He saw the street rough throw a lighted firecracker at the other machine. It landed on the floor of the tonneau, but like a flash Tom was after it. The fun-loving Rover held it up, took aim, and sent it straight at the fellow who had first launched it. Bang! went the firecracker, right close to the rough"s left ear. He set up a howl of pain, for he had been burnt enough to make it smart well.
"There, he"s paid back," said Fred, and then the two automobiles pa.s.sed on, leaving the roughs in the distance.
CHAPTER XIII
A WILD AUTOMOBILE RIDE
"This is glorious!"
"It certainly could not be finer, d.i.c.k."
"Some day, Dora, I am going to take you for a long ride," went on d.i.c.k.
"I mean some day after we get home with that treasure," he added, in a lower tone, so that the chauffeur might not hear.
"That"s a long time off, d.i.c.k."
"Perhaps not so long."
"And what are you going to do after this hunt is over?"
"Go to college, I guess. It is not yet fully decided, for we don"t know what college to go to."
"I hope----" Dora broke off short.
"What, Dora."
"Oh, I was just thinking. Mamma thinks that I might go to college. If I went it would be nice if we went to two places that were near each other."
"Nice? It would be the best ever!" cried d.i.c.k, enthusiastically.
They were running along a country road a good many miles from Philadelphia. All the noise of the city had been left behind and it was as calm and peaceful as one would wish. The second machine was only a short distance behind the first, and each was making not less than thirty miles per hour.
"Do you know, some day I am going to make a regular tour in an auto,"
remarked Sam. "I am sure a fellow could have lots of fun."
"You can have this machine any time you want to," said the chauffeur, who had taken greatly to the party.
"We"ll remember," answered d.i.c.k, indifferently. He did not particularly fancy the fellow, for he was rather familiar and his breath smelt of liquor. Twice he had talked of stopping at road houses, but d.i.c.k had told him to go on, fearful that he might drink too much.
A hill was before the automobiles, but both machines climbed it without an effort. From the top of the hill a fine view was to be obtained, and here a hotel had been located, and this displayed a sign which interested the boys and girls very much:
ICE CREAM.
SODA WATER. ROOT BEER.
BEST CANDY.
"Let us stop for some ice-cream," suggested Songbird. And he yelled to those in the automobile ahead.
All of the girls loved ice-cream, so despite d.i.c.k"s anxiety over his chauffeur, a stop was made, and the boys and girls filed into the hotel for the treat. d.i.c.k lingered behind to speak to both of the machine drivers, for he saw that the second man was of the same "thirsty" type as the other.
"Do you smoke?" he asked.
"Sure," was the reply from both.
"Then here is a quarter with which you can buy some cigars. And please remember, no drinking," he added, significantly.
"Can"t a fellow have a drink if he wants it?" demanded the chauffeur of the first car.
"Not while you have my party out," was d.i.c.k"s reply.
"Well, a fellow gets thirsty, driving a car in this dust," grumbled the second chauffeur.
"If you are thirsty there is plenty of water handy, and root beer and soda water, too. I meant liquor when I spoke."
"Oh, we"ll keep straight enough, don"t you worry," said the first chauffeur, and then both of them turned away to a side entrance of the hotel.
d.i.c.k was much worried, but he did not let the rest see it. He joined the crowd in the ice-cream pavillion attached to the hotel, and there they spent an hour, eating ice-cream, water ices and cake. Then some of the lads went off and got several boxes of bonbons and chocolates to take along on the rest of the trip.
When they went out to the two automobiles the chauffeurs were missing.
A man was tr.i.m.m.i.n.g a hedge nearby and d.i.c.k asked him if he had seen the pair.
"Must be over to the barroom," said the gardener. "That h.e.l.lig loves his liquor, and Snall likes a gla.s.s, too."
"Was h.e.l.lig the driver of this first car?"
"Yes, and Snall ran the second."
Just then Tom came up, having placed Nellie in the second car.
"What"s the trouble, d.i.c.k?" he questioned.
"I am afraid both our men have gone off to drink. This man says they both love their liquor."
"They do, and both of "em have been locked up for reckless driving--but don"t say I told you," said the gardener.
"Humph! This is serious," murmured Tom. "I don"t like to trust a chauffeur who drinks."
"Come with me," said his brother, in a low tone. "Just wait for us," he shouted to the others, who were now in the two cars.
He walked behind the ice-cream pavillion, Tom at his side, and then the pair reached a side door, connecting with the hotel barroom. They looked in and at a small table saw the two chauffeurs drinking liquor from a bottle set before them. Both were rather noisy and had evidently been imbibing freely.
"I won"t let no boy run me and tell me what I shall take," they heard h.e.l.lig say thickly.
"I"ll drink what I please and when I please," answered Snall. "Let us have another, Nat."
"Sure."