“If you can do that, Spark,” said Clancy, “we’ll salt him too quick.” “Can you run the Spider now, Clancy?” “Well enough to take us where we want to go. But come on, if you’re through. It’s time we hit the trail.” They got up, picked up their satchels from beside their chairs, and went out and got into the auto. “Keep right on along the turnpike, Jones, just as we were going before we stopped,” said Martin. Nick carried out his orders, and they were soon spinning along in a due north direction. “Did you have any trouble in connecting with the twenty thousand, Clancy?” asked Cricket. Clancy! The word was out of Cricket’s mouth before he fairly realized that he had said it. Savage looks were darted at him by Clancy and Spark, and then all three fixed their eyes upon Nick. Apparently he had not heard the word. “No trouble at all,” said Clancy. “It was easy money,” went on Cricket, “and earned you a hundred per cent. overnight.” Nick knew that Clancy and Cricket were talking about the demand certificate for twenty thousand dollars which the former had got from the People’s National Bank on Monday afternoon. Here was proof that the money had been deposited, stolen back, and collected again on the demand certificate. The detective was more than ready now to take chances in capturing the three scoundrels. Some parts of the deal were still dark to him, but he was sure of his ground so far as Clancy and his two pals were concerned. But how were the men to be captured? With two at his back and one beside him, to attempt to make an arrest single-handed would have been the height of folly. A startling expedient occurred to Nick. Why not wreck the machine? That would give Chick and Patsy a chance to come up and take a hand in the capture. Nick looked ahead. The turnpike wound around through the hills, and was bordered with large trees. Some of these trees stood out close to the roadway, and it would be a comparatively easy matter to speed up the auto and smash against a tree. The collision would certainly wreck the Red Spider, and it might also cause the gasoline tank to explode. In the latter event it was a question whether any of the party would be left alive to tell the tale. Nick had no desire to cut short his career on that lonely turnpike in northern Vermont, but still he realized that he would have to take chances, no matter what course he pursued. In the distance he could see a plank bridge crossing a stream. The edge of the bridge was guarded with a low wooden railing, and to run the Red Spider into the railing and off the bridge would not be a difficult task. But that would be infinitely more dangerous than running the auto into a tree. Nick, therefore, decided on a collision. The approach to the bridge was slightly downhill, and he started the Spider at a tremendous clip. “Slower, slower!” shouted Clancy. “Do you want to wreck us?” “It’s out of control!” cried Nick. “I can’t do anything with it!”