University of Virginia Library

30. CHAPTER XXX
AN IMPORTANT LETTER.—CONCLUSION

It was a week after the race before Mr. Baker fully made up his mind to let his son have the automobile. Before announcing his decision he had a talk with Mr. Slade and with Mrs. Hopkins.

"It isn't so much letting Bob and his chums have the auto," said Mr. Baker, with a smile, "as it is what they will do after they get it."

"That's so," admitted Mr. Slade. "Still they are ,pretty careful boys, and their experience with the motor cycles has been good training for automobiling for them."

When Bob was informed of the decision he could scarcely keep from jumping up in the air and giving an Indian war-whoop. He raced off to tell his chums.

"It's all right! We get it! Dad just told me! The automobile—touring car—we'll take a lot of trips—start next week—whoop!" Bob shouted.

"You're as bad as Andy Rush!" exclaimed Ned.

"I feel like him!" cried Bob.

Little time was lost in notifying Mr. Wakefield of the boys' decision.

"I'm glad you took that," he said. "I know where I can get a fine, strong, serviceable touring car for the amount of the prize."

"And will you order it at once?" asked Bob eagerly.

"By the next mail," promised the instructor, with a laugh.

The three chums strolled down the main street of Cresville, their happiness showing on their faces. They passed the post-office, and Jerry happened to think of a letter his mother had given him to mail. He stepped inside and, after dropping the envelope in the slot, looked in the family box to see if there was any mail. There was one missive, and, when the clerk had handed it out, Jerry saw that it was addressed to himself. It was postmarked New York.

"I wonder who can be writing to me from there," he said.

He tore open the envelope and took out a small folded paper. It bore no date and began abruptly.

"Well, I like his nerve!" said Jerry, after he had read the letter over a second time. "As if we made him take that money. Look here!" he called to Ned and Bob, showing them the letter.

They were much surprised at the veiled threats contained in the missive.

"I wonder what he thinks he can do to us?" asked Ned.

"How does he come to be in New York?" asked Bob.

"He probably went there in his father's—I mean in his own—automobile," said Jerry. "That isn't much of a trip for a big car."

"Well, I guess we will not let the letter worry us," went on Bob.

"I wonder if when we happen to be touring the west we will meet with Noddy?" said Ned, presently.

"And I wonder if he'd really try to do anything to us," put in Bob.

"Don't talk about it," said Jerry. "We are comfortable now, don't worry about the future."

And then the three chums went home, to wait as patiently as possible for the automobile to arrive. They did not know what was ahead of them, but, as Jerry said, what was the use of borrowing trouble? The future looked rosy indeed.