In the midst of his miserable reflections the car stopped dead on a
level place and with a cold perspiration on his forehead Billy peered
around him. They must have reached the top of a ridge, for the sky was
visible with the morning star pinned against a luminous black. Against
it a blacker shape was visible, half hid in trees, a building of some
sort, solid, substantial, but deserted.
The men were getting out of the car. Billy gripped the gun and dropped
silently to the ground, sliding as stealthily into the shadows of the
trees as if he had been a snake.
Pat, stepped heavily to the ground and began to give directions in a
low growl. Billy crouched and listened.
"Let's get him shifted quick! We gotta beat it outta here! Link, it's
up to you an' Shorty to get this car over the state line before light,
an' you'll have to run me back to the Crossing first, so I can be at
the station in time for the early train. That'll be going some!"
"Well, I guess anyhow not," said Link sullenly, "Whadda ya think
we are? Fools? Run you back to the Crossing in a pig's eye. You'll foot
it back if you get there, er come with us. We ain't gonta get caught
with this car on our hands. What we gonta do with it anyhow, when we
get crost the state line?"
"Why, you run it into the field off behind that row of alders. Sam's
got a man on the lookout. They'll have that little old car so she won't
recognize her best friend before you can count three, so you should
worry. And you'll run me back or you won't get the dough. See?
I'll see to that. Pat said I wasn't to run no risks fer not
bein' back in time. Now, shift that guy's feet out on my shoulder.
Handle him quick. Nope, he won't wake up fer two hours yet. I give him
plenty of dope. Got them bracelets tight on his feet? All right now.
He's some hefty bird, ain't he?"
They moved away in the direction of the building, carrying a long dark
shape between them, and Billy breathless in the bushes, watched,
turning rapid plans in his mind. Here he was in the midst of an
automobile getaway! Many the time he had gone with Mark and the Chief
of Police on a still hunt for car thieves, but this time he was of the
party. His loyal young heart boiled hot with rage, and he determined to
do what he could single-handed to stem the tide of crime. Just what he
was going to do he was undetermined. One, thing was certain, he must
get the number of that license tag. He looked toward the house.