“We’ll telephone again for the police. Let’s get out of here.”
Noiselessly they stole from the building. As they huddled in the lee of a brick wall, a car came down the road.
“That may be the police now!” Penny murmured hopefully.
The car turned in at the warehouse. A lone policeman alighted. As he came over to the building, Penny recognized him as Carl Burns.
“Where’s the rest of your men?” Mr. Parker demanded. “Surely you don’t expect to handle this tire gang single handed?”
“Aren’t you a bit mixed up?” the policeman drawled.
“Mixed up?”
“I’m here on a routine inspection. This is a defense plant, or didn’t you know?”
“A defense plant!” Mr. Parker echoed.
“A warehouse for one, I should say,” corrected the policeman. “Tires intended for the Wilson war plant are earmarked and shipped out from here. A couple of trucks are going out tonight. I’m on the job to see they’re not hijacked.”