Poppy Ott and the galloping snail

"Poppy Ott and the Galloping Snail" by Leo Edwards is a lighthearted children's story from the late 1920s. It follows Jerry Todd and his quick-witted buddy, Poppy Ott, on a hitchhiking adventure bursting with funny mysteries. The story celebrates friendship, clever thinking, and the thrill of meeting strange people and finding themselves in odd situations. The story begins with Jerry Todd dealing with the hot sun and wishing for ice cream, showing how close he is with Poppy Ott, a smart and cheerful friend. These two friends start their hitchhiking trip excited and full of hope, but they soon find themselves on a lonely road with no cars around. As night comes, they come up with plans to deal with their problems, leading them to a spooky farmer's house and clues about strange, possibly supernatural, events that might be happening there. The beginning sets a funny mood while introducing the main characters and suggesting an adventure full of funny mistakes and weird things they can't explain.