“Guess you’re the only one that’s sorry,” remarked Bob. “Come on, fellows, we’ll help Andy mend his puncture,” he added good-naturedly. “Bachman will put a flea in his ear if he doesn’t come back with the flivver in time for afternoon deliveries.”
“Thanks—do as much for you some day—I’ll get the tire off!” spluttered Andy, leaping back over the fence. “You don’t think the fire’ll start up again, do you?” he asked. “If it does I’d like to climb a ladder—jump in a window—slide down a rope—run——”
“Oh, cut it out!” laughed Ned. “You’ll have us doing it next.”
From his tool box Bob got an emergency tire repair kit, and after the little car belonging to the town butcher had been jacked up, Andy began the not too-easy task of taking off the punctured tire. He had run on it flat to the fire.
“Say, jufellers hear about Noddy Nixon?” asked Andy, while he was waiting for the cement to dry somewhat before putting a patch on the inner tube.
“No, what about that—rat?” asked Ned.
“He’s back in town—that’s all,” was Andy’s information. “Just saw him and Jack Pender get off the train.”
“So Jack’s with him, is he?” asked Jerry.
“Guess Noddy didn’t dare come back alone,” commented Bob. “He needs some one to back him up.”
“I should think he would after what he did in France,” said Jerry bitterly. “Shooting himself to make believe he was wounded in action, so he could be sent to the rear! There isn’t any place too hot for such rats!”