“27155.”
“I think a man has got more nerve to steal an automobile than anything else. Of course he knows he will be taken,” declared Fred.
“Not always,” answered George. “Down on the sea shore there was a certain firm last summer that did a regular business in stolen automobiles. They painted them different colors and did a few little things that altered the appearance so that a man wouldn’t recognize his own car.”
“Is that so? Is that true?” demanded Grant.
“It certainly is. I know a man who lost a car down there. Those men work all through the towns and cities in the northern part of the state and run down to the seashore with the stolen cars in the night when nobody is around and the next day the cars wouldn’t be recognized by the very men who were looking for them.”
“Well, I hope we shan’t find your car down there,” said Fred warmly.
“I hope we shan’t,” replied George, “though the main thing I want just now is to find the car anyway. Some of the good times I promised you fellows this summer will go begging, I’m afraid, if we have lost our automobile.”
“We’ll find it, George,” said John, patting his friend on the shoulder.
Meanwhile Uncle Sim, who was still a member of the party, had taken no share in the conversation. At that moment, however, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and directed the attention of the Go Ahead boys to the old Meeker House which now was not far ahead of them.
“Yas, suh. Yas, suh,” said Uncle Sim, his voice trembling in his excitement. “I sho’ do see some lights in dat cellar ob de ol’ house. ‘Pears like dere’s always somethin’ wrong in de ole Meeker House.”