“It can be done,” said Tom quietly. “You may take on those bets, Dad! I’ll see that you win!” and there was a determined air about him. “I’ll circle the world in twenty days!” promised Tom.
“Bless my alarm clock, that’s the stuff!” cried Mr. Damon.
A moment later a girl’s voice out in the plant yard was heard excitedly asking for Tom Swift.
CHAPTER III
INTO A NOSE DIVE
“What happened? Is Tom hurt? Let me go to him at once!” the voice exclaimed.
A smile came over Tom’s face.
“It’s Mary Nestor,” he murmured, and to the two visitors Mr. Damon explained in an aside:
“She and Tom are engaged.”
“Lucky boy!” murmured Mr. Burch as he caught sight of a pretty girl hurrying into the rather upset office. For the place was upset in spite of the comparatively small damage caused by the explosion and fire.
“Oh, Tom! are you hurt?” Mary cried, hastening toward him, totally oblivious of all the others in the disordered room. “I heard a rumor that your whole plant had burned and I came over as fast as I could.”