“Oh, I guess I kin trust ye,” said the constable with a sheepish grin. “Th’ judge’s house is about a mile down th’ road. He kin hold court there, an’ fine ye, I suppose.”
“But I don’t see what for,” said Jerry. “However, come along.”
They were soon in the auto, and had started off, the two hired men, with their pitchforks, standing in the road with open-mouthed wonder as the car shot away. Ned noticed that Mr. Snook grasped the sides of the seat with nervous hands, as if he expected something to happen at any moment. Chunky was a bit nervous, and Jerry was clearly puzzled. As for the professor he was too much occupied in making notes about the green spider to care whether he was arrested or not.
It was not a long run to the house of Judge Blackford, who lived in a comfortable residence. He himself proved to be a genial, old-fashioned gentleman.
“Well, Enberry,” he observed with a twinkle in his eyes as the auto drove up, “you got the desperadoes, I see.”
“Yep,” answered the constable shortly.
“Did they abuse you much; have much trouble in capturing them?”
“Nope. They come along peaceable enough, though at one time——” and then, thinking that he had not proved himself much of a hero in the spider episode, the constable stopped.
“Out with it!” cried the judge with a laugh. “I’ll find it out sooner or later.”