b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第15节
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cave in the mountains。 They might have sent a spy on East； and he might
try to damage the aeroplane to be revenged for what Tom and Mr。 Jenks
did to them。〃
〃It's possible；〃 agreed the engineer。 〃Well； we'll wait until Tom can talk；
and we'll go over it with him。〃
〃Not until he is stronger； though；〃 stipulated the physician as he went
away。 〃Don't excite Tom for a few days。〃
The young inventor was much better the following day； and when Dr。
Gladby called he said Tom could sit up for a little while。 Two days later
Tom was well enough to he talked to； and his father and Mr。 Jackson went
over all the details of the matter。 Mr。 Damon； who had returned home；
came to see his friend as soon as he heard of his plight； and was also a
member of the consulting party。
〃Bless my dictionary！〃 exclaimed the eccentric man。 〃I wish I had
been here to take a hand in it。 But； Tom； do you believe it was one of the
diamond…making gang？〃
〃I hardly think so；〃 was the reply。 〃They would take some other means
of revenge than by destroying my new aeroplane。 I'm inclined to think it
was some one who is in with Andy Foger。〃
〃Then we'll hire detectives； and locate him and them；〃 declared Mr。
Damon； blessing several things in succession。
Tom； however； did not like that plan； and it was decided to do nothing
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
right away。 In another few days Tom was able to be up； though he was still
a semi…invalid； not venturing out of the house。
It was one afternoon； when； rather tired of his confinement； he was
wishing he could resume work on his air craft； that Mrs。 Baggert came in；
and said：
〃Some one to see you； Tom。〃
〃Is it Mr。 Damon？〃
〃No； it's a lady。 She〃
〃Oh； Tom！ How are you？〃 cried a girlish voice； and Mary Nestor
walked into the room； holding out both hands to the young inventor。 Tom；
with a blush； arose hastily。
〃No！ no！ Sit still！〃 commanded the girl。 〃Oh！ I'm so sorry to hear
about your accident！ In fact； I only heard this morning。 We've been away；
mamma and I； and we just got back。 Tell me all about it； that is； if you feel
able。 But don't exert yourself。 Oh！ I wish I had hold of that man！〃
And Miss Nestor clenched her two pretty little hands and set her white；
even teeth grimly together； as though she would do most desperate things
indeed。
〃I wish you did； too！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃That is； so you could hold him
until I had a chance at him。 But I'm all right now。 It was very good of you
to call。 How are you； and how are your folks？〃
〃Very well。 But I came to hear about you。 Tell me；〃 and she looked
anxiously at Tom； while Mrs。 Baggert discreetly withdrew to the adjoining
room； and made a great noise； rattling papers and moving chairs about。
Thereupon Tom told what had happened； while Mary Nestor listened
interestedly and with expressions of fear at times。
〃But if Andy had anything to do with it；〃 concluded Tom； 〃I can't
understand what his object is。 Andy is acting very strangely lately。 We
can't locate him； nor find out where he is building his airship。 That's what I
want to know； but Mr。 Damon and I； after a lot of trouble； only found his
aeroplane shed empty。〃
〃And you want to find out where Andy Foger is building his aeroplane
which he has entered in the big race？〃 asked Miss Nestor。
〃That's what I'd like to know；〃 declared Tom earnestly。 〃Only we can't
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
seem to do it。 No one knows。〃
〃Why don't you write to Mr。 Sharp； or some one of the aviation meet
committee？〃 asked the girl simply。 〃They would know； for you say Andy
made his formal entry with them； and the rules require him to tell from
what city and State he will enter his craft。 Write to the committee； Tom。〃
For a moment the young inventor stared at her。 Then he banged his fist
down on the arm of his chair。
〃By Jove； Mary！ That's the very thing！〃 he cried。 〃I wonder why I
never thought of that； instead of fiddling around in disguises； and things
like that？ I wonder why I never thought of that plan？〃
〃Perhaps because it was so simple；〃 she answered； with a pretty blush。
〃I guess that's it；〃 agreed Tom。 〃It takes a woman to jump across a
bridge to a conclusion every time。 I'll write to Mr。 Sharp at once。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Thirteen
A Clash with Andy
Tom lost no time in writing to Mr。 Sharp。 He wondered more and
more at his own neglect in not before having asked the balloonist； when
the latter was in Shopton； where Andy was building his aeroplane。 But； as
it developed later； Mr。 Sharp did not know at that time。
While waiting for a reply to his letter； Tom busied himself about his
own craft； making several changes he had decided on。 He also began to
paint and decorate it； for he wanted to have the Humming…Bird present a
neat appearance when she was officially entered in the great race。
Miss Nestor called on Tom again； and Mr。 Damon was a frequent
visitor。 He agreed to accompany Tom to the aviation park when it was
time for the race； and also to be a passenger in the ten…thousand…dollar
contest。
〃It must be perfectly wonderful to fly through the air；〃 said Miss
Nestor one day； when Tom and Mr。 Damon had the Humming…Bird out on
the testing ground； trying the engine； which had been keyed up to a higher
pitch of speed。 〃I consider it perfectly marvelous； and I can't imagine how
it must seem to skim along that way。〃
〃Come and try it；〃 urged Tom suddenly。 〃There's not a bit of danger。
Really there isn't。〃
〃Oh！ I'd never dare do it！〃 replied the girl； with a gasp。 〃That machine
is too swift by name and swift by nature for me。〃
〃Why don't you take Miss Nestor on a grass…cutting flight； Tom？〃
suggested Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my lawn mower！ but she wouldn't be
frightened at that。〃
〃Grass cutting？〃 repeated the girl。 〃What in the world does that
mean？〃
〃It means skimming along a few feet up in the air；〃 answered the
young inventor； who had now fully recovered from the effects of the blow
given him by the midnight intruder。 In spite of many inquiries； no clues to
his identity had been obtained。
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〃How high do you go when you 'cut grass；' as you call it？〃 asked Miss
Nestor； and Tom thought he detected a note of eager curiosity in her voice。
〃Not high at all；〃 he said。 〃In fact； sometimes I do cut off the tops of
tall daisies。 Come； Mary！ Won't you try that？ I know you'll like it； and
when you've been over the lawn a few times you'll be ready for a high
flight。 Come！ there's no danger。〃
〃II almost believe I will；〃 she said hesitatingly。 〃Will you take me
down when I want to come？〃
〃Of course；〃 said Tom。 〃Get in； and we'll start。〃
The Humming…Bird was all ready for a trial flight； and Tom was glad
of the chance to test it； especially with such a pretty passenger as was Miss
Nestor。
〃Bless my shoelaces！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃I can see where I am going
to be cut out； Tom Swift。 I'll not get many more rides with you now that
Miss Nestor is taking to aeroplaning； you young rascal！〃 And he playfully
shook his finger at Tom。
〃Oh； I don't expect to get enthusiastic over it；〃 said Miss Nestor； who；
now that she had taken her place in one of the small seats under the engine；
appeared as if she would be glad of the chance to change her mind。 But
she did not。
〃Now； if you take me more than five feet up in the air； I'll never speak
to you again； Tom Swift！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Five feet it shall be； unless you yourself ask to go higher；〃 was the
youth's reply； as he winked at Mr。 Damon。 Well he knew the fascination of
aeroplaning； and he was almost
