n came hurrying towards them.

"They're gone!" he shouted. "The other direction--out the Main street."

In a second, he was inside the car, and Harold stepped on the starter
and released the emergency.

"How long ago?" he asked, as the machine began to move forward.

"Just long enough for me to get my things on and run over here. About
five minutes, I should say."

"Just Marj and your father?" asked Ruth.

"Yes."

"Is he a fast driver?" inquired Harold.

"Pretty fast, except in traffic," replied Jack.

"Well, speed up, Harold," urged Ruth. She leaned back against the seat
contentedly; it would be such a lark to worry Marjorie, especially since
she had been so secret about the whole proceeding.

"And what am I to do if we do catch them?" asked Harold.

"Just follow them, and make their lives miserable," laughed Ruth.

"I think it must have something to do with Miss Phillips," remarked
Jack. "I heard her name mentioned once or twice."

Ruth repressed an involuntary start.

Miss Phillips! So this was the scheme: Marjorie was merely courting
popularity with the Scout Captain! Probably her rival intended to
wheedle Miss Phillips into giving her the first-class test privately, so
that she might be the first in the troop to receive that honor! A hard
look came into Ruth's eyes; she was more resolved than ever to do all in
her power to make the other girl's project fail. But she said nothing of
all this to her companions.

They followed the main road for about five miles, passing several
machines, but never catching sight of the desired one. Harold had been
keeping to about thirty miles an hour, but as he reached the level road
and the open country, he let it out to thirty-five.

Ruth talked incessantly, telling the boys all about the Scout parties
and the hockey games. Although she had not mentioned Frieda Hammer, she
suddenly remarked,

"Wasn't it dreadful about Marj's canoe?"

"Yes," replied Jack; "who do you suppose stole it?"

"Don't you know?" exclaimed Ruth. "Why, that thief our Scout troop
adopted to reform. But it serves Marj right! She was the strongest one
for doing it."

Harold, who was in the dark about all this, was naturally curious to
hear the whole story, and Ruth recounted it as briefly as possible.

All this time the youthful driver was speeding his Ford at its very
limit, and gradually gaining upon a speck in the distance which
appeared to be a touring car.

"By George! that's our