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.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlsensationalan airship.Cautioning the boys who gathered about not to "monkey" with any of themechanism, Tom hastened over to where Mary was standing near her car.Tom Swift And His Undersea SearchCHAPTER VI.MARY'S ODD STORY18"Are you sure you aren't hurt?" he asked her anxiously."Oh, yes, very sure," she replied, smiling at him."It isn't much of anaccidentonly one wheel smashed.We were both going slowly.""But it was all my fault!" insisted a young fellow who had been driving thecar that crashed into Mary's."I'm all kinds of sorry, and of course I'll payall damages.I wanted this young lady to let me drive her home and then send agarage man to tow her car, but she said she had other plans.I don't blame herfor not wanting to ride in my jitney bus when I see what kind of car youhave," and he looked over toward Tom's aeroplane."Thank you, just the same," murmured Mary."I'm not quite sure that it was allyour fault.But if you will be so good as to send a man after my machine I'llgo back with Mr.Swift.Wait until I get my bag," she added, and she extractedit from the seat in her automobile."There'll be room for this, won't there?"she asked."I've been shopping.""You must have made some large purchases," laughed Tom, looking critically atthe small bag."Yes, there'll be room for that, all right."He made a brief examination of Mary's machine, ascertaining that the dishedwheel was the main damage, and then, having given the young man who caused theaccident directions for the garage attendant, Tom led his pretty companionacross the field to the waiting airship.Of course a crowd gathered to see them start off, and this was not longdelayed, as Tom was not fond of curiosity seekers.In a few minutes he andMary were soaring aloft."Well, how are you?" he asked Mary, when they were alone well above the earth."Fine and dandy," she answered, smiling at him, for they were riding side byside and could converse with little difficulty owing to the silent running ofTom's latest invention."I'm sorry to have called you away from your work,"she added, "but when Mrs.Baggert told me you were at the submarine dock Ithought perhaps you could run out and get me in your machine.I didn't expectyou to fly to me.""I'm always ready to do that!" exclaimed Tom, as he shot upward to avoid abank of lowlying clouds."Were you frightened at the crash in the machine?""Not greatly.I saw it coming, and knew it was unavoidable.That chap hasn'tbeen running autos very long, Iimagine, and he lost his head in the emergency.But I had my brakes on and hejust coasted into me.I was lucky in that it wasn't worse.""I should say so! Do you want to get right home?""I think I'd better.Mother and father may be a little worried about me.Andthey've had trouble enough of late.""Trouble!" exclaimed Tom, in a questioning voice."Anything serious?""No, just family financial matters.Not ours she hastened to add, as she sawTom look quickly at her."Arelative.I shouldn't have mentioned it, but father and mother are a littleworried, and I don't want to add to it.""Of course not," agreed Tom."If there's anything I can do?"Tom Swift And His Undersea SearchCHAPTER VI.MARY'S ODD STORY19"Oh, I expected you to say that!" laughed Mary."Thanks.If there is we'llcall on you.But it may all be straightened out.Father was expecting aPage 19ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlmessage from Uncle Barton today.So, though I'd like to take a cloudride withyou, I think I'd better get home.""All right," agreed Tom."I told Ned to telephone that you were all right, sothey won't worry.And now try to enjoy yourself.""I'll try," promised Mary, but it was obvious, even from the quick glances Tomgave her, that she was worried about something.Mary was not her usual,spontaneous, jolly self, and Tom realized it."Well, here we are!" he announced a little later, as they soared above a levelfield not far from her home."Sorry I can't let you down right on your roof, but it isn't flat enough norbig enough.""Oh, I don't mind a little walk, especially as I didn't have to hike it allthe way in from Bailey Corners," she said, referring to the place of theautomobile accident."I suppose the time will come when everybody who now hasan auto will have an airship and a landing place, or a starting place, for itat his own door," she added."Either that, or else we'll have airships so compact that they can set off andland in as small a space as an auto now requires," said Tom."The latter wouldbe the best solution, as one great disadvantage of airships now is the mannerof starting and stopping.It's too big."Tom left his Air Scout in a field owned by Mr.Nestor, where he had oftenlanded before, and walked up to the house with Mary."Oh, I'm glad you're back!" exclaimed Mrs.Nestor, when she saw the two comingup the steps."You weren't worried, were you, after Ned telephoned?" asked Tom
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