CHAPTER XVIII
AFTER THE CASH
Tom's proposal as a way out of the difficulty, and the prompt secondingof it by Mr. Damon, seemed to deprive the other bank officials, Mr.Swift included, of the power of speech for a few moments. Then, asthere came to the room where the scene had taken place, the sound ofthe 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 theyoung inventor. "If we get the cash I'll have it back here on time. Therunabout is all ready for a fast trip."
"Then don't lose any time, Tom," advised his father. "Every minutecounts."
"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 theroom. Tom followed.
"Now, my son, be careful," advised his father. "You know the need ofhaste, but don't take unnecessary risks. You'd better go out the backway, as the crowd is easily excited."
Little more was said. Mr. Swift clasped his son's hand in a firmpressure, and the bank president nervously bade the lad good-by. Then,slipping out of the bank, by the rear entrance, the porter closing thedoor after them, Tom and Mr. Damon took their places in the electricmachine.
"Just imagine you're racing for that three-thousand-dollar prize,offered by the Touring Club of America, Tom," observed Mr. Damon, as hedeposited the valise at his feet.
"I don't have to do that," replied the youth. "I'm trying for a biggerprize than that. I want to save the bank, and defeat the schemes of theFogers--father and son."
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, nowlarger 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 ofthe new institution.
At the sight of the electric car, speeding along, Andy turned and spoketo his parent. What he said seemed to impress Mr. Foger, for hestarted, and looked more intently at Tom and Mr. Damon. Then, as Tomwatched, he saw the two excitedly conversing, and a moment later Andyran 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 morepower. "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 thestreets of the town, and it was not until several minutes had passedthat they could go at more than the ordinary rate. But once the opencountry was reached Tom "opened her up full," and the song the motorsung was one of power. The vehicle quickly gathered headway and wassoon 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 Claytonis a poor one, and we'll soon be on it. Then we'll have to go slow. ButI'll make all the time I can until then."
So, for several miles more they crept along, at times having to reduceto almost a walking pace, because of bad roads. Mr. Damon looked at hiswatch almost every other minute.
"Eleven o'clock," he remarked, as they passed a milestone, "and we'renot 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 doany good. That's four hours, and it will take some time to transfer thesecurities, and get the cash. Every minute counts."
"I know it," answered Tom, "and I'm going to count every minute."
With eager eyes he watched every inch of the road, to steer to the bestadvantage. His hands gripped the wheel until his knuckles showed whitewith the strain, and, every now and then his right hand adjusted thespeed lever or the controller handle, while his foot was on theemergency brake, ready to stop the car at the first sign of danger.
And there was danger, not infrequently, for the road was up and downhill, over frail bridges, and along steep cliffs. It was no pleasuretour they were on.
When a little over half the distance had been made they came to abetter road, and Tom was able to use full speed ahead. Then theelectric went so fast that, had it not been for the steel wind-shieldin front, Mr. Damon, at any rate, would have been short of breath.
"This is going some!" he cried to Tom. The lad nodded grimly, andshoved the controller handle over to the last notch. Then came a badstretch and they had to slow down again. As they were about out of itthere 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 oneof the unimportant wires which had short-circuited, and it was soonadjusted. But they had lost five precious minutes. Tom tried to make upfor lost time, but came to a hill a little later, and this reducedtheir speed.
"Do you think we can make it before twelve?" asked Mr. Damon anxiously."We've got to, if we're to get back before three, Tom."
"I'll try," was the calm answer, and Tom's jaw was shut still moretightly. Once again came more favorable roads and pushing the car tothe limit the occupants were rejoiced, a little later, as they topped ahill, to come in sight of a fairly large city.
"There's Clayton!" cried Mr. Damon.
Ten minutes later they were rolling through the main street, and asthey stopped in front of the bank, the noon whistles blew shrill andnoisily.
"You did it, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, springing out with the valise ofsecurities. "Now be ready for the return trip. I'll be with you as soonas possible."
He went up the bank steps three at a time, like some boy instead of anelderly man. Tom looked after him for a second and then got down to oilup his car, and make some adjustments that had rattled loose from therough road. Unmindful of the curious throng that gathered he crawledunder the machine with his oil-can.
He had finished his work, and was back in his seat, ready to start, butMr. Damon had not reappeared.
"It's taking him a good while to get that cash," thought Tom. "Maybethe securities were no good."
But, a few minutes later, Mr. Damon came hurrying from the bank. Thevalise he carried seemed much heavier than when he went in.
"It's all right, Tom," he said. "I've got it. Now for the trip home,and I hope we don't have any accidents. It took longer than I thoughtto check over the bonds and receipt for them. But I've got the cash.Now to save the bank!"
He took his place beside the young inventor, holding the valise betweenhis knees, while Tom turned on the power and sent his car dashing downthe street, and toward the road that led to Shopton.