“Who’s he looking for?"’ asked Jack.

“Give it up.  No, I don’t, either.  There she is.  It’s Ida Giles.”

Sidney waited for the girl to come up to him.  Then he put the sheet of paper in his pocket, and the two walked along together until they came abreast of Ed and Jack.  Sid nodded, which salutation was returned by the two fishermen.  Ida made a slight motion with her head, which might or might not have been taken for a bow.  Then the two passed on.

“My, but they’re rushing it pretty fast!” commented Jack.

“Oh, Sid owns a nice little car—­built for two,” spoke Ed.  “That makes it worth while for her.”

“Yes, Ida does get in a lot of runs.”

Jack turned to look at the girl.  She was rather becomingly dressed in a dark-blue gingham sailor suit.  Her red hair seemed fairly to blaze in the summer sunlight.  Her companion slouched along in that indifferent way common to many youths of neutral temperaments—­nothing much decided about them save their dislike for hard facts.

Ed and Jack had now reached the beginning of the sidewalk leading into town.  They noticed a torn envelope lying on the flags.  It was, as they could see, addressed to Sidney Wilcox, and in one corner was the imprint of an auto firm, which made the style of car that Sid drove.  The fishermen smiled at each other, but made no remark.  Perhaps the envelope had contained a bill.

“I may take a spin out on the road this afternoon,” said Jack at parting.  “Cora and the twins are going out, and we have promised to trail along after them.”

“We?” questioned Ed.

“Yes.  Walter and I, of course.”

“Oh, of course—­Walter.”

“Jealous!” called Jack.  “But cheer up.  Perhaps we shall meet’ you, and you’ll have a chance.”

“Oh, I’ll be too busy with the cash, I’m afraid.  But, at any rate, give my regards to your sister.”

“Surest thing you know.  How about the twins?”

“Well—­er—­never mind.”

“All right.  Say, Ed, come over to dinner some night.  I want mother to meet you.”

“All right, I will.”

Ed turned away.  He seemed unusually thoughtful.  Was it Jack’s remark about carrying so much money, unprotected, along the highway that caused it?  It was a large sum—­twenty thousand dollars.  But he was strong enough to take care of himself.  Besides, he would have his revolver with him.  He decided on this, though at first it had not occurred to him.

Then he laughed aloud at his worriment and his prospective precautions.  Who ever heard of any one being robbed on the road from Chelton to New City?

CHAPTER Y

AN IMPROMPTU RACE

“All ready!”

It was Cora who spoke.  She and her chums, the Robinson twins, and a fourth girl, were about to start out for the afternoon run Jack had mentioned.  The fourth girl was Mary Downs, a little millinery model and helper, to whom Cora had promised a ride in the new car.  It was Mary’s initial spin, and, as Cora cranked up, the young girl, with the queer, deep-set eyes, and the long, oval face so dear to the hearts of model-hunters, fairly quivered with anticipation.