Matt was "stumped." He looked blankly at Carl and found that Carl had turned an equally blank look at him.
"Where is the Hawk now?" queried Matt.
"She went out on a trial spin with three men in the car. Expect her back any moment."
There was a shifty look in Brady's face, and he spoke in a fashion that aroused Matt's suspicions.
"Then the Hawk wasn't stolen and you didn't send two men with a horse and buggy to look for her?" queried Matt. "We saw the air-ship, but there were only a couple of men in the car and the machine was out of control. We tried to stop the craft by means of the drag-rope, but the rope broke loose and the Hawk got away. One of the men on board dropped a roll of papers out of his coat-pocket and we picked it up."
Brady looked at the other man. The glances they exchanged were significant, and both swore softly.
"Here's a purty kettle o' fish!" growled the fellow with the pipe. "What dy'ye s'pose has happened, Brady?"
Brady muttered something unintelligible, and whirled to Matt with a scowl.
"That roll of papers belongs to me," said he. "Just pass 'em over, King."