“Gee, this sure is a welcome surprise!” said the youngest of the Rover boys, and held May’s hand so long it made her blush.
“Remember what I said about Fred?” whispered Jack to Ruth on the side. “I thought he’d be as much interested as you girls.”
“He certainly seems to be very well satisfied,” answered Ruth demurely.
And Fred was satisfied, because ever since he had gone to Colby Hall he and May had been the best of chums.
Jack invited the new arrivals to have some soda and while this was being disposed of told his former school chums of the sudden appearance and disappearance of Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell.
“Bad eggs—both of them!” was Gif’s comment. “If they’re in this neighborhood, you fellows had better keep your eyes open.”
“Gif and I have some news for you,” remarked Spouter, when finishing his soda. “We’ll tell you about it later on. It’s just a little business matter.”
“Are you fellows going into partnership?” questioned Jack quickly.
“No. It’s something else,” answered Gif. “Something I think will please you fellows a whole lot.”
On the way home Gif got in the car Fred had occupied while Fred and Mary joined May and Spouter. On the way towards Dexter’s Corners the Rover boys told about the horse race and how they were going to stop to see how the judges decided.