In the midst of his miserable reflections the car stopped dead on a

level place and with a cold perspiration on his forehead Billy peered

around him. They must have reached the top of a ridge, for the sky was

visible with the morning star pinned against a luminous black. Against

it a blacker shape was visible, half hid in trees, a building of some

sort, solid, substantial, but deserted.

The men were getting out of the car. Billy gripped the gun and dropped

silently to the ground, sliding as stealthily into the shadows of the

trees as if he had been a snake.

Pat, stepped heavily to the ground and began to give directions in a

low growl. Billy crouched and listened.

"Let's get him shifted quick! We gotta beat it outta here! Link, it's

up to you an' Shorty to get this car over the state line before light,

an' you'll have to run me back to the Crossing first, so I can be at

the station in time for the early train. That'll be going some!"

"Well, I guess anyhow not," said Link sullenly, "Whadda ya think

we are? Fools? Run you back to the Crossing in a pig's eye. You'll foot

it back if you get there, er come with us. We ain't gonta get caught

with this car on our hands. What we gonta do with it anyhow, when we

get crost the state line?"

"Why, you run it into the field off behind that row of alders. Sam's

got a man on the lookout. They'll have that little old car so she won't

recognize her best friend before you can count three, so you should

worry. And you'll run me back or you won't get the dough. See?

I'll see to that. Pat said I wasn't to run no risks fer not

bein' back in time. Now, shift that guy's feet out on my shoulder.

Handle him quick. Nope, he won't wake up fer two hours yet. I give him

plenty of dope. Got them bracelets tight on his feet? All right now.

He's some hefty bird, ain't he?"

They moved away in the direction of the building, carrying a long dark

shape between them, and Billy breathless in the bushes, watched,

turning rapid plans in his mind. Here he was in the midst of an

automobile getaway! Many the time he had gone with Mark and the Chief

of Police on a still hunt for car thieves, but this time he was of the

party. His loyal young heart boiled hot with rage, and he determined to

do what he could single-handed to stem the tide of crime. Just what he

was going to do he was undetermined. One, thing was certain, he must

get the number of that license tag. He looked toward the house.




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