 Chapter 1 of Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout Father exclaimed Tom Swift, looking up from a paper he was reading. I think I can win that prize. What prize is that? inquired the agent inventor, gazing away from a drawing of a complicated machine, and pausing in his task of making some intricate calculations. You don't mean to say, Tom, that you're going to have a try for a government prize for a submarine, after all? No, not a submarine prize, Dad, and the youth laughed. Though our advance would take the prize away from almost any other underwater boat, I imagine. No, it's another prize I'm talking about. What do you mean? Well, I see by this paper that the Touring Club of America has offered $3,000 for the speediest electric car. The tests are to come off this fall on a new and specially built track on Long Island, and it's to be an endurance contest for 24 hours or a race for distance. They haven't decided yet. But I'm going to have a try for it, Dad, and besides winning the prize, I think I'll take Andy Foger down a peg. What's Andy been doing now? Oh, nothing more than usual. He's always mean and looking for a chance to make trouble for me, but I didn't refer to anything special. He has a new auto, you know, and he boasts that it's the fastest one in this country. I'll show him that it isn't, for I'm going to win this prize with the speediest car on the road. But, Tom, you haven't any automobile, you know, and Mr. Swift looked anxiously at his son, who was smiling confidently. You can't be going to make your motorcycle into an auto, are you? No, Dad. Then how are you going to take part in the prize contest? Besides, electric cars, as far as I know, aren't specially speedy. I know it, and one reason why this club has arranged the contest is to improve the quality of electric automobiles. I'm going to build an electric runabout, Dad. An electric runabout? But it will have to be operated with a storage battery, Tom, and you haven't—I guess you're going to say it—I haven't any storage battery, Dad, interrupted Mr. Swift's son. Well, I haven't yet, but I'm going to have one. I've been working on—oh, exclaimed the agent inventor with a laugh. So that's what you've been tinkering over these last few weeks, eh, Tom? I suspected it was some new invention, but I didn't suppose it was that. Well, how are you coming on with it? Pretty good, I think. I've got a new idea for a battery, and I made an experimental one. I gave it some pretty severe tests, and it worked fine. But you haven't tried it out in a car yet, over rough roads and under severe conditions, have you? No, I haven't had a chance. In fact, when I invented the battery, I had no idea of using it on a car. I thought it might answer for commercial purposes or for storing a current generated by windmills. But when I read that account in the papers of the Turing Club offering a prize for the best electric car, it occurred to me that I might put my battery into an auto and win. Hmm, remarked Mr. Swift musingly. I don't take much stock in electric autos, Tom. Gasoline seems to be the best, or perhaps steam generated by gasoline. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. All the electric runabouts I ever saw, while they were very nice cars, didn't seem able to go so very fast or very far. That's true, but that's because they didn't have the right kind of a battery. You know an electric locomotive can make pretty good speed, Dad. Over a hundred miles an hour in tests. Yes, but they don't run by storage batteries. They have a third rail and powerful motors, and Mr. Swift looked quizzically at his son. He loved to argue with him, for he said it made Tom think, and often the two would thus thresh out some naughty point of an invention to the interest of both. Of course, Dad, there is a good deal of theory in what I'm thinking of, to lad admit it, but it does seem to me that if you put the right kind of battery into an automobile, it could scoot along pretty lively. Look what speed a trolley car can make. Yes, Tom, but there again they get their power from an overhead wire. Some of them don't. There's a new storage battery been invented by a New Jersey man, which does as well as the third rail or the overhead wire. It was after reading about his battery that I thought of a plan for mine. It isn't anything like his, perhaps not as good in some ways, but for what I want it is better in some respects, I think. For one thing, it can be recharged very quickly. Now, Tom, look here, said Mr. Swift earnestly, laying aside his papers and coming over to where his son sat. You know I never interfere with your inventions. In fact, the more you think of, the better I like it. The airship you helped build certainly did all that could be desired, and that reminds me. Mr. Sharp and Mr. Damon are out in it now, interrupted Tom. They ought to be back soon. Yes, Dad, the airship Red Cloud certainly scooted along. And the submarine, too, continued the agent inventor. Your ideas regarding that were of service to me and helped in our task of recovering the treasure, but I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed in this storage battery. You may get it to work, but I don't believe you can make it powerful enough to attain any great speed. Why don't you confine yourself to making a battery for stationary work? Because, Dad, I believe I can build a speedy car, and I'm going to try it. Besides, I want to race Andy Foger, and beat him, even if I don't win the prize. I'm going to build that car, and it will make fast time. Well, go ahead, Tom, responded his father after a pause. Of course, you can use the shops here as much as you want, and Mr. Sharp, Mr. Jackson, and I will help you all weekend. Only don't be disappointed, that's all. I won't, Dad. Suppose you come out to my shop, and I'll show you a sample battery I've been testing for the last week. I have a gear to a small motor, and it's been running steadily for some time. I want to see what sort of a record it's made. Father and son crossed the yard, and entered a shop which the lad considered exclusively his own. There he had made many machines and pieces of apparatus, and had invented a number of articles which had been patented, and yielded him considerable of an income. There's the battery, Dad, he said, pointing to a complicated mechanism in one corner. What's that buzzing noise? asked Mr. Swift. That's the little motor I run from the new cells, look here, and Tom switched on an electric light above the experimental battery from which he hoped so much. It consisted of a steel can about the size of a square gallon tin in which maple syrup comes, and from it ran two wires which were attached to a small motor that was industriously whirring away. Tom looked at a registering gauge connected with it. That's pretty good, remarked the young inventor. What is it, Tom and his father peered about the shop? Why, this motor has run an equivalent of two hundred miles on one charging of the battery. That's much better than I expected. I thought if I got a hundred out of it I'd be doing well. Dad, I believe after I improve my battery a bit that I'll have the very thing I want. I'll install a set of them in a car and it will go like the wind. I'll, Tom's enthusiastic remarks were suddenly interrupted by a low rumbling sound. Thunder, exclaimed Mr. Swift, the storm is coming and Mr. Sharp and Mr. Damon in the airship. Hardly had he spoken, then there sounded a crash on the roof of the Swift house not far away. At the same time there came cries of distress and the crash was repeated. Come on, Dad, something has happened, yelled Tom, dashing from the shop, followed by his parent. They found themselves in the midst of a rainstorm as they raced toward the house on the roof of which the smashing noise was again heard. This is the end of chapter one, recording by Tom Weiss. Chapter two of Tom Swift and his electric runabout. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tom Weiss. Tom Swift and his electric runabout by Victor Appleton. Chapter two, Mr. Damon's steering. Tom Swift was a lad of action and his quickness in hurrying out to investigate what had happened when he was explaining about his new battery was characteristic of him. Those of my readers who know him, through having read the previous books of this series, need not be told this, but you who perhaps are just making his acquaintance may care to know a little more about him. As told in my first book, Tom Swift and his motorcycle, the young inventor lived with his father, Barton Swift, a widower in the town of Shopton, New York. Mr. Swift was also an inventor of note. In my initial volume of this series, Tom became possessed of a motorcycle in a peculiar way. It was sold to him by a Mr. Wakefield Damon, a wealthy gentleman who was unfortunate in riding it. On his speedy machine, which Tom improved by several indentions, he had a number of adventures. The principal one was being attacked by a number of bad men, known as the Happy Harry Gang, who wished to obtain possession of a valuable turban patent model belonging to Mr. Swift. Tom was taking it to a lawyer when he was waylaid and chloroformed. Later he traced the gang, and with the assistance of Mr. Damon and Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored man who made a living for himself and his mule boomerang, by doing odd jobs, the lad found the thieves and recovered a motorboat which had been stolen, but the men got away. In the second volume, called Tom Swift and his motorboat, Tom bought at auction the boat stolen by and recovered from the thieves and proceeded to improve it. While he was taking his father out on a cruise for Mr. Swift's health, the Happy Harry Gang made a successful attempt to steal some valuable inventions from the Swift House. Tom started to trace them, and incidentally, he raced and beat Andy Foger, a rich bully. On their way down the lake after the robbery, Tom, his father, and Ned Newton, Tom's chum, saw a man hanging from the trapeze of a blazing balloon over Lake Carlopa. The balloonist was Mr. John Sharp, and he was rescued by Tom in a thrilling fashion. In his motorboat, Tom had much pleasure, not the least of which was taking out a young lady named Miss Mary Nestor, whose acquaintance he had made after stopping her runaway horse, which his bicycle had frightened. Tom's association with Miss Nestor soon ripened into something deeper than mere friendship. It developed that Mr. Sharp, whom Tom had saved from the burning balloon, was an aeronaut of note and had once planned to build an airship. After his recovery from his thrilling experience, he mentioned the matter to Mr. Swift and son, with whom he took up his residence. This fit it right in with Tom's ideas, and soon father, son, and the balloonist were constructing the red cloud as they named their airship. It was finally completed, as related in Tom's swift and his airship, made a successful trial trip and won a prize. It was planned to make a longer journey, and Tom, Mr. Sharp, and Mr. Damon agreed to go together. Mr. Damon was an odd individual who was continuously blessing some part of his anatomy, his clothing, or some inanimate object, but for all that he was a fine man. The night before Tom and his friends started off in their airship, the Shopton Bank vault was blown open and seventy-five thousand dollars was taken. Tom and his friends did not know of this, but no sooner had the young inventor, Mr. Sharp, and Mr. Damon sailed away than the police arrived at Mr. Swift's house to arrest them. They were charged with the robbery and with having sailed away with the booty. It appeared that Andy Foger said he had seen Tom hanging around the bank the night of the robbery with a bag of burglar tools in his possession. Search was immediately begun for the airship, the occupants of which were, meanwhile, speeding on. Tom and his two friends had trouble. They were nearly burned up in a forest fire and were fired upon by a crowd of people with rifles, who, reading of the bank robbery, and the reward offered for the capture of the thieves hoped to bring down the airship. The fact that they were fired upon caused Tom and the two aeronauts to descend to make an investigation, and for the first time they learned of the bank theft. How they got track of the real robbers took the sheriff with them in the airship and raided the gang will be found set down at length in the book. Also, how Tom administered well-deserved thrashing to Andy Foger. Mr. Swift did not accompany his son in the airship and when asked why he did not care to make the trip, said he was working on a new type of submarine boat which he hoped to enter in the government trials to win a prize. In the fourth volume of the series called Tom Swift and his Submarine you may read how successful Mr. Swift was. When the submarine called the advance was finished the party made a trip to recover $300,000 in gold from a sunken treasure trip off the coast of Uruguay, South America. They sailed beneath the seas for many miles and were in great peril at times. One reason for this was that a rival firm of submarine builders got wind of the treasure and tried to get ahead of the Swift's in recovering it. How Tom and his friends succeeded in their quest how they nearly perished at the bottom of the sea how they were captured by a foreign war vessel and sentenced to death how they fought with a school of giant sharks and how they blew up the wreck to recover the money is all told of in the book. On their return to civilization with the gold Mr. Swift, Tom and their friends deposited the money in the shop in bank where Ned Newton worked. Ned was a bright lad but had not been advanced as rapidly as he deserved and Tom knew this. He asked his father to speak to the president Mr. Pendergast in Ned's behalf and as a result the lad was made assistant cashier for the request of a man who controlled a $300,000 deposit was not to be despised. In building the submarine Tom and his father rented a large cottage on the New Jersey seacoast but on returning from their treasure quest they went back to Shopton leaving the submarine at the boathouse of the shore cottage which was near the city of Atlantis that was in the fall of the year and all that winter the young inventor had been busy on many things not the least of which was his storage battery it was now spring and seeing the item in the paper about the touring club prize for an electric auto given him a new idea but all thoughts of electric cars and everything else were driven from the mind of the young man when with his father he rushed out to see the cause of the crash on the roof of the swift homestead there's something up there Tom called his father as he splashed on through the rain that's right, added his son and somebody too to judge by the fuss they're making maybe the house has been struck by lightning suggested to age it and vendor no, the storm isn't severe enough for that and besides, if the house had been struck you'd hear Mrs. Baggart yelling dad, gee, at that moment a woman's voice cried out Mr. Swift, Tom, where are you? something dreadful has happened there she goes remarked Mr. Swift as he splashed into a mud puddle bless my deflection rudder suddenly cried a voice from the flat roof of the swift house hello, I say, is anyone down there? yes we are, answered Tom, is that you, Mr. Damon? bless my collar button, it certainly is where's Mr. Sharp? I don't hear him oh, I'm here all right, answered the balloonist I'm trying to get the airship clear of the chimney Mr. Damon yes, I steered wrong, interrupted the odd man bless my liver pin, but it was so dark I couldn't see and when that clap of thunder came I shifted the deflection rudder instead of the lateral one and tried to knock over your chimney are either of you hurt? asked Mr. Swift anxiously no, not at all, replied Mr. Sharp we were moving slowly, ready for a landing is the airship damaged? inquired Tom I don't know not much, I guess, was the answer of the arrow knot I've stopped the engine and I don't like to start it again until I can see what shape we're in I'll come up with Mr. Jackson, called Tom and he hastily summoned Garrett Jackson, an engineer who had been in the service of Mr. Swift for many years together they proceeded to the roof by a stairway that led to a scuttle is anyone killed? asked Mrs. Baggart as Tom hurried up the stairs don't tell me there is, Tom well I don't have to tell you for no one is replied the young inventor with a laugh it's all right, the airship tried to collide with the chimney that's all he was soon on the large flat roof of the dwelling and with the aid of lanterns he, the engineer and Mr. Sharp made a hasty examination anything wrong, inquired Mr. Damon looking out from the cabin of the red cloud where he had taken refuge after the crash and to get out of the wet not much, answered Tom one of the forward planes is smashed but we can rise by means of the gas and float down is all clear, Mr. Sharp? all clear, replied the balloonist for the airship had now been wheeled back from the entanglement with the chimney then here we go, cried Tom as he and the aeronaut entered the craft while Mr. Jackson descended through the scuttle then came a fiercer burst to the storm and amid a series of dazzling lightning flashes and the muttering of thunder the airship rose from the roof Tom switched on the searchlight and starting the big propellers guided the craft skillfully toward the big shed where it was housed when not in use with the grace of a bird it turned about in the air and settled to the ground it was the work of but a few minutes to run it into the shed then they all started for the house bless my umbrella how it rains, cried Mr. Damon as he splashed on through numerous puddles he got back just in time, Mr. Sharp where did you go? asked the lad where we took a flight of about fifty miles and stopped at my house in Waterfield for supper were you anxious about us? a little when it began the storm replied Tom anything new since we left? asked Mr. Sharp for it was the custom of himself or some of his friends to take little trips in the airship they thought no more of it than many do of going for a short spin in an automobile yes there is something new said Mr. Swift as the party all drenched now reached the broad veranda bless my gators, cried Mr. Damon what is it? I hope the happy harry gang hasn't robbed you again nor Berg and his men tried to take that treasure away from us after we worked so hard to get it from the wreck no it isn't that replied Mr. Swift the truth is that Tom thinks he has invented a storage battery that will revolutionize matters he's going to build an electric automobile, he says I am, declared the lad as the others looked at him and it will be the speediest one you ever saw, too End of Chapter 2 Recording by Tom Weiss Chapter 3 of Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Tom Weiss Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout by Victor Appleton Chapter 3 The Motorcycle Wins Well Tom remarked Mr. Sharp after a pause following the LADS announcement I didn't know you had any ambitions in that line tell us more about the battery what system do you use lead plates and sulfuric acid oh that's out of date long ago declared the LAD well I don't know much about electricity admit it dear or not I'll take my chances in an airship or a balloon but when it comes to electricity I'm down and out so am I admitted Mr. Damon bless my gizzard it's all I can do to put a new spark plug in my automobile where is your new battery Tom out in the shop running yet if it hasn't been frightened by the airship smash replied the LAD somewhat proudly it's an oxide of nickel battery steel and oxide of iron negative electrodes what solution do you use Tom asked Mr. Swift I didn't get that far in questioning you before the crash came he added well I have in the experimental battery a solution a potassium hydrate replied the LAD but I think I'm going to change it and add some lithium hydrate to it I think that will make it stronger bless my watch chain exclaimed Mr. Damon it's all Greek to me suppose you let us see it Tom I like to see wheels go round but I'm not much of a hand for chemical terms if you're sure you're not hurt by the airship smash I will declared the LAD oh we're not hurt a bit insisted Mr. Sharp as I said we were moving slowly for I knew it was about time to land Mr. Damon was steering yes I thought you'd try my hand at it as it seemed so easy interrupted the eccentric man but never again not for mine I couldn't see the house and before I knew it we were right over the roof then the chimney seemed to stick itself up suddenly in front of us and well you know the rest I'm willing to pay for any damage I caused oh not at all replied Tom it's easy enough to put on a new plane or for that matter we can operate the red cloud without it but come on I'll show you my sample battery here take umbrellas Mrs. Baggard called after them as they started toward the shop or it was still raining we don't mind getting wet replied the young inventor it's in the interest of science maybe it is you don't mind a wedding but I mind you coming in and dripping water all over the carpets retorted the housekeeper bless my overshoes I'm afraid we have wet the carpets a trifle now admitted Mr. Damon ruefully as he looked down at a puddle which had formed where he had been standing that's the reason I want you to take umbrellas this trip insisted Mrs. Baggard they complied and were soon in the shop Tom explained his battery the small motor was still running and had as the lad had said gone the equivalent of over two hundred miles if a small battery does as well as that what will a larger one do asked Mr. Damon much better I hope replied the youth but that doesn't seem to have much faith in them well admitted Mr. Swift I must say I am skeptical still I acknowledge Tom has done some pretty good work along electrical lines he helped me with the positive and negative plates on the submarine and maybe well we'll wait and see he concluded if you build a car I hope you can give me a ride in it said Mr. Damon I've ridden fast in the air and swiftly on top of it and under the water now I'd like to ride rapidly off the earth the gasoline auto doesn't go very fast I'll give you a ride that will make your hair stand up prophesied Tom and the time was to come when he would make good that prediction the little party in the machine shop talked at some length about Tom's battery he showed them how it was constructed and gave them some of his ideas regarding the new type of auto he planned to build well remarked Mr. Swift at length if you want to keep your brain fresh Tom you must get to bed earlier than this it's nearly 12 o'clock and I want to get up early exclaimed the lad I'm going to start to build a larger battery tomorrow and I'm going to repair the airship at it Mr. Sharp bless my nightcap I promised my wife I'd be home early tonight too suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon I don't fancy making the trip back to Waterfield in my auto though something will be sure to happen I'll blow out a tire or a spark plug will get sooty on me and it's raining harder than ever interrupted Tom better stay here tonight you can telephone home which Mr. Damon did Tom was up early the next morning in spite of the fact that he did not go to bed in good season and before breakfast he was working at his new storage battery after the meal he hurried back to the shop but it was not long before he came out wheeling his motorcycle where are you going Tom asked Mrs. Baggart oh I've got to go to Mansburg to get some steel tubes for my new battery he replied I thought I had some large enough but I haven't Mansburg was a good sized town near Shopton then I wish you'd bring me a bottle of stove polished requested the housekeeper the liquid kind I'm out of it and the stove is as red as a cow alright agreed the lad as he leaped into the saddle and peddled off down the road a moment later he had turned on the power and was speeding along the highway which was in good condition on account of the shower of the night before Tom was thinking so deeply of his new invention in planning what he would do when he had his electric runabout built that almost before he knew it he had reached Mansburg purchased the steel tubes and the stove polish and was on his way back again as he was speeding along on a level road he heard coming behind him an automobile the lad turned to one side but in spite of this the party in the car began a serenade of the electric siren and kept it up making a wild discord what's the matter with those fellows inquired Tom of himself haven't I given them enough of the road or has their steering gear broken he looked back over his shoulder and it needed but a glance to show that the car was all right as regarded the steering apparatus and it needed only another glance to disclose the reason for the shrill sound of the siren Andy Foger exclaimed Tom I might have known and Sam and Pete are with him well if he wants to make me get off the road he'll find that I've got as much right as he has he kept on a straight course wondering if the red-haired and squint-eyed bully would dare try to damage the motorcycle a little later Andy's car was beside Tom why don't you get out of the way demanded Sam who could usually be dependent on to aid Andy in all his mean tricks because I'm entitled to half the road retorted our hero a slow-moving machine like yours hasn't any right on the road sneered Andy who had slowed down his car somewhat I haven't a demanded Tom well if you'll get down out of that car in a few minutes I'll soon show you what my rights are now Andy more than once had come to personal encounters with Tom much to the anguish of the bully he did not relish another chastisement but his mean spirit could not brook interference don't you want a race he inquired of Tom in a sneering tone I'll give you a mile start and beat you I've got the fastest car built have a asked Tom while a grim look came over his face maybe you'll think differently someday aw he's afraid to race come on suggested Pete don't bother with him Andy no I guess it wouldn't be worth my while was the reply of the bully and he threw the second gear into place and began to move away from the young inventor Tom was just as much pleased to be left alone did not want Andy Foger to think that he could have matters all his own way Tom's motorcycle since he had made some adjustments to it was very swift in fact there were few autos that could beat it he had never tried it against Andy's new car and he was anxious to do so I wonder if I would stand any chance racing him thought the young inventor as he saw the car slowly pulling away from him I think I'll wait until he gets some distance ahead and then I'll see how near I can come to him if I get anywhere near him I'm pretty sure I can pass him I'll try it when Andy and his cronies look back Tom did not appear to be doing anything save moving along at moderate speed on his machine you don't dare race Pete Bailey shouted to him wait was what Tom whispered to himself Andy's car was now some distance ahead the young inventor waited a little longer and then turned more power into his machine it leaped forward and began to eat up the road as Tom expressed it he had seen Andy throw in the third gear but he knew there was a fourth speed on the bully's car I don't know whether I can beat him on that or not thought the lad dubiously if I try and fail they'll laugh at me but I don't think I'm going to fail faster and faster he rode he was rapidly overhauling Andy's car now and as they heard him approach the three cronies turned around he's going to race you after all Andy cried Sam you mean he's going to try sneered Andy racing he wants in another few seconds Tom was beside the auto and would have passed it only Andy opened his throttle a little more for a moment the auto jumped ahead and then as our hero turned on still more power he easily held his own ah you can never beat us yelled Pete of course not added Sam I'll leave him behind in a second Prophecy to Andy wait until I throw in the other gear he added to his cronies in a low voice he thinks he's going to beat me I'll let him think so and then I'll spurt ahead the two machines were now racing along side by side Andy's car was going the limit on third gear but he still had the fourth gear in reserve Tom too still had a little margin of speed Andy reached forward and yanked on a lever there was a grinding of cogs as the fourth gear slipped into place for Andy did not handle his car skillfully the effect however was at once apparent the automobile shot forward now where are you Tom Swift cried Sam Tom said nothing he merely shifted a lever and got a better spark he pulled a little more gasoline and opened the muffler the quickness with which his motorcycle shot forward almost threw him from the saddle but he had a tight grip on the handlebars he whizzed past the auto but as the ladder gathered speed it crept up to him and once more was on even terms much chagrined at seeing Tom hold pace with him even for an instant Andy shouted inside there you're crowding me I am not yelled back Tom above the explosions of his machine the two were now racing furiously and Andy with a savage look tried to get more speed out of his car in spite of all the bully did Tom was gradually forging ahead a little hill was now in view here's where I make him take my dust cried Andy but to his surprise Tom still kept ahead the auto began to lose ground for it was not made to take hills on high gear changed the third gear quick cried Sam Andy tried to do it there was a hesitancy on the part of his car it seemed to balk Tom looking back slowed up a trifle he could afford to as Andy was being beaten go on go on beg Pete you'll have to keep on fourth gear to beat him Andy that's what murmured the bully once more he shifted the gears there was a grinding smashing sound and the car lost speed then it slowed up still more and finally stopped then it began to back down hill I've stripped those blamed gears explained Andy can't you beat him asked Pete I could have easily if my gears hadn't broken declared the bully but as a matter of fact he could not have done so I oughtn't to have changed going uphill he had it as he jammed on the brakes to stop the car from sliding down the slope Tom saw and heard I thought you were so anxious to race resultantly as well as he might I don't want to try a contest downhill though Andy and he laughed at the red-haired lad who was furious ah go on was all the retort the squint-eyed one could think of to make I am going on replied our hero just to show you that I can go downhill watch me he turned his motorcycle and approached Andy's stalled car for Tom was some distance in advance of it up the slope by this time as he approached the auto containing the three disconcerted cronies something bounded out of Tom's pocket it was the bottle of stove-blackning he had purchased for Mrs. Baggard the bottle fell in the soft dirt in front of his forward wheel and a curious thing happened perhaps you have seen a bicycle or auto-tire strike a stone at an angle and throw it into the air with great force that was what happened to the bottle Tom's front wheel struck the cork which fit it tightly and just as when you hit one end of the wooden caddy and it bounds up the bottle described a curve through the air and flew straight towards Andy's car it struck the brass frame of the windshield with a crash the bottle broke and in an instant the black liquid was spattered all over Andy, Sam and Pete it could not have been done more effectively if Tom had thrown it by hand all over their clothes their hands and faces and the front of the car went the dreary black Tom looked on hardly able to believe what he saw wow, woof, ug blug, mob spluttered Sam who had some of the stuff in his mouth oh, yell, Pete you did that on purpose, Tom swift shouted Andy, wiping some of the blacking from his left eye I'll have you arrested for that you've ruined my car and look at my suit mine's worse, murmured Sam glancing down at his light trousers which were of the polka dot pattern now no mine is, insisted Pete whose white shirt was of the hue of a stovepipe Andy wiped some of the black stuff from his nose once it was dropping on the steering wheel you just wait, the bully called to Tom, I'll get even with you for this it was an accident I didn't mean to do that, explained Tom trying not to laugh as he dismounted from his motorcycle ready to render what assistance he could end of chapter 3 recording by Tom Weiss chapter 4 of Tom Swift and his electric runabout this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Tom Weiss and his electric runabout by Victor Appleton chapter 4 talk of a new bank the three cronies were in a sorrowful plight, the black fluid dripped from them and formed little puddles in the car Andy had used his handkerchief to wipe some of the stuff from his face but the linen was soon useless for it quickly absorbed the blacking brook over here, volunteered Tom you might wash in that the stuff comes off easily it isn't like ink, and he had to laugh as he thought of the happening here you quit that ordered Andy, you've gone too far Tom Swift didn't I tell you it was an accident inquired the young inventor it wasn't cried Sam you threw the bottle at us I saw you it slipped from my pocket I climbed how the accident occurred I'll help you clean your car Andy he added I don't want your help if you come near me I'll punch your nose cried Andy now almost beside himself with rage all right if you don't want my help I don't care answered Tom glad enough not to have to soil his hands and clothes he felt that it was partly his fault and he would have done all he could but as good offers being declined he felt that it was useless to insist further he remounted his motorcycle and rode off the last view he had of the trio being one where they were at the edge of the brook trying to remove the worst traces of the black fluid as Tom turned around for a final glimpse Andy shook his fist at him and called out something I guess Andy'll have it in for me Muse Tom well I can't help it I owed him something on account but I didn't figure on paying it in just this way and he thought of the time the bully had locked him in the ballast tanks of the submarine thereby nearly smothering him to death that night Andy Foger told his father what had happened for Mr. Foger inquired the reason for the black stains on his son's face and hands but Andy did not give the true version he said Tom had purposely thrown the bottle of blacking at him so that's the kind of a lad Tom Swift is, eh? remarked Andy's father well Andy, I think you will soon have a chance to get even with him how, Pop? I can't tell you now but I have a plan for making Tom sorry he ever did anything to you and I will also pay back some old scores to Mr. Swift and Mr. Damon I'll ruin their bank for them that's what I'll do ruin their bank, Pop? how? you wait and see the Swift crowd will get off their high horse soon or I'm mistaken my plans are nearly completed but I can't tell you about them I'll ruin Mr. Swift though that's what I'll do and Mr. Foger shook his head determinedly soon at his house and Mrs. Baggart hearing the noise of his machine as it entered the front yard came to the side door where's my blacking? she asked as our hero dismounted and untied the bundle of steel tubes he had purchased I used it he answered laughing Tom Swift you don't mean to say you took my stove polish to use in your battery do you? no I used it to polish off Mr. Foger and some of his cronies and the young inventor told with much gusto what had happened Mrs. Baggart could not help joining in the laugh and when Tom offered to ride back and purchase some more of the polish for her she said it did not matter as she could wait until the next day the lad was soon busy in his machine shop making several larger cells for the new storage battery he wanted to give it a more severe test he worked for several days on this and when he had one unit of cells complete he attached the motor for an efficiency trial we'll see how many miles that will make he remarked to his father have you thought anything of the type of car you're going to build? asked the agent inventor of his son yes, somewhat it will be almost of the regulation style but with two removable seats at the rear with curtains for protection and a place in front for two persons this can also be protected with curtains when desired but what about the motors and the battery? they will be located under the middle of the car there will be one set of batteries there together with the motor and another set of batteries will be placed under the removable seats in what I call the tonneau though of course it isn't really that a smaller set will also be placed forward and there will be ample room for carrying tools and such things about how far you expect your car will go with one charging of the battery well, if I can make it do 300 miles, I'll be satisfied but I'm going to try for 400 what will you do when your battery runs out? recharge it suppose you're not near a charging station well dad of course there are some of the details I've got to work out I'm planning a register gauge now that will give warning about 50 miles before the battery is run down that will leave me a margin to work on and I'm going to have it fixed so I can take current from any trolley line as well as from a regular charging station my battery will be capable of being recharged very quickly or in case of need, I can take out the old cells and put in new ones that's a very good idea well I hope you succeed a few evenings after this when Tom was busy in his machine shop, he heard someone enter he looked up from the gauge of the motor which he was studying and for a moment he could make out nothing in the dark interior of the shop for he was working in a brilliant light who's there? he called sharply for more than once unscrupulous men had endeavored to sneak into the swift shops to steal ideas of inventions if not the actual apparatus itself it's me, Ned Newton was the cheerful reply oh hello, Ned I was wondering what had become of you respond at Tom where have you been lately? oh, working overtime what's the occasion? we're trying out a new system to increase the bank business what's the matter? aren't you folks getting business enough after the big deposits we made of the bullion from the wreck? oh, it's not that but haven't you heard the news? there is talk of starting a rival bank in Shopton and that may make us hustle to hold what business we have to say nothing of getting new customers a new bank, eh? who's going to start it? Andy Fogar's father, I hear you know, he was a director in our bank, but he got out last week what for? well he had some difficulty with Mr. Pendergast the president I fancy you had something to do with it too I? Tom was plainly surprised yes, you know you and Mr. Damon and Mr. Sharp captured the bank robbers and got back most of the money I guess I do remember it I wish you could have seen the gang when we raided them from the clouds in our airship well, you know Andy Fogar hoped to collect the $5,000 reward for telling the police that you were the thief and of course he got fooled for you got the reward Mr. Fogar expected his son would collect the money and when Andy got left it made him sore he had a grudge against Mr. Pendergast and all the other bank officials ever since and now he's going to start a rival bank so that's why I said it was partly due to you oh, I see I thought at first you meant that it was on account of something that happened the other day what was that? Andy, Sam and Pete got the contents of a bottle of stove blacking and Tom related the occurrence at which Ned laughed heartily I wouldn't be surprised though at it Ned to learn that Mr. Fogar started the new bank more for revenge than anything else so that's the reason you've been working late, eh? went on Tom getting ready for competition do you think a new bank will hurt the one you're with? well it might admit it Ned it's bound to make a change anyhow and now that I have a good position I don't want to lose it I take more of an interest in the institution now that I'm assistant cashier than I did when I was a clerk so naturally I'm a little worried say don't let it worry you beg Tom earnestly why not? because I know my father and Mr. Damon will stick to the old bank they won't have anything to do with the one Andy Fogar's father starts don't you worry well that may help some declared Ned they are both heavy depositors and if they stick to the old bank we can stand it even if some of our smaller customers desert us that's the way to talk went on the young inventor let Fogar start his bank it won't hurt yours what are you making now as Ned a little later looking with interest at the machinery which Tom was bending and to which he was making adjustments new electric automobile I want to beat Andy Fogar's car worse than I did on my motorcycle and I also want to win a prize and the land proceeded to relate the incidents leading up to his construction of the storage battery Tom and Ned were in the shop until long past midnight and then the bank employee with a look at his watch great Scott I ought to be home I'll run you over in Mr. Damon's car proposed Tom he left it here the other day while he and his wife went off on a trip and he said I could use it whenever I wanted to good cried Ned the two lads came from Tom's particular workshop as the young inventor closed the door he started suddenly as he snapped shut the lock what's the matter asked Ned quickly I thought I heard a noise replied Tom they both listened there was a slight rustling in some bushes near the shop it's a dog or a cat declared Ned Tom took several cautious steps forward then he gave a spring and made a grab for someone or something here you let me be yelled a protesting voice I will when I find out what you mean by sneaking around here retorted Tom as he came back toward Ned dragging with him a lad it wasn't a dog or a cat Ned spoke the young inventor it's Sam and so it proved you let me alone demanded Andy Fogars crony I ain't done nothing to you he whined here Ned you hold him a minute while I make an investigation called Tom handing his prisoner over to his chum maybe Pete or Andy are around no they ain't I came alone said Sam quickly but Tom not heating opened the shop and after turning on the electric lights procured a lantern he began a search of the shrubbery around the shop while Ned held to the struggling Sam end of chapter four recording by Tom Weiss chapter five of Tom Swift electric run about this is a Librebox recording all Librebox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Librebox dot org recording by Tom Weiss Tom Swift and his electric run about by Victor Appleton chapter five a midnight encounter the moment Tom disappeared behind his machine shop Sam Snedeker began a desperate struggle to escape from Ned Newton now Ned was a muscular lad but his work in the bank was confining and he did not have the chance to get outdoors and exercise as Sam had consequently Ned had his hands full and holding to the squirming crony of Andy Foger you let me go he demanded Sam as he tried to twist loose not if I know it pan it Ned Sam gave a sudden twist Ned's foot slipped in the grass and in a moment he went down with Sam on top of him still he did not let go and finding he was still a prisoner Sam adopted new tactics using his fists Sam began to pound Ned but the bank employee though suffering would not call for help to summon back Tom who was by this time at the rear of the shop looking about silently in the dark the two fought and Ned found that Sam was getting away then Ned's hand came in contact with Sam's ear it was the misfortune of the bully to have rather a large hearing apparatus and once Ned got his fingers on an ear there was room enough to afford grip he closed his hold tightly and began to twist this was too much for Sam he set up a lusty howl wow ouch let go he pleaded and he ceased to pound Ned and no longer tried to escape Tom came back on the run what's the matter he cried then his light flashed on the two prostrate lads and he understood without asking any further questions get up he cried seizing Sam by the back of his neck and yanking him to his feet Ned arose and secured a better grip on the sneaking lad what's up demanded Tom and Ned explained following it by the question see any more of them no I guess he was here all alone replied the young inventor what do you mean by sneaking around here this time of night he demanded of the captive I wish you knew with Sam's answer with a leer he realized that he had a certain advantage you'd better tell before I turn you over to the police said Tom sternly you you wouldn't do that would you and Sam's voice that had been bold became shaky you were trespassing on our property and that's against the law declared Tom we have signs posted I didn't mean any harm wine Sam then what were you doing here at this hour I was just taking a shortcut home I was out riding with Andy in his auto and it broke down I had to walk home and I came this way I didn't know you didn't allow people to cross your back lot I wasn't doing anything Tom hesitated Sam might be telling the truth but it was doubtful what happened to Andy's auto the young inventor asked he broke a wheel going over a big stone on Burt's hill he went to tell someone in the repair shop to go after the car and I came on home you've got no right to arrest me I ought to on general principles come in at Tom well skip out and don't you come around here again I'm going to get a savage bulldog and the first one who comes sneaking around here after dark will be sorry move along now Tom and Ned released their holes of Sam and the latter lost no time in obeying the injunction to make himself scarce he was soon lost to sight in the darkness think he was up to some mischief asked Ned I'm almost sure of it replied Tom but I can't see anything wrong I guess probably were too quick for him I believe he, Andy and Pete Bailey tried to put up some job on me maybe they wanted to damage your new battery or car hardly that the car hasn't been started yet and as for the battery no one knows of it outside of you and my friends here I'm keeping it secret well if I'm going to take you home I better get a move on I'll run out Mr. Damon's car in a short time Tom was guiding the machine over the road to Shopton Ned on the seat beside him the young assistant cashier lived about a mile the other side of the village and the two chums were soon at his house asking his friend to come and see him when he had a chance Ned bit his chum good night and the young inventor started back home he was driving slowly along thinking more of his new invention than anything else even more than of the mysterious visit of Sam Snedeker when the lights on Mr. Damon's car flashed upon something big black and bulky on the road just ahead of him Tom brought suddenly out of his fit of musing jammed on the brakes and steered to one side then he saw that the object was a stalled auto he had only time to note this when a voice hailed in have you a tire pump you could lend us ours doesn't work and we have had a blowout there was something about the voice that was strangely familiar and Tom was wondering where he had heard it before went into the glare of the lamps on his machine stepped Mr. Foger Andy's father why Mr. Foger exclaimed Tom I didn't know it was you oh it's Tom Swift remarked a man and he did not seem especially pleased hey what's that cried another voice which Tom had no difficulty in recognizing as belonging to Andy what's the matter dad why it happens to be your ahem it's Tom Swift in this other auto went on Mr. Foger I didn't know you had a car had it I haven't answered the lad this belongs to Mr. Damon but can you see to fix your tire in the dark for Mr. Foger and his son had no lamps lighted oh we have it all fixed declared the man and just as we were going to pump it up our lamps went out then we found that our pump wouldn't work if you have one I would be obliged for the use of it and he spoke somewhat stiffly certainly agreed Tom cheerfully for he had no special grudge against Mr. Foger though had he known Andy's father's plans perhaps our hero would not have so readily aided him the young inventor got down removed one of his oil lamps in order that there might be some light on the operation and then brought over his pump I heard you had an accident said Tom a chain of thoughts being rapidly forged in his mind as he thought of what Sam had told him you heard of it repeated Mr. Foger while Andy was busy pumping up the tire yes a friend who was out riding with you said you had broken a wheel on Burke's hill but I see he was slightly wrong you're a good way from Burke's hill and it's a tire that is broken not a wheel but I don't understand 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. or Tom Swift Sam Sneedekker 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 Sneedekker was not riding with us the evening we have been over to Waterfield my 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 would 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 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 Leonard so mused the young inventor there's some game going on Sam wasn't with Andy yet Andy evidently knew where Sam was or he wouldn't have been so 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 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 anymore than I expected to find Sam Sneed Decker 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. Sharp 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 I 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 news Tom and then I'll enter it in the race I must write to that touring club and find out 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 pencil and exclaimed it's no use I can't think today 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 lab 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 into the head of the body of water which offered so many attractions that beautiful morning as Tom passed the 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 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 oarlocks 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 that I could induce you to accept a motorboat as a substitute for a rowing craft could I and he looked quizzically at her 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 be induced to make such a change and her face was nearly as grave as that of the young inventors 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 alright I will exclaimed the youth alright 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 speed it up the lake chapter 5 recording by Tom Weiss chapter 6 of Tom Swift and his electric runabout this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Tom Weiss Tom Swift and his electric runabout by Victor Appleton chapter 6 building the car well remarked Tom to himself about two hours later when he had left Mary Nester 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 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 for what corresponds to the engine hood in a gasoline car point it 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 search light 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 the rear seats where I will also carry spare wheels and a repair kit the motors will be slung under the body of the car a midships and there will be room for some batteries there I'll drive the car asked Mr. Sharp via shaft chain drive explained Tom I can get more power that way and it will be more flexible under heavy loads of course it will be steered in the usual way and near the wheel will be the starting and reversing levers and the gear handle gears exclaimed the aged inventor are you going to gear that usually the motor directly connected is all they use I'm going to have two gears on mine decided Tom that's a new idea commented the arrow knot it is admitted the lad and that's why my car is going to be so speedy I'll make her go a hundred miles an hour if necessary nonsense exclaimed his father I will cry the young inventor enthusiastically you just wait and see I couldn't do it but for the gears but by using them I'll secure more speed especially with the big reserve battery power I'll have I know I've got the right idea and I'm going to get right to work his father and Mr. Sharp were much interested and closely examined his sketches in a few days Tom had made detailed drawings and the aged inventor looked at them critically he had to admit that his son's theory was right though how it would work out in practice was yet to be demonstrated Mr. Swift offered some suggestions for minor changes as did Mr. Sharp and the lad adopted some of them then with Mr. Jackson to help him work was started on constructing the car certain parts of it could be better purchased in the open market instead of being manufactured in Mr. Swift's shop and thus Tom was able to get his new invention into some sort of shape sooner than would otherwise have been the case he also started making the batteries many of which would be needed gradually the car began to take form on the floor of Tom's shop it was rather a curious looking affair the sharp forward part of it making it appear like some engine of war or a projectile for some monster gun but Tom cared little for looks speed, strength and ease of control were the chief features the lad aimed at and he incorporated many new ideas into his electric car he was busy in the shop one morning when above the noise cost by filing a piece of steel he heard someone exclaim bless my desert if you are as busy as ever Mr. Damon cried Tom in delight when did you get back? last night replied the eccentric man my wife and I stayed longer than we meant to and whom do you think we met when we were off on our little trip some of the happy harry gang oh no you'd never guess so I'll tell you it was Captain Weston indeed and how has he been since he went in the submarine with us to help recover the gold from the wreck very well the first thing he said to me was how is Tom Swift and his father if I may be permitted to ask haha laughed the lad at the recollection of the odd sea captain who generally tagged on an apologetic expression to most of his remarks he was getting ready to take part in some South American Revolution went on Mr. Damon he used most of his money that he got from the wreck to help finance their cause I must tell Mr. Sharp went on the lad he'll be interested anything new since I've been away? asked the odd man bless my shoelaces but I'm glad to get back Tom told of the prospect of a new bank being started and of Sam's midnight visit as well as the encounter with Mr. Foger and Andy I went over to see what Mr. Foger wanted of you went on the young inventor but you weren't home did he call? the servant said he had been there not once but several times remarked Mr. Damon that reminds me he left a note for me and I haven't read it yet I'll do so now he tore open the letter and hastily perused the contents haha he exclaimed so that's what he wanted to see me about what? inquired Tom with the privilege of an old friend Mr. Foger says he's going to start a new bank and he wants me to withdraw my deposit from the old one and put it in his institution says he'll pay me bigger interest and he adds that some of the old employees have gone with him I hope you're not going to change spoke Tom, thinking of his chum, Ned indeed I'm not the old bank is good enough for me by the way, doesn't the friend of yours work there? yes, Fred Newton I'm wondering how he'll be affected don't you worry exclaimed Mr. Damon bless my checkbook I'll speak to Pendergast about your friend maybe there'll be a chance to advance him further I've got some mortgages falling due pretty soon and I'll deposit the money from them in the old bank then we'll see what we can do about Ned they'll make you a bank director if you keep on putting in money remarked our hero with a smile not much they won't was the quick answer bless my stocks and bonds I've got trouble enough without becoming a bank director my doctor says my liver is out of order again and I've got to eat a lemon every morning before breakfast eat a lemon well, drink the juice it's the same thing but how is the electric running about coming on? pretty good have you entered it in the races yet? no, but I've written for information I have until September to finish it the races take place then let's see, they're on Long Island, aren't they? how do you calculate to do? run from here to there? no, Dad still has to cottagey rent it when we built the submarine and I think I'll make that my headquarters during the race it's easy to run from there over to the Long Island track they're building a new one, especially for the occasion well, I hope you win the prize I must go to town now as I have to attend to some business I don't suppose you want to come in my auto I'm pretty sure something will break before I get there and I'd like to have you along to fix it sorry, but I'm afraid I can't go, replied the lad I must get this car done and then I've got to start on the batteries Mr. Damon rather reluctantly went off alone looking anxiously at his car for the machine got out of order on every trip he took it was a few days after this that Tom received a call from Ned one evening the bank employee's face wore a happy smile what's the matter? someone left you a fortune? asked Tom pretty nearly as good I've got a better position what? have you left the old bank and gone to the new one? no, I'm still in the same bank but I'm one of the two cashiers now Mr. Foger took several of the old employees when he opened his new bank and that left vacancies I was promoted and so were one or two others Mr. Damon spoke a good word for me that's fine, he's a friend worth having that's right, your father also recommended me but how are things with you? has Andy made any more trouble? no, and I don't believe he will I guess he'll steer clear of me but Tom was soon to learn he was mistaken End of Chapter 6 Recording by Tom Weiss Chapter 7 of Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Tom Weiss Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout by Victor Appleton Chapter 7 Tom is captured Meanwhile the young inventor aided by his father Mr. Sharp and Garrett Jackson the engineer worked hard over his new car and the powerful batteries a month passed and such was the progress made that Tom felt justified in making formal entry of his vehicle for the races to be held by the touring club of America he paid a contingent fee and was listed as one of the competitors as is usual in an affair of this kind the promoters of it desired publicity and they sought it through the papers consequently each new entrance name was published in addition something was said about his previous achievements in the speed line no sooner was the name of Tom Swift received by the officials of the club then it was at once recalled that young Swift had had a prominent part in the airship red cloud and the submarine advance this gave an enterprising reporter a chance for a special for the Sunday supplement of a New York newspaper Tom it was stated was building a car which would practically annihilate distance in time and there were many weird pictures showing him flying along without touching the ground in a car the pictorial construction of which was at once fearful and wonderful Tom and his friends laughed at the yarn at first but it soon had undesirable results the young inventor had desired to keep secret the fact that he was building a new electric vehicle and a novel storage battery but the article in the paper aroused considerable interest many persons came a long distance hoping for a sight of the wonderful car as pictured in the Sunday supplement but they had to be denied the news thus leaking out kept the Swift shops almost constantly besieged by many curious ones who sought by various means to gain admission finally Tom and his father after posting large signs warning persons to keep away added others to the effect that undesirable visitors might find themselves unexpectedly shocked by electricity if they ventured too close this had the desired effect though the wires which were strung about carried such a mild charge that it would not have harmed a child then the only bothersome characters were the boys of the town and fearless and careless lads they persisted in hanging around the Swift homestead in the hope of seeing Tom dash away at the rate of five hundred miles an hour which one enthusiastic writer predicted he would do I've got a plan exclaimed Tom one day when the boys had been particularly troublesome what is it asked his father will hire eradicate Samson to stand guard with a bucket of whitewash he'll keep the boys away the plan was put into operation and eradicate and his mule boomerang were installed on the premises deed and I'll keep them lads away promised the colored man I'll splash white stuff all over them if they comes traipsing around me he was as good as his word and when one or two lads had received a dose of the stuff which punishment was followed by more severe from home for having gotten their clothes soiled the nuisance ceased to a certain extent Sam Sneedekker and Pete Bailey were two who received a liberal sprinkling of the lime and they vowed vengeance on Tom and Andy Foger will help us too, added Sam as he withdrew after an encounter with the eradicate don't let that worry you, Mr. Swift exclaimed the darky just let that low down good for nothing Andy Foger come round me and I'll make him tink he deep inside of a chicken coop that's what I will perhaps Andy heard of this and kept away in the meantime Tom kept on perfecting his car and battery from the club secretary he learned that a number of inventors were working on electric cars and they're promised to be many of the speedy vehicles in the race after considerable labor Tom had succeeded in getting together one set of the batteries he had them completed one afternoon and wanted to give them a test that night but when he went to his father's chemical laboratory for a certain powder which he needed to use in the battery solution he found there was none I'll have to ride into Mansburg for some he decided I'll go after supper on my motorcycle and test the battery tonight the young inventor left his house immediately after the evening meal along the road toward Mansburg he speeded and as he came to the foot of a hill where once Andy Foger had put a big tree hoping Tom would run into it and be injured the youth recalled that circumstance Andy has been keeping out of my way lately Muse Tom I wonder if he's up to any mischief I don't like the way Sam's sneed-decker is hanging around the shop either it looks as if they were plotting something but I guess eradicate and his pail of whitewash will scare them off Tom got the powdered chemical he wanted in the drugstore and after refreshing himself with some ice cream soda he started back as he rode along the streets of the town he kept a lookout and those of you who know how fond the lad was of a certain young lady do not need to be told for whom he was looking but he did not see her and soon turned into the main highway leading to Shopton it was dark when he reached the hill where once he had been so near an accident and he slowed up as he coasted down it using the brake at intervals Tom got safely to the bottom of the declivity and was about to turn on the power of his machine when from the bushes that lined either side in the road several figures sprang suddenly they ranged himself across the road and one cried HALT in tones that were meant to be stern but which seemed to Tom to tremble somewhat the young inventor was so surprised that he did not open the gasoline throttle nor switch on his spark as a consequence his motorcycle lost momentum and he had to take one foot from the pedal and touch the ground to prevent himself from toppling over hold on there cried another voice we've got you where we want you now hold on don't go I wasn't going to go responded Tom calmly trying to recognize the voice which seemed to be unnatural what do you want and who are you never mind who we are we want you and we've got you get off that wheel I don't see why I should exclaimed Tom and he suddenly shifted his handlebars so as to flash the bright headlight he carried upon the circle of dark figures that opposed his progress as the light flashed on them he was surprised to see that all the figures wore masks over their faces Tom started was this the happy harry gang after him again he hoped not yet the fact that the persons had on masks made the hold up have an ugly look once more Tom flashed the light on the throng there were exclamations of dismay douse that glim somebody called a sharp voice which Tom could not recognize a stone came whizzing through the air from someone in the crowd there was a smashing of glass as it hit the lantern and the road was plunged in darkness Tom tried to throw one leg over the saddle and let down the supporting stand from the rear wheel so the motorcycle would remain upright without him holding it he determined to have revenge for that act of vandalism in breaking his lamp but just as he was free of the seat he was surrounded by a dozen persons and several hands were laid on him we've got you now someone fairly hissed in his ear come along and get what's coming to you Tom tried to fight but he was overpowered by numbers and a little later was dragged off into the woods in the darkness by the masked figures his arms were securely bound with ropes and a handkerchief was tied over his eyes Tom Swift was a prisoner End of Chapter 7 Recording by Tom Weiss Chapter 8 Tom Swift and his electric runabout This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Tom Weiss Tom Swift and his electric runabout by Victor Appleton Chapter 8 Stumbling on through the dark woods led by his captors Tom tried to pierce the gloom and identify the persons who had firm grips on either side of him but it was useless a little light sifted down from the starlit sky above but it was not sufficient The young inventor was beginning to think after all that he had fallen into the hands of the happy harry gang and he knew that if this was so he need expect no mercy but two things were against this belief one was that the principal members of the gang were still in jail or at least they were supposed to be and another was that there were too many of the captors happy harry's crowd never numbered so many maybe their highway men thought are a hero as he was dragged along but that can't be he reasoned further if they wanted to rob me they'd have done it back there in the road and not brought me off here in the woods besides I haven't anything for them to steal suddenly Tom stumbled over a projecting route and nearly fell dragging along with him the person who had hold of his left arm look out there what's the matter with you exclaimed one of the throng quickly and at the sound of the voice Tom started Andy Foger cried the young inventor as he recovered himself for he had recognized the voice of the red-haired bully what do you mean by holding me up in this way he demanded quiet urged the voice in his ear and the tones were unfamiliar mentioned no names I'm on to your game retorted Tom I know you're here Andy and Sam and Pete and Jack Reynolds and Sid Holton and he named two rather loose character lads who were often in the company of Andy and his cronies you better quit this nonsense Tom went on I'll cause the arrest of all of you if you make trouble for me I know who you are now you think you do answered the voice in his ear and the young inventor concluded that it must be some lad whom he did not know nor is this nonsense the other went on you are about to receive the punishment do you our hero did not answer but he was doing some hard thinking he wondered why Andy and his crowd had captured him suddenly the blackness of the woods was illuminated by the fitful gleam of a distant fire Tom could see more plainly now and he managed to count about ten dusky figures hurrying along for being close to him to prevent his escape and the others running on ahead the light became stronger and a moment later the prisoner and his captors emerged into a little clearing where a fire was burning two figures marked with black cloth as were all in the crowd stood about the blaze putting on sticks of woods did you get him asked one of the figures eagerly yes they got me Sam Sneedekker answered Tom quickly recognizing Sam's tones and they'll wish they hadn't before I'm done with them quiet ordered an unknown voice members of the deep forest throng the prisoner is here the lad went on Tiswell buying the captive to the sacrificial tree was the response from someone in the crowd Tom laughed it was at ease now he recognized that those who had taken him prisoners were all lads of Andy's character most of them were shopped in use but some evidently were strangers in town Tom felt he had little to fear bring him over here ordered one and Tom cried out you wouldn't be giving those orders Andy Foger if my arms weren't tied and if you'll untie me I'll fight any two of you at once offered the young inventor fiercely for he hated the humiliation to which he was being subjected don't do it don't untie him beg someone no danger they won't they're afraid to Pete Bailey replied Tom quickly for he had recognized the voice of the other one of Andy's particular cronies ah he knows who we are whispered Sam but not so low but that our hero heard him no matter was Andy's retort let's go ahead with it tie him to that tree it was useless for Tom to struggle he was bound too tightly by the rope and the crowd was too many for him in a few minutes he was securely fastened to a tree not far from the campfire which was replenished from time to time now for the judgment called one of the masked lads in what he meant to be a sycoprol tone what is the charge against the prisoner brother number one of the deep forest strong what is your accusation he's a regular snob that's what's the trouble answered Andy Foger though whether he was brother number one did not appear he's too fresh and I'll make you wish you felt fresh when I get hold of you Andy murmured Tom quiet cried a tall lad what's the next charge he keeps an old colored man on guard at his place was the answer and Tom had no difficulty in recognizing the voice of Sid Holton the Coon throws whitewash all over us I got some of it you wouldn't have if you'd mind it your own business retorted Tom it served you right what is the verdict on the prisoner asked one who seemed to be the leader I say let's tar and feather him cried Andy suddenly there's a barrel of tar back in the woods here and we can get some feathers from a chicken coop that would make him so he wouldn't be so upish I guess that's right tar and feathers exclaimed several our hero's heart sank he was not afraid but he did not relish the indignity that was proposed he resolved to fight to the last ounce of his strength against the masked lads can we get a kettle to heat the tar in ask someone we'll find one answered Sam Sneedekker come on let's do it you'll look pretty Tom's swift when we're through with you he exalted Tom did not answer but there was fierce anger in his heart the tar and feather proposal seemed to meet with general favor members of the deep forest throng we will hold a consultation proposed the leader in his assumed deep voice come over here to one side brother number six guard the prisoner well there ain't no need to answer to lad who had been instructed to mount guard over Tom he's tied so tight he can't move I want to hear what you say very well then ascend at the leader but look to his bonds the lad made a hasty examination of the ropes binding the young inventor to the tree and Tom was glad that the examination was a hasty one for he feared the guard might discover that one hand had been worked nearly free the young inventor had done this while he leered at his captors Tom was not going to submit tamely to the nonsense and from the moment he had been tied he had been trying to get loose he had nearly succeeded in freeing one hand when the crowd of masked boys moved off to one side where they presently began to talk in excited whispers I wonder how they came to catch me thought the prisoner as he worked feverishly to further loosen the ropes this looks as if it was a put up job with the mass and everything later he learned that the idea was the outcome of a proposal of one of the new arrivals in town he had organized the deep forest throng as a sort of secret society and Andy and his cronies had been induced to join it was Andy's proposal to capture Tom though and having seen him depart from Mansburg on his motorcycle and knowing that he would return along a road that ran near the woods where the throng met suggested that they take Tom captive the idea was enthusiastically received and Andy and his cronies thought they saw a chance to be revenged Tom, while he picked at the ropes, listened to what the boys were saying he heard frequent mention of tar and feathers and began to believe that unless he could get free while they were off there consulting he might be forced to submit to the humiliating ordeal he managed to get one hand comparatively free so that he could move it about but then he struck several hard nuts and could make no further progress the conference seemed on the point of breaking up one of you go for a big kettle to boil the tar in ordered the leader and the rest of you dig up some feathers I must get loose thought Tom desperately if they try to tar and feather me it will be a risky business I've got to get loose they may burn me severely but though he tried with all his strength the ropes would not loosen another bit he had one hand free and that was all the crowd was moving back toward him my knife thought to captive quickly if I can reach that in my pocket I can cut the ropes once I get loose I'll fight the whole crowd he managed to get his hand free into his pocket his fingers touched something it was not his knife and for a moment he felt a pang of disappointment then as he realized what it was that he grasped a new idea came to him this will be better than the knife he thought exultantly the crowd of lads was now surrounding him some distance from the fire which burned in front of the captive sentence has been passed upon you remarked the leader prepare to meet thy doom get the materials brothers one moment called Tom for he wanted the crowd all present to witness what he was about to do I'll give you one chance to let me go peaceably if you don't well what will you do demanded Andy sneeringly as he pulled his mask further over his face I guess you won't do anything Tom swift I'll give you one chance to let me go and I'll agree to say nothing about this joke went on Tom if you don't I'll blow this place up for a moment there was a silence hahahaha left Sam Sneed Decker listen to him he'll blow the place up I'd like to see you do it you can't get loose in the first place and you haven't anything to blow it up with in the second I'd like to see you do it eh fellas sure came the answering chorus would you asked Tom quickly then watch stand back if you don't want to get hurt and remember that I gave you a chance to let me go Tom made a rapid motion with the hand he had gotten loose he threw something toward the blazing fire which was now burning well something white sailed through the air and fell amid the hot embers there was a moment's pause and then a blinding flash a blue fire lighted up the woods and a dull rumble as when gunpowder is lighted in the open followed a great cloud of white smoke arose as the vivid blue glare died away and it seemed as if a great wind swept over the place several of the masked lads were knocked down by the explosion and when the rumble died away and deep blackness succeeded the intense blue light there came cries of pain and terror the fire had been scattered and extinguished by the explosion which Tom though still bound to the tree had caused to happen in the midst of the deep forest throng then as the smoke rolled away Andy Foger cried come on fellas something's happened I guess a volcano blew up end of chapter 8 recording by Tom Weiss chapter 9 of Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Tom Weiss Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout by Victor Appleton chapter 9 Tom is rescued the deep forest throng needed no urging to flee from the place of the mysterious explosion their prisoner helpless as he had seemed had proved too much for them slipping and stumbling along in the darkness the masked lads had but one thought to get away before they saw more of that blue fire and the force of the concussion gee my eyebrows are all singed off cried Sam Sneedekker as he tore loose his mask which had been rent in the explosion and felt of his face and my hands are burned added Pete Bailey I stood closer to the fire than any of you you did not I got the worst of it cried Andy I was knocked down by the explosion and I'll bet I'm hurt somewhere I guess oh help I'm falling in a mud hole there was a splash and the bully disappeared from the sight of his companions who now that the moon had risen could better see to flee from their prisoner help me out somebody pleaded Andy I'm in a mud hole they pulled him out a sorry looking sight and the red-haired lad whose locks were now black with muck began to lament his lot dry up commanded Sid Holton it's all your fault for proposing such a full trick as capturing Tom Swift we might have known he would get the best of us what was that stuff he used anyhow asked Cecil Headon the lad responsible for the organization of the deep forest throng he must be a wonder does he do sleight of hand tricks he does all sorts of tricks replied Pete Bailey feeling of a big lump on his head caused by falling on a stone in the mad rush I guess we were chumps to tackle him he must have put some kind of chemical in the fire to make it blow up or else he summoned his airship by a wireless and had that balloonist Mr. Sharp drop a bomb in the blaze suggested another lad but how could he do anything wasn't he tied fast to the tree asked Cecil the leader you never know when you've got Tom Swift tied declared Jack Reynolds you think you've got him and you haven't he's too slick for us it's Andy's fault for proposing to capture him that's right blame it all on me whined a squint-eyed bully you was just as anxious as I was to tar and feather him well we didn't do it commented Pete Bailey I suppose he's loose now laughing at us gee but that was an explosion though it's a wonder some of us weren't killed I guess I've had enough of this deep forest throng business no more for mine ah don't be afraid bird Cecil the next time we get him we'll be on our guard you'll never catch Tom Swift again predicted Pete I'll go back now to where he is if you will agreed Cecil who was older than the others not much cried Pete I've had enough this seemed to be the sentiment of all a way they stumbled through the woods and emerging on the road scattered to their several homes not one but who suffered from slight burns, contusions torn and muddy clothes or injured feelings as the outcome of the joke on the young inventor but our hero was not yet free from the bonds of his enemies when they scattered and ran after the vivid blue light and the dull explosion which being unconfined did no real damage Tom was still fast to the tree as his eyes became accustomed to the semi-darkness that followed the glare Harry marked well I don't know that I'm much better off I gave those fellas a good scare but I'm not loose but I can work to better advantage now once more he resumed the effort to free himself but in spite of the crude matter in which the knots had been made the lad could not get loose the more he pulled and tugged the tighter they seemed to become this is getting serious Tom used if I could only reach my knife I could cut them but it's in my pocket on the other side and that bonds fast guess I'll have to stay here all night maybe I'd better call for help but his words spoken half-allowed were suddenly interrupted by a crash in the underbrush somebody was approaching at first Tom thought it was Andy and his cronies coming back but a voice that called a moment later proved that this was not so shouted a man anyone hurt? what was that fire and explosion? I'm here replied Tom I'm not hurt exactly but I'm tied to a tree I'll be much obliged if you'll loosen me who are you? Tom Swift is that you Mr. Mason? yes by jinx I never expected to find you here Tom over this way men he added calling aloud it's Tom Swift there was the flicker of several lanterns amid the trees and soon a number of men had joined Mr. Mason and surrounded Tom they were farmers living in the neighborhood what in the name of Tunkett happened asked one did you get hit by a meteor or a comet? who tied you up? highway men? cut him loose first and ask questions afterward yes, added Tom with a laugh I wish you would I'm beginning to feel cramped with their knives the farmers quickly cut the ropes and some of them rubbed the arms of the lad to restore the circulation what was it? highway men asked the man unable to longer restrain his curiosity did they rob you? no it wasn't highway men replied to you it was a trick of some boys I know and to Tom's credit be it said that he did not mention their names they did it for a joke he added boy's trick joke, queried Mr. Mason pretty queer sort of a joke I think they ought to be arrested oh I fancy I gave them what was coming to them went on the young inventor did they try to blow you up too? asked Mr. Hertford what in the name of Tunkett it was too light and that explosion I heard it and saw it way over to my house so did I remarked Mr. Mason and several others said the same thing we thought a meteor had fallen he continued and we got together to make an investigation it's a good thing for me you did admitted Tom or I might have had to stay here all night but was it a meteor? insisted Mr. Hertford no replied the lad I did it you? yes you see after they tied me up I found I could get one hand free I reached in my pocket for my knife but instead of it I managed to get hold of a package of powder I had gunpowder? asked Mr. Mason no a chemical powder I use in an electrical battery the powder explodes in fire and makes quite a blue flash and a lot of smoke but it isn't very dangerous otherwise I wouldn't have used it when the boys were some distance away from the fire I threw the powder in the blaze it went off in a moment and I guess they did run some didn't they asked Mr. Mason with a laugh they certainly did agreed Tom end of chapter nine recording by Tom Weiss