“Oh, Uncle Peter!” cried Mary Louise, distressed; but Peter was obdurate and Bub never whimpered.  He even managed to close his knife, between kicks, and slip it into his trousers pocket.

When they came to the garage the lawyer halted, more winded than Bub, and demanded sharply: 

“What is needed to put the car in shape to run?”

“Tires, gas’line, oil ‘n’ water.”

“The tires are in the cellar, you say?  Get them out or I’ll skin you alive.”

Bub nodded, grinning.

“Forcin’ of me, afore a witness, lets me out,” he remarked, cheerfully, and straightway went for the tires.

Irene wheeled herself out and joined Uncle Peter and Mary Louise in watching the boy attach the tires, which were on demountable rims and soon put in place.  All were surprised at Bub’s sudden exhibition of energy and his deft movements, for he worked with the assurance of a skilled mechanic.

“Now, we need gasoline,” said Mr. Conant.  “I must order that from Millbank, I suppose.”

“Onless ye want to rob Will Morrison’s tank,” agreed Bub.

“Oh; has he a tank of gasoline here?”

Bub nodded.

“A undergroun’ steel tank.  I dunno how much gas is in it, but ef ye forced me I’d hev to measure it.”

Peter picked up a stick and shook it threateningly, whereat Bub smiled and walked to the rear of the garage where an iron plug appeared just above the surface of the ground.  This he unscrewed with a wrench, thrust in a rod and drew it out again.

“’Bout forty gallon,” he announced.  “Thet’s ’nough fer a starter, I guess.”

“Then put some of it into the machine.  Is there any oil?”

“Plenty oil.”

Half an hour later Bub started the engine and rolled the car slowly out of its shed to the graveled drive in the back yard.

“All right, mister,” he announced with satisfaction.  “I dunno what Will’ll say to this, but I kin prove I were forced.  Want to take a ride now?”

“No,” replied Mr. Conant, “I merely wanted to get the car in shape.  You are to take me to the station on Monday morning.  Under the circumstances we will not use Morrison’s car for pleasure rides, but only for convenience in getting from here to the trains and back.  He surely cannot object to that.”

Bub seemed disappointed by this decision.  He ran the car around the yard two or three times, testing its condition, and then returned it to its shed.  Mr. Conant got his rod and reel and departed on a fishing excursion.

CHAPTER XVI

THE STOLEN BOOK

Miss Lord came up to the Lodge that Saturday forenoon and proved so agreeable to Aunt Hannah and the girls that she was invited to stay to lunch.  Mr. Conant was not present, for he had put a couple of sandwiches in his pocket and would not return home until dinner-time.

After luncheon they were all seated together on the benches at the edge of the bluff, which had become their favorite resort because the view was so wonderful.  Mary Louise was doing a bit of fancy work, Irene was reading and Aunt Hannah, as she mended stockings, conversed in a desultory way with her guest.