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they sat on the porch； Mr。 Sharp with them。
〃Pretty well； Dad；〃 was the answer of the young inventor。 〃I'll put the
wheels on tomorrow； and then set the batteries。 I've got the motor all
finished； and all I'll have to do will be to connect it up； and then I'll be
ready for a trial on the road。〃
〃And you still think you'll beat all records？〃
〃I'm pretty sure of it； Dad。 You see the amperage will be exceptionally
high； and my batteries will have a large amount of reserve； with little
internal resistance。 But do you know I'm so tired I can hardly think。 It's
more of a job than I thought it would be。〃
Tom； a little later； strolled down the road。 As he turned back toward
the house and walked up the shrubbery lined path he heard a noise。
〃Some one's hiding in there！〃 thought the lad； and he darted to an
opening in the hedge to reach the other side。 As he did so he saw a figure
running away。 Whether it was a man or a boy he could not tell in the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
darkness。
〃Hold on there！〃 cried the young inventor； but； naturally； the fleeing
one did not stop。 Tom began to sprint； and as it was slightly down hill； he
made good time。 The figure ahead of him was running well； too； but Tom
who could see better； now that he was out from under the trees； noticed
that he was gaining。 The fleeing one came to a little brook； and hesitated a
moment before leaping across。 This enabled Tom to catch up； and he made
a grab for the figure； just as the man or boy sprang across the little stream。
Tom missed his grip； but he was not going to give up。 He scarcely
slackened his speed； but； with the momentum he had acquired in racing
down the hill； he； too； leaped across the brook。 As he landed on the other
side he made another grab for the figure； a man； as Tom could now see；
but he could make out no features； as the person's hat was pulled down
over his face。
〃I've got you now！〃 cried Tom exultantly； reaching out his hand。 His
fingers clutched something； but the next instant the young inventor went
sprawling。 The other had put out his foot； and tripped him neatly and； Tom
throwing out his hands to save himself in the fall that was inevitable； went
splashing into the brook at full length。 The unknown； pausing a moment to
view what he had done； turned quickly and raced off in the darkness。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XI
CROSSED WIRES
More surprised than hurt； and with a feeling of chagrin and anger at
the trick which had been played on him； Tom managed to scramble out of
the brook。 The water was not deep； but he had splashed in with such force
that he was wet all over。 And； as he got up； the water drip…ping from his
clothes； the lad was conscious of a pain in his head。 He put up his hand；
and found that contact with a stone had raised a large lump on his forehead。
It was as big as a hen's egg。
〃Humph！ I'll be a pretty sight to…morrow；〃 murmured Tom。 〃I wonder
who that fellow was； anyhow； and what he wanted？ He tripped me neatly
enough； whoever he was。 I've a good notion to keep on after him。〃
Then； as he realized what a start the fleeing one had； the young
inventor knew that it would be fruitless to renew the chase。 Slowly he
ascended the sloping bank； and started for home。 As he did so he realized
that he had； clasped in his fingers； something he had grabbed from the
person he was pursuing just before his unlucky tumble。
〃It's part of his watch chain！〃 exclaimed Tom； as he felt of the article。
〃I must have ripped it loose when I fell。 Wonder what it is？ Evidently
some sort of a charm。 Maybe it will be a clue。〃 He tried to discern of
what style it was； but in the dark woods this was impossible。 Then the lad
tried to strike a match； but those in his pocket had become wet from his
unexpected bath。 〃I'll have to wait until I get home；〃 he went on； and he
hastened his steps； for he was anxious to see what he had torn loose from
the person who appeared to be spying on him。
〃Why Tom； what's the matter？〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Baggert； when he
entered the kitchen； dripping water at every step。 〃Is it raining outside？ I
didn't hear any storm。〃
〃It was raining where I was；〃 replied Tom angrily。 〃I fell in the brook。
It was so hot I thought I'd cool off。〃
〃With your best suit on！〃 ejaculated the housekeeper。
〃It isn't my best；〃 retorted the lad。 〃But I went in before I thought。 It
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
was an accident； I fell；〃 he added； lest Mrs。 Baggert take his joking
remarks seriously。 He did not want to tell her of the chase。
The chief concern of the lad now was to look at the charm and； as soon
as Mrs。 Baggert's attention was attracted elsewhere； Tom glanced at the
object he still held tightly clenched in his hand。 As the light from the
kitchen fell upon it he could hardly repress an exclamation of
astonishment。
For the charm that he held in his hand was one he had seen before
dangling from the watch chain of Addison Berg； the agent for Bentley &
Eagert； submarine boat builders； which firm had； as told in 〃Tom Swift
and His Submarine；〃 tried unsuccessfully to secure the gold treasure from
the sunken wreck。 Berg and his associates had even gone so far as to try to
disable the Advance； the boat of Tom and his father； by ramming her when
deep down under the ocean； but Mr。 Swift's use of an electric cannon had
broken the steering gear of the Wonder； the rival craft； and from that time
on Tom and his friends had a clear field to search for the bullion held fast
in the hold of the Boldero。 〃Addison Berg；〃 murmured Tom； as he looked
at the watch charm。 〃What can he be doing in this neighborhood？ Hiding；
too； as if he wanted to overhear something。 That's the way he did when we
were building our submarine； and now he's up to the same trick when I'm
constructing my electric car。 I'm sure this charm is his。 It is such a peculiar
design that I'm positive I can't be mistaken。 I thought； when I was chasing
after him； that it would turn out to be Andy Foger； or some of the boys； but
it was too big for them。 Addison Berg； eh？ What can he be doing around
here？ I must not tell Dad； or he'd worry himself sick。 But I must be on my
guard。〃
Tom examined the charm closely。 It was a compass； but made in an
odd form； and was much ornamented。
The young inventor had noticed it on several occasions when he had
been in conversation with Mr。 Berg previous to the attempt on the part of
the owners of the rival submarine to wreck Tom's boat。 He felt that he
could not be mistaken in identifying the charm。
〃Berg was afraid I'd catch him； and ask for an explanation that would
have been awkward to make；〃 thought the lad； as he turned the charm over
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
in his hand。 〃That's why he tripped me up。 But I'll get at the bottom of this
yet。 Maybe he wants to steal my ideas for an electric car。〃
Tom's musings were suddenly interrupted by Mrs。 Baggert。
〃I hope you're not going to stand there all night；〃 she said； with a laugh。
〃You're in the middle of a puddle now； but when you get over dreaming I'd
like to mop it up。〃
〃All right；〃 agreed the young inventor； coming to himself suddenly。
〃Guess I'd better go get some dry clothes on。〃
〃You'd better go to bed；〃 advised Mrs。 Baggert。 〃That's where your
father and Mr。 Sharp are。 It's late。〃
The more Tom thought over the strange occurrence the more it puzzled
him。 He mused over the presence of Berg as he went about his work the
next day； for that it was the agent whom he had pursued he felt positive。
〃But I can't figure out why he was hanging around here；〃 mused Tom。
Then； as he found that his thoughts over the matter we