第30章

ANDY FOGER'S BLACK EYE

Around the bend came the six-cylinder touring car.The driver, with a surprised look on his face, was slacking up.He ran his machine up alongside of Tom's.

"Say," he asked, in dazed tones, "did you take a short cut, or anything like that to get ahead of me?""No," answered the youth.

"And you didn't jump me in the air?" "No," was Tom's answer, smilingly given.

"Well, all I've got to say is that you've got a wonderful car there, Mr.-- er--er--" He paused suggestively.

"Swift is my name," our hero answered."Thomas Swift, of Shopton." "Ah, I've heard of you.My name is Layton --Paul Layton.I'm fromNetherton.Let's see, you built an airship, didn't you?""I helped," Tom admitted modestly.

"Well, you beat me fair and square, and if I do say it myself I've got a fairly speedy car.Took two firsts at the Indianapolis meet last month.But you certainly scooted ahead of me.Where did you buy that electric, if I may ask?""I made it."

"I might have known," admitted the man."But are you going to put them on the market? If you are I'd like to get one.I want the fastest car going, and you seem to have it.""I hadn't thought of manufacturing them for sale," said the young inventor."If I do, I'll let you know.""I wish you would.My! I had no idea you could beat me, but you did-- fair and square."There was some more talk, and then Mr.Layton started on, after exacting from Tom a further promise to let him know if any electrics were to be made for sale.

"You certainly have a wonderful car," complimented Ned, as he andhis chum took a short cut to Shopton.

"Well, I'm not quite satisfied with it," declared Tom."Why not?""Well, I've set a hundred miles an hour as my limit.I didn't make but eighty to-day.I've got to have more speed if I go up against the crowd that will race for the touring club's prize.""Can you make a hundred miles?"

"I think so.I've got to change my gears, though, and use heavier fuses.I was afraid every second that one of the fuses would melt, and leave me stranded.But they stood pretty well.Of course, when the car, geared as it is now, has been run a little longer it will go faster, but it won't come up to a hundred miles an hour.That's what I want, and that's what I'm going to get," and the lad looked very determined.

Ned was taken to the bank, and, as Tom turned his machine around, to go home, he saw, standing on the steps of the new bank, which was almost across the street from the old one, Andy Foger, and the bully's father.The red-haired lad laughed at Tom's rough looking car, and said something to his parent, but Mr.Foger did not notice Tom.Not that this caused our hero any uneasiness, however.

But, as he swung away from the bank, he saw, coming up the street a figure that instantly attracted his attention.It was that of Mr.Berg, and Tom at once recalled the night he had pursued the submarine agent, and torn loose his watch charm.Mr.Berg was evidently going to enter the new bank, for, at the sight of the former agent, Mr.Foger descended the steps, and went to meet him.

Tom, however, had decided upon a plan of action.He steered his machine in toward the curb, ran up the steel wind-shield, and called:

"Mr.Berg!"

"Eh? What's that?" asked the agent, in some surprise.Then, as he caught sight of Tom, and recognized him, he added: "I'm very busy now, my young friend.You'll have to excuse me.""I won't detain you a moment," went on Tom, casually."I have something of yours that I wish to return to you.""Something of mine?" Mr.Berg was evidently puzzled.He approachedthe electric car, in spite of the fact that Mr.Foger was calling him."Something of mine? What is it?""This!" exclaimed Tom suddenly, extending the compass watch charm, which he always carried with him of late.

"That! Where did you get that.I lost it--" Mr.Berg paused in some confusion.

"I grabbed it off your watch chain the night you were hiding in our shrubbery, and tripped me into the brook," answered the lad, looking the man squarely in the eye.

"Hiding? Tripped you? Grabbed that off my chain--" stammered Mr.Berg.He had taken the charm up in his fingers, but now he quickly dropped it back into Tom's hand."I guess you're mistaken," he added quickly."That's not mine.I never had one-- I--er--that's not mine--at least--Oh, you'll have to excuse me, young man, I'm in a hurry, and I have an important engagement!" and with that Mr.Berg wheeled off, and joined Mr.Foger, who stood on the sidewalk, waiting for him.