"On the side of passenger traffic," continued Tom Swift, "the
electric locomotive is smokeless, noiseless, dirtless, and
doesn't jerk the coaches in either stopping or starting. And in
addition, the electric locomotive is much easier on track and
roadbed than the old 'iron horse' driven by steam generated
either from coal or oil."

"It is a great field for your talents, Tom!" cried Ned, warmly.

"It is a big job," admitted Tom, and he said this with modesty.
"I don't know what I may be able to do--if anything. I would not
feel right in taking Mr. Bartholomew's twenty-five thousand
dollars for nothing."

"Quite right, my boy," said Mr. Swift, approvingly.

"Never mind that," said the financial manager, rather grimly.
"It was his own offer and his risk. That twenty-five thousand
comes to our account."

Tom laughed. "All business, Ned, aren't you? But there is more
than business for the Swift Construction Company in this. Our
reputation for fair dealing as well as for inventive powers is
linked up with this contract.

"I want to show the Jandel people--to say nothing of the bigger
firms--that the Swifts are to be reckoned with when it comes to
electric invention. Other roads will be electrifying their lines
as fast as it is proved that the electric-driven locomotive has