CHAPTER XI.
MACHINES FOR BOB AND NED.
That night two very earnest lads implored two fathers to purchasemotor-cycles for them. As Bob and Ned were both sons of well-to-doparents the matter was not much one of cost.
"To tell you the truth," said Mr. Baker to Bob. "I'm a little afraid ofthose machines. They are dangerous."
"I'll be careful," pleaded Bob.
"I know, but that's what every one says at first," objected Mr. Baker.
At the same time the same sort of a conversation was going on in theSlade household.
"You say there's no danger," Mr. Slade was remarking in answer to Ned'sstatement to that effect. "But I heard about Jerry Hopkins and hisexperience this afternoon. It seems to me there was danger there."
It was three days before the two fathers arrived at a decision. Theyhad consulted in the meanwhile, and Jerry's machine had been closelyexamined. Bob and Ned had both taken turns on it, and showed that, aftera little practice, they could run it perfectly. Jerry, also, had becomequite expert.
In the meantime the boys were so engrossed with the idea of motor-cyclesthat they had almost forgotten about the mill robbery. They met,according to appointment, under the tree in the woods, but there wasnothing new to tell. With the discovery of the queer bank bill, and theknowledge that Paul Banner was saving it, the boys resolved to let thematter rest for a while.
The police and detectives, and even the fussy sheriff, had discoverednothing, save that the money was gone, which every one knew. As forNoddy, he did not act like a guilty person. Bill Berry had disappearedfor the time being.
Noddy seemed to have plenty of money. He was careful not to apply to hisfather again, however, and the source of his supply was a mystery exceptto himself. In about a week Mr. Nixon, of his own accord, gave Noddy twohundred dollars.
"I hope you will spend it wisely, my son," he said. "It is wicked towaste money, when so much good can be done with it."
"I say, father," began Bob to Mr. Baker one evening, a little more thana week after the time Jerry had received his prize motor-cycle, "haveyou thought any more about that machine for me?"
"I have made up my mind," went on Mr. Baker, with exasperating slowness,"that you can not--"
"Oh, father!" burst out Bob.
"That you can not get along without one," finished the banker with alaugh, "and so I have ordered one for you."
"Thanks dad!" was all Bob could say, but the two words meant a good deal.
At the same time, according to arrangement between Mr. Baker and Mr.Slade, the latter was announcing to his son Ned, that he could have themuch-wanted machine. If there were two happier boys than Ned and Bob inCresville that night, no one knew where to find them.
"We'll have lots of sport," said Bob. "I know of a dozen trips we cantake, that would be too long for a bicycle."
Three days later the two motor-cycles came, and the chums could hardlywait to unpack them. Bob's and Ned's machines were just like Jerry'sexcept in a few minor points.
Jerry was delighted that his chums' machines had arrived. He got hisown out and soon all three were speeding down the road. In point offastness there was not much to choose from among the three motors. Noneof the boys had risked running the cycles at top speed yet, and at thehalf-way mark each one developed about the same swiftness.
The boys rode for several miles. It was a pleasant day, with a brightsun overhead, while an early morning shower had laid the dust. After anhour's travel Bob said:
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry."
In a few minutes they stopped their motor-cycles in front of a big whitefarm house, and walked up the path to the side door.
On the porch they found a motherly looking woman churning. She smiled atthe sight of the three boys, and took off her apron, which was splashedwith butter-milk, as she came forward to greet them.
"Good-afternoon," she said pleasantly.
"We stopped to see if we could get something to eat," began Jerry."We're willing to pay for it, of course," he added, fearing the womanmight think they were tramps. "Anything will do. Some cookies, a littlemilk or a piece of pie."
"I guess I can fix you something," said the woman. "Hi! You Jason!" shecalled in a loud voice. "Come and run this churn while I set out a lunchfor some visitors."
In answer to her hail an old man shuffled around the corner of the house.
"I'm comin'," he said in a quavering voice. "I'm a leetle mite slow,'cause the rheumatiz catches me to-day, Alvirah. But I'm comin'."
"It's my grand uncle," the woman explained to the boys. "He's almostninety years old, but he can churn as good as I can. Can't you, Jason."
"I reckon so, Alvirah."
While the farmer's wife bustled around to set out a simple meal for theboys, the latter sat out on the porch watching old Jason chum. He movedthe dasher up and down, a queer chugging sound following each stroke.
"How did you come, anyhow? Walk?" asked the old man presently.
"On motor-cycles," replied Ned.
"I didn't know they had them flyin' machines in working order yit,"exclaimed the old man.
"Come on, boys," interrupted the farmer's wife. "I have a littlesomething here for you."
The "little something" proved to be quite a meal. There was nice freshbread, with the best butter the boys had ever eaten. There was alsohoney right from the bee hives, some rich milk, a plate of doughnuts andcheese, and two big pies, one apple and the other peach.
"This is very kind of you," said Jerry. "We didn't want you to go to allthis trouble."
"I'm sure it's no trouble," replied the woman. "I'm glad you came along.It's rather lonesome out this way. We don't often have company."
The boys ate with a will. When they had finished there was not much lefton the table.
"How much do we owe you?" asked Jerry, as he and his chums rose inpreparation to continue their journey.
"Oh, I reckon ten cents will be about right," was the answer. But Jerryinsisted on paying twenty-five cents for each, and, after some argument,the woman accepted it.
Soon the boys were well on the road toward Cresville. They talked ofmany things, and planned several trips in the near future. As theyturned into the main road leading to their homes they heard a chuggingsound behind them.
All three came to a halt, dismounted, and sat down under a tree. Nearerand nearer came the sound of the approaching motor-cycle. Then, in acloud of dust, a solitary rider whizzed past.
"Did you see who that was?" asked Ned. "Noddy Nixon."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I heard the other day that he was going to get a machine.That was him, sure enough."
"I don't think he goes so very fast," observed Jerry.
"He does, all the same," was Bob's opinion. "You can make up your mindNoddy will have as fast a machine as there is built."
"I suppose he bought it with some of the proceeds of the mill robbery,"cried Jerry.
"Hush!" cried Ned. "Don't say such things. Some one might hear you andit would make trouble. Besides, we have not proved Noddy guilty yet."
"Well," said Bob with a shrug of his shoulders, "I hope we don't meethim very often when we are out on the road. He's not the most pleasantfellow in the world."
"There's not much danger of his seeking our company," came from Jerry."He is not overfond of any of us."
The three boys rested for a while beneath the tree and then, as the sunsank, they mounted their cycles, put on good speed, and arrived home intime for supper, bearing excellent appetites, in spite of the good mealthey had had at the farm house.