him trouble, I
imagine I've been seen with my father."

"I should think the police could arrest him."

"It isn't as easy as one might believe, Susan. If a fence is caught
with stolen merchandise he claims to have purchased it in good faith.
Actually he has taken it off the hands of some thief. An arrest is
hard to make."

"Then there's nothing we can do?"

"I don't know. I'll ask Father when he comes home tonight."

"I think a fence is even more contemptible than a thief," Susan said
scornfully. "I'd give anything if I hadn't bought that tire."

"I'm glad you did," Penny smiled, "for the clue we gained may prove
useful to Father."

The girls were relieved when they reached the end of South Lake and
turned into a more pleasant street. Driving toward their homes they
relapsed into a long silence, each absorbed in her own thoughts. There
were occasions when the two friends talked frantically for hours.
There were other times when they would speak scarcely a word, yet enjoy
perfect understanding.

Penny had slumped in her seat. Suddenly, she straightened, her eyes
riveted upon a pedestrian who was crossing the street in front of the
coupe.

"Susan, isn't that Jerry Barrows?" she demanded excitedly.

The car swerved wildly as Susan turned to look.

"It is!" she exclaimed.

"Stop the car," Penny pleaded. "I want to talk with him."

Susan brought the coupe to a halt at the curbing. Penny sprang out.

"Jerry Barrows!" she called.

The boy wheeled and saw her. He hesitated an instant, then turned and
ran.

CHAPTER IX

A Trap

"Wait! I want to talk with you!" Penny called.

The boy paid no heed. As she ran after him he darted into the nearest
alley.

Provoked, Penny hastened back to the car where Susan was waiting.

"Let's try to catch him," she proposed, springing in beside her chum.

Susan turned the coupe in the narrow street and drove into the alley.
They could see the boy only a short distance ahead.

"We'll overtake him," Penny cried jubilantly.

Aware that he was being pursued, the boy ran faster. Then noticing an
opening between two buildings, he squeezed through it and was lost to
view.

Penny tried to follow afoot but soon gave it up. She returned to the
coupe disheartened.

"He eluded us this time, Sue. I suppose that boy thought I meant to
have him arrested. Actually, I only wanted to question him."

For some twenty-five minutes the girls cruised around the bl