tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第13章
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Fortunately Dr。 Whiteside was at home； and； under his skillful treatment
Tom was soon out of danger。 His heart action was properly started； and
then it was only a question of time。 As the doctor had plenty of room it
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
was decided to let the lad remain that night； and Tom was soon installed in
a spare bedroom； with the doctor's pretty daughter to wait on him
occasionally。
〃Oh； I'm all right；〃 the youth insisted； when Miss Whiteside told him it
was time for his medicine。 〃I'm all right。〃
〃You're not！〃 she declared。 〃I ought to know； for I'm going to be a
nurse； some day； and help papa。 Now take this or I'll have to hold your
nose； as they do the baby's；〃 and she held out a spoonful of unpleasant
looking mixture； extending her dainty forefinger and thumb of her other
hand； as if to administer dire punishment to Tom； if he did not obey。
〃Well； I give in to superior strength；〃 he said with a laugh； as he noted；
with approval； the laughing face of his nurse。
Then he fell into a deep sleep； and was so much better the next
morning that he could be taken home in Mr。 Damon's auto。
〃But mind； no hard work for three or four days；〃 insisted the physician。
〃I want your heart to get in shape for that big race you were telling me
about。 The shock was a severe strain to it。〃
Tom promised； reluctantly； and； though he did no work； his first act； on
reaching home； was to go out to the shop； to inspect the battery and motor。
To his surprise the motor was running for the lad had established the
connection； in spite of his shock and his father and Mr。 Sharp had decided
to let the machinery run until he came back。
〃And look at the record it's made！〃 cried Tom delightedly as he
glanced at the gauge 〃Better than I figured on。 That battery is a wonder。 I'll
have the fastest electric runabout you ever saw。〃
〃If the wires don't get crossed again；〃 put in Mr。 Sharp。 〃You'd better
make an examination； Tom；〃 and； for the first time； the young inventor
learned how he had been shocked。
〃Crossed wires！ I should say they were crossed！〃 he exclaimed as he
looked at the switches and copper conductors。 〃Somebody has been
tampering with them。 No wonder I was shocked！〃
〃Who did it？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
Tom considered for a moment； before answering。 Then he said：
〃I believe it was Addison Berg。 He must have wanted to do some
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
damage； to get even with us for getting that treasure away from him。〃
〃Berg？〃 questioned the balloonist； and Tom told of the night he had
been tripped into the brook； and exhibited the watch charm he had secured。
Mr。 Sharp recognized it at once。 A further examination confirmed the
belief that the submarine agent had sneaked into Tom's workshop； and had
altered the wires。
〃They were all right when I came out of the shop that night；〃 declared
Tom。 〃I left the old connections just as I thought I had arranged them； and
only added the new ones； when I went to try my battery。 The old
connections were crossed； but I didn't notice it。 Then when I turned on the
current I got the shock。 I don't s'pose Berg thought I'd be so nearly killed。
Probably he wanted to burn out my motor； and spoil it。 If it was Andy
Foger I could understand it； but a man like Berg〃
〃He's probably wild with anger because his submarine got the worst of
it in the race for the gold；〃 interrupted the balloonist。 〃Well； we'll have to
be on our guard； that's all。 What was the matter with Eradicate； that he
didn't see him enter the shop？〃
〃Rad went to a colored dance that night；〃 said Tom。 〃I let him off。 But
after this I'll have the shop guarded night and day。 My motor might have
been ruined； if that first charge hadn't gone through my body instead of
into the machinery。〃 The improper connections were soon removed and
others substituted。
It was agreed between Tom and Mr。 Sharp that they would say nothing
regarding Mr。 Berg to Mr。 Swift。 The aeronaut caused cautious inquiries to
be made； and learned that the agent had been discharged by the submarine
firm； because of some wrong… doing in connection with the craft Wonder；
and it was surmised that the agent believed Tom to be at the bottom of his
troubles。
In a few days the young inventor was himself again； and as further
trials of his battery showed it to be even better than its owner hoped；
arrangements were made for testing it in the car on the road。
The runabout was nearly finished； but it lacked a coat of varnish； and
some minor details； when Tom； assisted by his father； Mr Sharp and Mr。
Jackson； one morning； about a week later； installed the motor and battery
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units。 It did not take long to gear up the machinery； connect the battery and；
though the car was rather a crude looking affair； Tom decided to give it a
try…out
〃Want to come along； Dad？〃 he asked； as he tightened up some
binding posts； and looked to see that the steering wheel； starting and
reverse levers worked properly； and that the side chains were well
lubricated。
〃Not the first time；〃 replied his father。 〃Let's see how it runs with you；
first。〃
〃Oh； I want some sort of a load in it；〃 went on the lad。 〃It won't be a
good test unless I have a couple of others besides myself。 How about you；
Mr。 Damon？〃 for the old gentleman was spending a few days at the Swift
homestead。
〃Bless my shoe buttons！ I'll come！〃 was the ready answer。 〃After the
experience I've been through in the airship and submarine； nothing can
scare me。 Lead on； I'll follow！〃
〃I don't suppose you'll hang back after that； will you； Mr。 Sharp？〃
asked the lad； with a laugh。
〃I don't dare to； for the sake of my reputation；〃 was the reply； for the
balloonist who had made many ascensions； and dropped thousands of feet
in parachutes； was naturally a brave man。
So he and Mr。 Damon climbed into the rear seats of the odd… looking
electric car； while Tom took his place at the steering wheel。
〃Are you all ready？〃 he asked。
〃Let her go！〃 fired back Mr。 Sharp。
〃Bless my galvanometer； don't go too fast on the start；〃 cautioned Mr。
Damon； nervously。
〃I'll not；〃 agreed the young inventor。 〃I want to get it warmed up
before I try any speeding。〃
He turned on the current。 There was a low； humming purr； which
gradually increased to a whine； and the car moved slowly forward。 It
rolled along the gravel driveway to the road； Tom listening to every sound
of the machinery； as a mother listens to the breathing of a child。
〃She's moving！〃 he cried。
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〃But not much faster than a wheelbarrow；〃 said his father； who
sometimes teased his son。
〃Wait！〃 cried the youth。
Tom turned more current into the motor。 The purring and humming
increased； and the car seemed to leap forward。 It was in the road now； and；
once assured that the steering apparatus was working well； Tom suddenly
turned on much more speed。
So quickly did the electric auto shoot forward that Mr。 Damon and Mr。
Sharp were jerked back against the cushions of the rear seats。
〃Here！ What are you doing？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃I'm going to show you a little speed；〃 answered Tom。
The car was now moving rapidly； and there was a smoothness and
lightness to its progress that was absent from a gasolene auto。 There was
no vibration from the motor。 Faster and faster it ran； until it was moving at
a speed scarcely less than that of Mr。 Damon's car； when it was doing its
best。 Of course that was not saying much； for the car owned by the odd
gentleman was not a very powerful one； but it could make fast time
occasionally。
〃Is this the best you can do？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Not that it isn't fast；〃
he hastened to add； 〃and I was wondering if it was your limit。〃
〃Not half！〃 cried Tom； as he turned on a little more power。 〃I'm not
trying for a record to…day。 I just want to see how the battery and motor
behaves。〃
〃Pretty well； I should say；〃 commented Mr。 Sharp。
〃I'm satisfiedso far；〃 agreed the lad。
They were now moving along the highway at a good speedmoving
almost silently； too； for the motor； save for a low hum； made no noise。 So
quiet was the car； in fact； that it was nearly the cause of a disaster。 Tom
was so interested in the performance of his latest invention； that； before he
knew it； he had come up behind a farmer； driving a team of skittish horses。
As the big machine went past them； giving no warning of its approach； the
steeds reared up； and would have bolted； but for the prompt action of the
driver。
〃Hey！〃 he cried； angrily； as Tom speeded past； 〃don't you know you
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
got to give warnin' when you're comin' with one of them ther gol…swizzled
things！ By Jehossephat I'll have th' law on ye ef ye do thet ag'in！〃
〃I forgot to ring the bell；〃 apologized Tom； as he sent out a peal from
the gong； and then； he let out a few more amperes； and the speed
increased。
〃Hold on！ I guess this is fast enough！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； as his hat
blew off。
〃Fast？〃 answered Tom。 〃This is nothing to what I'll do when I use the
full power。 Then I'll〃
He was interrupted by a sharp report； and a vivid flash of fi
