"Faith, you won't be asking me twice to do myself the favor," replied Gerald. "Sure I wasn't there to have the pleasure of saving you, but I would have been there if you had sent me word."
"Don't forget the most important part, Nellie," her brother reminded her when she had finished shaking hands.
"Mother sends her regards to you all," went on Nellie, "and hopes you will accept the little present she has sent you."
"But we don't want any reward for what we did," protested Rand.
"It was reward enough to have helped you."
"This isn't a reward," continued Nellie; "just a little token of her esteem. We had it sent down to-day. Frank and I thought if you didn't win the race it might console you a little. We do hope you will like it."
Frank had gone from the room, but returned now with a handsome Dart motorcycle.
"Crickets!" cried Pepper. "I-i-it's a beauty, ain't it?" while the boys gathered around it to examine it. "S-s-say——"
"Whistle it, Pepper," said Jack. "I don't know what it is you want to say, but I guess we all agree with you."
"We can take turns using it."
"We can draw lots for the first ride on it."