“I think I can get an automobile for you inside of five minutes,” replied the lawyer, hurriedly leading the way to the front office.

“Five minutes?” groaned the stranger.  “Why not wait a year?”

“An automobile will save you much more than five minutes’ time on the way,” returned the lawyer, snatching up his desk telephone.  “Central, give me 163-J in a hurry!”

A few minutes later the automobile was at the door.  The tall stranger and two other men who had been in the lawyer’s office were now on the sidewalk.

“Crowd on all the speed you can, my man,” appealed the tall stranger.  “If you get into any trouble with the authorities I’ll pay all the fines you incur.  This is a matter of life and death.”

The speaker and his two men crowded into the car.

“You come, too,” called the tall one to Dick.

“Is there room for one other boy?” asked Dick.

“Yes; we can squeeze him in.”

“Want to come, Dave?” Dick inquired.

Darrin was by his chum’s side in an instant.

“Let out the speed!” ordered the tall man.  “Prescott will tell you where to go.”

Four members of Dick & Co. had been worrying about their suppers, but now not one of them but would have waited indefinitely for a chance to go on that one especial auto trip.

“Greg, tell my folks where I’ve gone, and why,” Dick shouted back.

Then—–­whizz!  The automobile was down the street and around a corner before anyone could say “Jack Robinson!”

Chapter III

DICK MARCHES HIS NINE ON

The automobile party arrived just in time to see the blazing roof of the little cottage crash inward, sending up a shower of sparks against the sky of the dying day.

“I hope Amos wasn’t inside, hurt and helpless!” gulped the tall stranger, leaping outside.  “But why hasn’t the fire department been out here?”

“The Gridley fire department doesn’t respond outside of city limits, except on request and by permission of the mayor, sir,” Prescott answered.

“I’ll drive down and telephone any message for you,” offered the chauffeur, who had left his ear behind and had traveled on foot up to the cottage.

“Firemen would be of little use now,” replied the man in charge of the party.  “We can do nothing until the blazing embers cool, which won’t be for hours yet.  Still, We might go as close to the blaze as possible, and see if there are any signs of a human body in the embers.”

While this was being done darkness came down over the summer day.  There was plenty of light, however, around the destroyed cottage.

For some time the searchers explored as well as the heat of the glowing embers would permit.

“I am satisfied,” said the tall man at last, “that no human being was consumed in this fire.  If so, we would certainly see some evidences of remains.  Still, these ashes, when cool, must be searched.”