"
"Some job, that, I'll say," murmured Tom Swift.
"Exactly. Some job. And it is the only thing that will save the
H. & P. A.," said Mr. Bartholomew decidedly. "I put it up to you
Swifts. I have heard of some of your marvelous inventions. Here
is something that is already invented. But it needs development."
"I see," said Mr. Swift, and nodded.
"It interests me," admitted Tom. "As I say, I have given some
thought to the electric locomotive."
"This is the age of speed," said Mr. Bartholomew earnestly.
"Rapidity in handling freight and kindred things will be the
salvation, and the only salvation, of many railroads. Tapping a
rich territory is not enough. The road that can offer the
quickest and cheapest service is the road that is going to keep
out of a receivership. Believe me, I know!"
"You should," said Mr. Swift mildly. "Your experience should
have taught you a great deal about the railroad business."
"It has. But that knowledge is worth just nothing at all
without swift power and cheap traffic. Those are the problems
today. Now, I am going to take a chance. If it doesn't work, my
road is dished in any case. So I feel that the desperate chance
is the only chance."
"What is that?" asked Tom Swift, sitting forward in his chair.
"I, for one, feel so much interested that I will do anything in
reason to find the answer to your traffic problem."
"That's the boy!" ejaculated Richard Bartholomew.
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