tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第25节
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〃So it does on mine；〃 was the reply。 〃Ef I git t' market late I'll have t'
stay all night； an' spend money on a hotel bill。〃
〃I'll pay it！ I'll pay your bill if you'll only pull out！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃I'll give you a hundred dollars
He suddenly ceased speaking。 From the bushes along the road sprang
several ragged； masked figures。 Each one； aiming his weapon at Tom； said
in a low voice； that could not have been heard by the driver of the hay
wagon：
〃Slow up your machine； young feller！ We want to speak with you； and
don't you make a loud noise； or it won't be healthy for you！〃
〃Why of all the…！〃 began Mr。 Damon； but another of the footpads
leveling his weapon at the eccentric man growled：
〃Dry up； if you don't want to get shot！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Mr。 Damon subsided。 Discretion was very plainly the better part of
valor。 Tom had shut off the current。 The load of hay continued on ahead。
Tom thought perhaps the driver of it might have been in collusion with the
thieves； to cause the auto to slow up。
〃What do you want with us？〃 asked the young inventor； trying to
speak calmly； but finding it a hard task； with a revolver pointed at him。
〃You know what we want；〃 exclaimed the leader； in a low voice。 〃We
want that cash you got from the bank； and we're going to have it！ Come；
now； shell out！〃 and he advanced toward the automobile。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XX
ON TIME
Close around the electric auto crowded the members of the hold… up
gang。 Their eyes seemed to glare through the holes in their black masks。
Instantly Tom thought of the other occasion when he was halted by
masked figures。 Could these； by any possibility； be the same individuals？
Was this a trick of Andy Foger and his cronies？
Tom tried to pierce through the disguises。 Clearly the persons were
mennot boysand they wore the ragged clothes of tramps。 Also； there
was an air of dogged determination about them。
〃Well； are you going to shell out？〃 asked the leader； taking a step
nearer； 〃or will we have to take it？〃
〃Bless my very existence！ You don't mean to say that you're going to
take the moneyI mean how do you know we have any money？〃 and Mr。
Damon hastily corrected himself。 〃What right have you to stop us in this
way？ Don't you know that every minute counts？ We are in a hurry。〃
〃I know it；〃 spoke the leading masked figure with a laugh。 〃I know
you have considerable money in that shebang； and I know what you hope
to do with it； prevent the run on the Shopton National Bank。 But we need
that money as much as some other people and； what's more； we're going to
have it！ Come on； shell out！〃
〃Oh； why didn't we bring a gun！〃 lamented Mr。 Damon in a low voice
to Tom。 〃Isn't there anything we can do？ Can't you give them an electric
shock； Tom？〃
〃I'm afraid not。 If it wasn't for that hay wagon we could turn on the
current and make a run for it。 But we'd only go into the ditch if we tried to
pass now。〃
The load of hay was down the road； but as Tom looked he noticed a
curious thing。 It seemed to be nearer than it was when the attack of the
masked men came。 The wagon actually seemed to have backed up。 Once
more the thought came to the lad that possibly the load of fodder might be
one of the factors on which the thieves counted。 They might have used it
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
to make the auto halt； and the man； or men； on it were probably in
collusion with the footpads。 There was no doubt about it； the load of hay
was coming nearer； backing up instead of moving away。 Tom couldn't
understand it。 He gave a swift glance at the robbers。 They had not
appeared to notice this； or； if they had； they gave no sign。 …
〃Then we can't do anything；〃 murmured Mr。 Damon。
〃I don't see that we can；〃 replied the young inventor in a low voice。
〃And the money we worked so hard to get won't do the bank any
good；〃 and Mr。 Damon sighed。
〃It's tough luck；〃 agreed Tom。
〃Come now； fork over that cash！〃 called the leader； advancing still
closer。 〃None of that talk between you there。 If you think you can work
some trick on us you're mistaken。 We're desperate men； and we're well
armed。 The first show of resistance you make； and we shootget that；
fellows？〃 he added to his followers； and they nodded grimly。
〃Well；〃 remarked Mr。 Damon with an air of submission； 〃I only want
to warn you that you are acting illegally； and that you are perpetrating a
desperate crime。〃
〃Oh； we know that all right；〃 answered one of the men； and Tom gave
a start。 He was sure he had heard that voice before。 He tried to remember
ittried to penetrate the disguise but he could not。
〃I'll give you ten seconds more to hand over that bag of money；〃 went
on the leader。 〃If you don't； we'll take it and some of you may get hurt in
the process。〃
There seemed nothing else to do。 With a white face； but with anger
showing in his eyes Mr。 Damon reached down to get the valise。 Tom had
retained his grip of the steering wheel； and the starting lever。 He hoped； at
the last minute； he might see a chance to dash away； and escape； but that
load of hay was in the path。 He noted that it was now quite near； but the
thieves paid no attention to it。
Tom might have reversed the power； and sent his machine backward；
but he could not see to steer it if he went in that direction； and he would
soon have gone into the ditch。 There was nothing to do save to hand over
the cash； it seemed。
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Mr。 Damon had the bag raised from the car； and the leader of the
thieves was reaching up for it； when there came a sudden interruption。
From the load of hay there sounded a fusillade of pistol shots； cracking
out with viciousness。 This was instantly followed by the appearance of
three men who came running from around the load of hay； down the road
toward the thieves。 Each man carried a pitchfork； and as they ran； one of
the trio shouted：
〃Right at 'em； boys！ Jab your hay forks clean through the scoundrels！
By Heck； I guess we'll show 'em we know how t' tackle a hold…up gang as
well as the next fellow！ Right at 'em now！ Charge 'em！ Stick your forks
right through 'em！〃 Again there sounded a fusillade of pistol shots。
The thieves turned as one man； and glanced at the relief so
unexpectedly approaching。 They gave one look at the three determined
looking farmers； with their sharp； glittering pitchforks； and then； without a
word； they turned and fled； leaping into the bushes that lined the roadway。
The underbrush closed after them and they were hidden from sight。
On came the three farmers； waving their effective weapons； the pistol
shots still ringing out from the load of hay。 Tom could not understand it；
and could see no one firingcould detect no smoke。
〃Are they gone？ Did they rob ye？〃 asked the foremost of the trio； a
burly； grizzled farmer。 Bust my buttons； but I guess we skeered 'em all
right！〃
〃Bless my shoe buttons； but you certainly have！〃 cried Mr。 Damon；
descending from the automobile； and wringing the hand of the farmer；
while Tom； thrust the bag of money under his legs and waited further
developments。 The pistol shots rang out until one of the men called：
〃That'll do； Bub！ We've skeered 'em like Mrs。 Zenoby's pet cat！ You
needn't crack that whip any more。〃
〃Whip！〃 cried Tom。 〃Was that a whip？〃
〃That's what it was；〃 explained the leading farmer。 〃Bub Armstrong；
my nephew； can crack it to beat th' band；〃 and as if in proof of this there
emerged from behind the load of hay a small lad； carrying a large whip； to
which he gave a f
