“Suppose we can’t?” asked Ned. “Maybe we’ll never see the Comet again. Noddy Nixon may smash it all to pieces.”
“Don’t suggest such a thing!” begged Jerry earnestly. “We’ll get right after Noddy, and we’ll try to get at the bottom of the mystery. If Mr. Bell, or his friends, are in trouble we will help them, and, if necessary, in the Comet, for we’ll get it away from Noddy and Jack. Then we’ll see what will happen.”
“But how are we going to chase after Noddy?” asked Bob. “We haven’t anything that can go as fast as the Comet.”
“Not quite as swiftly, but nearly,” answered Jerry with a smile. “Our automobile! We’ll get that out, and get right on the trail of this mystery! Come on, fellows! We’ve lost enough time as it is! Now for the chase!” and Jerry started back toward his house, followed by his chums and Sud Snuffles.
[CHAPTER IV]
A FARMER’S CLEW
The boys, with Sud, were soon at Jerry’s house. Mrs. Hopkins, looking from the window of her sitting room, saw their excited manners, and, fearing that something had happened, hurried down stairs.
“What’s the matter, Jerry?” she cried. “Is anyone hurt?”
“Only me, Mrs. Hopkins,” replied Sud, who was not a little proud to be thus the centre of attraction. “And I’m not hurt so very much,” he added. “It’s my feelings more than anything. The idea of me letting Noddy Nixon and Jack Pender tie me up the way they did.”