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Rh He was subjected to close questioning, and from him it was learned that the carriage with the three men and the lady had passed through Shaville and turned towards Latown. The lady had tried to jump from the carriage just while it was passing the tramp, but the men had held her back. He had heard the men mention Latown, and also speak of an automobile.

"One feller was an old gent, who looked like a perfesser," said the tramp.

"That must have been Crabtree," said Tom.

"Can it be that they were going to leave the carriage and take to an auto at Latown?" came from Sam.

"Perhaps," answered Dick. "If they did take to an auto it will be mighty hard to find them."

Tossing the tramp a quarter, they went on their way, and presently reached Latown, and there hurried to the only garage the place possessed. There they learned that the garage owner had rented a touring car out several days before and it had not yet been returned.

"The fellow who rented it was to pay me ten dollars a day, but I didn't think he'd keep it so long," said the man. "He gave me his card."

"Why, it is my card!" ejaculated Dick, on glancing at the pasteboard. "The nerve of him! Of course it was Sobber—or one of his cronies."