Part 1 (1/2)

Tom Swift and his Motor-cycle

by Victor Appleton

CHAPTER I

A NARROW ESCAPE

”That's the way to do it! Whoop her up, Andy! Shove the spark lever over, and turn on asolene! We'll make a record this trip”

Two lads in the tonneau of a touring car, that hirling along a country road, leaned forward to speak to the one at the steering wheel The latter was a red-haired youth, with somewhat squinty eyes, and not a very pleasant face, but his coard hi in his automobile

”Whoop her up, Andy!” added the lad on the seat beside the driver

”This is iht you'd like it,” reer, as he turned the car to avoid a stone in the road ”I'll s hum around Shopton!”

”You have made them hum already, Andy,” cooes my cap!”

As the boy spoke, the breeze, created by the speed at which the car was traveling, lifted off his cap, and sent it whirling to the rear

Andy Foger turned for an instant's glance behind Then he opened the throttle still wider, and exclaiet another I want to see what ti! I want to break a record, if I can”

”Look out, or you'll break so else!” cried a lad on the rear seat ”There's a fellow on a bicycle just ahead of us Take care, Andy!”

”Let hier, as he bent lower over the steering wheel, for the car was now going at a terrific rate The youth on the bicycle was riding slowly along, and did not see the approaching autorin, Andy Foger pressed the rubber bulb of the horn with sudden energy, sending out a series of alar blasts

”It's Tom Swift!” cried Sam Snedecker ”Look out, or you'll run him down!”

”Let hiely

The youth on the wheel, with a sudden spurt of speed, tried to cross the highway He did in that in very terror Andy Foger shut off the power, jammed down the brakes and steered to one side So suddenly was he obliged to swerve over that the ponderous machine skidded and went into the ditch at the side of the road, where it brought up, tilting to one side

Tom Swift, his face rather pale froarding the autoer, the owner, to the three cronies ere riding with him, they all looked very ed any, Andy?” asked Sarowled Andy ”If my car's hurt it's Tom Swift's fault!”

He leaped from his seat andthe eely at Toainst the fence, walked forward

”What do youin the way like that?” demanded Andy with a scowl ”Don't you see that you nearly upset er!” cried To me down? Why didn't you sound your horn? You auto faster than the legal rate, anyhow!”

”I was, eh?” sneered Andy

”Yes, you were, and you know it I'm the one to etting in your way! I guess I've got sorowled Andy, for he could think of nothing else to say ”Bicycles are a back nuo that you had one,” retorted To”