Marty’s boyish and characteristic outburst put Janice and young Bowman immediately at their ease. Two young people who have laughed heartily together cannot remain strangers.
Frank Bowman stripped off his coat and went to work. The gasoline tank was filled and also the water radiator and the oil box, and he tried out the various parts of the mechanism that could be observed while the car stood still. Something might have become jarred since the car left the factory, and as this very civil engineer said:
“We want to go through Polktown with colors flying. It would be too bad to have a mishap—say about in front of Massey’s drug store—and have all the town gather around and make derisive comments.”
Janice laughed at this, and watched his skillful hands as he went about what seemed to her and Marty a very mysterious task. But the car had been tried out just before it left the salesrooms of the company, and nothing had happened to the mechanism in transit. It seemed to be in perfect condition.
The self-starter acted promptly, and when Marty heard the engine whir and buzz, he tore off his cap, threw it into the air, and cheered.
“Hurrah! that’s the bulliest sound I’ve heard in a long time! Crackey!” cried the young barbarian, “won’t we scare the hosses and hens into fits along these old roads? Say, Frank! you’ll teach me to run it, too, won’t you?”
“You’ll have to fix that with your cousin,” laughed the young civil engineer. “I am going to teach her, if she will allow me, first of all. Get in, Miss Janice. I believe we shall be able to make Hillside Avenue in fine style.”
“Hold on!” cried Marty. “Don’t leave a feller behind,” and he pulled open the door of the tonneau and jumped in. “I only hope we meet Walky Dexter. I’d like to see if that old crow-bait of his could be scared into a show of life for once.”
“Mercy, Marty!” said Janice. “Don’t hope for such perfectly horrid things to happen. I want to have a good time with this car; but I don’t want anybody else to have a bad time because of it.”
Marty chuckled. “What do you suppose will happen if you ever meet the Hammett Twins on the road with their old Ginger?”