must have misunderstood
my promise to service your new automobile free of charge."

"You said that at the end of five hundred miles my car would receive a
complete overhaul!"

"But my dear young lady, you have just received this service."

"Your workman spent less than twenty minutes going over my car."

"Have you driven it since?"

"Well, no, I haven't," Susan admitted reluctantly.

"Then I know you will find everything satisfactory for our workmen are
efficient. Good afternoon, Miss Altman."

The manager opened the door in pointed suggestion that the girls leave.
Outside in the hall they gave vent to their pent up feelings.

"You were right, Penny," Susan declared angrily. "I should have bought
my car at another garage!"

"I never did like that man," Penny added. "He's such a smooth talker,
and yet down under he's mean and selfish. I wonder if Jerry Barrows
actually does work for him?"

"He was threatening him when we surprised them in the office."

"I know, and it annoyed Brunner because we saw him talking with the boy
at all. I am as sure as anything that he'll never give me his real
name or address."

"That's why he suggested that you come back later for it," Susan
agreed. "When you return he'll have some other excuse."

"I mean to go back and annoy him just the same. Doesn't it strike you
as odd that Jerry would be working for him?"

"Well, perhaps a trifle," Susan said thoughtfully. "But it may be that
he hired the boy without inquiring too carefully into his past."

"The fact remains that Brunner was threatening him," Penny pointed out.
"It didn't appear to me that it was about any casual matter either."

The girls lowered their voices for they had come within earshot of a
garageman who was working in the repair shop. Susan's car was nearby.
After some difficulty she managed to start it, but the engine knocked
as badly as before.

"I suppose there's nothing to do but take the car to another garage,"
Susan said irritably. "I'll never come here again. I know that."

"Let's go for a swim and drown our troubles," Penny suggested. "The
Big Dipper will be open."

Since the day had been sultry, the proposal appealed to Susan. They
stopped at their homes only long enough to get their bathing suits, and
a few minutes later arrived at the picturesque outdoor pool.

Penny found several of her school friends performing at the diving
board and soon they were all rounded up for a vigorous