CHAPTER XXVII.
NODDY NIXON'S MOVE.
When Mr. Slade had been informed of the outcome of the interview withNoddy, he said the boys had acted with caution and wisely.
"We will see if Noddy intends to settle and pay back the money," saidNed's father. "If he does not it is only right that his father should beinformed, also the sheriff and Mr. Judson."
There was nothing to do but to wait until the next day. The three chumsspent some time in wondering what Noddy would do. Then Ned exclaimed:
"Say, we're forgetting all about the race. Here it is Tuesday. The dayafter to-morrow we'll have to make a try for that touring car, and weought to be practicing."
"Yes, and our wheels need overhauling," suggested Jerry. "I'm going toput in new batteries. Don't want to run any risk of the motor missingexplosions when we're on the track, you know."
This was voted a wise precaution, and the motor boys separated, to gohome after their cycles, agreeing to meet in the afternoon on the trackfor practice runs.
Through a good part of the afternoon they went around and around atmoderate speed, testing their motors thoroughly and practicing theturns. Others were doing the same, and no especial attention was drawnto our three heroes.
Along about five o'clock, most of the other prospective contestantshaving gone off, Jerry suggested it would be a good time to give thethree motors a friendly trial. Accordingly a flying start was made fromthe judges' stand, and each of the three boys soon had his cycle goingat almost top speed.
At first there seemed to be little to choose from among them. Theyhung well together at the start, and then Ned began to forge ahead alittle. He had acquired more momentum than the others, perhaps, or thedifference that exists in two motors made exactly the same, gave hiswheel one or two more revolutions a minute than Jerry's or Bob's.
"Are you on full speed?" asked Jerry at length.
"No," replied Ned and Bob.
"Turn on all the power you can," was the suggestion. "Let's see what wereally can do on the track."
The muffled explosions at once became more rapid. The wheels whizzedaround the track faster and faster, and Jerry and Bob began to creep upon Ned, who was leading. Then they passed him, and he was half a lengthbehind. Again Jerry forged in front of Bob, and it seemed that the prizemotor was going to prove the fastest.
But a careful eye could see that Bob was beginning to regain his lostground. The distance between his wheel and Jerry's lessened until, aftertwo more rounds Jerry and the stout youth were riding exactly on a line.Ned was perhaps a length behind.
"I guess this will do," called Jerry. "Shut down!"
Slowly the motors ceased their rapid explosions, and after another turnof the track the three boys came to a halt and dismounted.
"We're pretty evenly matched," said Ned. "My machine didn't do as wellas I expected though."
They separated, arranging to be on hand at the old mill at ten o'clockthe following morning, to clear up the last of the mill robbery mystery.
"Jerry, I wish you would take this message over to Mrs. Northrup's forme," said Mrs. Hopkins to her son, after supper that evening. "I wanther to come and do some sewing for me."
"All right, mother," responded the boy.
"Are you going on your machine?" asked his sister.
"No, sis. I don't want to run any chance of puncturing a tire afterdark. It's too near the race for that. I'm going to walk."
Off Jerry started. Mrs. Northrup lived in a cottage about a mile fromMrs. Hopkins. She was a widow who went out dressmaking. To get to herhouse Jerry had to pass the handsome residence of Mr. Nixon.
He looked at it as he went by on his way to deliver the message. Thereseemed to be no one about, and Jerry wondered if Noddy was at home, andwhat he was doing. Mrs. Northrup was in, and, as she wanted to write areply to the note Jerry had brought, he had to wait a few minutes. Thenthe widow asked him all about himself and his family, and inquired aboutthe coming race, which she had heard Jerry was interested in.
So, though the boy had meant to stay but a short time, he was there thebetter part of an hour, and, when he had the answer to his mother's noteand was on his way back, it was nine o'clock and quite dark.
As Jerry came in front of the Nixon residence he was surprised to see nolights in the house.
"That's queer," he said to himself. "The place is usually well lighted,for they always have company there. I guess Mr. and Mrs. Nixon must beaway from home."
He was about to pass on when he noticed a faint glimmer of light nearthe automobile shed, Mr. Nixon having recently purchased a big touringcar.
"Rather dangerous to go out there with a lantern," Jerry thought,"especially if they have oil and gasolene stored there. I wonder ifNoddy is there?"
There was a side street, rather narrow and seldom used, which extendedalong the Nixon property to the left. It passed close to the automobileshed, and a drive-way had been constructed to enable the machine to betaken out into the side roadway if desired.
Having nothing particular to hurry him, and being of a curious turn ofmind, Jerry decided that he would walk down the narrow thoroughfareand look at the new automobile shed, which he had not seen at closerange. Accordingly he turned from the main street and soon found himselfopposite the shed. He stopped to look at it, and, as he did so, he heardvoices in conversation. At the same time the flicker of a light througha crack in the shed door could be seen.
"I wonder if it's thieves trying to steal the machine," thought Jerry."Guess I'll watch a little while."
He took a position behind a tree where he could see what went on withoutbeing observed. The voices in the shed grew louder.
"I tell you I will take it!" some one exclaimed.
"That's Noddy," said Jerry softly.
"I know what I'm doing," Noddy went on, seemingly in answer to anobjection from some one whose words Jerry could not distinguish. "Youcan come along if you want to, or stay behind."
Jerry shrank closer behind the tree. There was a glare of light as theshed door was opened, and in the beams the boy could distinguish theform of Bill Berry. That he and Noddy were planning some new escapadewas evident.
"Is it all right?" asked Noddy, sticking his head out of the door.
"Yes."
"Come on then," went on the bully. "Put out the light. We've got toescape in the darkness. It's a good thing the folks are away to-night.Well, here is where we leave Cresville behind, and those three cubs thatgot me into this trouble!"
Jerry heard the sound of the motor car being cranked up. Then, as hewaited in the darkness, he saw the big touring machine glide out of theshed under Noddy's guidance.
"Jump in, Bill!" called the youth, and Berry did as requested.
Noddy threw in the gear clutch, and the machine rolled slowly downthe inclined drive-way to the street, right opposite Jerry, who stillcrouched behind the tree.
"He's running away in his father's automobile!" Jerry exclaimed softly."I wonder if I ought to give an alarm?"
"HE'S RUNNING AWAY IN HIS FATHER'S AUTOMOBILE!" JERRYEXCLAIMED, SOFTLY.]
The motor car was now turning out into the main thoroughfare. It bore nolights and made scarcely any noise.
"No," thought Jerry. "Let him go. It may be better that way."
And so Noddy, afraid to face the consequences of his confessed crime,fled from his home. Pondering over what would be the outcome on themorrow, Jerry went home and to bed, resolving to get up early and tellhis chums what he had seen.