Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle; Or, Fun and Adventures on the Road

gh the blackness like a ruby eye. Then he realized that it was going from him at such a swif

e and tell dad. This is another link in the queer chain that seems to be winding around us.

ary walk, tired as he was with the happenings of the day, and the young inventor breathed a sigh of thankfulness as the lights of his home s

to you?" and she hurried forward with kindly solicitude, f

ered the lad laconi

at his latest invention, I

ow, except that it isn't so good for the clothes," and the you

happening on the road, and related the conversation and t

ould have been?" asked T

hom Anson Morse seems to be a representative," said Mr. Swift. "

s. Do you think he imagined he could come her

wires, which I have neglected for some time, as I fancied everything would be secure here. Then I

w bolts that Tom had brought home that day;

ing the burglar alarm wires, there being an elaborat

d unusual noises, but it was only some disturbance caused by the storm, and morning arrived without anything unusu

glad

father, who was

excuse for staying in and

lared Mr. Swift. "I will hear you in

guess you'll find

college. Mr. Swift was a very learned man, and this arrangement was satisfactory to him, as it allowed Tom more time at home, so he could aid his father on the inventive work and also plan t

own particular shop, and began ta

, hammers, pliers and screw-driver. He was in his element, and was whistling over his task. The motor he found in good condition, but it was not such an easy task as he had hoped to change the transmission. He h

and as there was a sprocket wheel from a disused piece of machinery available, Tom took that. He soon had it in place, a

some speed," he ann

principle of mechanics--that you can't get out of a machine any more than you put into

asolene tank," declared Tom. "I

veral hours of work had it in shape to r

get one," he remarked. "The r

l needed, and that night his motor-cycle was ready to run. But it was too dark to try it then, especially as he had no good lantern, the one o

ore breakfast. He came back, with flushed cheeks and bright eyes,

nd back," annou

of thirty miles!"

most of the way. I had to slow up going through Mansburg,

autioned his father. "Yo

wasn't on my bicycle. Then I thought to shut off the power and put on the brake. But it's glorious fun.

arn to ride the motor-cyc

d what an important part the machi

what the machine would do on a hill, and there was a long, steep one about five miles from hom

murmured. "I have improved this machine consi

was gliding along joyously, when from a cross-road he suddenly saw turn into the main highway a mul

's moving as slow as molasses, and I'm going a bit faster

nd nearer. He turned the handle-grip, controlling the supply of gasolene, and

to the negro. "Get out of the wa

pproaching machine, and he seemed

d the negro. "Whoa! Suf

not room for him to pass without going into the ditch, a proceedin

reciate the necessity. The mule stopped and reared up. The

! Jest yo' stand

to somewhat reduce his speed by a quick application of the brake, or the result might have been serious. As it was, the colored man was gently lifted away from the mule's head and to

was sitting up

" he murmured. "S

ly, and Tom, ready to laugh, now that he saw he had not commit