“We need more money, Tom, to complete the stocking of the ship and arranging for carrying on the business here while you are gone,” said the financial manager.
“Get it from the bank,” said Tom.
“We can’t. We’ve stretched our credit to the limit. We need ten thousand dollars in cash.”
For a moment Tom did not know what to do. Then he remembered his millionaire friend Jason Jacks, who had helped him on the Airline Express in a like emergency.
“Call Jacks,” Tom decided. When Ned did this, explaining Tom’s predicament, that eccentric, but kindly, character at once arranged the matter, sending, not ten, but fifteen thousand dollars to the credit of the Swift Company in the bank.
“And if you want more you can have it,” added Mr. Jacks. But Ned said that would do.
“Well, I go to New York to-morrow,” said Tom to Ned one evening, “to sign the final papers in the race contest. All contestants are to be present in the Illustrated Star office.”
“Where are you going now?” asked Ned, for his chum had on his hat and the electric runabout was at the door.
“Over to see Mary,” was the answer.
A little later Tom Swift was on his way. But for some reason or other, when he was within a quarter of a mile of the girl’s house, the electric machine suddenly went dead and stopped.