Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X | Page 3

the chaotic confusion, the boys managed to locate the plant superintendent--a
harried, middle-aged man named Simkins--who was doing his best to restore order.
Simkins, who had not been injured, informed them that electricians were rigging an
emergency telephone line in order to get through to the nearby town of Harkness.
"Mr. Faber is badly injured," Tom said. "Why not send a car? It's only a few miles away,
isn't it?"
"I'll send the plant nurse to him," Simkins said. "As for going to town, take a look at the
parking lot." He pointed with a jerk of his thumb. The cars on the lot had been smashed
into junk by bricks from a collapsing wall of one of the buildings. "And the only truck we
had available was in that burning shed," the superintendent added bitterly.
"Tough break," Tom sympathized. "Anyhow, we want to help. Got a job for us?"
Simkins was only too glad to put Tom's quick mind and keen technical know-how to use.
Within minutes, Tom was in charge of clearing away rubble and extricating anyone who
might be trapped inside the buildings. Bud organized a fire-fighting crew to keep the
blaze in the shed from spreading.
The telephone line was soon repaired and a steady stream of rescue vehicles began
arriving from Harkness--fire trucks, three ambulances, and private cars driven by
volunteers.
Two hours later there was nothing more Tom and Bud could do at the disaster scene and
they hitched a ride into Harkness. The town had suffered some damage, though only
slight compared to the destruction at the plant.
"The center of the quake was right under Faber Electronics," Tom remarked.
From a pay telephone, he called Swift Enterprises in Shopton. This was the experimental
station where he and his father developed their many amazing inventions. Tom asked the
operator to send a helicopter immediately to pick them up. He also called home and
spoke to his sister, Sandra.

"What a relief!" Sandy gasped. "We heard a bulletin about the quake over the radio!"
"Don't worry, Sis. Tell Mother and Dad that we're okay," Tom said. "We'll be home in a
jiffy--with big appetites!"
The helicopter arrived within twenty minutes at the place Tom had named. After landing
at Enterprises, the boys drove to the pleasant, tree-shaded Swift home on the outskirts of
town.
Mrs. Swift, a slender, petite woman, tried not to show concern when she saw the boys,
bruised and disheveled. "I'm so thankful you're both safe!" she murmured.
Blond, blue-eyed Sandy, who was a year younger than Tom, had invited her friend
Phyllis Newton to the house for dinner. Phyl, a pretty, dark-haired girl, was the daughter
of Mr. Swift's long-time friend and business associate, "Uncle Ned" Newton. The two
girls were as much upset as Tom's mother.
Tom laughed. "We're not stretcher cases," he said. "Why, one of the ambulance doctors
checked us out."
Bud groaned. "Why did you have to go and spoil it?" he complained jokingly. "I was all
set for Sandy's cool soothing touch on my fevered brow!"
Mr. Swift came into the living room just then and told Tom how worried Mrs. Swift and
Sandy had been. "I tried to assure them that you and Bud can take care of yourselves in
any crisis." He smiled guiltily as he added, "But I must admit I was more than a little
concerned myself."
As Tom grinned, the resemblance between him and his father was very evident. Both had
the same clean-cut features and deep-set blue eyes, although Tom Jr. was lankier and
taller.
After the two boys had showered and changed their clothes, Mrs. Swift served them a
delicious, hot meal. While they ate, Mr. Swift managed after some difficulty to get a call
through to the Harkness Hospital. His face was grave as he hung up.
"Mark Faber is not expected to live," the elder inventor reported. "A pity. He's a great
scientist."
Tom nodded unhappily. Sandy, to take her brother's mind off the disaster, said, "Dad, tell
Tom and Bud about the visitor who's coming."
"A visitor?" Tom looked at his father.
"From another planet," Mr. Swift revealed.
Both boys were amazed and excited. "Wow!" Bud gasped. "Male or female? Human or
animal?"

Mr. Swift's eyes twinkled. "None of those," he replied as the boys stared, mystified.
CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERIOUS HITCHHIKER
Tom and Bud were bursting with curiosity. Although the Swifts had been in radio contact
with creatures from outer space for many months, this was the most exciting news yet!
On one occasion, the unknown beings had moved a small asteroid--the phantom satellite
Nestria--into orbit about the earth. Later they had sent strange samples of the animal life
of their planet, aboard orbiting missiles, to be studied by the Swifts. They had also helped
Tom,