human
I'll bet you, said Specs,
gpt
Shall we? asked Bonfire slyly.
human
We can pretend, of course, that we don't notice his car, on ahead a bit.
gpt
Whose car? Where? How do you know? Specs was twisting his head and straining his eyes for some glimpse of an automobile.
human
What makes you think he has a car?
gpt
Well, maybe he carries those goggles in his shirt pocket just to look like a driver, but--
human
Anybody could guess after seeing them, sniffed Specs, unimpressed. He caught the snicker that was going around the patrol.
gpt
Oh, all right! All right! Maybe I did overlook 'em. If you're so smart, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, tell me where the car is and why he isn't riding in it.
human
Certainly. The car is down there in the hollow, off to one side of the road. It is stuck in the mud. The man has tried chains on the rear wheels, but it won't pull itself free, even with them. He wants us to give him a lift.
gpt
Rats! said Specs. He dismissed the statements as careless banter.
human
But if that fellow has a car able to run to Belden, and needs something like a loose switch tightened--