The Motor Girls Page 7

  CHAPTER VII

  TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS LOST

  Edward Foster, as he ran his machine along the country road towardNew City, where he was to transact his business at the bank, wasthinking of many things. And not all of them were connected with thelarge sum of money and the bonds which he was to exchange for stock.A certain bright-eyed girl figured largely in his reveries.

  "Guess I'd better put on a little more speed," he said to himself."It's going to take some time to get this all straightened out, andI don't like to have such a large sum with me on the road."

  He speeded up his car, and was soon on the outskirts of the city,where he had to go slower, threading his way in and out among manyvehicles.

  He reached the bank shortly before noon, was greeted by thepresident and the secretary, who were expecting him, and was showninto a private office.

  "Well, we have the stock all ready for you," said the presidentgenially. It was not every day that his bank disposed of such alarge block. "I trust you will find it a good investment."

  "I believe I will," replied Ed as he reached his hand in his innerpocket to take out the wallet that contained the money and bonds. "Ilooked into--"

  He stopped suddenly. A blank look came over his face. Hurriedly hefelt in another pocket. Then he began a rapid search through hisclothes.

  "What's the matter?" asked the secretary. "Did you mislay yourvaluables?"

  "Yes--no--I don't see--" murmured Ed. All the while he was making afrantic search. His face paled. The bank officials looked anxiouslyon.

  "Can't you find it?" inquired the president.

  "I've either lost my wallet,--or it's been stolen!" burst out Eddesperately.

  "How could it have been stolen?" asked the secretary.

  "I don't know," was the answer. "I don't see how it could havebeen, as, from the time it was in my pocket until now, I did notleave my auto--"

  He stopped quickly. The memory of the scene alongside the road,where the machines had collided, came back to him with vividdistinctness. He had alighted there, and--

  He pursued his reflections no further, but hurriedly got up from thechair.

  "I must go back at once," he said. "I will make a search. I thinkI know where the loss may have taken place."

  "Or the theft," suggested the president.

  "No," said Ed slowly, "I don't believe it was a theft."

  "Shall we send for a detective? Will you take one of our porters ora watchman with you?" asked the secretary.

  "No; I think I'll make a search myself, first, thank you. Andplease don't tell the police--yet. I may have dropped it. I'll letyou know as soon--as soon as I go to a certain place and look. Thereis time enough to notify the authorities afterward. I'll telephoneyou if I don't find it, and then I'll tell the police in Chelton.But I must hurry."

  "Yes; you had better lose no time," advised the president.

  "The thief--if there, was one--could easily dispose of thosesecurities. As for the money--?"

  "He would have no trouble in spending that," finished Ed. "Yes, I'llgo back at once."

  He hurried out to his auto, and was soon speeding back over the roadon which he had come. He reached the spot where the auto collisionhad occurred, and where he had helped fix Cora's machine. Jumpingfrom the car he looked carefully over the ground, but could find notrace of the missing wallet, containing the equivalent of twentythousand dollars.

  "I must hurry to tell the police," he murmured as he urged hismachine forward at top speed. A little later Cora and Walter, whohad returned to Chelton, saw Ed standing on the steps of the policestation.

  "Why!" Cora exclaimed to Walter in some surprise, "I thought Ed wasin New City, attending to that bank business."

  "He ought to be," commented Walter. Then, noting Ed's white face,he added: "Something's happened!"

  A moment later Jack, who had left the Robinson twins at their home,drove up in his runabout, and stopped it beside his sister's largercar. He, too, saw Ed Foster's white face.

  "What's the matter, Ed?" he called quickly. "Are you hurt?"

  "No," was the answer, and the voice was strained.

  "But something has happened," insisted Cora as she alighted from hercar and started up the steps of the police station.

  "Yes," he said, and his voice trembled, "something has happened."

  "What?" asked Jack.

  "I've lost twenty thousand dollars--or--else it has been stolen!"

  "Twenty thousand dollars!" cried Jack. "The money you were takingto the bank?"

  Ed nodded.

  "Where?" was Jack's next question.

  "That's what I don't know. If I did I'd go get it."

  "But if it was stolen--" began Cora.

  "The thief is far enough away from here now," finished Ed, trying tosmile. "However, I think I lost it near where the collision tookplace. I just came from there to report the matter to the police."

  "But how could you lose it?" asked Cora, taking off her heavydriving gloves and fanning her face with them.

  "I don't know, unless when I leaned over to fix the mud guard ofyour auto the wallet may have slipped from my pocket. But I'velooked every inch about that spot," and then Ed related how he hadcome to miss the money and securities.

  "Oh, we must go back and help you look!" exclaimed Cora quickly."Of course we will, won't we, Jack--Walter?"

  "Sure," replied her brother, and Walter gravely nodded. He wastrying to recall every incident of the happenings after thecollision.

  "We'll go right away," went on Cora. "Crank up, Walter. Fewpersons go over that road in the afternoon, and maybe we can findit."

  "Oh, I assure you that it's useless," declared Ed. "I am onlywaiting here to report the matter to Chief Jenkins, and then I'mgoing to telephone the officials at the bank in New City, as Ipromised I would."

  "Can't you stop payment?" asked Jack.

  "Not on the money, and not very easily on the negotiable securities.That's the unfortunate part of it. If it had been a check I could."

  "Queer, I almost had a premonition that something might happen tothat twenty thousand," said Jack slowly. "Though I suppose if I saythat it makes it look bad for me," he added with a smile.

  "Oh, no," Ed answered, seriously enough. "Of course not."

  "Come on; let's hurry back," suggested Cora. She re-entered thecar, which shook from the running of the ungeared motor that Walterhad started for her.

  "Really, Cora," began Ed, "it is useless for you to take the troubleto go back and hunt for it, though I'm sure it's very kind--"

  "It's no trouble at all."

  "But have you been home to dinner?" asked Ed.

  "No. Walter and I stopped at a little wayside restaurant and hadlunch. Come on, we'll hurry back to the place where the collisiontook place. I'm sure we'll find the wallet. I'm very lucky thatway."

  "Let me wish you the best of luck," said Ed with an attempt atgallantry. "I'd go with you, only I must give the chief all theparticulars, in case it's stolen, you know. Then I must telephone tothe bank."

  "That's all right," put in Jack. "Go ahead. We'll make a hunt forthat small fortune. Can I do anything for you here?"

  "No, thanks. I think not. You are going to have a useless errand,though, I fear, but I appreciate what you are doing for me."

  "Come on--hurry!" cried Cora, all impatient to be off, and then,when Walter climbed in beside her and Jack sent his car off,following the big machine of his sister, Ed disappeared behind thedoor of the police station.