tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第23节
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cash we have； we'll have to close the doors。 Then there's sure to be an
unpleasant scene； and maybe some of the more hot…headed ones will
advocate violence。 We have given orders to the tellers to pay out as slowly
as possible； so as to enable us to gain some time。〃
〃And all you need is money； is that it； Dad？〃
〃That's it； Tom； but we have exhausted every possibility。 Mr。 Damon is
trying a forlorn hope now； but； even if he is successful〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Before Mr。 Swift had ceased speaking； Mr。 Damon fairly burst from
the telephone booth。 He was much excited。
〃I've got it！ I've got it！〃 he cried。
〃What？〃 asked Mr。 Swift and Tom in the same breath。
〃The cash； or； what's just as good； the promise of it。 I called up Mr。
Chase； of the Clayton National Bank； and he has agreed to take the
railroad securities I offered him as collateral； and let me have sixty
thousand dollars on them！ That will give us cash enough to weather the
storm。 Hurrah！ We're all right now。 Bless my check book！〃
〃The Clayton National Bank；〃 remarked Mr。 Swift； and his voice was
hopeless。 〃It's forty miles away； Mr。 Damon； and no railroad around here
runs anywhere near it。 No one could get there and back with the cash to…
day； in time to save us from ruin。 It's impossible！ Our last chance is gone。〃
〃How far did you say it was； Dad？〃 asked Tom quickly。
〃Forty miles there； over forty； I guess； and not very good roads。 We
would need to have the cash here before three o'clock to be of any service
to us。 No； it's out of the question。 The bank will have to fail！〃
〃No！〃 cried the young inventor； and his voice rang out through the
room。 〃I'll get the cash for you！〃
〃How？〃 gasped Mr。 Damon。 〃You can't get there and back in time？〃
〃Yes； I can！〃 cried Tom。 〃In my electric runabout！ I can make it go a
hundred miles an hour； if necessary！ Probably I'll have to run slow over
the bad roads； but I can do it！ I know I can。 I'll get the sixty thousand
dollars for you！〃
For a moment there was silence。 Then Mr。 Damon cried：
〃Good！ And I'll go with you and deliver the securities to Mr。 Chase。
Come on； Tom Swift！ Bless my collar button； but maybe we can yet save
the old bank after all！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XVIII
AFTER THE CASH
Tom's proposal as a way out of the difficulty； and the prompt
seconding of it by Mr。 Damon； seemed to deprive the other bank officials；
Mr。 Swift included； of the power of speech for a few moments。 Then； as
there came to the room where the scene had taken place； the sound of the
mob outside； clamoring for cash； Mr。 Pendergast； the president； remarked
in a low voice：
〃It seems to be the only way。 Do you think you can do it； Tom Swift？〃
〃I'm sure of it； as far as my electric car is concerned；〃 replied the
young inventor。 〃If we get the cash I'll have it back here on time。 The
runabout is all ready for a fast trip。〃
〃Then don't lose any time； Tom；〃 advised his father。 〃Every minute
counts。〃
〃Yes；〃 added Mr。 Damon。 〃Come on。 I've got the securities in my
valise； and we can bring the cash back in the same satchel。 Come on；
Tom。〃
The eccentric character caught up his valise； and started from the room。
Tom followed。
〃Now； my son； be careful；〃 advised his father。 〃You know the need of
haste； but don't take unnecessary risks。 You'd better go out the back way；
as the crowd is easily excited。〃
Little more was said。 Mr。 Swift clasped his son's hand in a firm
pressure； and the bank president nervously bade the lad good…by。 Then；
slipping out of the bank； by the rear entrance； the porter closing the door
after them； Tom and Mr。 Damon took their places in the electric machine。
〃Just imagine you're racing for that three…thousand…dollar prize；
offered by the Touring Club of America； Tom；〃 observed Mr。 Damon； as
he deposited the valise at his feet。
〃I don't have to do that；〃 replied the youth。 〃I'm trying for a bigger
prize than that。 I want to save the bank； and defeat the schemes of the
Fogersfather and son。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Tom turned on the power； and the machine rolled out on the main
street。 As it turned the corner； leaving the impatient crowd of depositors；
now larger than ever； behind； Mr。 Damon glanced over at the new bank；
and； as he did so； he called to Tom：
〃There are the Fogers now。〃
The young inventor looked； and saw Andy and his father on the steps
of the new institution。
At the sight of the electric car； speeding along； Andy turned and spoke
to his parent。 What he said seemed to impress Mr。 Foger； for he started；
and looked more intently at Tom and Mr。 Damon。 Then； as Tom watched；
he saw the two excitedly conversing； and a moment later Andy ran off in
the direction in which Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey lived。
〃I wonder if he's up to any tricks？〃 thought Tom； as he turned on more
power。 〃Well； if he is； I'll soon be where he can't reach me。〃
The young inventor did not dare send his car at full speed through the
streets of the town； and it was not until several minutes had passed that
they could go at more than the ordinary rate。 But once the open country
was reached Tom 〃opened her up full；〃 and the song the motor sung was
one of power。 The vehicle quickly gathered headway and was soon fairly
whizzing along。
〃If we keep this up we'll be there and back in good time；〃 remarked Mr。
Damon。
〃Yes； but we can't do it；〃 replied his companion。 〃The road to Clayton
is a poor one； and we'll soon be on it。 Then we'll have to go slow。 But I'll
make all the time I can until then。〃
So； for several miles more they crept along； at times having to reduce
to almost a walking pace； because of bad roads。 Mr。 Damon looked at his
watch almost every other minute。
〃Eleven o'clock；〃 he remarked； as they passed a milestone； 〃and we're
not half way there。 Bless my gizzard； but I'm afraid we won't make it； Tom。
We left about ten； and we ought to be back by two o'clock to do any good。
That's four hours； and it will take some time to transfer the securities； and
get the cash。 Every minute counts。〃
〃I know it；〃 answered Tom； 〃and I'm going to count every minute。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
With eager eyes he watched every inch of the road； to steer to the best
advantage。 His hands gripped the wheel until his knuckles showed white
with the strain； and； every now and then his right hand adjusted the speed
lever or the controller handle； while his foot was on the emergency brake；
ready to stop the car at the first sign of danger。
And there was danger； not infrequently； for the road was up and down
hill； over frail bridges； and along steep cliffs。 It was no pleasure tour they
were on。
When a little over half the distance had been made they came to a
better road； and Tom was able to use full speed ahead。 Then the electric
went so fast that； had it not been for the steel wind… shield in front； Mr。
Damon； at any rate； would have been short of breath。
〃This is going some！〃 he cried to Tom。 The lad nodded grimly； and
shoved the controller handle over to the last notch。 Then came a bad
stretch and they had to slow down again。 As they were about out of it there
came a little flash of fire and the motor stopped。
〃Bless my overshoes！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃What's that； a fuse blown
out？〃
〃No；〃 replied Tom； with a puzzled air。 〃But something has gone
wrong。〃 Hastily he got out； and made an examination。 He found it was
only one of the unimportant wires which had short…circuited； and it was
soon adjusted。 But they had lost five precious minute
