"Alphonse was very fond of me," said the general with some little pride, as he patted his car tenderly.
"Yes," agreed Bartlett, "I can see that. He demonstrated it fully. I am glad he didn't love you or he might have killed Billy and me."
The landlord, followed by the slatternly maid-servant and the shifty-eyed stable-boy, trailed into the barn.
"Man gone off with your car?" asked the landlord. "I locked up last night about twelve. He must have left before then."
"The general's man did," said Bartlett, who felt that the general was in some way to blame.
"He has taken all our money," added Henrietta.
"A thief, eh?" said the landlord.
"Can't we follow the car by the tracks?" asked Henrietta. She went to the door and peered eagerly at the many wheel tracks in the dust of the drive.
The general waved the suggestion scornfully aside. "You can't tell whether the tracks are coming or going," said he.
"All detectives do," said Billy, following Henrietta to the door.