at's the story of the car."

"Since it belongs to no one in particular, I've a mind to borrow it, and
put it in a garage over on the other side. It'll be ruined if it stays
out here in the weather," said Ted.

"I don't care," said Mr. Truax. "It wasn't left in my care, and I
haven't got much use for the blamed thing, anyhow. Take it along. If the
owner comes and proves property, I suppose you'll give it up?"

"Sure thing. I'll telephone you the name and address of the garage where
I leave it, so that if there is any inquiry for it you may direct
inquirers there. But I've got a hunch that this car was thrown away,
having served its purpose."

"Great Scott! that's a valuable thing to throw away."

"Yes, but the man who abandoned it probably thought it a good
sacrifice."

"How is that?"

"What do you suppose was in that bag he carried?"

"Couldn't say, but it was pretty heavy."

"It would hold a good deal of paper money, wouldn't it?"

"If the bills were of big enough denomination, I should say you could
pack away a million in it, for it was a powerful big sack."

"Well, suppose the man whom you saw jump out of the car and get aboard
the train had stolen the car, or even if he had owned it, and had made a
big haul, and it was contingent upon his getting away with the money
that he abandon the car."

"That's possible. But there has been no big robbery to cover that part
of the theory."

"You don't know. There may have been a big robbery, and it has not been
made public. Not all robberies are reported to the public. If they were,
there would be slim chance for the authorities to catch the thieves."

"Perhaps so. Say, Mr. Strong, you're a deputy United States marshal,
ain't you?"

"Yes. Both Mr. Morgan and I are in the government service."

"I've been thinking over what you said about a possible robbery, and
perhaps you've got it right. I believe you'd better take that car along.
You might need it as evidence some day."

"That occurred to me."

"Can you run the pesky thing."

"Yes; I learned to run a motor car long ago. It is, like everything else
a fellow can know, mighty useful to me in my business."

"All right, take her along."

The man in the checked suit was nowhere in sight, but as Ted started up
the abandoned motor car he came running out of a doorway.

"Hi, there! Come back with that car!" he yelled, running after them in
the middle of the road. But Ted let her out a couple of links, and i