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thinking the wires might have become crossed； but the machine would
move neither backward nor forward； yet the dial indicated that there was
enough power stored away to send it a hundred miles or more。
〃Perhaps the dial hand has become caught；〃 suggested Mr。 Sharp。
〃That sometimes happens on a steam gauge； and indicates a high pressure
when there isn't any。 Hit it slightly； and see if the hand swings back。〃
Tom did so。 At once the hand fell to zero； indicating that there was not
an ampere of current left。 The battery was exhausted； but this fact had not
been indicated on the gauge。
〃I see now！〃 cried Tom。 〃It was those fellows at the hotel barn！ They
monkeyed with the mechanism； short circuited the battery； and jammed
the gauge so I couldn't tell when my power was gone。 If I had known there
wasn't enough to carry us I could have recharged the battery at the hotel。
But I figured that I had enough current for the entire trip； and so there
would have been； if it hadn't leaked away。 Now we're in a pretty pickle。〃
〃Bless my hat band！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Does that mean we can't
move？〃
〃Guess that's about it；〃 answered Mr。 Sharp； and Tom nodded。
〃Well； why can't we go on to some place where they sell electricity；
and get enough to take us where we want to go？〃 asked the odd character；
whose ideas of machinery were somewhat hazy。
〃The only trouble is we can't carry the heavy car with us；〃 replied Tom。
〃It's too big to pick up and take to a charging station。〃
〃Then we've got to wait until some one comes along with a team of
horses； and tows us in；〃 commented Mr。 Sharp。 〃And that will be some
time； on this lonely road。〃
Tom shook his head despondently。 He went all over the car again； but
was forced to the first conclusion； that the reserve current had leaked away；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
in consequence of the meddling prank of the youth at the hotel。 The
situation was far from pleasant； and the delay would seriously interfere
with their plans。
Suddenly； as Tom was pacing up and down the road； he heard from
afar； a peculiar humming sound。 He paused to listen。
〃Trolley car；〃 observed Mr。 Sharp。 〃Maybe one of us could go
somewhere on the trolley and get help。 There it is；〃 and he pointed to the
electric vehicle； moving along about half a mile away； at the foot of a
gentle slope。
At the sight of the car Tom uttered a cry。 〃I have it！〃 he exclaimed。
〃None of us need go for help！ It's right at hand！〃 His companions looked
curiously； as the young inventor pointed triumphantly to the fast
disappearing electric。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XXIV
ON THE TRACK
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Will the electric trolley pull
us to a charging station？〃
〃No； we'll not need to go to a station；〃 answered the youth。 〃If we can
get my car to the trolley tracks I can charge my battery from there。 And I
think we can push the auto near enough。 It's down hill； and I've got a long
wire so we won't have to go too close。〃
〃Good！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp。 〃But attach the rope to the front of the car；
Tom。 Mr。 Damon and I will pull it。 You'll have to ride in it to steer it。〃
〃We can take turns at riding；〃 was Tom's answer； for he did not want
his companions to do all the work。
〃Nonsense！ You ride；〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃You're lighter than we are；
and can steer better。 It won't be any trouble at all to pull this car down
hill。〃
It proved to be an easy task； and in a short time the 〃dead〃 auto was
near enough to the electric line to permit Tom to run his charging wire
over to it。
〃Why bless my soul！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； looking up。 〃There's no
overhead trolley wire。 The car must run on storage batteries。〃
〃Third rail； more likely；〃 was the opinion of Mr。 Sharp and so it
proved。
〃I can charge from either the third rail or the trolley wire；〃 declared
Tom； who was insulating his hands in rubber gloves； and getting his wires
ready。 In a short time he had the proper connections made； and the much…
needed current was soon flowing into the depleted battery； or batteries； for
there were several sets； though the whole source of motive power was
usually referred to as a 〃storage battery。〃
〃How long will it take？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃About two hours；〃 answered the lad。 〃We'll probably have to
disconnect our wires several times； whenever a trolley car comes past。 By
my system I can recharge the battery very quickly。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Do you suppose the owners of the road will make any objection？〃
asked the balloonist。
〃I'm going to pay for the current I use；〃 explained the young inventor。
〃I have a meter which tells how much I take。〃
The hum of an approaching car was heard； and Tom took the wires
from the third rail。 The car came to a stop opposite the automobile； the
passengers； as well as the crew； looking curiously at the queer racing
machine。 Tom explained to the conductor what was going on； and asked
the fare…collector to notify those in charge of the power station that all
current used would be paid for。 The conductor said this would be
satisfactory； he was sure； and the car proceeded； Tom resuming the
charging of his battery。
Allowing plenty of reserve power to accumulate； and making sure that
the gauge would not stick again； and deceive him； the owner of the speedy
electric was soon ready to proceed again。 They had been delayed a little
over three hours； for they had to make several shifts； as the cars came past。
They reached their shore cottage late that night； and； after seeing that
the runabout was safely locked in the big shed where the submarine had
been built； they all went to bed； for they were very tired。
Tom sent word； the next day； to the managers of the race； that he
would be on hand at the time stipulated； and announced that he had made
part of the trip； as required； under the power of the auto itself。
The next day was spent in overhauling the machinery； tightening up
some loose bearings； oiling different parts； and further charging the battery。
Tires were looked to； and the ones on the spare wheels were gone over to
prepare for any emergency that might arise when the race was started。
On the third day； Tom； Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon； leaving the cottage
completed the trip to Havenford； Long Island； where the new track had
been constructed。
They reached the place shortly before noon； and； if they had been
unaware of the location they could not have missed it； for there were many
autos speeding along the road toward the scene of the race； which would
take place the following day。
Several electric cars passed Tom and his friends； whizzing swiftly by；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
but the young inventor was not going to show off his speed until the time
came。 Besides； he did not want to run any risks of an accident。 But some
of the contestants seemed anxious for impromptu 〃brushes；〃 and more
than one called to our hero to 〃speed up and let's see what she can do。〃 But
Tom smiled； and shook his head。
There were many gasolene and some steam autos going out to the new
track； which was considered a remarkable piece of engineering。 It was in
the shape of an octagon； and the turns were considered very safe。 It was a
five mile track； and to complete the race it would be necessary to make a
hundred circuits。
Through scores of autos Tom and his friends threaded their way； the
young inventor keeping a watch