“Who do you suppose they could be—those two fellows?” asked Bess.
“Haven’t the least idea,” her sister assured her.
“It couldn’t have been Paul Hastings, could it?”
“Of course not!” declared Cora. “Paul isn’t given to playing such jokes. Besides, he’s in the auto business you know, and he doesn’t believe in taking chances with the cars of others. It may be a joke, as Jack says, and some of our numerous friends may have tried to scare us, or it may be——”
“Don’t say your lovely car is really stolen!” interrupted Bess, impulsively.
“Well, I’d have to say it if it were,” declared the practical Cora. “And the sooner we find out the better, in order to get the police after the thieves.”
Wearily they trudged back to the tea room, which they had left so suddenly.
“Let’s have some more ice cream while we’re waiting,” suggested Bess.
They had nearly finished their second plates when the honking of a horn warned them of the approach of some one. Eagerly they looked out to see Jack and Walter returning.
“We lost the trail!” Jack called. “I saw the tire marks, Cora, for a little way, then they disappeared. We’ll have to notify the police. Your car’s stolen all right.”