“I believe you are half glad of it,” snarled her escort as he brought the machine to a stop and repeated his usual question.
“Sure there was a car with two men in it like you describe passed here,” the man replied to their amazement and delight. “They stopped here for gas, as they generally do. About three hours ago, I guess it musta been.”
Dean shot a triumphant glance at Jane.
“An old man with a gray beard and a smooth-shaven young man driving—does that describe them?” he repeated.
“That’s them,” said the garage proprietor. “They come through here every few days, always about the same time.”
“Where do they go?” questioned Dean eagerly, feeling at last that the scent was growing hot.
The man shook his head in a puzzled way.
“I’ve often wondered about that. They’re always heading south and appear to be in a powerful hurry, but the funny part of it is I ain’t never seen them coming back.”
“Do you know their names?”
“No, I can’t say I do, though it seems as if I’d heard one of them called Fred. I can’t say which it was.”