Part 2 (1/2)
”I know,” Nancy returned. ”Don't worry. You may be sure Mr. Weston will pay it-one way or another. Right now, we must get out of this mess!”
”How'll we get home with the b.u.mper dragging?” George questioned.
”We'll have to find a garage,” Nancy said as the girls seated themselves once more in the convertible.
Nancy started again and slowly moved forward. George groaned. ”The rear of this car sounds as if it were about to fall out!”
Just then Nancy was forced to a halt by the b.u.mper-to-b.u.mper traffic. The girls might have been held up indefinitely on the hillside, but fortunately a young man stepped in to act as a traffic policeman. In a few minutes he had the line of cars moving steadily. By the time the girls reached the exit of the Raybolt grounds, the tangle was fairly well straightened out.
To Nancy's surprise, she saw that the young man was the same one who had moved her convertible a short time before.
”I did misjudge him,” she chided herself. ”He was only trying to help and didn't have the slightest intention of stealing my car. How silly of me!”
On the main road at last, Nancy pulled off to the side to learn the full extent of the damage to her car. While she was surveying the rear axle doubtfully, the young man came over and offered his services.
”I'm Ned Nickerson,” he declared with a warm smile. ”Anything I can do?”
”Yes,” Nancy said. ”Please tell us how far it is to the nearest service garage. Another car banged into mine-as you can see.”
”There's a garage at Mapleton-about two miles away.”
”I wonder if my car will hold together even that short distance.”
”It should, if your axle isn't badly damaged.”
”But with the b.u.mper dragging-”
”I'll fix that. I might as well pull it off entirely.”
With a strong, deft twist, Ned Nickerson tore the b.u.mper loose and placed it in the trunk compartment.
”Look here!” he proposed suddenly. ”I'm going to Mapleton-my home's there. I'll keep close behind your car and push it if necessary.”
”Thanks a lot,” Nancy said gratefully, ”but I don't like to trouble you.”
”No trouble at all. Glad to do it.”
She smiled and introduced herself and the other girls.
When the four reached the Mapleton garage, a mechanic inspected the convertible and said, ”I'm afraid I can't have this car ready for at least an hour, miss. Even at that I can't touch the fender or taillights. You'll have to leave the car until tomorrow or else get the work done at your home garage. The best I can do now is fix you up so you can make it home.”
”An hour, you say?” Nancy asked. ”I suppose we'll have to wait, but we're in a hurry to get to River Heights.”
”How about my treating to ice-cream sodas while we wait,” Ned suggested. ”There's a drug store across the street.”
The girls accepted and phoned their homes about the delay. The hour pa.s.sed quickly. After a gay get-acquainted session, Ned accompanied Nancy, Bess, and George back to the garage.
”I'll have the car ready in ten minutes,” the mechanic promised.