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

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94 CHAPTER 21. “WILL HE LIVE?”bless something again, even if it was only a wishbone.“No!” exclaimed <strong>Tom</strong>, in ringing tones. “Andy Foger isn’t going to beatme, <strong>and</strong> if I find out he is going to race with a machine made after my stolenplans, I’ll make him wish he’d never taken them.”“But if the machine he had flying over here when he dropped that bomb onthe shed roof, <strong>and</strong> set fire to it, is the one he’s going to race with, it isn’t likeyours,” suggested Mr. Damon, who was glad he had turned the conversationinto a m<strong>or</strong>e cheerful channel.“That’s so,” agreed the young invent<strong>or</strong>. “We’ll, we’ll have to wait <strong>and</strong> see.”He was busy now, going over every detail of the Humming-Bird. Mr. Damonhelped him, <strong>and</strong> they discovered the defect in the equilibrium weights, <strong>and</strong>remedied it.“We can’t aff<strong>or</strong>d to have an accident in the race,” said <strong>Tom</strong>. He glancedtoward the house, <strong>and</strong> wondered if the operation had begun yet. He could seethe trained nurse hurrying here <strong>and</strong> there, Mrs. Baggert helping her.Eradicate Sampson shuffled out from the stable where he kept his muleBoomerang. On the face of the honest col<strong>or</strong>ed man there was a dejected look.“Am Massa <strong>Swift</strong> any better, Massa <strong>Tom</strong>?” he asked.“We can’t tell yet,” was the answer.“Well, if he doan’t git well, den I’m goin’ t’ sell mah mule,” went on thedirt-chaser, from which line of activity Eradicate had derived his name.“Sell Boomerang! Bless my curry comb! what f<strong>or</strong>?” asked Mr. Damon.“’Case as how he wouldn’t neber be any good fo’ wuk any mo’,” explainedEradicate. “He’s got so attached t’ dis place, an’ all de folkes on it, dat he’d feelso s<strong>or</strong>ry ef—ef—well, ef any ob ’em went away, dat I couldn’t git no mo’ wukout ob him, no how. So ef Massa <strong>Swift</strong> doan’t git well, den I an’ Boomerangparts!”“Well, we hope it won’t happen,” said <strong>Tom</strong>, greatly touched by the simplegrief of Eradicate. <strong>The</strong> young invent<strong>or</strong> was silent a moment, <strong>and</strong> then he softlyadded: “I—I wonder when—when we’ll know?”“Soon now, I think,” answered Mr. Damon, in a low voice.Silently they waited about the aeroplane. <strong>Tom</strong> tried to busy himself, but hecould not. He kept his eyes fastened on the house.It seemed like several hours, but it was not m<strong>or</strong>e than one, ere the whitecappednurse came to the do<strong>or</strong> <strong>and</strong> waved her h<strong>and</strong> to <strong>Tom</strong>. He sprang to hisfeet <strong>and</strong> rushed f<strong>or</strong>ward. What would be the message he was to receive?He stood bef<strong>or</strong>e the nurse, his heart madly beating. She looked gently athim.“Will he—will he live?” <strong>Tom</strong> asked, pantingly.“I think so,” she answered gently. “<strong>The</strong> operation is over. It was a success,so far. Time alone will tell, now. Dr. Hendrix says you can see your father f<strong>or</strong>just a moment.”
Chapter 22Off to the MeetSoftly <strong>Tom</strong> tiptoed into the room where his father lay. At the bedside were thethree doct<strong>or</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> the nurse followed the young invent<strong>or</strong> in. Mrs. Baggert stoodin the hall, <strong>and</strong> near her was Garret Jackson. <strong>The</strong> aged housekeeper had beenweeping, but she smiled at <strong>Tom</strong> through her tears.“I think he’s going to get well,” she whispered. She always looked on thebright side of things. <strong>Tom</strong>’s heart felt better.“You must only speak a few w<strong>or</strong>ds to him,” cautioned the specialist, whohad perf<strong>or</strong>med such a rare <strong>and</strong> delicate operation, near the heart of the invalid.“He is very weak, <strong>Tom</strong>.”Mr. <strong>Swift</strong> opened his eyes as his son approached. He looked around feebly.“<strong>Tom</strong>—are you there?” he asked in a whisper.“Yes, dad,” was the eager answer“<strong>The</strong>y tell me you—you made a great trip to get Dr. Hendrix—brokenbridge—came through the air with him. Is that right?”“Yes, dad. But don’t tire yourself. You must get well <strong>and</strong> strong.”“I will, <strong>Tom</strong>. But tell me; did you go in—in the Humming-Bird?”“Yes, dad.”“How did she w<strong>or</strong>k?”“Fine. Over a hundred, <strong>and</strong> the mot<strong>or</strong> wasn’t at its best.”“That’s good. <strong>The</strong>n you can go in the big race, <strong>and</strong> win.”“No, I don’t believe I’ll go, dad.”“Why not?” Mr. <strong>Swift</strong> spoke m<strong>or</strong>e strongly“I—because—well, I don’t want to.”“Nonsense, <strong>Tom</strong>! I know; it’s on my account. I know it is. But listen to me.I want you to go in! I want you to win that race! Never mind about me. I’mgoing to get well, <strong>and</strong> I’ll recover all the m<strong>or</strong>e quickly if you win that race. Nowpromise me you’ll go in it <strong>and</strong>—<strong>and</strong>—win!”<strong>The</strong> invalid’s strength was fast leaving him.“I—I—-,” began <strong>Tom</strong>.“Promise!” insisted the aged invent<strong>or</strong>, trying to rise. Dr. Hendrix made ahasty move toward the bed.95
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Tom Swift<
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4 CONTENTS20 Just in Time 8921 “W
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6 CHAPTER 1. THE PRIZE OFFER“It
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8 CHAPTER 1. THE PRIZE OFFERHe star
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10 CHAPTER 2. MR. SWIFT IS ILL“<s
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Chapter 3The Plans
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Tom followed him,
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that the screen was also unhooked,
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Chapter 4Anxious DaysPeering on all
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21about him. He may have been sneak
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Chapter 5Building the Sky</
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25“Why, then this heavy beard of
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Who had them? Was some one making a
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Chapter 6Andy Foger Will ContestOne
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31“Then you go o
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near you were ready, and</s
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Chapter 7Seeking a ClueJohn Sharp w
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37“Well, because it will add to t
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Chapter 8The Empty
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He left the house by a side do<stro
Page 43 and 44: Chapter 9A Trial Flight</st
Page 45 and 46: emained much to do on it. It was no
Page 47 and 48: Chapter 10A Midnight Intruder<stron
Page 49 and 50: must do his very best, and<
Page 51 and 52: Chapter 11Tom Is H
Page 53 and 54: He did not intend to shoot at the m
Page 55 and 56: Chapter 12Miss Nestor</stro
Page 57 and 58: 57“It’s possible,” agreed the
Page 59 and 60: Chapter 13A Clash with Andy
Page 61 and 62: 61“It’s glorio
Page 63 and 64: 63Cautiously they entered the enclo
Page 65 and 66: Chapter 14The Grea
Page 67 and 68: “To-morrow, if I
Page 69 and 70: Chapter 15A Noise in the Night“We
Page 71 and 72: 71“Oh, we’ll take good care of
Page 73 and 74: Chapter 16A Mysterious FireF<strong
Page 75 and 76: Tom looked out. Fl
Page 77 and 78: Chapter 17Mr. Swift</strong
Page 79 and 80: above that the flames were now on t
Page 81 and 82: Chapter 18The Brok
Page 83 and 84: 83By daylight it was seen that quit
Page 85 and 86: Chapter 19A Nervy Specialist<strong
Page 87 and 88: was so absorbed in
Page 89 and 90: Chapter 20Just in TimeWhile Dr. Hen
Page 91 and 92: 91Humming-Bird gave a dangerous <st
Page 93: Chapter 21“Will He Live?”Soon t
Page 97 and 98: There was a wirele
Page 99 and 100: Chapter 23The Grea
Page 101 and 102: 101“Don’t worr
Page 103 and 104: 103“I’m going to beat you!” t
Page 105 and 106: Chapter 24Won by a LengthRising upw
Page 107 and 108: 107he would wait until five miles f
Page 109 and 110: Chapter 25Home Again—ConclusionMr
Page 111 and 112: 111But Tom almost
Page 113 and 114: 113“Indeed I did. But you helped
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