“Besides,” went on Bob, “we want to hear about the sixty nuggets of gold. There’s more interest in listening to a yarn about real gold than in seeing Noddy get fooled over something that isn’t gold; eh, Jerry?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, well, if you’re both against me, of course I’ll have to give in,” sighed Ned; “but I sure would like to see the look on Noddy’s and Bill’s faces when they hear that they’ve been stung. They don’t realize it yet, for they were some distance off when the old gentleman explained about it being his watch that caused the lode of gold.”
“That’s right,” put in Mr. Brill. “Curious how I got fooled myself that same way. But at least I knew it was gold, and I was so surprised at finding it in that place that I never stopped to look at the character of it.”
“Me either,” chimed in Jim Nestor. “But if you boys want to hear the story I guess Harvey is ready to tell it, and then, if you’re agreeable, we’ll start after the sixty nuggets of gold.”
“Hurray!” yelled Bob. “That’s great! Off for the border and the golden West!”
“Hush!” exclaimed Jerry, placing his hand on his chum’s arm.
“What’s the matter?” asked the stout lad, looking around.
“Well, there’s no use informing the whole town about what we may do,” went on Jerry, in a low voice. “Besides——” He paused suddenly, and continued—“well, let’s go in and talk it over.”