did not seem to have heard and gave all his attention to the car,
managing it so well that Dick was astonished and said to himself:

"He handles the thing better than I can do it myself. It's a wonder how
many things that boy can do. He may have driven a car, but what of that?
That's no disgrace."

When they were out of sight of the buildings and going at a good speed
down the hill Jack said quietly:

"I used to drive a motor truck with fruit to the railroad station and
steamboat landing. Most shippers use horses but my man had a big motor
truck and I used to drive it. That's how I know about cars."

"That's all right," laughed Dick. "You are a constant surprise to me. I
am all the time finding out the things you can do. Don't mind that
fellow Herring. Honestly, I feel safer with you at the wheel than if I
were driving myself."

"I have had to do some pretty awkward driving. You know the Hudson River
hills? We have some hard ones up my way and I have driven a car down
them without an accident."

"There's where your cool head comes in. I wish I had it."

They whizzed around one sharp turn and another, down steep grades and
along level stretches at a rapid pace, going smoothly, however, and with
never a jar or a jolt and reached the little station in an incredibly
short time, Percival being delighted at the masterly manner in which
his companion had handled the car.

There was a knot of men and boys around the station and the agent was
telling the story of the robbery of the night before for the fiftieth
time.

"Anything new, Jones?" asked Percival.

"Not much. There's a lot of stamps missing and a package of registered
mail what I hadn't opened. I can't tell what was in it. Maybe much and
maybe little. The fellows went over the creek by the bridge and on,
'stead of coming back as folks said. Guess they knew where they was
going. Smart fellows them."

"Did you see them plain enough to know them again?"

"Guess I did, one of 'em, anyhow. He had a big white mustache and black
eyebrows and hair. Guess his mask must have dropped off."

"How many were there in the car?" and then Dick saw that Jack seemed
greatly agitated about something and stopped short.

"Two, that's all. They got some money out of the drawer and dropped a
package near the bridge. Guess they was in a hurry. Smart trick that,
cutting the telephone wires. I couldn't get connection with no place, up
or down. This morning, though, I heard that t