he station attendant asked, emerging from the
office and addressing the truck driver.

"Yes, what do I owe?"

Penny started as she heard the voice. It was strangely familiar. If
only she could see the driver's face!

"Three-forty-two," the attendant informed the trucker, in response to
his question.

The driver gave him a bill and waited for his change. For the first
time he turned toward Penny. She hastily averted her face, yet looked
over her shoulder an instant later to view his.

"It's Jerry Barrows!" she recognized. "Now I understand in what
capacity he was employed by Brunner!"

The attendant had returned with the driver's change and likewise her
own. He noticed that she had removed the radiator cap from the
roadster.

"Need water?" he questioned pleasantly.

"Please," Penny said, very low.

At the sound of her voice, Jerry Barrows turned, but he saw nothing
more than Penny's back. Apparently satisfied that he had never seen
the girl before, he climbed into his truck.

The attendant had peered down into the radiator of Penny's car.

"It's full to the top," he reported.

"Why, so it is," Penny acknowledged with a self-conscious laugh. "I
guess I didn't look very well."

She stepped into the roadster but spent several minutes putting away
her change and starting the motor. She did not wish to pull away from
the station until after Jerry Barrows had left.

"I intend to find out where he's taking those stolen wheels before I
turn back," she decided grimly.

After a seemingly interminable delay, the boy started his truck and
pulled out of the station. Penny waited a few minutes longer and then
followed.

For some time they traveled over a wide, national highway but presently
the truck driver turned into a dirt road which wound in and out through
the low hills. Several times Penny was forced to stop her car and wait
by the roadside lest she draw too close to the vehicle ahead.

The trail led through a dense forest. Farm houses became farther and
farther apart. After awhile they crossed a river, and directly beyond
Penny noticed an odd wooden structure which appeared to be a rebuilt
sawmill.

The truck turned into a narrow lane which led to the old building.
Penny hesitated to follow lest the driver discover that he was being
shadowed. She parked her car in a clump of bushes just off the road.
Since leaving the main highway she had traveled without headlights.

The truck drew up ne