Part 28 (1/2)
”Until I see you in the morning, yes,” laughed Paul. ”Don't be surprised if I pop in on you unexpectedly. Perhaps I may not want any one to see me go in your house, and so I might come by the back door.”
Jack looked at him in a whimsical way and shook his head.
”You've got me guessing, all right, my boy,” he declared.
Paul instantly changed the subject, after a way he had.
”The boys are getting on fine in that water boiling test, aren't they?
Four had it in nine minutes, and Wallace beat his own record by nearly half a minute. That is going to be one thing Stanhope must excel in,” he said.
”Yes,” remarked Jack, falling in readily enough with his companion's desire to ”talk shop,” ”and those photographs couldn't well be beaten.
What a lot of new and interesting facts some of the trackers have dug out of the trails they followed. The papers read fine. Paul, I really begin to believe we're going to make a strong bid for that banner.”
Paul did not reply, and on Jack turning his head to ascertain why, he found his chum staring at a red automobile that had just whizzed past!
It had a khaki-colored top!
CHAPTER XXIII
THE RED CAR
”What's the matter with you, Paul?”
Jack asked this question, for of course he could not understand why his chum should take such a deep interest in any automobile that pa.s.sed them on the road.
”Did you happen to see inside that red car as it went by?” asked Paul, turning eagerly on his friend.
”Why, er--yes, I did chance to be looking over your shoulders just then; I was a little afraid the wheels might graze you,” admitted Jack.
”Do you know the machine, then?” asked the other, in some suspense.
”Don't believe I ever saw it before; but then, what of that? Don't dozens pa.s.s along here every day, that come up from the city? It's common to see a strange car, even if it has got a khaki-colored top, instead of a plain black one. Hey, Paul! what ails you?” demanded Jack.
”It wasn't Colonel Strange, was it?” asked the other; for the gentleman mentioned happened to possess a red auto.
”Of course it wasn't, because his car has a black top; and besides, neither of the two men was the fat colonel,” replied Jack, immediately.
Paul had learned something already.
”Then there were two men in it, you say?” he went on, casually, as though much of his interest had abated.
”Yes, and one of them was staring at me to beat the band. Perhaps he has lost a boy, and thinks I look like him. Don't let him kidnap me, will you, Paul?” went on Jack with pretended anxiety, as he clung to his companion's arm.
”Say, look there, the car's stopped. I believe they're waiting for us!”
declared Paul, in some excitement.
”Well, that's what gave me such a scare, you see. That's why I'm shaking all over, Paul. But in union there is strength; and I'm going to hang on to you, if he tries to coax me to get aboard. I'm not in the long lost cla.s.s.”