AROUND THE GOLD CUP CIRCUIT
Phil's "hello!" was none too cordial, but glad under any circumstances to meet someone from home, and quite overjoyed to show the Auto Boys that the Chosen Trio were on the spot, Perth was hastening forward.
Again Way looked anxiously in all directions, trying vainly to learn whence his friends had so mysteriously fled. No sight or sound of them could he discover.
"Got your car running again sooner'n you expected, didn't you?" grinned Freddy, coming close up. "When did you get in?"
"Not sooner than we expected—sooner than you expected, wasn't it?" responded Phil. "Haven't been here long. You came in this morning."
"How'd you know?" Perth demanded with a searching look.
"Bird told me," Phil smiled. "Where you staying?"
"Ask the bird that, too!" grinned Freddy.
"Well, see you later. Be here for the races, I take it," Way laughed, not at all put out by Perth's adroit reply to his own question. With a little wave of the hand he walked quickly away; but a glance over his shoulder a minute later assured him that Perth, Gaines and Pickton were following not far behind. The latter two had loitered in the background while the conversation with Fred was taking place.
If Phil was astonished to find himself so unexpectedly alone, it was apparent that the Trio were scarcely less so. Perth was certain he had seen Billy Worth at the same moment he had first seen Way. What had become of Billy and where were Dave and Paul?