At last came the sad day when they had to reclaim Old Faithful from the hands of Sandy’s dad and say goodbye to their friends. School would reopen in another week, and they had to be heading west.
“Gootpy, poys,” Gunnar called from the rail, as Jerry’s jalopy began to chug away from the loading dock where the Cecil Rogers lay. “Haf goot trip.”
“Send us a picture of your football team,” Cookie yelled, and Sam shouted, “Keep your chin up, boys. Maybe we’ll see you next summer.”
“Goodbye, goodbye,” Sandy Steele and Jerry James cried, and then they were out of sight.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Summer’s End
There was a hint of autumn in the air as Jerry James swung Old Faithful off the highway and up the ramp leading to Valley View. Both boys felt a deep surge of pleasure run through them as they picked out the familiar landmarks that told them they had come home again.
The dusty old jalopy rolled along Ridge Road and past the March mansion.
“Doesn’t look like anybody’s home,” Sandy said.
“That’s what I thought,” said Jerry. “I wonder what happened to our friend Pepper.”
Sandy shrugged. “I don’t know. But it sure was good spending all those weeks without him. Jerry!” he yelled. “Did you hear that?”