At these he sold no automobile insurance; though he made
seemingly earnest efforts to do so. But he learned the precise
location of each garage; the cars therein; and the easiest way to
the highroad, and any possible obstacles to a hasty flight
thereto. Usually, he succeeded in persuading his reluctant host
to take him to the garage to look at the cars and to estimate the
insurable value of each. While there, it was easy to palm a key
or to get a good look at the garage padlock for future
skeleton-key reference; or to note what sort of car-locks were
used.
A night or two later, the garage was entered and the best car was
stolen. Dugan, like love, laughed at locksmiths.
Sometimes,--notably in places where dogs were kept,--he would
make his initial visit and then, choosing a time when he had seen
some of the house's occupants go for a walk with their dogs,
would enter by broad daylight, and take a chance at getting the
car out, unobserved. If he were interrupted before starting off
in the machine, why, he was that same polite insurance aunt who
had come back to revise his estimate on the premium needed for
the car; and was taking another look at it to make certain.
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