“Is—that—so?” said Inspector Ketchum. “Youse kids is driving it, huh?”

“Only we’re out of gas,” Pee-wee shouted.

“You seem to have plenty of hot air,” said Inspector Snagg. “Which one of youse is drivin’? Youse must think the public highways is a slaughter-house.”

“I was driving,” said Townsend.

“Yere?” said Inspector Snagg sarcastically. “How old are you?”

“He’s seventeen and he’s a patrol leader,” Pee-wee volunteered.

“I’m seventeen,” said Townsend.

“Yere? Got a special, I suppose?”

“Oh, yes,” said Townsend, extremely apprehensive; for it was perfectly apparent that the inspector was speaking in irony and did not believe him.

“Let’s take a look,” said Inspector Snagg, holding out his hand in ironical encouragement.