as they viewed the car, they both
stopped short in amazement.

"The rear wheel is gone!" Susan gasped. "Surely that can't be your
roadster, Penny!"

It had grown quite dark outside and for an instant both girls believed
they had made a mistake in identifying the car. Yet one glance at the
license number assured them that they had made no error. A daring
thief had jacked up the rear axle, stealing an almost new wheel which
Penny's father had purchased for her only the previous week. An
inspection disclosed that the spare wheel also had been taken.

"I never heard of such an outrage!" Penny stormed. "Why, we couldn't
have been in that cafe fifteen minutes! The theft was accomplished
almost under our eyes!"

"I hope the loss is covered by insurance," Susan said anxiously.

"I don't know whether it is or not. Dad looks after everything like
that. Oh, dear, unless I can get in touch with him, we're practically
stranded here."

Although the girls were only a short distance from Mr. Nichols' office
they were nearly a mile from their homes. The roadster had been parked
several blocks from a street car line.

"We won't be able to learn about the fire either," Susan worried. "I
wonder if it could have been at our house?"

"It isn't likely, but let's telephone and make certain."

Even as she spoke they heard the fire engine returning from its recent
run.

"It couldn't have been much of a fire," Susan commented in relief. "At
least it's out now."

"I'll see if I can get in touch with Dad," Penny offered.

She was relieved to find Mr. Nichols still at his office. After
listening to an excited account of all that had befallen, he promised
to come over immediately and take charge of the stripped roadster.

Ten minutes later he drove up in his sedan.

"This isn't as unfortunate as it appears," he told the downcast Penny.
"The loss is completely covered by insurance. Besides, I have a dark
suspicion that this little job was handled by the same gang of men I am
after. I may glean a few valuable clues."

After making a brief inspection of the car Mr. Nichols turned his own
sedan over to Penny, directing her to take it home while he attended to
the stripped roadster and reported to the police.

Susan had promised to spend the night at the Nichols home, so the girls
drove directly toward the house on Hilburn Street. Despite Mr.
Nichols' matter-of-fact attitude regarding the theft, they considered
it an ev