“It is this.  ‘The money is safe!’”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all, but how can you get it to him?”

“Didn’t you hear anything that might give you a clue to where the men were going?”

“Somewhere out toward the Orange Mountains.  That’s all I know.  They are going to the home of some lawyer or judge, I believe.  There is some legal matter involved.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go!” decided the young reporter, as he hurried back to the auto and told Grace and Fritsch what he had heard.

“On to de mountains!” cried the German reporter.  “My car is yours!  It will climb de biggest hills on der high gear, und ve will catch de scoundrels!”

Once more they were off.  They took the Plank Road to Newark, and, on inquiring in the latter city, learned that a car, answering the description of the one Mr. Potter had been taken off in, had passed about half an hour before.

“That’s not so bad!” exclaimed Larry.  “We can catch ’em, I guess!”

“I hope so!” murmured Grace.

“If my car doesn’t beat de oder one I gives up riding,” remarked Fritsch, with proper pride in his machine.

They passed through Newark, and were soon on the road leading to Orange, at the foot of the mountains.  The highway was conducive to speed, and Larry “let her out several notches,” as he expressed it, at the same time keeping watch for policemen on motorcycles, who were alert to nab the unwary auto speeders.

Every time they saw a car in front of them they were anxious until they saw it was not the one they wanted.  They passed a number of machines, and when Orange was reached they had not been successful.

“Now for a mountain climb!” exclaimed Larry, as he slowed down the engine to give the water a chance to cool off before attempting the ascent.  “Will it do Eagle Rock hill, Fritsch?”

“I think so,” replied the German.  “I never tried it, but de circular says it vill do it.”

Eagle Rock hill is known far and wide as one of the steepest ascents up which an automobile can be sent.  Many cars have to take it on the low gear, or go as slowly as possible.  Even then it is a strain.

“Suppose we should overtake them there?” suggested Grace.

“Ve’d catch ’em!” exclaimed the German, with a confidence born of admiration for his car.

On and on they chugged.  At the foot of the long, steep slope Larry set the levers on second gear, as he did not want to take any chances with the auto.  Up and up they went, their eyes strained through the dust for the sight of a green car, for that was the color of the machine in which rode the men who had taken Mr. Potter away.

“Hark!” exclaimed Grace, suddenly.  “It sounds like an auto just ahead of us!”

“It is,” declared Larry, whose quick ear had caught the chug-chug of a motor.

An instant later they had rounded a turn.  There, in front of them, climbing the steep hill, was a green car.  In it could be seen four men.