The first thought Dan Speedwell had was for Billy. Mr. Sudds’ residence was the nearest house to the spot where Maxey’s automobile had been overthrown, and where he had left Billy to watch over the wrecked auto for the night.
If Colonel Sudds had been robbed within a short time, did Billy know anything about it, and had he got into any trouble? Dan knew his impulsive brother so well, that he feared at once for his safety.
But Mr. Thomas Armitage, and Mr. Briggs burst into a shout of laughter.
“Oh, Josiah! you’re the only man who could possibly make the same mistake twice, hand-running. When will you ever wake up?” demanded Mr. Armitage, when he could speak for laughter.
The constable’s face lengthened enormously and he put away the big pistol with much haste and chagrin.
“I—I don’t s’pose you know anything about the robbery of Mr. Sudds, gents,” he muttered. “But see here! ’Twarn’t half an hour ago they telephoned to me from Sudds’ house that they’d been robbed; then come another message saying to stop a maroon car; that the men in it had robbed Mr. Sudds, and was also suspected of being the bank robbers. I remembered that them robbers had a car like this——”
“And that fact ought to earn them a term in jail alone,” growled Mr. Briggs. “I have a good mind to send my car back to the factory and have it repainted.”
“Tell me!” interrupted Dan Speedwell, eagerly, “who telephoned you, Mr. Somes?”
“Man at Rebo’s Garage,” said the constable, shortly.
“Rebo’s! That’s at the Falls,” observed Mr. Armitage.