But all thoughts of electric cars, and everything else, were
driven from the mind of the young man, when, with his father, he
rushed out to see the cause of the crash on the roof of the Swift
homestead.

"There's something up there, Tom," called his father, as he
splashed on through the rain.

"That's right," added his son. "And somebody, too, to judge by
the fuss they're making."

"Maybe the house has been struck by lightning!" suggested the
aged inventor.

"No, the storm isn't severe enough for that; and, besides, if
the house had been struck you'd hear Mrs. Baggert yelling, Dad.
She--"

At that moment a woman's voice cried out:

"Mr. Swift! Tom! Where are you? Something dreadful has
happened!"

"There she goes!" remarked Mr. Swift, as he splashed into a mud
puddle.

"Bless my deflection rudder!" suddenly cried a voice from the
flat roof of the Swift house. "Hello! I say, is anyone down
there?"