CHAPTER VIII

A PUZZLING DISAPPEARANCE


Dave hurried his steps. Old Grimshaw turned off at the Aegis
headquarters. Hiram led his companion by a short cut to the Baby
Racer hangar.

On a campstool inside the tent where the boys slept, Dave found a
keen-eyed, hatchet-faced man. He sat stiff as a poker, and seemed
to pierce Dave through and through with his glance as he looked him
over critically.

"Dashaway, yes?" he interrogated, and as Dave bowed assent he added:
"Thought I'd wait and see you, although our young friend here has
been pretty dear."

"About what?" asked Dave.

"Ridgely."

"Who is he?"

"The man you rescued from the lake last evening. As I have told
your friend, the man is a bad one, and we have chased him up and
down the lakes clear from Detroit."