CHAPTER XX.
CLOSING THE NET.
"Well, things seem to be narrowing down," said Ned the next day, when hecalled on Jerry. "Rather odd, that information about the queer bank billcoming out, wasn't it?"
"It certainly was," agreed Jerry. "I want to get another look at thenote Paul has. Suppose I hunt him up this afternoon?"
"Good idea," commented Ned.
Accordingly Jerry looked up the dapper "Polly," and, after a generalconversation, managed to turn the talk to odd coins and bank bills.
"Do you remember that queer bill you showed me one day, not long ago?"asked Jerry.
"I do," replied Paul.
"Have you got it yet?"
"No, my dear boy, I have not," answered Paul, lighting one of hisperfumed Egyptian cigarettes.
"What--what did you do with it?" asked Jerry, fearing lest the clue hehoped for had gotten away from him.
"I--humph! That's queer, I forget now what I did do with it. Oh, yes! Iremember now. Some young chap, a friend of yours I guess, asked me tosell it to him. He said he thought there was a premium on it. He gave meeleven dollars for it. I made one dollar, so I was satisfied. You knowyou said you were going to see if the bill had any value, but I guessyou forgot it."
"I did, for a fact," said Jerry, sorry now he had not remembered to doas he had promised. "But who has the bill now?"
"I forget the boy's name I sold it to," Paul said in reply, "but hetalks very fast, is always in a hurry, and doesn't seem to have time tobreathe."
"Andy Rush, I'll bet a cooky," cried Jerry.
"That's the name. I thought first it was Andy Hurry, but I remember now,it was Rush. It's the same thing."
"Pretty nearly," agreed Jerry. "Well, I'll be going I guess."
In due time Andy Rush returned from his visit to his aunt. Jerry heardof his home-coming and soon hunted up the rapid chap.
"Did you get home all right?" burst out Andy as soon as he caughtsight of Jerry. "My but that was a storm--wish you could have stayedwith me--I had jolly fun--the horse ran away with me--I got chasedby a bull--fell in the ditch--sprained my wrist, and got kicked by acow--whoop!"
"I say Andy," broke in Jerry, anxious to get on the subject thatinterested him, "have you a queer bank bill that you got from PaulBanner?"
"I have!" exclaimed Andy. "I gave him a dollar extra for it. Ithought it might be valuable--no go--bill is just like any other--nopremium--I'm out a dollar--too bad!"
"I'll buy it from you for just what you gave for it," said Jerryeagerly. "I want it for a particular purpose. Will you sell it?"
"I sure will!" cried Andy. "I don't like to lose money--here it is--gladyou spoke--I would have spent it in a week."
Jerry, who happened to have the necessary amount with him, passed elevendollars over to Andy, and received the odd ten dollar note.
Bidding the boy who was always in a hurry a good-bye Jerry left. Assoon as he was where he could not be observed he examined the bank noteclosely. It tallied exactly with the description given by Mrs. Johnson,just as Jerry had expected it would from his former view of it.
When Ned told his father of the latest developments Mr. Slade said hewould take the matter under advisement. At his direction Jerry handedover the queer bill, Mr. Slade paying what the boy had expended for it.
"I will keep it," said the merchant, "until the time comes to use it.Meanwhile you boys had better say nothing about the matter."
It was three days later when the chums, having gone for a short rideon their motors, stopped one afternoon at a little wayside refreshmentbooth, where the proprietor had cakes, candy, ice cream and soda waterfor sale.
While the boys were eating their refreshments in the shade of a canvasawning the owner of the stand had put up, a horse and carriage, rapidlydriven, passed along the road.
The driver pulled his beast up quickly as he came opposite the booth,and jumped out.
"Hi, Bill," he called to his companion, who was in the carriage. "Comehere and we'll wet our whistle. I'm as dry as a chip."
"It's Noddy Nixon, and Bill Berry is with him!" exclaimed Jerry. "I hopethey don't bother us."
"You're not afraid, are you?" asked Ned.
"Not a bit, but I don't want a row here."
Noddy did not appear to notice the three boys. He ordered some lemonsoda in a blustering tone, and when he paid for it pulled out quite aroll of bills.
"Where'd you get all the money?" the boys heard Bill ask Noddy.
"Oh, I had a little and Jack Pender loaned me the rest," said Noddy witha laugh. "Jack's a soft mark. He'd give me all he had."
"I wish I could find some one as accommodating," said Bill with achuckle, as he drained his glass.
"Come on!" cried Noddy. Then he cast a look over to where the chumswere sitting. He started to walk toward them and seemed about to saysomething.
"Keep quiet!" the boys heard Bill advise Noddy, at the same timegrasping him by the arm. "Don't raise a row with those cubs again. Theyknow too much now!"
"All right!" growled Noddy. "I'd like to punch their heads, though."
Then he and Bill got in their carriage and drove away at a rapid pace.
"Punch our heads!" muttered Bob. "I'd like to see him try it. He'salways talking of it. Why doesn't he do it?"
"I guess he knows it wouldn't be healthy," said Jerry.