“I’m going over to tell Ned and Bob,” Jerry said, rushing from the house. As he hurried down the steps he collided with a youth who was just then passing the house.
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jerry, his breath almost taken away by the sudden impact.
“You did that on purpose! You saw me coming and tried to knock me down!” exclaimed the youth, and Jerry saw it was Noddy Nixon, the old enemy of himself and his chums.
“Why, Noddy,” remarked Jerry, much surprised at the sudden encounter and the identity of the youth. “Where did you come from? Haven’t seen you since—”
Jerry was about to say he had not met Noddy since the time of the chase after the thieves in the motor boat, and the escape of Bill Berry and Noddy, as told in the fifth volume of this series, “The Motor Boys Afloat.” But he thought better of it, and stopped in time.
“Don’t you make any references to me,” said Noddy, as he rubbed his shin, which Jerry had accidentally kicked. “If you spread any scandals about me I’ll have you sued. I’ve a good notion to have you arrested for assault and battery!”
“Look here, Noddy Nixon!” exclaimed Jerry. “I apologized for colliding with you. That’s all I’m going to do. You can put that in your pipe and smoke it,” and without a look at the bully Jerry turned and walked off.
“You’ll pay for this, Jerry Hopkins,” called Noddy. “I’ll get even with you.”
Jerry had heard Noddy threaten like that before, and, generally the bully had found means to make it very uncomfortable for the chums. But Jerry did not fear him, and he felt he could hold up his own end fairly well. As for his friends, he did not worry on their account.