“Why, it’s Ed Foster!” exclaimed Cora as she came up beside the halted runabout.  “Oh, Ed, are you hurt?  I’m, so glad you stopped Jack’s car.  There might have been a bad accident.”

“Oh, I’m all right.  I nearly slipped out, though.  How did it happen?”

“I don’t know.  We were sitting on our piazza when we heard the cry, and I saw the car speeding away.”

“Where’s Jack?”

“I don’t know that, either.  I’m afraid he’s hurt.”

“The car doesn’t seem to be damaged,” remarked a man who had been nearly run down.

The crowd, rather disappointed, on the whole, that no accident had happened, turned away.  Cora got in Jack’s car beside Ed, who started the machine back.  They were met half way to the Kimball home by Paul Hastings.

“Any damage done?” he called out as soon as he saw them.  He appeared very anxious.

“None, but it was a narrow squeak,” answered Ed.

“Where’s Jack?” asked Cora.

“We took him home.”

“Oh, is he—­is he badly hurt?”

“No; only a sprained leg, I believe, and some bruises.  The doctor is there.”

“How did it happen?” asked Cora quickly.

“Why, Jack brought his machine to the garage to have a little repairing done.  I had finished it, and he and I were in the office talking, when a fellow named Lem Gildy came along and threw in the clutch, starting the car off.’

“Jack saw him do it and ran out, trying to stop his runabout, but he wasn’t quick enough, and was knocked down.  I hurried out to pick him up, and I forgot all about the runaway car until I had taken Jack home.  There was considerable excitement, as there was a brand-new car, a very expensive one, belonging to the Blends, in front of our garage, and the runabout nearly crashed into it.  If it had, the new machine would have been wrecked.”

“And what became of Lem Gildy?” asked Ed.

“Oh, he sneaked off, after whining out that he didn’t mean any harm.  But I think he did.  He’s a suspicious character.”

“Hurry home.  I want to see Jack,” begged Cora.

Ed started Jack’s runabout off again, after telling Paul what had happened down the street.  The handsome young chauffeur said he would presently call at the house and inquire after Jack.

Cora found her brother in bed, where her mother had insisted that he go, though he declared he was not hurt much.  Dr. Dearborn had examined him, and said he would be all right in a few days.

“Oh, weren’t you awfully frightened, Cora?” asked Bess, who, with her sister, had remained at the Kimball home.

“Indeed I was, but I knew the car had to be stopped.”

“And it was going some,” added Ed.

“I can’t see what motive Lem would have in starting the car,” said Cora.  “I never knew him to be malicious—­only worthless.”

“I believe he planned this,” declared Paul, who had just arrived.