hat Mr. Creek was surprised would be but a part of the truth. He
was literally dumfounded. The story of where and how the stolen car was
found seemed to surprise him still more.

"Better hike over to the American pretty quick," said he a little later.
"There's a telegram for you."

So did Billy and Paul receive the message from Phil and Dave.

"Who cares for that Torpedo thing? We've got the _Six_," said Jones,
reading the telegram over Worth's shoulder.

"We'll wire 'em! Wow! but won't they be some surprised?" Billy returned.
And forthwith the two rushed to the telegraph office.

"We have found her. Pretty muddy inside but not hurt."

And such was the message received by Way and MacLester in Syracuse.

CHAPTER VII

A SWIFT RIDE THROUGH THE DARKNESS

With what glorious good feeling Paul and Billy sat down to their late
dinner at the American House! Paul was a little ashamed of the slighting
remarks he had lately made about the hotel fare. He said as much.

"Gee! I should think you would be, to see you diving into it all right
now!" Billy laughed. Ah, what a difference in _his_ spirits, also, the
recovery of the car had made!

It seems strange to me that, considering the imperative nature of the
telegram from Phil and Dave, Worth and Jones were not more deeply
impressed by it. No doubt the finding of their own car had made them
quite indifferent to all else. At any rate, they hardly more than
mentioned the message from Syracuse, when they met Mr. Creek at his
garage in the afternoon. Thither they had gone, eager to give the Six
such a gentle but thorough washing and oiling, and the brass such a
complete polishing, as they felt no one else to be capable of doing.

The work progressed most favorably. By supper time the beloved machine
stood dry, clean and shining. A truly beautiful car, it never looked
more lovely to Paul and to Billy than at this moment, with the sinking
sun lighting up its radiance through the big front window of Creek's
garage. The Torpedo, though a first-class car, appeared dingy and
commonplace beside it.

After bathing and dressing in clean, dry clothes, following their
labors, the two boys were passing through the hotel office toward the
dining-room. Mr. Wagg stopped them.

"'Nother telegram," said he, peering over his glasses, as usual. "You
two are getting to be about the most important citizens of this
village."

Eagerly the yellow envelope was opened. "Yours receive