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from Berk's hill； and it's a tire that is broken； not a wheel。〃
〃But I don't understand；〃 said Mr。 Foger。 〃No friend has been out
riding with us。 My son and I were out on a business trip； and〃
〃Come on； pop。 I've got it all pumped up。 Jump in。 There's your pump；
Tom Swift。 Much obliged；〃 muttered Andy hastily。 It was very evident
that he wanted to prevent any further conversation between his parent and
Tom。
〃But I don't understand；〃 went on the banker； clearly puzzled。 〃What
friend gave you such information； Mr。erTom Swift？〃
〃Sam Snedecker；〃 replied the lad quickly。 〃I caught him sneaking
around my machine shop about an hour ago； and when I asked him what
he was doing he said he'd been out riding with Andy； and that they broke a
wheel。 I'm glad it was only a blown… out tire；〃 and Tom's voice had a
curious note in it。
〃But there must be some mistake；〃 insisted Mr。 Foger。 〃Sam Snedecker
was not riding with us this evening。 We have been over to Waterfieldmy
son and I； and〃
〃Come on； pop！〃 cried Andy desperately。 〃We must hurry home。 Mom
will be worried。〃
〃Yes； I think she will。 But I can't understand why Sam should say such
a thing。 However； we are much obliged for the use of your pump； Swift；
and〃
But Andy prevented any further talk by starting the car with the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
muffler open； making a great racket； and he hurriedly drove off； almost
before his father was seated； leaving Tom standing there in the road；
beside his pump and lantern。
〃So；〃 mused the young inventor； 〃there's some game on。 Sam wasn't
with Andy； yet Andy evidently knew where Sam was； or he wouldn't have
been so anxious to choke off talk。 Mr。 Foger knew nothing of Sam；
naturally。 But why have Andy and his father been on a midnight trip to
Waterfield？〃
That last question caused Tom to adopt a new line of thought。
〃Waterfield；〃 he mused。 〃That's where Mr。 Damon lives。 Mr。 Damon is
a heavy depositor in the old bank。 Mr。 Foger is going to start a new bank。 I
wonder if there's any connection there？ This is getting mysterious。 I must
keep my eyes open。 I never expected to meet Andy and his father tonight；
any more than I expected to find Sam Snedecker sneaking around my shop；
but it's a good thing I discovered both parties。 I guess Andy must have had
nervous prostration when I was talking to his father；〃 and Tom grinned at
the thought。 Then； picking up the pump； and fastening the lantern in place；
he drove Mr。 Damon's auto slowly back home。
Tom said nothing to his father or Mr。 Sharp； the next morning； about
the incidents of the previous night。 In the first place he could not exactly
understand them； and he wanted to devote more time to thinking of them；
before he mentioned the matter to his parent。 Another reason was that Mr。
Swift was a very nervous person； and the least thing out of the ordinary
worried him。 So the young inventor concluded to keep quiet。
His first act； after going to look at the small motor； which was being
run with the larger； experimental storage battery； was to get out pencil and
paper。
〃I've got to plan the electric auto now that my battery is in a fair way
to success；〃 he said； for he noted that the one cell he had constructed had
done over twice as much mileage in proportion； as had the small battery。
〃I'll soon start building the car；〃 mused Tom； 〃and then I'll enter it in the
race。 I must write to that touring club and find how much time I have。〃
All that morning the young inventor drew plan after plan for an
electric runabout； and rejected them。 Finally he threw aside paper and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
pencil and exclaimed：
〃It's no use。 I can't think to…day。 I'm dwelling too much on what
happened last night。 I must clear my brain。
〃I know what I'll do。 I'll get in my motor…boat and take a run over to
Waterfield to see Mr。 Damon。 Maybe he's home by this time。 Then I can
ask him what Mr。 Foger wanted to see him about； if he did call。〃
It was a fine May morning； and Tom was soon in his boat； the Arrow；
gliding over Lake Carlopa； the waters of which sparkled in the sun。 As he
speeded up his craft； the lad looked about； thinking he might catch sight of
Andy Foger； for the bully also owned a boat； called the Red Streak and；
more than once； in spite of the fact that Andy's craft was the more
powerful； Tom had beaten him in impromptu races。 But there was no sign
of his rival this morning； and Tom kept on to Waterfield。 He found that Mr。
Damon had not yet returned home。
〃So far I've had my run for nothing；〃 mused the youth。 〃Well； I might
as well spend the rest of the morning in the boat。〃
He swung his craft out into the lake； and headed back toward
Mansburg； intending to run up to the head of the body of water； which
offered so many attractions that beautiful morning。
As Tom passed a small dock he saw a girl just putting out in a rowboat。
The figure looked familiar and； having nothing special to do； the lad
steered over closer。 His first view was confirmed； and he called out
cheerfully：
〃Good morning； Miss Nestor。 Going for a row？〃
〃Oh！ Mr。 Swift！〃 exclaimed the girl with a blush。 〃I didn't hear you
coming。 You startled me。〃
〃Yes； the engine runs quite silently since I fixed it；〃 resumed Tom。
〃But where are you going？〃
〃I was going for a row；〃 answered the girl； 〃but I have just discovered
that one of the oar locks is broken； so I am not going for a row；〃 and she
laughed； showing her white； even teeth。
〃That's too bad！〃 remarked the lad。 〃I don't suppose；〃 he added
doubtfully； 〃that I could induce you to accept a motor…boat as a substitute
for a rowing craft； could I？〃 and he looked quizzically at her。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Are you asking me that as a hypothetical question？〃 she inquired。
〃Yes；〃 said Tom； trying not to smile。
〃Well； if you are asking for information； merely； I will say that I could
he induced to make such a change；〃 and her face was nearly as grave as
that of the young inventor's。
〃What inducement would have to be used？〃 he asked。
〃Suppose you just ask me in plain English to come and have a ride？〃
she suggested。
〃All right； I will！〃 exclaimed the youth。
〃All right； then I'll come！〃 she retorted with a laugh； and a few minutes
later the two were in the Arrow； making a pretty picture as they speeded
up the lake。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER VI
BUILDING THE CAR
〃Well；〃 remarked Tom to himself； about two hours later； when he had
left Mary Nestor at her dock； and was on his way home； 〃I feel better than
I did； and now I must do some hard thinking about my runabout。 I want to
get it the right shape to make the least resistance。〃 He began to make some
sketches when he got home； and at dinner he showed them to his father
and Mr。 Sharp。 He said he had gotten an idea from looking at the airship。
〃I'm going to make the front part； or what corresponds to the engine…
hood in a gasolene car； pointed；〃 he explained。 〃It will be just like the
front of the aluminum gas container of the airship； only built of steel。 In it
will be a compartment for a set of batteries； and there will be a searchlight
there。 From the top of some supporters in front of the two rear seats； a
slanting sheet of steel will come right down to meet the sloping nose of the
car。 First I was going to have curtains close over the top of the driver's seat；
but I think a steel covering； with a celluloid opening will be better and
make less wind resistance。 I'll use leather side curtains when it rains。
Under the front seats will be a compartment for more batteries； and there
will be a third place under