,*APT] ,EI<TE5

,! ,BROK5 ,BRIDGE

  ,DR4 ,KURTZ LOOK$ Z GRAVE Z DID ,DR4
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PATI5T4 ,MR4 ,SWIFT 0 / 9 A SEMI-3SCI\S
3DI;N1 H>DLY BR1?+ Z HE RE/$ ON ! B$ ":
!Y _H PLAC$ HM AF ! FIRE4
  8,VELL10 SD ! ,G]MAN PHYSICIAN1 AF A
L;G SIL;E1 8VOT IS YR OB9ION1 MY DE>
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  8,I ?9K AN OP],N IS NEC40

8,YES1 DOT IS S2 B Y "K VOT K9D ( AN
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AL"O VILL SAFE HM2 EH1 MY DE> ,GLADBY80

  ,DR4 ,GLADBY NO4$4
  8,X W 2 A R>E & DELICATE "O10 HE SD4
8,"! IS B "O SURGEON ,I "K ( :O C D X40
  8,Y M1N ,H]R ,H5DRIX80 ASK$ ,DR4
,KURTZ4


8,YES1 ,DR4 ,$W>D ,H5DRIX1 ( ,KIRKVILLE4
  ,IF HE C 2
9DUC$ 6-E ,I ?9K "! IS A *.E ( SAV+ ,MR4
,SWIFT'S LIFE4 ,I'LL SP1K 6,TOM AB X40

  ,! TWO PHYSICIANS1 :O _H BE5 3SULT+
TGR1 SUMMON$ ! Y\? F ANO!R ROOM1 ":1 )
,MRS4 ,BA7]T & ,MR4 ,JACKSON HE _H BE5
ANXI\SLY AWAIT+ ! V]DICT4
  8,:AT IS X80 ! "Y 9V5TOR ASK$ ,DR4
,GLADBY4

,! M$ICAL MAN TOLD HM 6:AT 3CLU.N HE & 8
COLL1GUE _H >RIV$1 A4+3

  8,WE ADVISE T ,DR4 ,H5DRIX 2 S5T = AT
ONCE4 ,B ,I NE$ H>DLY TELL Y1 ,TOM1 T HE
IS A NOT$ SPECIALI/1 & 8 S]VICES >E 9
GRT DEM&4 ,HE IS H>D 6GET40
  8,I'LL PAY HM ANY SUM HE ASKS60 BUR/ \
! Y\?4 8,I'LL SP5D ALL MY =TUNE--& ,I H
MADE 3SID]A# M"OY ( LATE--,I'LL SP5D E
C5T 6GET MY "F WELL6 ,M"OY NE$ N /& 9 !
WAY1 ,DR4 ,GLADBY40

8,I KNEW T1 ,TOM4 ,/ ,DR4 ,H5DRIX IS A
V BUSY MAN1 & X IS H>D 69DUCE HM TO
-E A L;G 4T.E4 ,X IS OV] A HUNDR$ MILES
6,KIRKVILLE1 & X IS AN \-(-!-WAY PLACE4
,I N"E CD "U/& :Y ,DR4 ,H5DRIX
SETTL$ "!4 ,B "! HE IS1 & IF WE WANT HM
HE W H 6-E F "!4 ,! WOR/ (
X IS T "! >E FEW TRA9S1 & ONLY A S+LE
RAILROAD L9E F "! 6,%OPTON40

8,!N ,I'LL TELEGRAPH10 DECID$ ,TOM4
  8,I'LL (F] HM 8
[N PRICE1 & ASK HM 6RU% "H Z SOON Z HE
  C40

  8,Y _H BETT] LET ,DR4 ,KURTZ & ME
ATT5D 6T "P ( X10 SU7E/$ ! PHYSICIAN4
8,DR4 ,H5DRIX WD H>DLY -E ON ! REQUE/ (
"S "O :OM HE DID N "K4 ,I'LL PREP>E A
TELEGRAM1 BRIEFLY EXPLA9+ ! CASE4 ,X IS
! SORT ( AN OP],N ,DR4 ,H5DRIX IS M*
9T]E/$ IN1 & ,I ?9K HE W -E ON T A3.T1
IF = NO O!R R1SON4 ,I'LL WRITE \ !
MESSAGE1 & Y C H ,ERADICATE TAKE X 6!
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  8,I'LL TAKE X MYF60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM1 Z
HE GOT R1DY 6G \ 96! NI<T )! URG5T
REQUE/4 8,IS "! ANY IMM DANG] = MY "F80
HE ASK$4
  8,NO2 N ANY IMM DANG]10 REPLI$ ,DR4
,GLADBY4 8,B ! OP],N IS IMP]ATIVE IF HE
IS 6LIVE4 ,X IS 8 "O & ONLY *.E40
  ,TOM ?"\ ONLY ( 8 "F Z HE HURRI$ ON "?
! NI<T4 ,EV5 ! PROSPECT (! GRT RACE1 S
SOON 6TAKE PLACE1 _H NO "P 9 8 M9D4
  8,I'LL N RACE UNTIL ,I'M SURE DAD IS
GO+ 6GET BETT]10 HE DECID$4 ,)! MESSAGE
6! NOT$ SPECIALI/ ,TOM AL S5T "O 6,MR4
,DAMON1 TELL+ HM ! NEWS1 & ASK+ HM 6-E
6,%OPTON4 ,TOM FELT T ! PRES;E (! ODD
G5TLEMAN WD HELP HM1 & ,MR4 ,DAMON1 :O
F/ 9T5D$ 6/AY ON AT ! ,SWIFT HOME UNTIL
HE & ,TOM DE"P$ = ,EAGLE ,P>K1 _H G"O
BACK 6HIS [N RESID;E 6ATT5D 6"S BUSI;S
,TOM KNEW HE WD -E 9 ! MORN+1 & ,MR4
,DAMON DID >RIVE ON ! F/ TRA94
  8,B.S MY S\L60 HE EXCLAIM$ ) R1DY
SYMPA?Y1 Z HE EXT5D$ 8 H& 6,TOM4 8,:AT'S
ALL ?80 ,! "Y 9V5TOR TOLD HM1 2G9N+ )!
FIRE T _H BE5 ! CAUSE (! EXCITE;T :
PRODUC$ ! *ANGE 9 ,MR4 ,SWIFT4
  8,B ,I H GRT HOPES T ! SPECIALI/ W 2
A# 6CURE HM10 SD ,TOM1 =1 )! -+ (
"DLI<T1
8 C\RAGE _H RETURN$ 6HM4 8,DR4 ,GLADBY &
,DR4 ,KURTZ DEP5D A GRT D1L ON ,DR4
,H5DRIX10 HE SD4
  8,YES1 HE C]TA9LY IS A WOND];L MAN4 ,I
H HE>D A GRT D1L AB HM4 ,I H NO D\BT B
:AT HE W CURE YR "F4 ,B AB ! FIRE8 ,H[
DID X />T80

8,I DON'T "K1 B N[ T ,I H A FEW H\RS
  6SP>E
2F ! DOCTOR C GET "H1 ,I'M GO+ 6MAKE AN
EXAM9,N40

  8,B.S MY P5WIP]1 B ,I'LL HELP Y40
  ,TOM W5T 96! H\SE1 69QUIRE ( ,MRS4
,BA7]T1 = PROBABLY ! T5? "T T MORN+1 H[
8 "F 0 DO+4 ,MR4 ,SWIFT 0 / 9 A SEMI-
3SCI\S 3DI;N1 B HE RECOGNIZ$ ,TOM1 :5 !
Y\? /OOD AT 8 B$SIDE4
  8,DON'T WORRY AB ME1 SON10 SD ! BRAVE
OLD 9V5TOR1 Z HE TOOK ,TOM'S H&4 8,I'LL
2 ALL "R4 ,G AH1D & GET R1DY =! RACE4 ,I
WANT Y 6W960
  ,TE>S CAME 96,TOM'S EYES4 ,WD 8 "F 2
WELL 5 6ALL[ HM 6TAKE "P 9 ! BIG EV5T8
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  ,0"DLI<T X 0 SE5 T Q A HOLE _H BE5
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,DAMON1 A3OMPANI$ 0,MR4 ,JACKSON1 WALK$
"? ! PLACE4
  8,& Y SAY ! FIRE BROKE \ "R AF Y _H
SE5 ! MY/]I\S AIR%IP HOV]+ OV] ! H\SE80
ASK$ ! E35TRIC MAN4

8,WELL1 N EXACTLY AF10 ANSW]$ ,TOM1 8B
  )9 AN
H\R OR S4 ,:Y D Y ASK80

  ,B ,MR4 ,DAMON DID N ANSW]4 ,"S?+ ON !
FLOOR (! %$1 AMID A PILE ( BLACK5$ &
*>R$ PIECES ( WOOD1 ATTRACT$ 8 ATT5;N4
,HE /OOP$ OV] & PICK$ X UP4
  8,IS ? YRS80 HE ASK$ ,TOM4
  8,NO4 ,:AT IS X80
  ,! OBJECT LOOK$ L A SMALL IRON BALL1
)A TUBE AB HALF AN 9* 9 DIAMET] PROJECT+
SLI<TLY F X4 ,TOM TOOK X'4
  8,:Y1 X LOOKS L AN 9F]NAL MA*9E OR A
DYNAMITE BOMB10 HE SD4 8,I WOND] ": X
CAME F8 ,GUESS ,I'D BETT] DROP X 9 A
PAIL ( WAT]4 ,MAYBE ,ERADICATE F.D X &
BR"\ X "H4 ,I N"E SAW X 2F4 ,MR4
,JACKSON1 PL1SE H& ME T PAIL ( WAT]4
,WE'LL SOAK ? BOMB40
  8,"! IS NO NE$10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON1
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"W4 ,X 0 T : SET FIRE 6YR %$1 & : CAUS$
! /IFL+ FUMES40
  8,T80 CRI$ ,TOM4
  8,YES4 ,? BALL IS HOLL[1 & 0 FILL$ )A
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DRIPP+ D[N 9SIDE SPR1D ! *OK+ ODORS T
NE>LY PREV5T$ Y F GETT+ \ YR AEROPLANE40
  8,>E Y SURE ( ?80 ASK$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
  8,POSITIVE4 ,I R1D AB ^! BOMBS
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ATTACK+ A 2SIEG$ C;Y 9 CASE ( W>40
  8,B H[ DID ? "O GET ON MY %$ RO(80
ASK$ ,TOM4
  8,X 0 DROPP$ "! 0! MY/]I\S AIR%IP60
EXCLAIM$ ! ODD MAN4 8,T 0 :Y ! AEROPLANE
MOV$ AB OV] YR PLACE4 ,^? 9 X HOP$ T !
FIRE WD N BR1K \ UNTIL Y 7 ALL ASLEEP1 &
T ! %$ &! ,HUMM+-,BIRD WD 2 DE/ROY$ 2F Y
CAME 6! RESCUE4 ,"S ( YR 5EMIES >E / AF
Y1 ,TOM40
  8,& X 0 ,&Y ,FOG]1 ,I'LL WAG]60 HE
CRI$4 8,HE 0 9 T AIRCRAFT6 ,OH1 ,I'LL H
A L;G SCORE 6SETTLE ) HM60
  8,( C\RSE Y C'T 2 SURE X 0 HE10 SD
,MR4 ,DAMON1 8B ,I WDN'T 2 A BIT
SURPRIS$ B :AT X WAS4 ,&Y IS CAPA# ( S*
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RACE40
  8,WELL1 HE %A'N'T60 CRI$ ,TOM1 & !N HE
?"\ ( 8 9VALID "F4 ,!Y MADE A FUR!R
EXAM9,N (! %$1 & 4COV]$ ANO!R EMPTY
BOMB4 ,!N ,TOM RECALL$ HAV+ SE5 "S?+
DROP F ! MY/]I\S AEROPLANE Z X PASS$ OV]
! %$4
  8,X 0 ^! BOMBS10 HE SD4 8,WE C]TA9LY
_H A N>R[ ESCAPE6 ,OH1 WAIT UNTIL ,I
SETTLE MY SCORE ) ,&Y ,FOG]60
,Z "! WD 2 B LL USE =! AEROPLANE %$ N[1
IF ,TOM S5T 8 CRAFT (F 6! MEET1 X 0
DECID$ 6REPAIR X TEMPOR>ILY ONLY1 UNTIL
HE RETURN$4
  ,ACLY1 A BIG T>PAUL9 0 FA/5$ OV] !
HOLE 9 ! RO(4 ,!N ,TOM PUT A NEW W+ TIP
ON 9 PLACE (! "O T _H BE5 SCOR*$4 ,HE
LOOK$ ALL OV] 8 SKY RAC]1 & DECID$ T X 0
9 FIT 3DI;N =! -+ MEET4
  8,I'LL 2G9 6TAKE X A"P = %IP;T1 Z SOON
Z ,I HE> F ! SPECIALI/ T DAD IS WELL 5 =
ME 6G10 HE SD4
  ,X 0 A FEW H\RS AF ! 4COV]Y (! EMPTY
BOMB T ,TOM SAW ,DR4 ,GLADBY -+ AL;G4 ,!
PHYSICIAN 0 URG+ 8 HORSE 6TOP SPE$4 ,TOM
FELT A VAGUE FE> 9 8 HE>T4
  8,I'VE GOT A MESSAGE F ,DR4 ,H5DRIX1
,TOM10 HE SD1 Z HE /OPP$ 8 C>RIAGE1 &
APPROA*$ ! LAD4
  8,:5 C HE -E80 ASK$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1
EAG]LY4
  8,HE C'T GET "H1 ,TOM40
  8,C'T GET "H6 ,:Y N80
  8,2C ! RAILROAD BRIDGE HAS COLLAPS$1 &
"! IS NO WAY 6-E4 ,HE C'T MAKE ANY O!R
3NEC;NS 6GET "H 9 "T--IN "T 6D YR "F ANY
GD1 ,TOM4 ,HE HAS J S5T ME A TELEGRAM 6T
E6ECT4 ,DR4 ,H5DRIX C'T GET "H1 &'''0
,DR4 ,GLADBY PAUS$4

8,D Y M1N T MY "F MAY DIE IF ! OP],N IS
N P]=M$80 ASK$ ,TOM1 9 A L[ VOICE4

  8,YES10 0 ! ANSW]4
  8,B C'T ,DR4 ,H5DRIX DRIVE "H 9 AN
AUTO80 ASK$ ! LAD4 8,SURELY "! M/ 2 "S
WAY ( GETT+ OV] ! RIV]1 EV5 IF !
RAILROAD BRIDGE IS D[N4 ,C'T HE CROSS 9
A BOAT & DRIVE "H80
  8,HE WDN'T 2 9 "T1 ,TOM4 ,DON'T Y
"U/&1 ,DR4 ,H5DRIX M/ 2 "H )9 F\R H\RS1
IF HE IS 6SAVE YR "F'S LIFE4 ,HE N"E CD
D X 0DRIV+ OR 0-+ ON "S O!R ROAD1 OR 9
AN AUTO4 ,HE C'T MAKE ! PROP] 3NEC;NS4
,"! IS NO WAY40
  8,YES1 "! IS60 CRI$ ,TOM1 SU45LY4 8,I
"K A WAY60
  8,H[80 ASK$ ,DR4 ,GLADBY1 ?RILL$
0,TOM'S R++ T"OS4 8,H[ C Y D X1 ,TOM80
  8,I'LL G = ,DR4 ,H5DRIX 9 MY ,HUMM+-
,BIRD40
  8,GO+ = HM WD D NO GD4 ,HE M/ 2 BR"\
"H40
  8,& S HE % BE60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,I'LL BR+
HM "H 9 MY SKY RAC]--IF HE HAS ! N]VE
6/& ! J\RNEY1 & ,I ?9K HE HAS6 ,I'LL BR+
,DR4 ,H5DRIX "H60 & ,TOM HURRI$ AWAY
6PREP>E =! ?RILL+ TRIP4


















