rt Rack, even before Phil or Dave were aware of
it, and a moment later the lights of Griffin came into view.

I shall not undertake to tell in detail of the conflicting emotions with
which Billy and Paul greeted their friends and with which they all, Mr.
Rack included, gathered beside the Big Six while Worth quickly told of
the escape of Coster and the Torpedo's disappearance.

"A little faster than I expected," mused the detective, in that same
easy, gentle tone. Apparently _he_ was no more disturbed than if Billy
had said it looked like rain, which, in fact, was the case.

"But this man in jail--_we_ didn't tell you anything about him, Mr.
Rack. We didn't know it ourselves," Phil spoke up anxiously. For it will
be remembered that Chief Fobes' prisoner had not appeared in the
situation at all at the time Way and MacLester left Griffin. "Or did you
know without our _telling_ you?" Phil added, his own mind in a whirl of
confused thoughts.

"Oh, I have not been idle to-day," smiled Detective Bob. Then more
seriously, but still in his affable, pleasing way, quite as though he
were planning a little outing, he continued, "Now I'll need some help.
The best driver take the wheel. I'll sit beside him. The rest of you
ride behind and if I may ask so much, no one will leave the car except
as I may request it."

Immediately Phil nodded to Dave to take the driver's place. In an
instant Bob Rack was in the seat beside him, the others in the tonneau.

"Just as fast as is consistent with a reasonable degree of safety now,"
Mr. Rack said, placidly. "First, to Creek's garage."

The Big Six moved swiftly away, throwing always a flood of light ahead,
its gleaming oil lamps seeming to be but a streak of white to those who
watched it pass.

In a minute's time the detective apparently had seen all he wished to
see at the small garage. While he looked the place over Way, at his
request, was locating Chief Fobes by phone. The policeman came from the
hotel on the run when told that Mr. Bob Rack wanted him. For perhaps
five minutes he and the detective talked in Willie Creek's office.

"That fellow Coster got out about nine o'clock. He must have got off
with the Torpedo about half-past nine. About a two hours' start of us,"
said Billy Worth to his friends in the tonneau. There was no doubt in
his mind, whatever, that the jail-bird had flown in the stolen machine.

"Funny that the only thing Mr. Rack 'specially noticed in all we could