“I wonder where he’s been all this while,” Jerry mused, as he continued on toward Bob’s house. “He has a queer way of disappearing and coming back at the most unexpected times.”
“What’s the matter, going into your second childhood, Jerry?” some one asked, and Jerry looked up suddenly, to see Bob standing in front of him.
“Hello, Chunky,” he called. “What’s that?”
“You were talking to yourself like an old man,” explained Bob. “I was getting worried about you.”
“Oh, I just had a little run-in with Noddy Nixon,” Jerry explained, smiling as he recalled how well his words described what had taken place.
“So he’s back, eh? Well, look out for trouble.”
“Guess it can’t amount to much. We will be away from here in another week.”
“Did your mother get the cottage?”
“Sure. Come on, let’s tell Ned.”
The three boys were soon at Bob’s house discussing their plans in detail. Their interest in them made them forget Noddy and the trouble he threatened. But, had they seen a letter which the bully posted a short time after, addressed to Bill Berry, and accepting a certain invitation, they might have felt a little worried.