The road led through the woods and finally ended in a seemingly impenetrable screen of trees.
Gus Montrose jeered.
"Try and get through there!" he said.
Puzzled, the driver got out and advanced toward the heavy thickets. It seemed impossible to go any farther, and yet the tire marks of other cars were visible right up to the undergrowth. He gave one of the trees a kick, and it fell back. The secret was revealed. A cunningly contrived platform held the trees in place, and it swung back, in the manner of a gate. When a car passed through, it was drawn shut again and gave the appearance of an unbroken mass of foliage.
This explained why the secret road had never been discovered and why the thieves were able to drive their cars out through the gully without great risk of detection. The loose trees formed a perfect screen.
At last the Shore Road was in sight. The foremost car lumbered up onto the highway. In its headlights a strange group stood revealed.
There, in front of a fine sedan, stood Mr. Dodd, rifle in hand, confronting the remaining auto thief. With him were Jack Dodd and the officer who had been despatched to their assistance.
The thief, presumably the man called Dan, was sitting disconsolately on the bumper of the car, handcuffs about his wrists.
"We got him!" shouted Jack, in excitement, as the cars lumbered out of the bush. "Held him up just as he came out onto the road."
"Fine work!" applauded the sergeant, scrambling out. "This just about cleans up the gang—all except Clancy."