Tom Swift and His Sky Racer or The Quickest Flight on ... - Fourmilab

82 CHAPTER 18. THE BROKEN BRIDGE<strong>The</strong> w<strong>or</strong>st of it is that there are few trains, <strong>and</strong> only a single railroad line fromthere to Shopton.”“<strong>The</strong>n I’ll telegraph,” decided <strong>Tom</strong>. “I’ll offer him his own price, <strong>and</strong> askhim to rush here as soon as he can.”“You had better let Dr. Kurtz <strong>and</strong> me attend to that part of it,” suggestedthe physician. “Dr. Hendrix would hardly come on the request of some onewhom he did not know. I’ll prepare a telegram, briefly explaining the case. It isthe s<strong>or</strong>t of an operation Dr. Hendrix is much interested in, <strong>and</strong> I think he willcome on that account, if f<strong>or</strong> no other reason. I’ll write out the message, <strong>and</strong>you can have Eradicate take it to the telegraph office.”“I’ll take it myself!” exclaimed <strong>Tom</strong>, as he got ready to go out into the nightwith the urgent request. “Is there any immediate danger f<strong>or</strong> my father?” heasked.“No; not any immediate danger,” replied Dr. Gladby. “But the operation isimperative if he is to live. It is his one <strong>and</strong> only chance.”<strong>Tom</strong> thought only of his father as he hurried on through the night. Eventhe prospect of the great race, so soon to take place, had no part in his mind.“I’ll not race until I’m sure dad is going to get better,” he decided. Withthe message to the noted specialist <strong>Tom</strong> also sent one to Mr. Damon, tellinghim the news, <strong>and</strong> asking him to come to Shopton. <strong>Tom</strong> felt that the presenceof the odd gentleman would help him, <strong>and</strong> Mr. Damon, who first intended tostay on at the <strong>Swift</strong> home until he <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tom</strong> departed f<strong>or</strong> Eagle Park, had goneback to his own residence to attend to some business <strong>Tom</strong> knew he would comein the m<strong>or</strong>ning, <strong>and</strong> Mr. Damon did arrive on the first train.“Bless my soul!” he exclaimed with ready sympathy, as he extended hish<strong>and</strong> to <strong>Tom</strong>. “What’s all this?” <strong>The</strong> young invent<strong>or</strong> told him, beginning withthe fire that had been the cause of the excitement which produced the changein Mr. <strong>Swift</strong>.“But I have great hopes that the specialist will be able to cure him,” said<strong>Tom</strong>, f<strong>or</strong>, with the coming of daylight, his courage had returned to him. “Dr.Gladby <strong>and</strong> Dr. Kurtz depend a great deal on Dr. Hendrix,” he said.“Yes, he certainly is a wonderful man. I have heard a great deal about him.I have no doubt but what he will cure your father. But about the fire? Howdid it start?”“I don’t know, but now that I have a few hours to spare bef<strong>or</strong>e the doct<strong>or</strong>can get here, I’m going to make an examination.”“Bless my penwiper, but I’ll help you.”<strong>Tom</strong> went into the house, to inquire of Mrs. Baggert, f<strong>or</strong> probably the tenthtime that m<strong>or</strong>ning, how his father was doing. Mr. <strong>Swift</strong> was still in a semiconsciouscondition, but he recognized <strong>Tom</strong>, when the youth stood at his bedside.“Don’t w<strong>or</strong>ry about me, son,” said the brave old invent<strong>or</strong>, as he took <strong>Tom</strong>’sh<strong>and</strong>. “I’ll be all right. Go ahead <strong>and</strong> get ready f<strong>or</strong> the race. I want you towin!”Tears came into <strong>Tom</strong>’s eyes. Would his father be well enough to allow himto take part in the big event? He feared not.