quite
a crowd. Events were few and far between in sleepy Nestorville, and
the arrest of the autoists had caused quite a sensation. From a friend
in the crowd the boys learned that the three men were being arraigned
before Squire Stevens.

"Let's go in," suggested Tom.

"All right," nodded Jack, and they climbed out of the Wondership and
ascended the long steps leading into the court-house. As they entered
Squire Stevens' court-room, Chief Bivins spied them.

"Here they be now, Squire," he said. "Glad you came, boys. It saved me
the trouble of serving subpoenas on you. These are the boys who saw
the whole thing, judge."

"Was it an accident?" asked Squire Stevens, a dignified-looking old
man with an imposing white beard.

"Yes, entirely so," said Jack, who did not bear any malice.

"But after they had struck the man, these young men ran away?"

"Yes," Jack was forced to admit. The men shot him a glance of hatred.

"I understand you have been to the hospital," went on Squire Stevens.
"Did you learn how badly the man they hit is hurt?"

"The doctor told us that his injuries don't appear to be serious,"
said Jack, "but that it was possible there might be complications."

"In that case I shall have to hold you young men under bond," said the
squire. "Will you be able to furnish it?"

"In any amount," said the man who had driven the car, in a loud,
boastful voice. "My father, Evans Masterson, owns the _Boston Moon,_
the evening paper. If I can telephone to him he will soon get us out
of this scrape."

"Very well, then," said the Squire, frowning slightly at young
Masterson's tone. "I shall fix your bond at $500, as you were driving
the car and directly responsible for the accident, and that of your
companions at $100 each."

Young Masterson gave an ironical bow. Chief Biff Bivins escorted him
to the telephone. The elder Masterson, who had had a good deal of
experience with his son's escapades, at first administered a lecture
over the 'phone which ended by his saying that he would come
post-haste to Nestorville and extricate his son and his chums from
their unpleasant fix.

But the boys did not wait for this. As soon as the case was over they
hastened back to the Wondership. The run home was made without
incident and it was not till the Wondership was safely in its shed
that Jack suddenly thought of the odd cylinder of lead that he had
picked up by the man's side as he lay on the road.

"I ought to have lef