“I—yes—of course we will!” cried Bob so quickly that both his chums laughed, and Mr. Blackford looked at them curiously.
“Then the court is adjourned,” went on the magistrate. “Come in, boys, after you leave your auto in the barn. You needn’t wait, Enberry.”
“All right,” answered Mr. Snook, who hurried off, looking over his shoulder as if he feared he might see more spiders.
The boys found Judge Blackford to be a most congenial host. It developed that he and Professor Snodgrass had once attended the same preparatory school, and the pair exchanged pleasant memories.
The judge explained how Noddy had probably proceeded.
“After his tires were repaired,” he said, “the Nixon fellow must have hurried on, following you. He figured out that you would have to pass through here, as this is the main road. Then he went to Middleville, swore out a warrant, which he had no right to do under the circumstances, and the rest you know. I am sorry you were inconvenienced.”
“Oh, it’s all right,” said Bob. “We’ll probably have a better meal than if we ate in the auto; eh, fellows?”
“Say, Chunky, you are the limit!” cried Jerry, and then he had to explain to the judge their chum’s failing.
The magistrate, however, took quite a liking to Bob, and soon there was a merry party gathered at the table. The evening was spent pleasantly, and there were plenty of comfortable beds in the judge’s big, old-fashioned house, where he and his wife lived with some old servants.
Nine o’clock came next morning, but Noddy Nixon did not appear.