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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE VICTOR APPLETON CONTENTS
I. A NARROW ESCAPE
II. TOM OVERHEARS SOMETHING
III. IN A SMASH-UP
IV. TOM AND A MOTOR-CYCLE
V. MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED
VI. AN INTERVIEW IN THE DARK
VII. OFF ON A SPIN
VIII. SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS
IX. A FRUITLESS PURSUIT
X. OFF TO ALBANY
XI. A VINDICTIVE TRAMP
XII. THE MEN IN THE AUTO
XIII. CAUGHT IN A STORM
XIV. ATTACKED FROM BEHIND
XV. A VAIN SEARCH.
XVI. BACK HOME.
XVII. MR. SWIFT IN DESPAIR
XVIII. HAPPY HARRY AGAIN
XIX. TOM ON A HUNT
XX. ERADICATE SAWS WOOD
XXI. ERADICATE GIVES A CLUE
XXII. THE STRANGE MANSION
XXIII. TOM IS PURSUED
XXIV. UNEXPECTED HELP
XXV. THE CAPTURE--GOOD-BY
CHAPTER I.
A NARROW ESCAPE
"That's the way to do it! Whoop her up Andy! Shove the spark lever
over and turn on more gasolene! We'll make a record this trip."
Two lads in the tonneau of a touring car that was whirling along a
country road leaned forward to speak to the one at the steering
wheel. The latter was a red-haired youth with somewhat squinty
eyes and not a very pleasant face but his companions seemed to
regard him with much favor. Perhaps it was because they were riding
in his automobile.
"Whoop her up Andy!" added the lad on the seat beside the driver.
"This is immense!"
"I rather thought you'd like it" remarked Andy Foger as he turned
the car to avoid a stone in the road. "I'll make things hum around
Shopton!"
"You have made them hum already Andy" commented the lad beside
him. "My ears are ringing. Wow! There goes my cap!"
As the boy spoke the breeze created by the speed at which the car
was traveling lifted off his cap and sent it whirling to the rear.
Andy Foger turned for an instant's glance behind. Then he opened the
throttle still wider and exclaimed:
"Let it go Sam. We can get another. I want to see what time I can
make to Mansburg! I want to break a record if I can."
"Look out or you'll break something else!" cried a lad on the rear
seat. "There's a fellow on a bicycle just ahead of us. Take care
Andy!"
"Let him look out for himself" retorted Foger as he bent lower
over the steering wheel for the car was now going at a terrific
rate. The youth on the bicycle was riding slowly along and did not
see the approaching automobile until it was nearly upon him. Then
with a mean grin Andy Foger pressed the rubber bulb of the horn
with sudden energy sending out a series of alarming blasts.
"It's Tom Swift!" cried Sam Snedecker. "Look out or you'll run him
down!"
"Let him keep out of my way" retorted Andy savagely.
The youth on the wheel with a sudden spurt of speed tried to cross
the highway. He did manage to do it but by such a narrow margin
that in very terror Andy Foger shut off the power jammed down the
brakes and steered to one side. So suddenly was he obliged to swerve
over that the ponderous machine skidded and went into the ditch at
the side of the road where it brought up tilting to one side.
Tom Swift his face rather pale from his narrow escape leaped from
his bicycle and stood regarding the automobile. As for the
occupants of that machine from Andy Foger the owner to the three
cronies who were riding with him they all looked very much
astonished.
"Are we--is it damaged any Andy?" asked Sam Snedecker.
"I hope not" growled Andy. "If my car's hurt it's Tom Swift's
fault!"
He leaped from his seat and made a hurried inspection of the
machine. He found nothing the matter though it was more from good
luck than good management. Then Andy turned and looked savagely at
Tom Swift. The latter standing his wheel up against the fence
walked forward.
"What do you mean by getting in the way like that?" demanded Andy
with a scowl. "Don't you see that you nearly upset me?"
"Well I like your nerve Andy Foger!" cried Tom. "What do you mean
by nearly running me down? Why didn't you sound your horn? You
automobilists take too much for granted! You were going faster than
the legal rate anyhow!"
"I was eh?" sneered Andy.
"Yes you were and you know it. I'm the one to make a kick not
you. You came pretty near hitting me. Me getting in your way! I
guess I've got some rights on the road!"
"Aw go on!" growled Andy for he could think of nothing else to
say. "Bicycles are a back number anyhow."
"It isn't so very long ago that you had one" retorted Tom. "First
you fellows know you'll be pulled in for speeding."
"I guess we had better go slower Andy" advised Sam in a low voice.
"I don't want to be arrested."
"Leave this to me" retorted Andy. "I'm running this tour. The next
time you get in my way I'll run you down!" he threatened Tom. "Come
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