The Go Ahead Boys and the Mysterious Old House Part 33

"How did you get out? Did he let you out?"

"No, sir, I went and pushed up the outside door."

"Well, why did you wait an hour and a half before you did that?"

responded Mr. Sanders with a laugh.

"I'm sure I don't know," said Fred blankly. "I guess it was because I didn't think of it or try it."

"Very likely he meant it for a joke. Now, when I had my talk with him he recognized me, although at first I didn't recognize him. He did say some things about scaring you boys away from the old place."

"Did he say anything about the way we left last night?" inquired George mischievously.

"Why, how did you leave last night?" inquired Mr. Sanders.

"We left in a big hurry," declared George.

"What made you in such a hurry?"

"We were trying to keep up with the man who was with us and was leading the way," said George demurely.

Mr. Sanders joined in the laugh that followed and then said quickly, "Our lost car will be brought back to-day."

"How do you know?" demanded George quickly.

"I don't think I shall explain all of that to you, my boy," said Mr.

Sanders quietly. "It ought to be enough to know that it will be there."

"But suppose the tramp doesn't bring it back?" suggested Grant.

"I am not supposing anything about the tramp, or about any failure,"

replied Mr. Sanders, again smiling quietly. "All I say to you is that I am confident that the car will be brought back."

"Did you find out who stole the car?" inquired John.

"I don't think it was 'stolen.' You might call it 'borrowed.'"

"Well, did you find out who 'borrowed' it then?" demanded John.

"Yes."

"Who did?" said George eagerly.

"There are several reasons why I shall not go farther into details,"

said Mr. Sanders. "You may draw such conclusions as you please. Very likely they will not be incorrect. You have followed the events of the summer more closely than I and I have no doubt can connect one with another."

"Well, I think," said George positively, "that the tramp took our car.

He's a mighty good driver and knows all about a car. He didn't intend to sell it perhaps, but he wanted to use it for a few days."

"Are you sure he used it in the daytime?" inquired Mr. Sanders quietly.

"Why, yes. When would he use it?" demanded George.

"Let me suppose a case," explained his father. "Just suppose a man and his friends made it a practice to come to your garage nights and take out your car after you had gone to bed. Suppose on one of these long rides the car met with a bad accident. It was impossible to bring the car back that night, so it was taken to a garage where it was said that at least a week would be required to repair it. At the end of the week the car is not repaired. Naturally the people whose automobile is missing are sure the car has been stolen and they are sending word all over the country for the police to be on the lookout for it. Meanwhile the car is safe in a little town not more than ten miles distant from the place where it belonged. Finally there comes a day when the car is ready, but the man who took it and who had the accident has not money enough to pay for the repairs. He doesn't intend to steal the car, but he is not able to bring it back to its owner. If the owner telephones to the garage for a man to bring it to his home it is quite likely he may see it soon."

"And did you let the tramp get away?"

"I not only let him get away, but I gave him money to leave. I don't suppose he will use the money as I told him, but I am going to give him a chance. I would rather help two men who do not deserve it than to let one go who does. Besides," Mr. Sanders added thoughtfully, "I thought of his father and mother and how good they had been to me when I was a boy.

There," he added, "I have told you more than I expected."

"Will the tramp come back?" inquired Grant.

"I hope not. I doubt if he does, because the old Meeker House has now gone and he has no place hereabout in which he can stay."

"Well, we found out what the spooks in the old house were," said Fred.

"I guess that's the way with most of such things."

"We certainly had a good time finding out," said John laughingly. "I'm glad we didn't give up."

"So am I," said Fred. "But then," he added, "we are the Go Ahead boys and have not learned how to do anything else."