"Sorry, sir; but we've got to pick up some other aviators on our way and every bit of room in the car will be taken."
"Oh, very well, then," said Roy, "lead on."
The blue-chinned Dade shuffled across the lobby with a furtive air.
"Funny," thought Roy. "I've seen that chap some place before, but to save my life I can't place him."
Cudgelling his brains to try to recall where he had met the man, Roy passed through the hotel lobby and out into the street. In the lamplight he saw a big car standing at the curb, shaking as its ungeared engine puffed and chugged. A chauffeur, with an auto mask and goggles on, sat on the front seat. Roy got in behind in the tonneau while the messenger took his seat by the chauffeur.
He said something in a low whisper to the driver and the next instant there was a grinding whirr as the gears were connected and the car rolled forward.
"Well, they've got a good fast car here," thought Roy, as the machine sped along over the roads. "At this rate we ought to be at the grounds in----"
But what was this? Surely the road they were on was not the right one. Leaning forward he touched the chauffeur on the shoulder.
"This isn't the road to the grounds," he said.
"Oh, yes it is," put in the messenger; "it's a short cut, though. Isn't it, Fred?"
The chauffeur did not speak but merely nodded his head.
Although by no means satisfied with the explanation, Roy made no immediate comment. In the meantime they had passed the outskirts of the little town and were now whizzing along an unlighted road bordered with big trees. On and on they went, and Roy, every minute, grew more uneasy. Where could they be taking him?
"Where are you going?" he demanded suddenly, his suspicion showing in his tone as he rose in the tonneau and leaned forward. "I want you to know that----"
But before he could utter another word the blue-chinned messenger did an astonishing thing. With a quick, imperceptible movement he produced a revolver and thrust its gleaming barrel up under Roy's nose.
"Sit back and keep quiet," he warned, "and you'll be all right. If you make a holler you'll get what's in this barker."
As he spoke the auto began to slow down, and presently a dark form stepped from the shadows of the trees ahead and stood awaiting its coming.