pened to Tyler."

"He was handed over to the constable after the insurance company
issued a complaint," Jerry said. "Forgot to tell you that. Well, we
know where this missing captain is. Now what?"

"Now what! What do you think?" Rick asked indignantly. "Let's go to
New York!"

CHAPTER XIII

The Tracker

"We can drop your pictures off at the office, then I'll drive you in
to New York, if that's okay," Jerry remarked, as the car sped up the
road to Whiteside.

"That will be fine," Rick said. "I'll phone Spindrift, too, and let
Mom know we won't be home for lunch. We can pick up a hamburger at a
roadstand on the way in."

Jerry slowed down to a more moderate pace and Rick looked at him,
surprised. "Thought we were in a hurry."

"Trying something," Jerry said. His eyes were on the rearview mirror.
After a moment he spoke. "The car behind us slowed down, too. I think
he's following us."

Cap'n Mike started to look back, but Scotty said warningly, "Don't! If
they're really following, we don't want to let them know they've been
spotted."

"There's a curve up ahead, Jerry," Rick said. "Keep your eyes on that
car as we round the curve and let me know when they're out of sight."

"Okay."

The curve loomed. Jerry took it smoothly, then glanced up at the
mirror. "Now," he said.

Rick reached up and readjusted the mirror so he could see, then
settled back. In a few seconds the other car was in sight, too far
back for him to see the figures on the license plate, but not so far
that he couldn't see clearly that the plate was from New York, or that
the car was the same make and model as the one they had seen in
Kelso's garage. Reflection of light on the windshield made the
occupant hazy, but Rick had a good idea who it was.

"Looks like Kelso's car," he told the others. "Listen, Jerry, don't go
to the paper. Drop us in front of Dean's Department Store, then go
around the block. Go slowly to give us time to find out who this bird
is. No, I've got a better idea. Park the car. He'll have to park his
if he intends to follow us."

Jerry nodded agreement. "There's a parking lot next to the store. I'll
swing in there."

Cap'n Mike was grinning from ear to ear. "I'll be dadblamed if this
ain't just like something I read once," he said. "I knew if I got you
two interested we'd have some excitement!"

Jerry chuckled. "What do you think I want to take them into New York
for? I usually go swimming on Saturday afte