y."

"I'm sure he did," Penny insisted.

The street was short and she could see its entire length. The green
car had vanished.

There were no houses or garages into which the automobile might have
turned. On either side of the street stood factory and manufacturing
buildings.

"Shall I try another road?" the driver questioned.

"It's no use now. I guess we've lost him. But I was positive that man
came this way. I don't see how I lost him."

She gave her home address to the driver, and sank back against the
cushions, completely disgusted with the turn of events.

As Penny alighted at her own door, she cast a speculative glance toward
the lighted window. If her father had not returned, Mrs. Gallup was
almost certain to ask embarrassing questions concerning her arrival in
a taxicab.

"And I forgot the ice cream too!" she thought. "I'll have a nice time
explaining."

However, it was not necessary to give an account of her activities.
Mrs. Gallup met her at the door.

"You came just in time, Penny. You're wanted on the telephone."

"It isn't Father?"

"No," the housekeeper assured her, "I think it's your chum."

"Susan?"

"Yes." Mrs. Gallup pushed her gently toward the telephone. "The girl
seems to be greatly excited over something. Do hurry and answer for
she's been waiting several minutes now."

CHAPTER VI

Susan's Misfortune

When Penny answered the telephone she heard her chum's agitated voice.

"I know I shouldn't bother you so late in the evening," Susan began
excitedly, "but I've had the worst luck with my new car!"

"You haven't been in a collision?"

"No, it isn't quite that bad. But I'm stranded on Eighth Avenue and I
can't reach my folks by telephone."

"I'll drive over and get you," Penny offered. "What's the matter
anyway? Has the engine balked already?"

"The car has been stripped by thieves! I'm so furious I can't even
talk about it."

"I'll come right over and see for myself," Penny declared.

Pausing only long enough to tell Mrs. Gallup where she was going, Penny
backed her roadster from the garage. She located Susan not far from
Eighth Avenue and Clark, sitting gloomily behind the wheel of her new
coupe.

As Penny drove up she saw that the spare wheel was missing. A
spotlight was gone and likewise a reflecting mirror.

"The thieves very obligingly left me the steering wheel," Susan greeted
her friend. "When a person can't park fifteen minutes witho