As they approached, they saw Chet leave the gate and come down the lane to meet them. Chet was one of the most popular boys at the Bayport high school, one reason for his popularity being his unfailing good nature and his ability to see fun in almost everything. He was full of jokes and good humor and was rarely seen without a smile on his plump, freckled face.
But to-day the Hardy boys saw that there was something wrong. Chet's face had an anxious expression, and as they brought their motorcycles to a stop they saw that their chum's usually cheery face was clouded.
"What's the matter?" asked Frank, as their friend hastened up to them.
"You're just in time," replied Chet hurriedly. "You didn't meet a fellow driving my roadster, did you?"
The brothers looked at each other blankly.
"Your roadster? We'd recognize it anywhere. No, we didn't see it," said Joe. "What's happened?"
"It's been stolen."
"Stolen?"
"An auto thief stole it from the garage not half an hour ago. He just went in as cool as you please and made away with the car. The hired man saw the roadster disappearing down the lane, but he supposed I was in it so he didn't think anything of it. Then he saw me out in the yard a little while later, so he got suspicious—and the roadster was gone."
"Wasn't it locked?"