A DINGY SQUARE ROOFED HOUSE LOOMED UP BEFORE THEM.
The fact that Dorcas, a trusted and experienced detective, had also been knocked senseless seemed not to lessen this feeling of guilt. Skippy was steeped in remorse because an unkind Fate had seen fit to have Fallon carry him away from Dorcas’ side, away from the influence that was Mr. Conne’s and which spelled safety to him.
And yet, at that moment, he was not afraid, notwithstanding the fact that he felt that Barker and Dean Devlin might be the same person. He was merely puzzled as to how he should get word to Mr. Conne if it was going to be as Fallon said, that Barker would keep them under cover for a month.
He decided that he was feeling too sick to worry about it yet. He longed only to get in a bed and sleep and let the morrow take care of itself. And if Barker proved to be Devlin, he could only hope that Fortune would smile upon him and help him to succeed despite the mischance that had cut him off from Mr. Conne’s help and the International offices.
A long silence prevailed in the car. Shorty and Biff were sound asleep on each other’s shoulders and emitting soft nasal sounds. Nickie Fallon was hunched in his corner in a half doze and up in front Frost and Barker were deep in whispered conversation.
The road was rough but Frost handled the car expertly, driving it as if he knew the bad spots by experience. He had only his parking lights on now and they were speeding along with surprisingly little sound from the engine.
After a time they entered a narrow, wooded lane and Frost seemed to pick his way more carefully. Skippy was quick to note that the trees, in places, interlaced and during their entire journey through that section, one could stretch one’s arms at either side and touch the overhanging branches. For at least an hour, he guessed, they hadn’t passed a house.
“We come up back roads, I betcha,” Nickie Fallon whispered suddenly as if guessing his thoughts. “Looks like we’re miles from nowhere. This guy Barker knows his hide-outs, hah?”
“Mm,” said Skippy. “Gee, we wouldn’t know howta get back home if we wanted to, huh?”
“Frost says we can’t an’ what’s more we ain’t to try, in case we get thinkin’ we’re smarter than him or Barker is. He says kids like us ’ud run right into the bulls an’ that ’ud make it bad for them—see? Him an’ Barker’d do a long stretch if we squealed that they helped us crash. So Frost says they ain’t takin’ no chances on lettin’ us think we can get anywheres alone. They’re gonna treat us swell s’long as we’re stickin’ under cover till they help us go west. So we gotta get used to stayin’ quiet a little while—see?”