They did so, but as the meal progressed Clancy began to feel the same anxiety that was worrying his friend. Finally he asked Mrs. McQuade to hold her pies in the oven for a little. “Billy and I will run back to the hotel. He might be there, or on the way.” The two jumped into the _Hornet_, and Clancy hit only the high spots until they drew up before the hotel. A man came down the steps, and Clancy recognized him as the garage proprietor. “Say, Mr. Clancy, where’s Mr. Merriwell?” “Isn’t he here?” “No,” returned the man, in a worried voice. “I got that auto rented this afternoon, and----” “Auto!” yelled Billy. “Did he rent your auto?” “Why, sure! Didn’t you know that?” “Not yet, I didn’t!” snapped Clancy. He wakened abruptly to the fact that there must be something seriously wrong. “When was this?” “About seven o’clock.” “Where did he go to?” The garage proprietor hesitated. “Well, last thing he says was not to say anything. But mebbe you boys could go and see if anything’s wrong. Anyhow, you’re his pals, so I reckon he wouldn’t mind me tellin’ you so much. He went over to Orton, or said he was goin’ there.” “What the deuce was he going to Orton for?” queried Billy, in astonishment. “Why, there’s nothing there but a schoolhouse and a smithy!” Clancy frowned. He looked to see the clerk coming down toward them in a hesitant way, having heard the conversation. “There ain’t nothin’ wrong, is there?” inquired the clerk. “Seems to be,” and Clancy gave him a sharp look. “Didn’t Merry say he was going to Orton?” “Oh, you know about it, then?” said the clerk, looking relieved. “Why, yes, the telegram come from Orton, I think he said----” “What’s the matter with you?” sang out Billy. “There’s no telegraph station at Orton, and you know it! Did he tell you that?” “Well, he got a telegram, then he started askin’ me about Orton,” returned the clerk. “I didn’t ask no questions, so I don’t know where it come from. He seemed rather fussed, though.” “There’s something wrong, Clancy,” murmured Billy, leaning over and speaking in a low voice. “It isn’t like Chip to go off like that.” “No,” agreed Clancy, “that’s not his regular trail at all.” He turned to the garage proprietor. “Don’t worry about the car, sir. We’ll do a little inquiring around here, and then start out after it. But whatever loss you incur will be made good.” “I wouldn’t give a whoop,” explained the man, “only I’d promised the car for this afternoon to another party. Far’s I’m concerned, Merriwell could have the car out all day without payin’ a cent. But I hate to disappoint folks.” “Well, we’ll see what can be done,” said Clancy. “How far to this place?” “Fifteen miles or less. The roads ain’t none too good, but it ain’t a long ride at all. The car was in good shape, too.” “H’m!” grunted Clan. “Mighty funny if it’d take a car five hours for that! But he might have had a breakdown somewhere. It’d be a good play to run out and take a look at Orton, Billy.”