“A box striped red!” exclaimed Dick Rover. “Did she say how large the box was?”
“Yes; it was about two feet long, four or five inches high, and four or five inches wide. The old woman thought it had a small brass lock at one end.”
“Then this may be a real clue!” exclaimed Jack’s father. “Because one of our new stockholders, Mr. Stevenson, brought his securities in a black box of that size which was striped red at either end. He left the box with us, and this was missing, along with one of our black boxes, after the hold-up.”
“Then those rascals were undoubtedly either the bandits or in cahoots with them,” said the detective.
“Did the old woman tell you anything else or did you find any other clues around the car?” questioned Dick Rover.
“Nothing of any consequence. We had the car jacked up and mended sufficiently to run it to a garage a few miles away, and there it now stands.”
When the boys heard of these new clues all were anxious to see the car that had been abandoned in the woods.
“I remember the old auto the Martells had when Nappy went to school, and I remember the car Slugger Brown’s folks used,” said Randy.
“And I remember those cars too,” answered Fred. “What do you say to going up and inspecting the old bus?”