“Thank you,” she said, as she got down. “I hope you find that kidnapper and the baby.”
“We may get some news of her in the morning,” said Mr. Bobbsey, for it was now getting on toward night.
The two in the automobile kept on to the next town where Mr. Bobbsey had decided to stay all night. There was little use in going farther, and they could get no news of the strange woman by inquiring at the post-office and the stores.
Bert and his father went to the one hotel in the place, and from there they telephoned back to Mrs. Bobbsey at Pine Hill, telling her their plans.
“I don’t suppose you have any news, have you?” asked Mr. Bobbsey of his wife over the wire. “Did Jim Denton get any clews?”
“Yes,” she answered. “He found some persons who had seen the old woman, carrying a bundle, going down the road. That was the baby, I’m sure. But Jim lost trace of the woman. Very likely she got a ride in some auto. But he’s going to keep right on with the search.”
“If she went down his part of the road, then there isn’t much use in our keeping on this way,” said Mr. Bobbsey. “Bert and I will return in the morning.”
So it was decided. Bert was rather sorry his adventure had come to such an end, for he hoped they might get some trace of the strange woman in the direction he and his father had taken, but it was not to be.
In the morning Mr. Bobbsey and Bert went back to Pine Hill, reaching there about ten o’clock. Soon after they arrived they had a telephone message from Mr. Denton.
“The old woman was seen around the town of Cardley,” the constable said. “You’d better go over there, and I’ll meet you. I don’t know her and I might make a mistake and pick out the wrong one.”