But search failed to reveal any until Willard found some almost illegible lettering on a brass plate running along the edge of the front flooring. They finally deciphered it. “Treffry Motor Co.” was the legend. “Ever hear of a Treffry car?” asked Willard. “Yes, I think so. I wonder how old it is. Saunders says three years, but I’ll wager――――” He didn’t have time to state what he was willing to wager, however, for at that moment Mr. Saunders appeared on the scene. Willard acted as spokesman. “Back again, Mr. Saunders,” he announced carelessly. “So I see.” The carriage man didn’t seem overly glad to find him there, Tom thought. “Yes, I got to thinking it over, and I dropped in to make you an offer.” “All right; let’s hear it. I’m sort of busy this afternoon.” “Well, I want to have a man come up here and look the car over. If he says it can be repaired reasonably, I’ll pay you a hundred and twenty-five dollars for it, fifty dollars cash and the balance at the rate of twenty dollars a month.” “My terms was a hundred and fifty cash,” said Mr. Saunders. “Yes, but like as not you were expecting to pay ten or fifteen dollars’ commission to someone,” responded Willard cheerfully. “You won’t have to pay any commission, and that will save something.” “H-m; and what about interest?” “Interest?” “Sure; interest on the balance of seventy-five dollars you’d be owing me. It would be four months before I’d get the last of it.” “Oh, I see.” Willard looked doubtfully at Tom. “Well, I suppose interest at three per cent.――――” “Three per cent.! Jumpin’ Jupiter! The legal rate is five!” “Is it? On automobiles?” “On anything. I guess you don’t know a whole lot, after all, son. You want a fellow to come here and take the car to pieces?” “Well, look it over, you know.” “Yes, and leave it spread all over the place, like as not, so I’ll never be able to get it together again! Who you going to send here?” “A man named Brennan, who works――――” “Jimmy Brennan at the machine shop? I know him. Well, all right, but he’s got to put things together the way he finds ’em. You tell him that.” “I will, Mr. Saunders. Now will you give me a refusal of the car until I hear what Mr. Brennan says about it?” “I don’t know about that. I might miss a sale. How soon is he comin’, and when will you know whether you want to buy her or not?” “I’m going to try and get him to come to-morrow. Then just as soon as I hear what he says――――” “I’ll give you an option until this time to-morrow, and that’s the best I can do,” said Mr. Saunders with finality. “Take it, or leave it. A hundred and twenty-five isn’t enough, anyway, for an automobile like that. Why, that car cost, new, ’most fifteen hundred dollars, I guess!” “That isn’t very long,” said Willard, “but if it’s the best you’ll do, all right. Only I’m afraid Mr. Brennan is so busy――――” “Tell him to come this evening. I’ll give him the key if he will stop at my house. He knows where I live.”