CHAPTER II.
A MEAN PLOT.
"Well," began Bob, when the three chums were ready to proceed on theirway, Ned having been brushed off, "I'd like to have Noddy for a closefriend, I don't think! Wonder what makes him so mean?"
"Born so, I s'pose," grunted Ned. "Any one else would have laughed oversuch an accident. He seemed to think I did it on purpose."
"He talks as though he did," ventured Jerry. "I wonder what he'll do toget square?"
"Oh something sneaking, you may depend on it," replied Bob. "That's theway with Noddy and his kind. He's nothing but a big bully. Never fightswith any one but some one he's sure he can whip. I don't know's I couldlick him, but I'd like to try once."
"Me too," said Ned, "after I get over being stiff."
When Jack Pender, who was a toady of Noddy Nixon, called on the latterin a sort of club-house in Nixon's yard that night, he found the bullyin no amiable frame of mind.
"What's the matter?" asked Jack.
"None of your business," snapped Nixon, lighting a cigarette.
"You needn't be so cross," whined Jack, who was used to rather shabbytreatment from the bully, to whom he toadied in the hope of favors.
"I guess you'd be cross if you had the tumble I did to-day," growledNoddy.
"Somebody knock you down?" asked Pender, incautiously.
"Somebody knock me down? I'd like to see 'em try it," boasted Noddy."No. I was out taking a spin, and that young cub of a Ned Slade triedto upset me. I got even with him, though," added Noddy, to whom tellingthe truth did not come natural. "I gave his wheel a twist and sent himflying. I guess he won't forget his fall in a hurry. He got worse than Idid," which was not so, though Jack did not know it.
"Serves him good and right," chuckled the toady. "I can't bear Ned. He'stoo uppish. Thinks because his father has a little money he's betterthan the rest of us. And I haven't any use for his chums, Bob and Jerry."
"Same here," agreed Noddy, lighting another cigarette. "But I'll geteven with 'em. My father has as much money as any of their fathers' has.They needn't think they can down me."
"Bully for you," cried Jack, hoping to curry favor. "I'd like a chanceto get even too."
"Maybe it will come before you think it will."
"What do you mean?" asked Jack in a whisper.
"Never mind," replied Noddy. "I'll tell you when the time comes."
For some time the two cronies sat and talked in the structure, whichNoddy had fixed up as a resort where he might smoke cigarettes, apractice his father had forbidden him.
"Going in the club races?" asked Jack at length. "I hear there will besome fine prizes, and a little chance to make money."
"You mean on the winners?"
"Sure. I got the tips straight from one of the trainers. There'll be apretty penny in it for us."
"It's worth looking into," decided Noddy. "But about my racing. I hadn'tthought of that. I suppose I could go in."
After some further talk both Jack and Noddy decided they would entertheir names for several events in the bicycle class. When they partedthat night they agreed to meet the next evening to discuss details.
Not long after dusk the following night Jack and Noddy were in closeconsultation in "the coop."
"I hear Ned, Bob and Jerry are going to enter the races," said Jack,after a short conversation.
"Why, you're not afraid of them, are you?" asked Jack.
"I know I can beat either Ned, Bob or Jerry. The only thing is I'm notin good training and I can't spare the time. I'm faster than either ofthem for a short sprint," which he was. "But in a long race they mightdown me."
Jack did not think it wise to comment on the bully's change of ideas.
"If the races were hundred-yard dashes I wouldn't worry a bit," saidNoddy. "I could win hands down. But the best race is for three miles,and that--that's rather a long distance for me. If we could fix things--"
"How fix?" inquired Jack.
"Well," proceeded Noddy boldly, "I mean to win that race. There's afirst prize, worth three hundred dollars, and I want it. I'm going toget it. That's all. If I can't win by fair means--"
"I see," whispered Jack softly.
"I'm glad you do," retorted Noddy, lighting a cigarette. "I may needyour help. We must beat them, Jack. I hate them!"
Thereupon the two cronies resumed their whisperings, talking in lowtones, for they were fearful of being overheard in their plotting.
Within the next few days arrangements for the races of the athletic clubwent rapidly on. Bob, Ned and Jerry entered their names, Ned findingthat he had no permanent lameness from his "spill." Noddy and Jack alsohad their names entered. Then all the boys, including many others whohad decided to try for the prizes, began training.
There were several events on the race card. There were ten and five mileraces, but none of the boys thought of trying for them. There were alsoshort distance trys for girls, and also a three mile race, for boys andyoung men between fourteen and nineteen years of age. The first prizewas a three hundred dollar piano, or any other article of that value,and the second and third prizes were of one hundred and fifty and onehundred dollars value respectively. Of course each of our heroes hopedto win big prizes, and there was a keen but friendly rivalry among them.