n a
moment the man in checks was out of sight.

CHAPTER XV.

THE LODGING-HOUSE BATTLE.

"What aire ye goin' ter do with ther blamed thing, now yer got it?"
asked Bud, as they sped across the Eads Bridge into St. Louis.

"I haven't made up my mind yet. It certainly doesn't belong in this
town, and if we use it here we will have to get a local license."

"Jumpin' sand hills, yer not goin' ter run it yere?"

"Why not?"

"Whoever owns it is li'ble ter come erlong some day, an--"

"Then I'll give it to him, if he can prove it is his, but I don't think
it will ever be claimed."

"How's that?"

"Because the owner is a thief, and if he finds it is in the hands of an
officer he will let it go rather than face an investigation. Besides, I
need it."

"Ted Strong, aire yer goin' dotty over them derned smell wagons, too?"

"No, I can't say that I am, but if I lived in a town like this, and
could afford it, you bet I'd have one."

"But where aire yer goin' ter keep it? We shore can't take it up ter our
room."

"Not exactly," laughed Ted. "You forget that we have friends in this
man's town."

"Not a whole heap."

"What's the matter with Don Dorrington?"

"By ginger, that's so. Ther young feller what was with us down in Mexico
when we found ther jewels and things under ther president's palace."

"Yes, and we're heading right for his house now."

"What fer? Goin' ter try ter git him inter trouble, too?"

Ted piloted the machine through the thronged downtown streets, and
coming at last to Pine Street Boulevard, he let her out, and went
skimming over the smooth pavement until he came to Newstead Avenue, and
was ringing the bell of Don Dorrington's flat before the astonished Bud
could recover his breath from the swift ride.

Dorrington himself came to the door, having looked through the window
and seen Ted arrive.

"Well, by all that's glorious," exclaimed Don, as he grasped Ted by the
hand. "Where are you from, and why? Hello, Bud, you old rascal! Get out
of that car and come in. Where did you get the bubble?"

Ted and Bud entered the house and were taken into Don's workroom, where
he was soon put in possession of the facts concerning the motor car,
although Ted said nothing about the real object of his visit lo St.
Louis.

"Well, what can I do for you?" asked Don.

"Have you a place where I can store this car for a while?" asked Ted.

"I sure have," said Don. "You can run it right into the basem