“Well, I saw a fellow riding along Bennett Street yesterday about a quarter to five on a wheel that looked a lot like Warren’s. I thought, of course, it was his, because his is the only brand-new one I’ve seen in town, but I guess maybe it wasn’t.” “I’ll bet it was!” exclaimed Sam excitedly. “What sort of a looking fellow was he? Did you know him?” Joe shook his head. “I never saw him before, I guess. He was about your build, only maybe a year older, and wore dark clothes and a slouch hat. Sort of countrified fellow, I’d say. I’d been out to Grant Avenue with a crown roast for the Meyers, and it was about a quarter to five when I came into Bennett Street. I was through at the store and was going home. Bennett Street’s asphalted all the way to Ramsey, and so I turned in there instead――――” “Did he look as though he was――was stealing it?” demanded Sam eagerly. “N-no, I just thought maybe Warren had loaned it to him. I didn’t think it belonged to him, somehow. He――he didn’t quite look like a fellow who’d own an expensive bicycle.” “Why didn’t you ask him where he got it?” asked Sam impatiently. “You might have known it was Warren’s!” “Well, I did think it was, but I didn’t know it had been stolen, did I?” replied Joe slightly indignant. “You might have thought of it,” said Sam, “seeing there’s been about twenty bicycles stolen in Central City in the last two weeks! I’ll bet I’d have asked him mighty quick! Where do you suppose he was going to with it? Bennett Street’s more than two miles from Guyers’ place.” Joe shook his head. “He was riding along south when I passed him. Going sort of fast, but not like he was in much of a hurry.” “Well, say, you’d better come along to Warren’s and tell him about it,” said Sam. “Maybe the police can find it if we hurry.” But Joe shook his head as his alarmed glance swept from his bundles in the carrier back over his shoulder to the City Hall clock. “I can’t now, Sam,” he said firmly. “I’ve got to hurry like the dickens. I’ll go around there after I get through at the store.” “Maybe I’d better tell him right now,” said Sam, “and you can see him later. He ought to know as soon as possible, I guess. What time do you get through at the store?” “Five, generally. Sometimes there’s a delivery after that.” “Well, say, Joe, I’ll beat it over to Warren’s and come back to the store for you at five.”