“Am I going to race? Well not in this place,” replied Pete gravely. “I came to watch over you boys. Be a sort of general overseer as it were. Look after the wheels and see that they get full meals,” he added without a smile.
From which it may be inferred that Mr. Bumps was something of a character.
Indeed at one time he had been a well educated man. But an injury to his head, caused by a fall, and a number of misfortunes, had displaced him from a life of comparative wealth, and had made him a sort of foolish, though very loving, elderly man. Mr. Baker had taken pity on him and made a place for him, for which poor Old Pete Bumps, as he called himself, was very grateful. He was very fond of children, especially boys, and was always looking after the interests of Bob and his chums.
“Now Pete can look after our wheels,” said Bob. “I was wondering who we could leave in charge between the heats, and while we were dressing. He’ll be the very one.”
“Surely will I, e’en though I die,” said Pete gravely, for he had a habit of making extemporaneous rhymes on all occasions, which jingles sometimes fitted and sometimes did not.
“All right, Pete,” said Bob. “Come on over here,” and he led the hired man to where the boys had left their three wheels in charge of a lad of their acquaintance, who had agreed to stand guard at the rate of five cents a half hour. Pete gravely squatted down on the grass near the bicycles.
Relieved of the responsibility of guarding their mounts, the trio of lads wandered about the grounds of the club. There was much bustle and excitement. New riders were constantly arriving and going out on the track to warm up. Hundreds of spectators were coming afoot, or in carriages or automobiles. Flags waved gaily in the wind, and the whole scene was a spirited one. A bevy of girls coming up the road that led to the entrance of the grounds attracted the attention of our three heroes.
“Looks like my sister Susie with that red dress on,” said Bob.
“And that seems to be Julia, in that green hat,” observed Jerry. “Yes, that’s her,” he went on. “I can tell by her laugh,” he added, as a merry peal floated over the green field.
“Who are the girls with them?” asked Ned, who had no sisters, but who was as fond of girls as they were of him.