“For pity’s sake, close that muffler, Chance!” shouted Monroe Stevens, who was riding in the Greene’s car, and which now came into sight with Perry Greene at the wheel. “We can’t hear ourselves talk.”
“I hope the Town Council puts a stop to that,” declared Fisher Greene, in the Speedwell car.
“Puts a stop to what, young fellow?” demanded Chance Avery, in no pleasant tone.
“They’re going to fine those automobilists who run through the streets with their mufflers open,” said Fisher. “Just to show off, you know—make other folks notice that there’s an auto running by. It’s a good deal like little Ted Berry smoking cigarettes. It makes him sick, and his uncle punishes him for it; but Ted thinks it’s making a man of him. I reckon that would-be chauffeurs who run with their mufflers open, figure it out the same as Teddy.”
Everybody laughed but Chance; he only scowled and demanded of Jim Stetson:
“Well, are you folks ready?”
“All right, girls?” asked the master of ceremonies, standing up in the Greenes’ car.
Even Lettie Parker had forgotten that she was seated beside Billy and Mildred in the tonneau of the smallest and least showy of the equipages. They were all so anxious to be off.
“Do go on, boys!” cried Miss Parker. “And, oh dear me! I do want you to get outside of town where you can race. I never did go fast enough yet in an automobile.”
“Lettie’s fairly gone on autos,” drawled Billy. “And if she ever gets a machine of her own——”