e got too much of a start----"

"Don't worry," Teddy shouted back. "No start will help a flivver against
a car like this. Say, but she's a beauty! Just listen to that engine!"
But Billie was in no mood to listen to anything except the jingle of
queer old coins in a shabby old trunk. Then suddenly there came a yell
from Teddy and an exclamation from Mr. Bradley.

"There he is!" cried Teddy, leaning down over the wheel as though he
would force even more speed out of the flying car. "See him, Billie?
Didn't I tell you a flivver didn't have a chance?"

Even as Teddy spoke, the man in the machine ahead of them looked back.
Then abruptly, and to the great surprise of Billie and the boys, he
stopped his car and began groping wildly in the bottom of it for
something.

Then, while every second brought them nearer, the man did an astonishing
thing. He lifted a small object, which Billie excitedly recognized as
the trunk, and with an effort succeeded in getting it over the side of
the car.

Then he dropped it in the road and turned for a swift moment to look at
his pursuers before he started his car again. It was only a moment, but
those in the car behind were near enough to get a good look at his face.

It was a repulsive face topped with a mass of vivid red hair. But what
the boys and Billie most noticed was his unusually wide, loose-lipped
mouth.

So busy was Teddy in looking at the thief that, if it had not been for
Billie, he would surely have run over the precious trunk in the road.

She stood up waving her arms excitedly.

"Teddy, look out! If you run over my trunk----" and Teddy swerved so
suddenly that she was nearly thrown from the car. However, Chet caught
her and put her safely back in the seat; and in another minute Teddy had
brought the big car to a sliding standstill.

They tumbled to the roadside, and Billie, rushing over to the trunk,
sank to her knees regardless of three inches of dust in the road, and
encircled the shabby old thing with her arms.

And Teddy, watching her, said with a grin:

"Gosh! who wouldn't be a trunk?"

CHAPTER IV

THE "CODFISH"

A few minutes later a very exultant crowd of young folks were starting
back over the road they had just traveled so fast.

In the bottom of the tonneau,--Billie and the two boys were using it as
a foot rest,--was safely stowed the shabby, but, oh! so precious old
trunk, and on Billie's face was the "smile that wouldn't come off;" or
at l