"Perhaps she doesn't care to see us then. Come on, Sue, let's not knock again."
"Where to now?" Susan inquired as she snapped on the ignition.
"Oh, anywhere. I've nothing special to do this afternoon."
Susan stepped on the electric starter, but the engine refused to respond. She readjusted gasoline and spark levers to no avail.
"Stalled again!" she complained bitterly. "I never saw such a car! We've had nothing but trouble since we bought it."
"Perhaps it's only flooded," Penny suggested hopefully.
"It's done this before. Nothing to do but call the garage. Anyway, Mr. Brunner promised he'd give the car a free overhaul, and this is his chance to make good."
The girls telephoned the Brunner garage from a drug store located directly across the street. They waited nearly half an hour before the blue service car arrived to tow them in.
"May I speak to Mr. Brunner?" Susan politely asked one of the garage employees.
"Sorry but he's busy," was the curt reply. "I'll handle any complaint you have to make."
Susan gave a somewhat lengthy account of her car troubles. The employee scarcely bothered to listen. When she had finished, he said briefly.
"I'll check the car over and have it ready in half an hour."
They found chairs nearby. In fifteen minutes, the same employee returned to report that the car was ready.
"So soon?" Susan said in surprise. "Why, I'm sure you couldn't have checked over everything in such a short while."
"The car will start now. If you want a general overhaul you'll have to pay for it."
"But Mr. Brunner promised me when I bought the automobile that if anything went wrong he'd make it right!" Susan protested indignantly. "I've driven the car less than five hundred miles and it's almost falling apart! May I see Mr. Brunner?"
"He's in his office," the man informed reluctantly.
"Down the hall. The second door from the end."
Crossing through the deserted repair shop, the girls made their way down the dark hallway. The door which the employee had indicated stood slightly ajar.
As Penny and Susan drew near they heard angry voices.
"You can threaten me all you like, but I tell you I'm through! I'll never do any more work for you, Brunner!"
"You'll do exactly as I say or--" The manager abruptly broke off for he had noticed the two girls standing at the open door. "Come in, come in!" he beamed.