g.

"Everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high!" Josh muttered in
apparent glee, when he found that this was not the case.

His two chums had by this time halted at the door of the house, and it
even looked as though they might be saying something to some one inside.
Of course Josh understood that this was part of the plan intended to
deceive the men.

He was already making his way back toward the house, bending low so that
no one might see his shoulders above the bushes, which grew in profusion
just there, as if on purpose to further his designs.

Then came the rapid pulsations of the engines, as Rod and Hanky Panky
got going again. The car must be in sight, coming swinging along, with
both men keenly observant of all that was taking place.

Still Josh continued to creep forward. He wished to be as close to the
building as possible when the car stopped, as he felt sure would be the
case. Probably the men would not linger long, once they had rushed
inside and taken a look around. Not finding him there they would be
likely to "tumble to the game," as Josh put it, and hasten outside again
in order to avoid any backset to their pursuit of the shrewd American
motorcycle boys.

When the car did stop Josh was only a dozen paces away. The friendly
bushes allowed him to lie there unseen, while at the same time he could
catch glimpses of those in whom he had such great interest.

"Shucks! I do believe the chauffeur is meaning to stick by the car," he
whispered to himself indignantly, only to hastily add in a gratified
way: "No he isn't either, for there he jumps out after Jules, who is
already bolting inside. Now's my chance, if ever I expect to get one!
Here goes, then!"

With the last words Josh was hurrying through the bushes as fast as he
could make time. Of course his pulses were thrilled with the sense of
responsibility that rested upon his shoulders. Would one of the men come
out unexpectedly, and catch him busy with the car? Josh hoped not; at
the same time he had his mind made up just what he meant to do under
such conditions.

If either or both of his chums happened to be looking back just then
they must have seen him there, for he had by now attained his goal, and
was alongside the red racer.

Josh flitted from one side of the car to the other. He seemed to be
working with all the vim of which he was capable, and every time he made
a movement it was accompanied by a strange sighing sound, as though so