“The quarter,” replied Teddy. “I’m going to ride back, you know.”
Tom pushed the hand away with a smile. “That’s all right, Teddy, I don’t want your money. Climb in, fellows!”
So The Ark trundled back to the village, completing its first, and unsuccessful, trip.
CHAPTER X
THE FIRST PASSENGER
Discouragement didn’t last long, however. After they had dropped Jerry and Teddy they turned back into Linden Street and stopped at a sign painter’s. After some bargaining the proprietor agreed to paint them a small cardboard sign for fifty cents and have it ready by half-past one. “Any Part of the City, 25 Cents” was the legend decided on. Then it was dinner time and Willard dropped out at his house and Tom took The Ark back to Cross Street.
The sign was ready for them when they called for it, but it was still pretty sticky. The painter looped a cord through it so they could hang it from the car and they went off in high spirits to meet the 1:57. They were confronted by something of a problem. If they secured any passengers from that train and took them uptown they couldn’t possibly get back in time to meet the 2:06.
“What we need,” said Willard with a laugh, “is another automobile.”
“Maybe,” Tom answered, “but I’m wondering whether we haven’t got one too many as it is. If we can’t get folks to ride with us——”