"How many?" he inquired.
"Three gallons," Penny said.
While the attendant operated the pump, she looked searchingly about. The driver of the truck was talking with someone inside the office, but his back was turned so that she could not see his face.
"Sixty-three cents," the attendant informed politely. "Shall I look at your oil?"
"It's all right I think," Penny responded, offering the money. The man went inside for change.
"This is my only chance!" Penny told herself.
Like a flash she was out of the roadster. She moved swiftly to the back of the truck, cast a quick glance toward the office, and seeing that she was unobserved, lifted a corner of the canvas cover.
The truck was loaded with automobile wheels.
A sound from the direction of the filling station office caused Penny to wheel. The driver was coming back!
She dropped the canvas flap and melted back into the shadow. She pretended to busy herself with the radiator cap of her own car.