a little apprehension, the arrival of the two strange men. The strangers increased

t our machine?" panted Bla

ry calmly. "We haven't done any d

ots of flight

ith another man's apparatus," added

ome in here?" demanded M

you in?" added

't mean any harm, but we were very much interested when we heard that you had come in a biplane, and we wanted to

resh of you!" gr

lerk, too," added Mr. Brown. "He ha

lt," said Bob, hoping that their fri

you fellows clear out of here. We arranged, when we put up at the

owd," remarked

st. Now make tracks out of here, quick-give me that key!" and he fairly snatched it from Jerry's

s the boys showed no inclination t

ght of the opened tool box. A flash

that box?"

eplied Jer

hing out?" demanded the ma

was the qui

nlock it?" dema

e wanted to see what kind of tools you carried, so I opened it. We meant no harm, and

box was open?" p

his face flushing at this

it, and forgot to clos

astily correcting himself. "Now you fellows clear out," he went on

e. Mr. Black followed, and locked the gate aft

gular fire-eater

their ears mighty

hotel clerk q

ys left, and I tried to put them off. But they wouldn't have it, and then I told them some aeroplanists were out

to make the good-natured clerk worry any more

murmured th

rouble, for presently a stable man appeared with the gate key,

' bring the key," he explained.

see the start. The high fence of the enclosure prevented the ground-maneuvers from being viewed, but

heroes and the others saw the two men seate

remarked Jerry. But he and his chums were destined to mee

tar, and planning what they would do when they took their own motorship Comet to the comin

oings, fellows," suggested Bob. "They seemed to

certainly have a good machine of its class, t

reat pride in the Comet. "But I can't get

erry. "It looked to be

ne thing led to another, so that almost before

ard behind them frantic tooting of an auto hor

," observed Jerry, ste

r on an emergency c

's Noddy Nixon, and he's coming on at a terrific clip. Look o

ditch," for the road at this point was bordered by deep marshy gutters on either side.

-out muffler thundering like a battery of small gun

the turn," said Jerry to

on the road where there was a big puddle. Into it splashed the big-tired wheels of Noddy's car, and insta

sion as he passed. "Wow! Lo

what you are!" shouted Ned, wipi

k at my clothe

out Jerry. "I'll

car all to pieces! Overtake him, and we'll hau

ared Jerry grimly. "We'll get ev

and the speedy car of our motor boys shot ahead down th

ade the turn

" murmured Jerry. "

p at the turn, but even then he took it at suc

retch, and as they did so there came a simu

uddy road-side ditch, was the car of Noddy Nixon. But the bully