ously disappearing from the South Fork
road beyond Port Greeley, but that was all. "You can't do better than
see the Automobile club," he added, however. "They are the ones to get
you the right dope if there's any way to get it."

Although it was still too early to expect to find a secretary or other
officer present, the boys decided to visit the club headquarters at
once. A pleasant-faced man was reading a motor journal as they entered.
To him they stated the purpose of their call.

"By George, that's interesting!" said the stranger thoughtfully. "Wait a
minute!" Reaching for a desk phone, the pleasant-faced man was soon in
touch with the person he desired. Briefly he told of the two young
callers and their errand. "All right, that's the ticket!" he said, after
some conversation over the wire, and hung up the receiver.

Asking the boys to accompany him, the agreeable stranger piloted them to
an office in a large brick building where he introduced them to a
gentleman who seemed hardly more than a boy in appearance, though his
age was probably twenty-five. His name was Freeland Cape. ("A regular
Cape of Good Hope to us," Phil said afterward.)

"Sit down," said Mr. Cape to the young strangers, as their escort left
them. Thanking him, Phil and Dave accepted the proffered chairs. Without
ado Mr. Cape was informed of the loss of the Six and the search thus far
so unsuccessful.

"Queerest affair I ever heard of," was the young man's comment. "But
tell me more of this Torpedo car. There was a Torpedo stolen in
Harkville--(Phil and Dave exchanged glances)--an extraordinary case. And
of course it is evident that the parties who, for some reason, abandoned
the machine you found, grabbed your car directly afterward."

"It would seem so, but it is hardly the case," put in Phil quickly. "We
have had that notion pretty well pounded out of us by different people,
especially by Mr. Fobes, the policeman at Griffin. 'Two separate
transactions,' were his words and he made it pretty plain. And of course
we were, and are, more anxious to locate our own car than anything else.
So all along, 'two separate transactions' we have had right in mind."

Young Mr. Cape scratched the crown of his head with one forefinger while
he thought for a few seconds. "There never is a theory so exclusively
inclusive but some other theory can be suggested," said he. "I may be
wrong. Without knowing anything about the Torpedo you found, I'd say the
two sep