“What accident?” challenged Randy sharply.
“Automobile—that young fellow that’s joshing and jollying all the time——”
“You mean Pep—Pepperill Smith?” asked Randy.
“That’s him, I remember hearing Jolly call him by that name. Well, it was him that got hurt and——”
“Hurt!” cried Randy, alarmed at the word—“When? How? Where?”
“About an hour ago, by an automobile in front of my place,” was the reply.
“Was he—was Pep seriously hurt?” faltered Randy.
“Not but what he could walk and sass the chauffeur, and all that; but I reckon one hand was pretty badly crushed. The reason I came to tell you was, that isn’t all of it. From what I hear he is kidnapped.”
CHAPTER IX—PEP IN CLOVER
“Kidnapped!” repeated Randy, in a hollow tone.