ew to a halt without any command, and directly beside the
young man, who was working diligently over the overturned motorcycle.
His repair kit was spread out at the roadside, and the cause of the
trouble was self-evident, it would seem. But Walky was a true Yankee and
had to ask questions.

"Had a puncture, Mister?" he drawled, as the young man looked up, saw
Janice on the seat beside the driver, and flushed a little.

"Oh, no!" returned the victim of the accident, with some asperity. "I'm
just changing the air in these tires. The other air was worn out, you
know."

For a moment Walky's eyes bulged, and Janice giggled loudly. Then Mr.
Dexter saw the point of the joke. He slapped his leg and laughed
uproariously.

"You'll do! By jinks! you surely will _do_," he declared. "I reckon you
air smart enough, young feller, ter teach the Poketown school. An'
that's what they say you're in these parts for?"

"I am here to see the school committee about the position," said the
young fellow. "Are you one of the committee?"

"Me? No--I should say not!" gasped Walky. "Old Bill Jones, an' 'Squire
Abe Connett, and Elder Concannon air the committee."

"Oh!" returned the youth, quite coolly. "I didn't know but you were one
of the number, and that I was already being put through my examination."

But Walky Dexter was not easily feazed. He just blinked twice over this
snub and pursued the conversation:

"They tell me you've been ter college?"

"My! my!" exclaimed the young man, "_they_ tell you a good deal, don't
they? Is it just a habit folks have, or have the Poketown selectmen
passed an ordinance that you are to be the recipient of all personal
information?"

Janice was still amused, although she thought the young man was rather
hard upon the town gossip. But Walky thought the observation over, and
seemed finally to realize that the motorcyclist was making sport of him.

"Aw, well," he said, grinning broadly, "if you air tender about your
pussonal record, I'll say no more about it. But I allus b'lieve in goin'
right ter headquarters when I want ter know anything. Saves makin'
mistakes. If you air ashamed of your criminal past, Mister, why, that's
all right--we won't say no more about it."

At this the young fellow stood up, put his hands upon his hips, and
burst into a hearty shout of laughter. Janice had to join in, while
Walky Dexter grinned, knowing he had made a good point.

"You certainly had me there, old timer!"