"Where are you going to buy your car?" she questioned.
"Father told me to go to the Brunner garage on Second Street."
"I'll drive you there in the roadster," Penny offered.
At the Brunner salesrooms a few minutes later the girls were greeted by the manager, George Brunner. He was a tall, thin man with sharp black eyes. When he spoke to his employees his manner was overbearing and haughty, but in the presence of the two girls he beamed and smiled and hung upon their words. He talked glibly as he piloted them from one shiny new car to another.
Presently Susan found herself hypnotized by a blue coupé. After Mr. Brunner had taken the girls a ride in a similar model, she whispered to Penny that she thought she would buy the car.
"Why don't you look around at a few other places first," Penny suggested. "You might make a better deal."
"I'm afraid to wait for fear Father will change his mind. Besides, this is exactly the type of car I like."
Penny refrained from saying more, but she was sorry that her chum seemed determined to make such a hasty transaction. For some reason she had taken an instant dislike to George Brunner. Susan, however, noticed nothing amiss in his manner and listened spellbound as he talked glowingly of the little blue coupé.
"I think I'll take it," Susan decided hesitatingly. "Could I drive it away?"
"Certainly," the manager beamed, steering her gently toward the inner office. "Just step inside and we'll fill out the necessary papers."
Almost before she was fully aware of what she was doing, Susan had written a check in payment for the car and had signed the usual legal papers.
"Do you think I've made an awful mistake?" she asked Penny nervously while they sat waiting for the car to be serviced.
"It's a beautiful model, Susan. And if it operates even half as well as Mr. Brunner claimed, it should be a wonderful bargain."
"You didn't like that man very well, did you?"
"The Brunner garage is supposed to be one of the best in Belton City."
"I know it is. I haven't a thing against Mr. Brunner except that I don't care for his manners."
The discussion ended for the manager had returned to announce that the new car was ready to leave the garage.
"I am sure you will find it perfectly satisfactory, Miss Altman," he beamed. "But in the event that anything _should_ go wrong don't hesitate to call upon us."