“Maybe we won’t be in time,” objected Ned. “I don’t want to miss Mr. Jackson again, if I can help it.”
“Oh, that balloon and aeroplane meet will last for some time,” explained the tall lad. “Mr. Jackson is sure to be around there. We’ll land him this time. It won’t take long to fix up the Comet, if we all get to work on it.”
“It will seem good again to go scooting through the air,” observed Bob.
“Yes; no danger of killing diseased calves up above the clouds,” agreed Jerry, with a laugh.
“I wonder if we’ll see anything of Mr. Sackett on our way back?” said Ned.
“Hope not,” was Bob’s comment, “though we will pass through Tewkesbury Township. I’ve seen all I want to of that swindler.”
They stopped for dinner that day in the same hotel where the deputy cattle inspector had told them of the trick Mr. Sackett had worked on them, and, among the guests at the dinner table was the same deputy himself.
“There’s Mr. Rider,” announced Jerry in a low tone to his two chums, as the waitress helped them to some fried chicken. The inspector caught his name, looked up, and saw the boys.
“Well, if there ain’t the young fellows who go around buying condemned calves!” he exclaimed, getting up from the table to shake hands with them and the professor. “I’m real glad to see you again,” announced Mr. Rider, and he changed his plate over to their table, where he talked interestingly on many subjects.