“How do you generate your electricity?” he asked eagerly.

“By a device geared to the rear axle,” answered Tom.  “It runs a sort of dynamo, though it would be difficult for you to understand it if I went into details.  It’s something like the ordinary generator and turns a constant stream of ‘juice’ into the storage batteries that, in turn, feed the engines.”

“Yes, that’s all plain enough,” said the inquisitive Dick, “but how do you get your power for starting?”

“If there is not enough juice in the storage batteries for the purpose we resort to compressed air,” was the reply from Tom, for Jack, with keen eyes on the unrolling ribbon of road, was too busy to have his attention distracted.

“And that?” Dick paused interrogatively.

“Is pumped into a pressure tank as we go along.  See that gauge?” he pointed to one on the dashboard of the car in front of the driver’s seat.

Dick nodded.

“Well, that’s a pressure gauge.  You see, we have sixty pounds of air in the tank now.  That can generate enough electricity to start the car going.  After that the process is automatic.”

“Yes, you explained that.  Suppose the tank should, through an accident, be empty, and you wanted to start?”

“We’ve provided for that”

“I expected so.  Wabbling wheels of Wisconsin, you fellows are certainly wonders.”

“Nothing very wonderful about it,” disclaimed Tom.  “Well, if we find the tank is empty we have a powerful, double-acting hand pump by which, without much effort, we can get up any pressure we need.”

“And then you turn a valve?”

“Exactly, and the air-motor turns over the dynamo which starts generating electricity right away.”

“Then, except for the first cost of the car, the expense of operating it is comparatively nothing?” asked Dick.

“Yes, you might say we get our power out of the air, and that’s free—­so far.”

“And there’s no limit, then, to what you can do or where you can go with the Electric Monarch?”

“None; that is, so long as the machinery holds out.  We are independent of fuel and the lubricating system is so devised that the oiling is automatic and requires attending to only once a month.  We could easily carry a year’s supply of lubricant.”

“Tall timbers of Taunton!” burst out Dick enthusiastically.  “You’ve solved the problem of the poor man’s car.  All the owner of an Electric Monarch has to do is to pump a little pump-handle or press a little button and he’s off without it costing him a cent.  My story will sure make a big sensation!”

“Well, you want to tone down that part about its not costing a cent,” chimed in Jack as they coasted down a hill.  “The expense of the motor and the self-lubricating bearings and so on is pretty steep.  But we hope in time to be able to cheapen the whole car.”

They were shooting swiftly down the hill as he spoke.  The next moment he looked ahead again as they shot round a curve.  As they did so his hand sought a button and an ear-splitting screech arose from a powerful siren.