second only. "Just as quietly as you can," requested Mr. Rack, as
MacLester slipped the clutch to place again.

"Now," said the detective, "I am going to tell you that this may be a
wild goose chase, though I think not. I don't believe any of you will
need leave the car, but, Phil, you take this revolver. If you hear me
shout, 'close in,' come to me instantly. The rest of you stand ready for
any instructions that may be necessary."

Almost noiselessly the big machine purred forward, more slowly now but
still at good speed. In wonder and excitement the Auto Boys sat silent
as the darkness round them. And while _they_ were at tension that
strained every nerve, the calm tranquillity of Mr. Bob Rack was, by
contrast, the more amazing.

"I suppose," said he, softly, quite as if he might have been gently
musing before a pleasant fireplace in the quiet of home, "I suppose the
truest words ever put in verse are those which say----

"'Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
"But error, wounded, writhes in pain
"And dies amidst her worshipers.'

"And there," he said as if he were but speaking to himself, "there is
the whole ground work, the unfailing foundation that we must work upon,
whether we are detectives or doctors or anything else. There is no such
thing as successful deception. This case is an excellent illustration,
and I must tell you about it later. It is an old, old error, a monstrous
lie that has reached its end to-night, I firmly believe."

CHAPTER VIII

IN MOST EXCELLENT GOOD SEASON

Almost as he ceased speaking the detective, peering forward, as if not
quite certain of the road, it was so dark, placed a detaining hand on
Davy's arm. "Right to one side here and stop," he said.

Without jar or sound, save the slight squeak of a brake, the Big Six
came to a halt. The wonder of the Auto Boys was doubled, if such a thing
were possible. Another hundred yards would have placed them directly in
front of the dwelling of Mr. Peek.

"_He_ had nothing to do with stealing that car, or ours," Paul Jones
could not refrain from whispering to Billy, at his side.

Lost in his own questioning thoughts, Worth did not answer.

"Keep right behind me, Philip, the gun in your right hand and pointed to
the ground." Mr. Rack was out of the car now, and taking Phil by the
sleeve as he spoke, that young gentleman also stepped softly down. "If
you boys are as quiet as mice," said the detective to the others,