"We'll take you for a drive some time when you're off duty. We just stopped to ask if there was anything new about the auto thieves."
Riley looked very grave, as he always did when any one asked him questions pertaining to police matters.
"Well," he said, "there is and there isn't."
"That means there isn't."
"We ain't found 'em yet. But that don't mean they won't be found," said the officer darkly. "We're followin' up clues."
"What kind of clues?"
"Oh, just clues," said the officer vaguely. "We'll have 'em behind the bars before long. But you'd better keep an eye on that car of yours. It's just the kind somebody would steal."
"Trust us. There's been no trace of the other cars, then?"
Riley shook his head.
"Not a sign. But them thieves will go too far some of these fine days, and then we'll catch 'em."