At the same moment an automobile, with a furious rumble and whir, came into view in front of the stable, and sped across the lawn to meet the couple. It was driven by Conley, who tumbled out of it the instant it stopped, while Badger and his wife clambered in almost as quickly. In another moment, with Badger running it, the car was speeding down the long gravel driveway toward Laurel Road. The departure was made so excitedly and hurriedly that Patsy, who had been holding his breath all the while, now exhaled it with a sharp gasp. “Whew; that beats the record,” he exclaimed. “What puzzles me,” replied Chick perplexedly, “is where that auto came from.” “Gee! that’s just what I was thinking.” “It did not come out of the stable, I’ll swear to that.” “It looked to me as if it came around the farther corner.” “It was a Packard,” said Chick. “I know the machine.” “Perhaps——” “Break off and follow me,” now interrupted Chick, who had been watching Conley walk leisurely back toward the stable. “Where now?” asked Patsy, as they drew back through the woods. “Back to town,” said Chick decidedly. “There’s nothing more for us here at present.” “It’s a good bet that Badger has headed for town, since he pointed that way so often.” “That’s just my idea, Patsy.” “What do you think about it?” “I think that something has happened to alarm these rascals,” replied Chick. “And that nobody but Nick could have brought that about?” “Exactly.” “In that case, Chick, he may have made some move since we left him.” “Sure.” “And possibly these guys have got wise to it.” “That appears to be about the size of it,” nodded Chick. “Furthermore, it looks as if Badger, in making this lightning trip, had got something up his sleeve for Nick.” “A counter-move?” “Precisely.” “What shall we do about it?” “We’ll first make sure about Nick,” replied Chick. “He was to rejoin us at four o’clock. If he doesn’t show up at that hour, or a little later, we must get a move on.” “To trace him?” “Sure.” “And if we fail to strike his trail?” “Back out here we’ll come, Patsy, dog or no dog, to learn what this sudden journey really meant,” declared Chick, with grave determination. He had reasoned shrewdly in that he had attributed Badger’s excited departure to some unexpected cause for alarm, and also that Nick was the person most likely to have occasioned it. In the light of these deductions, moreover, Badger’s immediate and decisive action plainly indicated that he had some definite project in view, presumably one to avert the impending danger. The conclusions alone were sufficient to point to some peril threatening Nick, and his chief assistant was quick to arrive at them, and act accordingly. As a matter of fact, however, the celerity and astuteness with which the Carters invariably cooperated in their work went far toward insuring their success.