“Auto!” yelled Billy. “Did he rent your auto?”
“Why, sure! Didn’t you know that?”
“Not yet, I didn’t!” snapped Clancy. He wakened abruptly to the fact that there must be something seriously wrong. “When was this?”
“About seven o’clock.”
“Where did he go to?”
The garage proprietor hesitated.
“Well, last thing he says was not to say anything. But mebbe you boys could go and see if anything’s wrong. Anyhow, you’re his pals, so I reckon he wouldn’t mind me tellin’ you so much. He went over to Orton, or said he was goin’ there.”
“What the deuce was he going to Orton for?” queried Billy, in astonishment. “Why, there’s nothing there but a schoolhouse and a smithy!”
Clancy frowned. He looked to see the clerk coming down toward them in a hesitant way, having heard the conversation.
“There ain’t nothin’ wrong, is there?” inquired the clerk.