Chet Morton"s jalopy was such a brilliant yellow that the boys were confident it would not be difficult to pick up the trail of the auto thief.
"The Queen's pretty well known around bayport," frank remarked."we should meet someone who saw it."
"Seems strange to me,"said joe," that a thief would take a car like that.auto thieves usually take cars of a standard make and color.they're easier to get rid of."
"It's possible,"frank suggested,"that the thief didn't steal the car to sell it.maybe,for some reason he was making a fast getaway and he'll abandon it."
"Look!"chet exclaimed,pointing to a truck garden where several men were hoeing cabbage plants."maybe they saw the queen."
"I'll ask them,"frank offered,and brought his motorcycle to stop.
He scrambled over the fence and jumped across the rows of small palnts until he reached the first farm hand.
"Did you see a yellow jalopy go by here within the past hour?"frank asked him.
The lanky old farmer leaned on his hoe and put a hand to one ear."eh?"he shouted.did you see a fellow pass along here in a bright yellow car?" Frank repeated in a louder tone.
The farmer called to his companions.as they ambled over,the old man removed a plug of tobacco from the pocket of his overalls and took a hearty chew.
"Lad here wants to know if we saw a jalopy come by," he said slowly.
The other three farm hands,all rather elderly men,did not answer at once.Instead,they laid down their hoes and the plug of tobacco was duly passed around the group.
Frank grit his teeth."please hurry up and answer.the car was stolen.We're trying to find the thief!"
"That so?" Said one of the men."a hot rod,eh?"yes.a bright yellow one,"frank replied.
Another of the workers removed his hat and mopped his brow."seems to me,"he drawled,"I did see a car come by here a while ago."
"A yellow car?"
"No-'warn't yeller,come to think of it.I guess,anyhow,it was a delivery truck,if I remember rigthly."
Frank strove to conceal his impatience."please,did any of you-?"
"Was it a brand-new car,real shiny?"asked the fourth member of the group.
"No,it was an old car,but it was painted bright yellow,"frank explained.
"My nephew had one of them things,"the farmer remarked."never thought they Was safe,myself."
"I don't agree with you,"still another man spoke up."all boys like cars and you might as well let 'em have one they can work on themselves."
"You're all wrong!"the deaf man interrupted.
"Let the boys work on the farm truck.that way they won't get into mischief!"he gave a cackling sort of laugh."well,son,I guess we ain't been much help to you.hope you find the critter that stole your hot rod."
"Thanks," said frank,and joined the other boys.
