CHAPTER XXI—AN EXPLANATION IN PART
It was the middle of the afternoon when the Go Ahead boys returned to George’s home. Apparently they had not been cast down by their failure to obtain information concerning the missing car. Indeed, as one of the boys laughingly remarked, George was the only one deeply and personally concerned in the loss and if he did not feel discouraged there certainly was no reason why his friends should be despondent.
On the broad piazza of the old farmhouse the boys sat for a half-hour talking over the experiences of the day. Different suggestions were made as to possible plans that might be adopted in the search for the stolen automobile.
“I’m not thinking so much about the car as I am about what we saw to-day at Morristown,” said Grant thoughtfully. “I feel almost as if I had stepped right back into the eighteenth century.”
“My friend,” said Fred soberly, “that is where you belong. I have often been puzzled to know how to account for some of the strange traits of your peculiar personality. You have hit the nail now squarely on the head. You have been born one hundred and forty years too late. You are a rare old antique.”
The boys laughed as Grant arose from his seat and lifting his diminutive friend bodily from the chair in which he was seated, he dropped him over the rail.
“When you grow up,” he called, “and learn to behave you may come back here.”
“I’m not coming back,” called Fred glibly.
“We’ll try to live through our disappointment,” said Grant.
“You’ll be disappointed all right the next time you see me,” called Fred. Then turning to John he eagerly beckoned to him to follow him.