[CHAPTER XVII]
AN UNEXPECTED OFFER
Blank amazement, despair, fear and anger showed on the faces of the motor boys, as they looked at one another and then at the watchman, Boise. The latter, no less than our heroes, was startled. He saw at once that something was wrong.
“And you let the airship go—our Comet?” asked Jerry, as if he could not believe the words.
“I did. I thought it was all right. This Noddy Nixon said he was a friend of yours, and he had two letters. They were orders on me to give up the airship, and, as I was expecting you any day, I thought it was the thing to do. Here are the orders now,” and he pulled two pieces of paper from his pocket.
“Let’s see ’em!” exclaimed Jerry eagerly.
Bob and Ned looked over his shoulder as the tall lad read. Clearly enough the letters purported to be orders on Boise for the delivery of the Comet. But it needed only a glance to show that they were forgeries.
“I never signed that letter!” cried Jerry wrathfully. “I might have known Noddy would be up to some trick like this.”