that was inaudible to
the others in the room, and they noticed a grave look come over his
face. Then he said:

"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell your mother
not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. I'll be with you
in a jiffy!"

As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said:

"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to return at
once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much worried. I'll go over
and see what I can do."

"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet."

"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there we'll find
our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the electric runabout."

CHAPTER XV

A VAIN SEARCH

Tom Swift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in
readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The electric
runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early inventive days, and
though he had other automobiles, none was quite so fast or so simple to
run as this, which well merited the name of the most rapid machine on
the road. In it Tom had once won a great race, as has been related in
the book bearing the title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout."

"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, as he
stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to see about
getting the electric runabout in readiness.

"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since."

"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. "It's a
bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained naturally. Only
Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, they're nervous. I'll
telephone to let you know everything is all right as soon as I get
there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. Baggert as he drove off down
the road, partly illuminated by the new moon.

Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove the
speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from his home to
that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was quickly covered, to
Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. But at length he drove
up to the door. There were lights in most of the rooms, which was
unusual at this time of night.

The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of the
drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated by an
overhead light.

"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so worried! Did
you