第51章

"Mayn't I congratulate you also?"

He wheeled around, to confront Mary Nestor, immaculate in a summer gown.

"Why--why," he stammered."I--I thought you didn't come.""Oh, yes I did," she answered, laughing."I wouldn't have missed it for anything.I arrived late, but I saw the whole race.Wasn't it glorious.I'm so glad you won!" Tom was too, now, but he shrank back when Miss Nestor held out both daintily gloved hands to him.His hands were covered with oil and dirt.

"As if I cared for my gloves!" she cried, and she took possession of his hands, a proceeding to which Tom was nothing loath."Are you going to race any more?" she asked, as he walked along by her side, away from the gathering crowd.

"I don't know," he replied."My car is speedier than I thought it was.Perhaps I may enter it in other contests."But what Tom Swift did later on will be told in another volume, to be called, "Tom Swift and His Wireless Message; or, The Castaways of Earthquake Island"--a strange tale of ship-wreck and mystery.

The run back home was made without incident, save for a broken chain, easily repaired, the day following the race, and Tom later received a number of invitations to give exhibitions of speed.Several automobile manufacturers wanted to secure the rights to his machine, but he said he desired to consider the matter before acting.He did not forget his promise to Mrs.Baggert, regarding the diamond earrings, and bought her the finestpair he could find.

"Come on, Mr.Sharp," proposed Tom, a week or so after the big race, "let's go for a spin in the airship.I want to see how it feels to be among the clouds once more," and they were soon soaring aloft.

The new bank, started by Mr.Foger, did not flourish long.It closed its doors in less than six months, but the old institution was stronger than ever.Mr.Berg disappeared, and Tom never learned whether the agent really was the man he had chased, and whose watch charm he tore loose, though he always had his suspicions.Nor did it ever develop who crossed the electric wires, so that Tom was so nearly fatally shocked.Andy Foger disliked our hero more than ever, and on several occasions caused him not a little trouble, but Tom was able to look after himself.

THE END

This Isn't All!

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in this book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?

On the reverse side of the wrapper which comes with this book, you will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same store where you got this book.

Don't throw away the Wrapper

Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have.But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete catalog.

THE TOM SWIFT SERIES By VICTOR APPLETON

Uniform Style of Binding.Individual Colored Wrappers, Every Volume Complete in Itself.

Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius.Tom Swift is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the mostinteresting kind of reading.

TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORBOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDER TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESSTHE DON STURDY SERIES By VICTOR APPLETON

Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by WALTER S.ROGERS Every Volume Complete in Itself.

In the company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures.

DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY; An engrossingtale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild animals and crafty Arabs.

DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS; Don's uncle,the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes to be found in South America--to be delivered alive!

DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD; A fascinating tale ofexploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings in Egypt.

DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE; A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship of the explorers.

DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES; An absorbing tale of adventure among the volcanos of Alaska.

DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS; This story is just full of exciting and fearful experiences on the sea.

DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS; A thrilling story of adventure in darkest Africa.Don is carried over a mighty waterfall into the heart of gorilla land.