Before taking the box to his parked car, the Cub leader carefully wrapped it in his coat. Everyone breathed a bit easier when they were out of the church.

Mr. Hatfield locked the money box into the rear compartment of his car.

"Oh, by the way, boys, just a word of caution," he said as he prepared to drive away. "Until I've had a chance to report to the police, it's just as well that no one learns about the money. So I'm depending upon you to keep our discovery a secret."

CHAPTER 3 Jack, the Runaway

Although only a misty rain now fell, street gutters raced with water which could not be quickly carried off.

In Mr. Hatfield's car, Fred, Dan and Brad watched the slow-moving traffic ahead. Even taxi-cabs crept along, wary of surface water on the pavement.

"It's hard to see the road ahead," Mr. Hatfield complained. "What a night!"

"You don't need to take Dan and me home," Brad said quickly. "We walked to the church and we don't mind walking back."

"It's no trouble," the Cub leader returned. He snapped on the windshield wiper again as a few drops of rain splattered the gla.s.s. "Fact is, I'm glad to have company."

Mr. Hatfield fell silent, paying close attention to his driving. From the slight frown which settled over his face, the three boys guessed that he was worrying about the money box.

"It's certainly queer how it came to be in the coal bin," Dan remarked.

"I nearly fell over when my shovel turned it up."

"We never did finish our count of the cash," Brad recalled. "Seeing that man in the churchyard gave us all a jolt."

"I'll count the money at home," Mr. Hatfield promised. "Tell you the truth, I wanted to get the box away from the church. I'll feel more comfortable after it's turned over to someone else for safekeeping."

The car had halted at an intersection. As the light turned green, Mr.

Hatfield started up too quickly and stalled the engine.

"The sparkplugs must be damp," he complained.

As the Cub Scout leader ground his foot repeatedly on the starter pedal, Dan noticed that a car directly behind had not taken advantage of the green light.

Although the driver had ample s.p.a.ce in which to go around the stalled car, he did not do so.

Lowering the car window, he signaled for the other automobile to pull around. Even then it did not do so.

"What's the matter with that dumb cluck anyhow?" he muttered.

Just then Mr. Hatfield succeeded in starting the car. Quickly he shifted gears and rolled through the intersection an instant before the light turned red again.

Dan glanced back through the rear window to watch the other automobile.

The driver had been caught by the red light.

To Dan's astonishment, however, he ignored it, deliberately "crashing."

"That motorist is dizzy," he commented. "First he waits for a green light-then he goes on the red."

Mr. Hatfield turned at the next corner, heading toward the street where Brad lived.

To Dan's surprise, the automobile directly behind also made the turn.

"That driver sticks to us like a burr," he observed. "Say, you don't suppose-"

"Suppose what?" Fred demanded as Dan broke off.

"I was wondering if maybe he's following us."

Mr. Hatfield glanced quickly into the mirror. At the next street, he deliberately made another turn although it took him slightly off his route.

"That other car's right behind!" Dan announced a moment later.

"Where did we pick him up?" Mr. Hatfield asked. "Was he on our tail when we left the church?"

No one had noticed. Dan first had observed the car at the intersection.

"Note down the license number if you can," the Cub leader instructed.

"The car probably isn't following us-but it's just as well to have the license number."

The three boys peered intently through the rear window. The license plate number could not be easily distinguished.

"It's too misty outside," Dan complained.

"He's dropping farther back too," Fred observed. "Must have caught on that we're watching him."

"I got the first two letters and number," Brad said, jotting it down on a sc.r.a.p of paper. "FJ-3. I couldn't make out the last number too well. I think it was 2, though."

The following automobile now had dropped a considerable distance behind.

"It may have been our imagination," Mr. Hatfield said in relief. "Finding that box of money and having it in our possession, has given us all a case of the jitters."

At the next corner, the Cub leader swung back onto the main, well-traveled street. The other car had disappeared from view.

"I guess I was wrong," Dan admitted. "Either that, or the fellow became suspicious that we were watching."

"At any rate, we've lost him," Mr. Hatfield declared. "h.e.l.lo-what's this up ahead?"

The car approached a railroad underpa.s.s. In the depressed area beneath the archway, surface water had failed to run off. The flooded area stretched for a considerable distance ahead.

"It doesn't look very deep," Mr. Hatfield said, weighing their chances of getting through. "Think we can make it?"

"If we don't, you have three good pushers," Brad answered. "Anyway, here comes another car."

"They're going to try it, so I guess we can," added Dan.