is invention as he always
was in anything the young inventor worked upon. When he had once seen
the Hercules 0001 work on an up-grade he was doubly enthusiastic. To
his sanguine mind the locomotive was already completed. He could see no
possibility of failure.

Tom, however, had to prove to his own satisfaction the success of every
detail of his invention before he was willing to tell Mr. Bartholomew
that he was ready for a public test. Mr. Damon, nor even Ned, could
scarcely see the reason for Tom's caution.

Tom's favorite try-out grade was between Hammon and Cliff City. He
could obtain a right of way order from the train dispatcher on that
grade, sometimes of an hour's duration. He often snaked a load of
gondolas or cattle cars up the grade, relieving both the puller and
pusher steam locomotive. By this time the H. & P. A. system had
stopped using the Jandel machines on any grades. They had proved their
lack of power for such work.

"But the Hercules Three-Oughts-One shows at every test that it has the
kick," Mr. Damon cried.

In his enthusiasm he was out every day with Tom and Ned. And sometimes
Koku remained in the cab during the trial runs as well.

On one such occasion Tom had drawn a heavy train over the mountain,
taking it down the grade beyond Cliff City to Panboro in the farther
valley. This was over a newly built stretch of the electrified road.
The power station charged the trolley cables with an abundance of
current, and the Hercules 0001 made a splendid trip.

"Bless my cuff-links!" ejaculated Mr. Damon, his rosy face one beaming
smile. "You couldn't expect to do better than this. You save one
locomotive on the haul, and you beat the schedule ten minutes, so that
you had to lay by to get right of way into the yard here. Why linger
longer, Tom?"

"I agree with Mr. Damon," Ned said. "It seems to work perfectly. And
you have, I believe, established your required speed."

"Can't be too perfect," said the young inventor, smiling. "But I will
tell Mr. Bartholomew when we get back that he can set his time for the
big test whenever he pleases. I have already sent our patent attorney
in Washington the final blueprints. Now, if nothing happens--"

"Bless my stickpin!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "What can happen now that the
locomotive is practically perfect?"

That question was answered in one way, and a most startling way, within
the hour. Tom got right of way back over the mountain and pushed the
electri