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They wished to know what it was Neale had whispered into the fat brown ponys ears when the ex-circus lad had cured the stubborn creatures balkiness for the time being, at least.
Ive always thought, Neale ONeil, that you were better than most boys, Tess Kenway said, seriously, the subject having come up again on this mornings run.
And he never was so stingy before, wailed Dot.
If hed only tell me what he said to Jonas, Tess went on, we could say it to Billy Bumps when he balks. And you know he does balk sometimes most awfully.
Oh, Tess! maybe the same words that started the pony wouldnt start a goat. Would they, Neale? asked the smallest Corner House girl.
But Neale only grinned, and refused to be drawn like a badger. The little girls could not get him to talk at all about the mystery.
And right here, while they were miles from any village even while they were completely out of sight of any dwelling a most astonishing thing happened.
Without previous warning the engine began to cough, and the car ran more slowly.
Now whats happened, Neale? inquired Mrs. Heard, rather nervously.
Neale made no reply at all for a minute. He tried first one lever and then another, ran slow, tried to speed up, and then found that in spite of everything he did, the engine was going dead.
He managed to get the automobile to the side of the road out of the way of other traffic before the engine entirely ceased to turn.
Although there doesnt seem to be much traffic of any sort over this road, said Ruth. We havent been passed by an auto this morning.
I should say not! exclaimed Agnes, promptly. Our car is no flivver, Id have you know. Do you expect, Ruth Kenway, to have all the cars in Christendom pass us?
It looks now as though some of them might, responded the older girl, laughing at her sisters vehemence.
I guess youve heard the story of the wealthy man who went out driving in his high-powered
French car, remarked Neale, who had tipped back the hood and was looking to see if he could find what was wrong, and his chauffeur drove too slowly to suit him.
This is like a funeral procession, said the owner to the chauffeur; why dont you drive around that flivver in front of us?
No use, boss, the chauffeur told him.
Why not? demanded the owner.
Therell be another flivver ahead of that.
Thats all right, Neale ONeil, put in Agnes, smartly. Trying to take our attention off the fact that were not moving ahead very fast, either! Whats the matter with it?
I dont know, confessed the boy.
He tried the starter and got a few feeble turns out of the engine.
Nothing doing, he grunted.
Is it something about the wiring? murmured Agnes.
Can it be the carburetor? asked Ruth.
Maybe something is out of gear underneath the car, suggested Mrs. Heard, briskly. Dont they always have to get under the car to repair it?
Oh, yes! groaned Neale. Get out and get under. Thats the auto-drivers motto. He pulled off his coat preparatory to doing exactly what Mrs. Heard had suggested.
Tess observed gravely:
Well! this isnt something Neale can whisper to and make go when it balks.
To punctuate the laugh that followed this perfectly serious statement on the part of Tess, Agnes cried:
Oh, listen! here comes another car.
The rumble of an approaching automobile was then heard by all, and it was coming over the same road they had come. Before it appeared around the nearest turn, they heard the warning Honk! Honk! of its horn.
There whisked into sight the next moment the rapidly-gliding automobile. Agnes was standing up to look back. Almost instantly she uttered another cry this time almost a shriek:
Oh, Neale!
Cricky! was the boys gasped rejoinder.
For as the strange car flashed by they had both recognized the man at the steering wheel as Joe Dawson; and the appearance of the fellow beside him was not a whit more confidence-breeding than was Joes.
CHAPTER XI AN ADVENTURE BEGINS
No; it wasnt a runabout, admitted Agnes. But I just believe that man with Joe was the one who helped him steal Mr. Collingers car.
What are you two talking about? demanded Ruth, for those in the tonneau had not recognized Saleratus Joe.
Did you want to stop those men to see if they could help you, Neale? asked Mrs. Heard. It will be awful if we have to stand here all day. Were still a long way from Parmenter Lake.
Neale could not help uttering a grunt at that. Nervous people are very nagging without meaning to be.
Just as he was getting down to crawl under the machine Sammy Pinkney, who had been keeping wonderfully quiet for him, suddenly asked:
Say, Neale! You got any gas, do you spose?
Neale straightened up, looked at the little chap who stood with his hands in his pockets and his legs very wide apart, and finally exclaimed:
I dont know whether to be sore on you, Sammy, or not!
Huh? Whats the matter? asked Sammy, belligerently.
Neale ONeil started for the tank. Why didnt you suggest that before? he demanded. There! I declare, folks, he added, the tanks almost dry. I should have bought gasoline before we left the hotel this morning.