b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第10节
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want you in this race。 In fact； we're going to feature you； as they say about
the actors and story… writers。 The committee is planning to do considerable
advertising on the strength of Tom Swift； the well…known young inventor；
being a contestant for the ten…thousand… dollar prize。〃
〃That's very nice； I'm sure；〃 replied Tom； 〃and I'm going to do my best。
Perhaps dad will take a turn for the better。 He wants me to win as much as
I want to myself。 Well； we'll not worry about it； anyhow； until the time
comes。 I want to show you some new features of my。 latest aeroplane。〃
〃And I want to see them； Tom。 Don't you think you're making a
mistake； though； in equipping it with a wireless outfit？〃
〃Why so？〃
〃Well； because it will add to the weight； and you want such a small
machine to be as light as possible。〃
〃Yes； but you see I have a very light engine。 That part my father
helped me with。 In fact； it is the lightest air… cooled motor made； for the
amount of horsepower it develops； so I can afford to put on the extra
weight of the wireless outfit。 I may need to signal when I am flying along
at a hundred miles an hour。〃
〃That's so。 Well； show me some of the other good points。 You've
certainly got a wonderful craft here。〃
Tom and Mr。 Sharp spent some time going over the Humming… Bird
and in talking over old times。 The balloonist paid another visit to Mr。
Swift； who was feeling pretty good； and who expressed his pleasure in
seeing his old friend again。
〃Can't you stay for a few days？〃 asked Tom； when Mr。 Sharp was
about to leave。 〃If you wait long enough you may be able to help me work
up the clues against Andy Foger； and also witness a trial flight of the
Humming…Bird。〃
〃I'd like to stay； but I can't；〃 was the answer。 〃The committee will be
anxious for me to get back with my report。 Good luck to you。 I'll see you
at the time of the race； if not before。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
Tom resolved to get right to work seeking clues against his old enemy；
Andy； but the next day Mr。 Swift was not so well； and Tom had to remain
in the house。 Then followed several days； during which time it was
necessary to do some important work on his craft； and so a week passed
without any information having been obtained。
In the meanwhile Tom had made some cautious inquiries； but had
learned nothing about Andy。 He had no chance to interview Pete or Sam；
the two cronies； and he did not think it wise to make a bald request for
information at the Foger home。
Ned Newton could not be of any aid to his friend； as he was kept busy
in the bank night and day； working over a new set of books。
〃I wonder how I can find out what I want to know？〃 mused Tom one
afternoon； when he had done considerable work on the Humming…Bird。 〃I
certainly ought to do it soon； so as to be able to stop Andy if he's
infringing on my patents。 Yet； I don't see how〃
His thoughts were interrupted by hearing a voice outside the shop；
exclaiming：
〃Bless my toothpick！ I know the way； Eradicate； my good fellow。 It
isn't necessary for you to come。 As long as Tom Swift is out there； I'll find
him。 Bless my horizontal rudder！ I'm anxious to see what progress he's
made。 I'll find him； if he's about！〃
〃Yes； sah； he's right in dere；〃 spoke the colored man。 〃He's workin' on
dat Dragon Fly of his。〃 Eradicate did not always get his names right。
〃Mr。 Damon！〃 exclaimed Tom in delight； at the sound of his friend's
voice。 〃I believe he can help me get evidence against Andy Foger。 I
wonder I didn't think of it before！ The very thing！ I'll do it！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Eight
The Empty Shed
〃Bless my dark…lantern！ Where are you； Tom？〃 called Mr。 Damon as
he entered the dim shed where the somewhat frail… appearing aeroplane
loomed up in the semi…darkness； for it was afternoon； and rather cloudy。
〃Where are you？〃
〃Here！〃 called the young inventor。 〃I'm glad to see you！ Come in！〃
〃Ah！ there it is； eh？〃 exclaimed the odd man； as he looked at the
aeroplane； for there had been much work done on it since he had last seen
it。 〃Bless my parachute； Tom！ But it looks as though you could blow it
over。〃
〃It's stronger than it seems；〃 replied the lad。 〃But； Mr。 Damon； I've got
something very important to talk to you about。〃
Thereupon Tom told all about Mr。 Sharp's visit； of Andy's entry in the
big race； and of the suspicions of himself and the balloonist。
〃And what is it you wish me to do？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Work up some clues against Andy Foger。〃
〃Good！ I'll do it！ I'd like to get ahead of that bully and his father； who
once tried to wreck the bank I'm interested in。 I'll help you； Tom！ I'll play
detective！ Let me see what disguise shall I assume？ I think I'll take the
part of a tramp。 Bless my ham sandwich！ That will be the very thing。 I'll
get some ragged clothes； let my beard grow againyou see I shaved it off
since my last visitand I'll go around to the Foger place and ask for work。
Then I can get inside the shed and look around。 How's that for a plan？〃
〃It might be all right；〃 agreed Tom； 〃only I don't believe you're cut out
for the part of a tramp； Mr。 Damon。〃
〃Bless my fingernails！ Why not？〃
〃Oh； well； it isn't very pleasant to go around in ragged clothes。〃
〃Don't mind about me。 I'll do it。〃 And the odd gentleman seemed quite
delighted at the idea。 He and Tom talked it over at some length； and then
adjourned to the house； where Mr。 Swift； who had seemed to improve in
the last few days； was told of the plan。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
〃Couldn't you go around after evidence just as you are？〃 asked the
aged inventor。 〃I don't much care for this disguising business。〃
〃Oh； it's very necessary；〃 insisted Mr。 Damon earnestly。 〃Bless my
gizzard！ but it's very necessary。 Why； if I went around the Foger place as I
am now； they'd know me in a minute； and I couldn't find out what I want
to know。〃
〃Well； if you keep on blessing yourself；〃 said Tom； with a laugh；
〃they'll know you； no matter what disguise you put on； Mr。 Damon。〃
〃That's so；〃 admitted the eccentric gentleman。 〃I must break myself of
that habit。 I will。 Bless my topknot！ I'll never do it any more。 Bless my
trousers buttons！〃
〃I'm afraid you'll never do it！〃 exclaimed Tom。
〃It is rather hard；〃 said Mr。 Damon ruefully； as he realized what he had
said。 〃But I'll do it。 Bless〃
He paused a moment； looked at Tom and his father； and then burst into
a laugh。 The habit was more firmly fastened on him than he was aware。
For several hours Tom； his father and Mr。 Damon discussed various
methods of proceeding； and it was finally agreed that Mr。 Damon should
first try to learn what Andy was doing； if anything； without resorting to a
disguise。
〃Then； if that doesn't work； I'll become a tramp；〃 was the decision of
the odd character。 〃I'll wear the raggedest clothes I can find Bless〃 But
he stopped in time。
Mr。 Damon took up his residence in the Swift household； as he had
often done before； and for the next week he went and came as he pleased；
sometimes being away all night。
〃It's no use； though；〃 declared Mr。 Damon at the end of the week。 〃I
can't get anywhere near that shed； nor even get a glimpse inside of it。 I
haven't been able to learn anything； either'。 There are two gardeners on
guard all the while； and several times when I've tried to go in the side gate；
they've stopped me。〃
〃Isn't there any news of Andy about town？〃 asked Tom。 〃I should think
Sam or Pete would know where he is。〃
〃Well； I didn't ask them； for they'd know right away why I was
