make, and there are no stauncher, safer cars made in the world. No such
accident has ever before happened to one of my cars. Come; let's see
what we can find out."

Graves didn't have to look far. He halted at the broken axle, staring
at it hard. Then he looked over the broken casting from all sides.

"See here," Graves ground out, between his teeth, "all the axles on my
cars are branded with the trade-mark of the maker, and the number of the
inspector who passes the axles. Yet this axle is unbranded! Now, I
happen to know that the left forward axle on this car--last
night--was branded as usual, for I had the wheel off and looked it over.
That I can swear to."

"Then another axle has been substituted?" demanded Jack, his eyes
flashing.

"Yes, sirree."

"How long, after you saw the right axle in place here, was it before the
car was taken from your garage?"

"According to the office books this car was taken from the garage at
three o'clock this morning," replied Graves.

"By one of your own men?"

"No, sir! By a stranger who rented the car for a week, paid the rental
price, and gave his name as Hodges. He seemed to understand all about
running a car. He brought it back at six this morning."