"The rear wheel is gone!" Susan gasped. "Surely that can't be your roadster, Penny!"
It had grown quite dark outside and for an instant both girls believed they had made a mistake in identifying the car. Yet one glance at the license number assured them that they had made no error. A daring thief had jacked up the rear axle, stealing an almost new wheel which Penny's father had purchased for her only the previous week. An inspection disclosed that the spare wheel also had been taken.
"I never heard of such an outrage!" Penny stormed. "Why, we couldn't have been in that café fifteen minutes! The theft was accomplished almost under our eyes!"
"I hope the loss is covered by insurance," Susan said anxiously.
"I don't know whether it is or not. Dad looks after everything like that. Oh, dear, unless I can get in touch with him, we're practically stranded here."
Although the girls were only a short distance from Mr. Nichols' office they were nearly a mile from their homes. The roadster had been parked several blocks from a street car line.
"We won't be able to learn about the fire either," Susan worried. "I wonder if it could have been at our house?"
"It isn't likely, but let's telephone and make certain."
Even as she spoke they heard the fire engine returning from its recent run.
"It couldn't have been much of a fire," Susan commented in relief. "At least it's out now."