"Ten miles more," observed Mr Damon, snapping shut his big gold watch."Ten miles more, and it's a quarter of two now.We ought to be there at a quarter after, and that will be in good time, eh, Tom?""I think so, but I don't know about this piece of road we're coming to.It seems worse than when we passed over it this morning."As he spoke the auto began to slow up, for the wheels had struck some heavy sand, and it was necessary to reduce the current.Tom turned back the controller handle, but watched with eager eyes for a sign that the roadbed was harder, so that he could increase speed.
As the car turned around a curve, passing through a lonely stretch of country, with woods on either side of the highway, Tom glancing up, uttered a cry of astonishment.
"What's the matter; something gone wrong?" asked his companion.
For answer Tom pointed.There, just ahead of them, was a big load of hay, and it was evident that the driver, was in no particular hurry.
"We can't pass that without getting in over.our hubs!" cried Tom."If we turn out the side ditches are so soft that we'll need help to pull out, and the road is so narrow for several miles that we'll have to trail along behind that fellow.""Bless my check book!" cried Mr.Damon."Are we going to lose, after all, on account of a load of hay? No, I'll buy it from him first, at double the market price, tip it over, set fire to it, toss it in the ditch, and then we can go past!""Maybe that will answer," retorted Tom, smiling grimly.
He put on a little more speed, and was soon close up behind the load of hay, ringing his electric bell as a warning.
"I say!" called Mr.Damon to the unseen driver, "can't you turn out and let us pass?""Ha! Hum! Wa'al I guess not!" came the answer, in unmistakable farmer's accents."You automobile fellers is too gol-hanged smart, racin' along th' roads.I've got just as good a right here as you fellers have, by heck!" The driver did not show himself.
"We know that," responded Tom, as quickly as he could, for he did not want to anger the man."But our machine is so heavy that if we turn into the ditch I'm afraid we'll be mired.""Huh! So'll I," was the retort from the unseen driver.."Think I want t' spile my load of hay?""But you have wide tires on, and you wouldn't sink in far," answered the young inventor."Besides, it's very necessary that we get past.A great deal depends on our speed.""So it does on mine," was the reply."Ef I git t' market late I'll have t' stay all night, an' spend money on a hotel bill.""I'll pay it! I'll pay your bill if you'll only pull out!" cried Mr.Damon."I'll give you a hundred dollarsHe suddenly ceased speaking.From the bushes along the road sprang several ragged, masked figures.Each one, aiming his weapon at Tom, said in a low voice, that could not have been heard by the driver of the hay wagon:
"Slow up your machine, young feller! We want to speak with you, and don't you make a loud noise, or it won't be healthy for you!""Why of all the-!" began Mr.Damon, but another of the footpads leveling his weapon at the eccentric man growled:
"Dry up, if you don't want to get shot!"
Mr.Damon subsided.Discretion was very plainly the better part of valor.Tom had shut off the current.The load of hay continued on ahead.Tom thought perhaps the driver of it might have been in collusion with the thieves, to cause the auto to slow up.
"What do you want with us?" asked the young inventor, trying to speak calmly, but finding it a hard task, with a revolver pointed at him.
"You know what we want," exclaimed the leader, in a low voice."We want that cash you got from the bank, and we're going to have it! Come, now, shell out!" and he advanced toward the automobile.
