Still louder purred the motor； and in a few minutes
Tom was running on even terms with his competitor。 The man looked
annoyed； and tried； by the skilful use of gasolene and sparking levers； to
leave Tom behind。 But the electric held her own。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃I've got to go the limit I see；〃 remarked the man at last； glancing
sideways at the other car。 〃I'll tell 'em you're coming；〃 he added； 〃though I
must say your electric does better than any of its kind I ever came across。〃
〃I'm not done yet；〃 was the comment of our hero。 But the man did not
hear him； for he was yanking into place the lever that enabled him to run
on direct drive for fourth speed。
Forward shot his car； and； for perhaps a quarter of a mile it led。 The
racers were almost at the end of the three…mile level stretch of road； and if
Tom was going to win the impromptu contest it seemed high time he
began。
〃Can you catch him？〃 asked Ned anxiously。
〃Watch；〃 was his chum's reply。 〃I haven't used my high speed gear yet。
I'm afraid the fuses won't stand it； but here goes for a try； anyhow。〃
He threw over a switch； changed a lever and then； having pushed into
place the last gear； he grasped the steering wheel more firmly。
There was need of it； for； in an instant； the electric runabout； with the
motors fairly roaring； swept up the road； after the gasolene car that was
almost hidden from sight in a cloud of dust。 Faster and faster went Tom's
car。 The young inventor was listening with critical ear to the song of the
machinery。 He wanted to learn if it was running sweet and true； for that is
how a careful mechanic tests his apparatus。 Foot by foot the distance
between the two cars lessened。 Now the electric was lapping the rear
wheels of the gasolene machine； but the driver did not know it。 His whole
attention was on the road ahead of him。
〃Half a mile more！〃 cried Ned； naming the distance which yet
remained of the straight stretch。 〃Can you do it； Tom？〃
His chum nodded。 He shoved the controller handle over to the last
notch； and then waited an anxious second。 Would the fuse carry the extra
load？ It seemed so； for there was a slight increase of power。
An instant later Tom gave a sudden twist to the steering wheel。 It was
well that he did； for he was passing the gasolene car dangerously close。
Then he was ahead of it； and in a second he was three lengths in advance。
Desperately the man opened his muffler； and sought to gain by this
advantage； but though his car gave off explosions like a battery of guns in
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
action； he could not gain on Tom。 The electric shot around a curve in the
road； winner of the impromptu race by an eighth of a mile。
〃Well；〃 asked Tom of his chum； as he slowed down； for the road now
was not so good； 〃did I do it？〃
〃You certainly did。 Whew！ But we did scoot along？〃
〃Eighty miles an hour there one spell；〃 went on the young inventor；
glancing at a gauge。 〃But I've got to do better than that to win the big
race。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XV
ANDY FOGER'S BLACK EYE
Around the bend came the six…cylinder touring car。 The driver； with a
surprised look on his face； was slacking up。 He ran his machine up
alongside of Tom's。
〃Say；〃 he asked； in dazed tones； 〃did you take a short cut； or anything
like that to get ahead of me？〃
〃No；〃 answered the youth。
〃And you didn't jump me in the air？〃
〃No；〃 was Tom's answer； smilingly given。
〃Well； all I've got to say is that you've got a wonderful car there； Mr。
erer〃 He paused suggestively。
〃Swift is my name；〃 our hero answered。 〃Thomas Swift； of Shopton。〃
〃Ah； I've heard of you。 My name is Layton Paul Layton。 I'm from
Netherton。 Let's see； you built an airship； didn't you？〃 〃I helped；〃 Tom
admitted modestly。
〃Well； you beat me fair and square； and if I do say it myself I've got a
fairly speedy car。 Took two firsts at the Indianapolis meet last month。 But
you certainly scooted ahead of me。 Where did you buy that electric； if I
may ask？〃
〃I made it。〃
〃I might have known；〃 admitted the man。 〃But are you going to put
them on the market？ If you are I'd like to get one。 I want the fastest car
going； and you seem to have it。〃
〃I hadn't thought of manufacturing them for sale；〃 said the young
inventor。 〃If I do； I'll let you know。〃
〃I wish you would。 My！ I had no idea you could beat me； but you did
fair and square。〃
There was some more talk； and then Mr。 Layton started on； after
exacting from Tom a further promise to let him know if any electrics were
to be made for sale。
〃You certainly have a wonderful car；〃 complimented Ned； as he and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
his chum took a short cut to Shopton。
〃Well； I'm not quite satisfied with it；〃 declared Tom。
〃Why not？〃
〃Well； I've set a hundred miles an hour as my limit。 I didn't make but
eighty to…day。 I've got to have more speed if I go up against the crowd that
will race for the touring club's prize。〃
〃Can you make a hundred miles？〃
〃I think so。 I've got to change my gears； though； and use heavier fuses。
I was afraid every second that one of the fuses would melt； and leave me
stranded。 But they stood pretty well。 Of course； when the car； geared as it
is now； has been run a little longer it will go faster； but it won't come up to
a hundred miles an hour。 That's what I want； and that's what I'm going to
get；〃 and the lad looked very determined。
Ned was taken to the bank； and； as Tom turned his machine around； to
go home； he saw； standing on the steps of the new bank； which was almost
across the street from the old one； Andy Foger； and the bully's father。 The
red…haired lad laughed at Tom's rough looking car； and said something to
his parent； but Mr。 Foger did not notice Tom。 Not that this caused our hero
any uneasiness； however。
But； as he swung away from the bank； he saw； coming up the street a
figure that instantly attracted his attention。 It was that of Mr。 Berg； and
Tom at once recalled the night he had pursued the submarine agent； and
torn loose his watch charm。 Mr。 Berg was evidently going to enter the new
bank； for； at the sight of the former agent； Mr。 Foger descended the steps；
and went to meet him。
Tom； however； had decided upon a plan of action。 He steered his
machine in toward the curb； ran up the steel wind…shield； and called：
〃Mr。 Berg！〃
〃Eh？ What's that？〃 asked the agent； in some surprise。 Then； as he
caught sight of Tom； and recognized him； he added： 〃I'm very busy now；
my young friend。 You'll have to excuse me。〃
〃I won't detain you a moment；〃 went on Tom； casually。 〃I have
something of yours that I wish to return to you。〃
〃Something of mine？〃 Mr。 Berg was evidently puzzled。 He approached