"It may turn up some time. Perhaps the thief will get himself into trouble yet. Keep your ears and eyes open. And now, if you don't mind, I have some reports to write—"
Frank and Joe took the hint and left their father to his work. But although they talked long into the night on possible ways and means of recovering Chet's car, they were able to devise no plan for tracing the thief.
And through the week that followed there were no further clues. Chet had given up all hope of seeing the roadster again.
"I sure miss the old bus," he told the Hardy boys after school on Friday afternoon. "I have to take my chances on catching rides in and out of town now. Why, last night I walked half way home before a car came along and gave me a lift."
"Saturday will be a pretty dull day for you now."
"You just bet your sweet life it will be dull! Nothing to do but sit around the farm."
"Better come with us to-morrow," suggested Joe. "A bunch of us are going fishing up near the dam. You can meet us at the crossroads near Willow River."
"Good idea!" said Chet. "What time?"
"Ten o'clock."
"Fine! I'll be there. Gosh, I see where I get a ride home. There goes a hay wagon,
