motive power," repeated Tom. "And it continues to be the big
problem in electricity. The Jandel locomotive is undoubtedly the
last word so far as the construction of an electric locomotive is
concerned. But it falls down in speed and power. I thought so
myself when I saw that locomotive and looked over the results of
its work. And this Mr. Bartholomew has assured father and me this
evening that it is a fact.

"It has a record of a mile a minute on a level or easy grade;
but it can't show goods when climbing a real hill. It slows up
both freight and passenger traffic on the Hendrickton & Pas Alos
road. That range of hills is too much for it.

"So the Swift Construction Company is going to step in,"
concluded the young inventor eagerly. "I believe we can do it.
I've the nucleus of an idea in my head. I never had a problem put
up to me, Ned and Mr. Damon, that interested me more. So why
shouldn't I go at it? Besides, I have dad to advise me."

"That's right," agreed Ned. "Why shouldn't you? And with such a
contract as you have been offered--"

"Bless my bootsoles!" ejaculated Mr. Damon, getting up and
tramping about the room in his excitement. "I thought the trolley
cars that run between Shopton and Waterfield were about the
fastest things on rails."

"Not much. The trolley car is a narrow and prescribed manner of
using electricity for motive power. The motor runs but one car--
or one and a trailer, at most," said Tom. "As I have pointed out,