If Earnest or Hipp had had any knowledge of the stealing of the Auto Boys’ car, however, they concealed the fact amazingly well. They appeared most hearty in their congratulations upon the machine’s recovery, as Billy and Paul told the story to them and to Rev. and Mrs. Earnest at the latter’s home. Later the cordial young minister and his wife were taken for a ten-mile spin. Then Mrs. Earnest insisted that all the boys come in for a little lunch. Worth and Jones had abundant time at their disposal as they must remain up to meet Phil and Dave, and cordially accepted the invitation. It was just after ten o’clock when they at last drove back to Griffin and to the American House, there to wait until train time.
“Hello, here! Fobes has been looking for you boys high and low!” said Mr. Wagg, severely, hastening out to meet them. “That man he has had in the lockup has escaped. Sawed the bars of a cell and went out through a corridor window. It is bad luck, I’m afraid. Fobes says the man made an offer to tell you where your car was if you’d pass some saws in to him.”
“But I never did it!” cried Billy Worth, indignantly. Quickly he had seen the likelihood that suspicion might point toward him in the remarkable coincidence that, directly the stolen car was found, Coster had been enabled to break jail.
The hotel telephone rang long and loudly. The very tone of haste and impatience was in its harsh clang and clamor.
“Well!” shouted Mr. Wagg, answering, and his voice was neither soft nor pleasant. Then in milder tones, “You’re wanted, Worth.”
Billy stepped to the phone. “No, certainly not,” Paul heard him say. And then, “It can’t be!” A pause, then further, “Oh, that’s awful! We’ll be over there right off!”
With frightened, staring eyes Worth turned to Paul. “The Torpedo is gone,” he said.
Grievous anxiety and alarm filled the hearts of the two boys. Quickly they drove the Six to Creek’s garage. Chief Fobes and the youth who assisted in the establishment both ran out as the car stopped at the door.
It had been long since anyone had seen Mr. Fobes so wide awake, and so keen to do his duty as he was now. He was frightened, too, lest his prisoner’s escape might cost him his position. And he was so perplexed and so confused by his excitement that, as he mentioned suspiciously the circumstance that Coster “got his saws and you fellows got your car,” Worth really feared the officer would be for clapping him into jail immediately.
The Torpedo was as completely missing as if it had never been. Creek’s boy had not the shadow of an idea concerning the machine. He knew only that he fell asleep in the office and was awakened by someone who wanted gasoline. Not until this customer was gone did he discover the absence of the Torpedo. He at once telephoned to the hotel, thinking Worth or Jones had taken the car out, perhaps.