Soon the car came to the entrance of a narrow, muddy lane, and there Mr. Parker called a halt.
“We’ve come to the end of the trail,” he announced.
“Have the tracks ended?” Penny asked in disappointment as she applied brakes.
“Quite the contrary. They turn into this lane.”
Both Mr. Parker and his daughter gazed thoughtfully toward a small cabin which could be seen far back among the trees. Despite the late hour, a light still glowed in one of the windows.
“The man who set the fire must live there!” Penny exclaimed. “What’s our next move, Dad?”
As she spoke, the roar of a fast traveling automobile was heard far up the road, approaching from the direction whence they had just come.
“Pull over,” Mr. Parker instructed. “And flash the tail light. We don’t want to risk being struck.”
Barely did Penny have time to obey before the head-beams of the oncoming car illuminated the roadway. But as it approached, the automobile suddenly slackened speed, finally skidding to a standstill beside the Parker sedan.
“That you, Clem Davis?” boomed a loud voice. “Stand where you are, and don’t make any false moves!”