"It looks to me as if some of the vital parts are missing. Offhand I'd say it was the generator."
"What's a generator?" Susan asked blankly. "Are they very expensive?"
"I don't know but I imagine they are. Isn't your car covered by insurance, Susan?"
"No, it isn't. We intended to take it out but we didn't think a few days' delay would make any difference."
"Thieves seem to favor new cars."
"I realize that now," Susan said ruefully. "You know, I noticed a rather queer thing as I came out of the "Y." A garage service car was standing beside my coupé. It drove away as I came toward it."'
"A service car?" Penny demanded alertly. "Did you see what garage it was from?"
"No, I didn't. In fact, I scarcely paid any attention at the time for it wasn't until I had reached my car that I realized it had been stripped."
"You must have surprised the thieves in the act!" Penny said excitedly. "Undoubtedly, they are using the service truck as a front to escape detection."
"How do you mean?"