It seems strange to me that, considering the imperative nature of the telegram from Phil and Dave, Worth and Jones were not more deeply impressed by it. No doubt the finding of their own car had made them quite indifferent to all else. At any rate, they hardly more than mentioned the message from Syracuse, when they met Mr. Creek at his garage in the afternoon. Thither they had gone, eager to give the Six such a gentle but thorough washing and oiling, and the brass such a complete polishing, as they felt no one else to be capable of doing.
The work progressed most favorably. By supper time the beloved machine stood dry, clean and shining. A truly beautiful car, it never looked more lovely to Paul and to Billy than at this moment, with the sinking sun lighting up its radiance through the big front window of Creek’s garage. The Torpedo, though a first-class car, appeared dingy and commonplace beside it.
After bathing and dressing in clean, dry clothes, following their labors, the two boys were passing through the hotel office toward the dining-room. Mr. Wagg stopped them.
“’Nother telegram,” said he, peering over his glasses, as usual. “You two are getting to be about the most important citizens of this village.”
Eagerly the yellow envelope was opened. “Yours received. Hurrah. Meet us with car eleven o’clock train. Phil.”
“Hully gee! I’ll bet they’re glad!” chirped Paul. But had he known all that Dave and Phil now knew, he would have been even more elated and excited than he was.
After supper the boys stepped around to the garage. Willie Creek had just left in his own car for Port Greeley, said his boy of all work, half asleep on the cot in the office. “Somebody telephoned him he could sell a car, if he could get over there and give a demonstration right off,” the lad explained. “He won’t be home till toward mornin’, maybe.”
“We were only going for a ride, anyway,” said Billy.
The facts were that he and Paul had decided to drive out to see Alfred Earnest and his friend Hipp. They believed they could tell from the manner of these young gentlemen whether they had not known all along where the Six was hidden.
“For an entire stranger would never have found those planks away over beyond that hill,” declared Worth with confident emphasis.