PI Cornell University 9 Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924075700926 Km .™™E«SITY LIBRARY _3J920Z5 700 926 "taking a little trip, eh?" remarked the Railroad LAWYER. — Frontispiece — (Page 12f). ) Tlu Rner Boys in Sew York. THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK OR SAVING THEIR FATHER'S HONOR BY AkTHUR M. WINFIELD (Edward Stratemeyer) AUTHOR OF THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL, THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN, THE PIJTNAM HALL SERIES, Etc. ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK :GR0SSET & DUNUAH PUBLISHERS Made in the United States ai Antedem .Books by Arthur M. Wintield! (Edward Stratemeyer) THE FIRST ROVER BOYS SERIES THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN THE ROVER BOYS IN THEJUNGLE THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR THE SECOND ROVER BOYS SERIES THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY i2mo. Qoth. Illustrated. GfiossET & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER, ne JSover Boys in New Yw* INTRODUCTION My Dear Boys : This volume is a eosnplete j story in itself, but forms the seventeenth in a line issued under the general title of " The Rover Boys Series for Young Americans." As I have mentioned several times, in other volumes, this line was started with the publica- tion of "The Rover Boys at School," "On &e Ocean " and " In the Jungle." The cordial re- ception afforded the stories called for the pub- lication of the next volume, "The Rover Bcqr« Out West," and then, year after year, by the i*- ■suing of " On the Great Lakes," " In Camp," " On Land and Sea," " On the River," ** On the Plains," "In Southern Waters," "On th& Farm," "On Treasure Isle," "At College," •' Down East," and then by " In the Air," wber^ ' we last met them. The boys are not as young as they cmee were\ —indeed, in this book, Dick, the olde^, gets married and settles down to business. But aK' are as bright and lively as ever, and Tom k jusd INTRODUCTION as full of fun. When they go to New York City they have some strenuous times, and all prove their worth in more ways than one. Their father is in deep trouble and they aid him, and dear up quite a mystery. Up to this writing, the sale on this line of books is but a trifle short of one million and a quarter copies! This is to me, of course, tre- mendously gratifying. Again, as in the past, I thank my many readers for their interest in what I have written for them, and I trust the perusal pf my works will do them good. Affectionately and sincerely yours, Edward Stratemeyer CONTENTS L Th^ Boys at Brim, t n. About thb Past ii III. A UsaESS Hunt 22 IV. Thb End of ths " Daktaway " 33 V. Two Visitors 44 VI. The Missing Bipi,ane , 55 VII. The Sale oe the Biplane 66 VIII. A Box OF Candy 76 IX. A Breakdown on the Road 87 X. Startling News 98 XI. At the Farm 109 XII. Off for New York 120 XIIL At the Outlook Hotel 131 XIV. Dick Makes a Discovery 14? XV. At the Brokers' Office 153 XVI. More Discoveries i^4t XVII. An Important Telephone Messa(^ ^7s^ XVIII. On the Hudson River 186; XIX. The Search for the Schooner ic^ XX. A Minute Too I,ate 307 XXI. Captain Rodney's Testimony 20* XXII. Ho5f ON the Trail S% V vi CONTENTS C'BAP1!&R £AiG« XXIII. The Rescue 233 XXIV. From a Garket Window 241 XXV. What Happened to Tom 249 XXVI. Dick Takes the Reins 257 XXVII. Dan Baxtkj Gives Aid 265 XXVIII. The Capture 273 SXIX. Brought to Terms 281 XXX. Mrs. Dick B«»yER— Conciusion 289 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK CHAPTER I THE BOYS AT BSILL "Boys, what do you say to a trip in the Dartaway this afternoon ? " " Suits me, Sam," replied Tom Rover. *' Providing the breeze doesn't get too strong,'* returned Dick Rover, as he put up his hand to feel the air. "Oh, I don't think it will blow too much,'* went on Sam Rover. " I don't mind some air."' " But no more storms for me ! " cried his brother Tom, with a shake of his head. " That last old corker was enough for me." " Where shall we go ? " questioned Dick, witB , a queer little smile creeping around the corners of his mouth. " Oh, my, just to hear Dick ! " cried Tom, with a grin. " As if he would go anywhere butj to Hope Seminary, to call on Dora ! " " And as if you would go anywhere but to call on Nellie, at the same place ! " retorted the oldest Rover boy. 2 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "Now, children, children!" came sweetly , from Sam. " You mustn't quarrel about the dear girls. I know both of you are as much gone ,as can be. But " "And how about Grace, Sam?" said Tom. i" Didn't I hear you making up some poetry .about her yesterday, 'Those limpid eyes and pearly ears, and ' " " Rats, Tom ! I don't make up poetry — I leave that to Songbird," interrupted the young- lest Rover boy. "Just the same, it will be nice to call on the girls. They'll be looking for us isome day this week." " That's sight — ^and maybe we can give them a little ride," put in Dick Rover. "Do you remember the ride we gave Dora and Nellie, when we rescued them from Sobber, Crabtree, and the others ? " asked Tom. " Not likely to forget that in a hurry," an- swered his big brother. " By the way, I wonder fwhen the authorities will try those rascals?" "Not right away, I'm thinking, Dick," an- swered Tom. "The law is rather slow up here in these back counties." "Never mind—- they will get what is coming to them sooner or later," was Sam's comment. " Abduction is rather a serious offense." " Right you are," answered Dick. " And I'll THE BOYS AT BRILL 3 be glad to see Crabtree, Sobber, and cmr otfe«r enemies behind the bars. Then they wcaa't be able to bother us any more." " That will be the end of Sobber's efforts to ^nnex the Stanhope fortune," mused Sam. ,"' How hard he did try to get it away from Mrs. Stanhope and the girls ! " "I shouldn't have minded that had he used fair methods, Sam," returned the big brother. "But when it came to stealing and abduct- ing " " Hello, you fellows ! " shouted a voice from behind the Rover boys. "Plotting mischief.?" "Not just now, Stanley," answered Dick, as his college chum caught him by the shoulder and swung him around playfully. "Want to go for a row on the river? " asked Stanley Browne. " Not just now, Stanley. I've got a lecture to attend, and this afternoon we are going over to Hope in the biplane." " Wish I had a flying machine," said the stu- iSent, wistfully. , " Better swap the boai for one," suggested 'Sam. " No, I think rowing is safer. Some day, if you are not careful, you'll get an awful tumble {from that machine." 4 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORKs "We try to be as careful as possible," an- swered Dick. " Seriously, though, Stanly, I don't care for flying as much as I thought I iwould." " Is that so? Now, I thought you were plan- ning a honeymoon trip by aeroplane. Think of the novelty of it!" " No, a steamboat or a parlor car will be good jenough for me, when I go on a honeymoon trip,"' answered Dick, and for a very good reason he blushed deeply. "Hello, William Philander Tubbs!" cried Tom, as a tall, dudish-looking student crossed the college campus. " What's the price of eggs this morning? " "What is that, Tom?" questioned the styl- ishly-dressed youth, as he turned in the direc- tion of the others. " I asked what was the price of eggs ? " said Tom, innocently. "The — er — the price of eggs? How should, I know?" stammered William Philander Tubbs j in astonishment. " Weren't you in the chicken business once ? " " Gracious me ! No, Tom, no ! " " Ftmny I made the mistake — ^and I want to know the price of eggs the worst way," went on the fun-loving Rover, innocently. :fhb Boys. 'at^ brill ^ "What 60 you want to know the {»rice of egg« for?" questioned William Philander, curi- (xisly, "Why, you see, we've got a new problem in geometry to solve, and the price of eggs wil help out," continued Tom, looking very seriotcs. "What is it, Tom?" "It's this. Tubby, my boy. If the diameter of an egg ten degrees west of its North Pole is two and eleven-tenths inches, what is the value of the shell unfilled? I thought you might help me out on that." " Tom, you are poking fun at me ! " cried the idudish student, as a snicker went up from the other youths. "And please don't call me Tubby, I beg of you," pleaded William Phi- lander. " All right, Billy Gander," murmurKi Tom. "It shan't occur again." "Billy Gander! That is worse than Tubby! " groaned the dudish youth. "Oh, you are aw- ful ! " he added, and strode off, trying to look ivEiy indignant. , " Poor Tubbs, I wonder if he will ev«r be sen- /sSde and get over his dudish ways," was Dick's ■' Gomment. " I doubt it — for it seems to be born in him," returned Sam. 6 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW, YORK " But he's a good sort with it all," yentused Stanley Browne. "First-rate," agreed Tom. "But I— well, I simply can't help poking fun at him when he's around, he's soch a dandy, and ao lordly in his' manner." " Here comes Songbird ! " interrupted Sam. "And, see, he is writing verses, as usual. I Wondei' " "Look!" exclaimed Dick. "Oh! There's a collision for you ! " William Philander Tubbs had started across the campus with his head high in the air. He was looking to oat side and did not notice the approach of another student, who was coming forward thoughtfully, carrying a pad in one hand and writing as he walked. There was a' sudden meeting of the pair, and the pad fell to the ground and with it the fancy headgear the dudish student was wearing. "Oh, I — er — I beg your pardon, really I do, don't you know!" stammered William Philan- der. " Great Hannibal's tombstone ! " splutteredi the other student. " What are you trying to do, Tubbs, knock me down?" " I beg your pardon, Powell, I didn't see you coming," answered the other, as he picked ixp THE BOYS AZ BRILL f his hat and commenced to brush it off with care. "You must be getting blind," growled John \Powell, otherwise known as Songbird. " Con- ttound the luck— you spoilt one of my best /rhymes," he added, as he stooped to pick up his twriting pad. " Sorry, upon my honor I am," returned Wil- liam Philander. " Can I help you out on it? " " I don't think you can. Did you ever try to (Write poetry — real poetry, I mean ? " " No, my dear boy, no. I'm afraid I wouM not be equal to it." " Tlien I don't see how you are going to he^ Hie," murmured Songbird, and he passed on a few steps, coming to a halt presently to jot down some words on his pad. "Hello, Songbird!" called out Tom. "How, IS the Muse to-day, red-hot ? " For a moment John Powell did not answer, but kept on writing. Then his face broke out into a sudden smile. "There, tfiat's it!" he cried. "I've got it at last! I knew I'd get it if I kept at it long enough." " Knew you'd get what, the measles ? " asked j&e fun-loving Tom. "'Measles' nothing!" snorted fiie would-bff 8 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK: poet. "I have been writing a poem on 'The Springtime of Love,' and I wished to show; how " " ' The Springtime of Love ! ' " interrupted Tom. " That must be a second cousin to the ditty entitled "Tis Well to Meet Her at the Well.' " " I never heard of such a poem," answered Songbird, with a serious air. " How does it go?" " It doesn't go. Songbird ; it stands still. But ,what have you got on the pad ? " " Yes, let us hear the latest effusion," put in Sam. " But not if it takes too long," was Dick's comment. " I've only got about ten minutes be- fore that lecture on ' The Cave Dwellers.' " " I can give Songbird six minutes," said Stan- ley, as he consulted his watch. " This is — er — something of a private poem," stammered Songbird. " I wrote it for a — er — i for a personal friend of mine." " Minnie Sanderson ! " cried Sam, mentioning the name of a farmer's daughter with whom all .were well acquainted, and a youi^ lady Song- Jaird called on occasionally. " Read it, anyway. Songbird," said Dick. " Well, if you care to hear it," responded the THE BOYS AT. BRILL ^ (would-be poet, and he began to read from Hie pad: " In early Spring, when flowers bloom In garden and on fields afar, 'My thoughts go out to thee, sweet love. And then I wonder where you are ! When pansies show their varied hues And birds are singing as they soar, I listen and I look, and dream Of days when we shall meet once more ! " " Grand ! fine ! immense ! " murmured Tom. .*' Byron couldn't hold a candle to that. Song- bird!" " I listen to the tiny brook That winds its way o'er rock and sand !And in the running water see A face that— that— that " "Go ahead. Songbird!" cried Sam, as the (would-be poet stumbled and halted. "I— er— I had the last line, but Tubbs knocked it out of me," grumbled Songbird. ""And say, he knocked something else out of (me ! " he exclaimed suddenly. " I was going to (tell you an important bit of news." « You were? " cried Dick. " What? " "The word just came in over the telephone, {from the .weekly newspaper office. Doctor Wal- lO THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK lington said you would want to know about it.'* "But what is it?" demanded Sam, impa- tiently. "Josiah Crabtree has escaped from jail." " Escaped ! " ejaculated Tom. " Why, we were just talking about him ! " put** in Dick- "When did this happen?" "Last night, so the newspaper man said. It seems there was a small fire at the jail — down in the kitchen. There was great excitement, for supper was just being served. In the excite- ment three of the prisoners, who were out of their cells, escaped. Josiah Crabtree was one of them." "Too bad!" murmured Sam. "And we thought he was safe!" " This spells Trouble for us," was Tom's comment, and Dick nodded his head, to show that he was of the same opinioa. CHAPTER II' ABOUT THE PAST "Did you get any more particulars?" asked Sam, of the college poet. "No. The newspaper man was busy, so the Doctor said, and didn't have time to go into details," answered Songbird. "Did .he say who the other prisoners were who got away ? " asked Dick. "Yes, a tramp who was up for robbing a man on the road and a bank clerk who took some money from the bank." "None of the crowd we are interested in," said Tom. " I'm glad of it," returned his older brother. "It is bad enough for Crabtree to get away. I hope they keep a strict guard over the others after this." "Oh, they will, rest assured of that," camdi ,dFrora Stanley Browne. " The head jailer will get a raking over the coals for this, mark my (words." "The Stanhopes and the Lanings ,w3! be It 02 JHE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK. sorry to learn that Crabtree got 2i.yf2Ly" said Sam. " I wonder if they aren't searching for him," mused Sam. "Oh, they'll search for all of them," put in. Songbird. " I think the newspaper man said the sheriff had a posse out." " Too bad ! " said Dick, shaking his head ^avely. " And just when we felt sure old Crabtree wouldn't be able to give us any more trouble!" " It beats the nation, what that man can do ! " cried Sam. " Maybe he hypnotized one of the jailers — just as he hypnotized Mrs. Stanhope years ago. " He'd be equal to it — if he got the chance," answered Tom; and then all of the students had to go in to their classes. To those who have read the previous volumes in this " Rover Boys Series " of books, the lads iwe have just met will need no special introduc- tion. For the benefit of my new readers, how- ever, let me state that the Rover boys were three in number, Dick being the oldest, fun-loving Tom coming next, and Sam being about a year younger still. When at home they lived with their father, Anderson Rover, and their Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha on a beautiful farm called Valley Brook, in New York State. ABOUT THE PAST 13 Years before, and while their father was in Africa, the three boys had been sent by their ,tmcle to Putnam Hall Military Academy, as re- lated in detail in the first volume of this series, called "The Rover Boys at School." At the Hall they had made a number of friends, includ- ing Songbird Powell and the dudish student, (William Philander Tubbs. They had also made some enemies, who did their best to bring the Rover boys to grief, but without success. A term at school had been followed by a short cruise on the ocean, and then a trip to the jun- gles of Africa, whither the lads went to find their father, who had disappeared. Then, dur- ing vacation, the bOys took a trip West, and then another trip on the Great Lakes. After that they went in the moimtains, and then came back to Putnam Hall, to go into camp with their fellow cadets. This term at Putnam Hall was followed by a long journey on land and sea, to a far-away is- land of the Pacific, where the boys and their friends had to play " Robinson Crusoe " for a while. Then they returnd to this country, and, I in a houseboat, sailed down the Ohio and the [Mississippi Rivers. After leaving the Missis- sippi they took an outing on the plains, and then went down into southern waters, where. 14 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK in the Gulf of Mexico, they solved the mystery of a deserted steam yacht. " And now for home and a big rest ! " said Dick, and they went back to the farm. But here something very unusual occurred, and the boys had as lively a time as ever. While at school the three Rover boys had be- come well acquainted with three girls, Dora Stan- hope and her cousins, the two Laning sisters, Nellie and Grace. Dora was the only daughter of Mrs. Stanhope, a widow, and soon she and Dick became the warmest of friends, while Tom was quite taken by Nellie, and Sam often " paired off " with Grace. In those days Josiah Crabtree had been an instructor at Putnam Hall. He was very dicta- torial, and none of the cadets liked him, and the 'Rovers liked him still less when they learned that 'he was trying to practically hypnotize Mrs. Stanhope into marrying him, so that he could get control of the fortune which the widow was / holding in trust for Dora. They foiled the teacher's efforts to wed the lady, and in the end Josiah Crabtree had to leave Putnam Hall. Later still he was arrested for some of his mis- deeds and given a short sentence in jail. The Stanhope fortune, as a part of the money eoming to the Stanhopes and the Lanings was ABOUT THE PAST 15 called, had come to Mr. Stanhope in a peculiar way, and some outsiders claimed the treasure, iwhich, at that time, was secreted in a spot among the West Indies called Treasure Isle. There was a lively chase to get there first, but the Rovers won out, and because of this their ene- mies were more bitter than ever. The boys had finished their term at Putnam Hall and on their return home became students at 'Brill College, a fine institution of learning of the Middle West. At the same time Dora, Nel- lie, and Grace became pupils at Hope Seminary, located not many miles from Brill. At the col- lege the Rovers made many friends, including Stanley Browne, already introduced, and Will, otherwise known as " Spud," Jackson, a lad who loved potatoes, and who also loved to tell big yarns. A term at college had been followed by a trip! down East, taken for a peculiar reason, and then, while on a visit home, the three lads had be- come the possessors of an up-to-date biplane, which they named the Dartaway. In the biplane, ' as related in the volume before this, called " The^ Rover Boys in the Air," our heroes made a somewhat spectacular trip from the farm to the college campus, much to the amazement of their ■fellow collegians and their instructors. Later ;i6 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW. YORK they made a trip through the air to Hope Semi- nary, and at that time Dick was delighted to pJace upon Dora's finger a diamond engagement ring. A short while later an alarming thing oc- curred. The boys were out in the Dartaway when they met Grace on the road and learned that Dora and Nellie had been abducted by Jo- aiah Crabtree, Tad Sobber, and some of their other old enemies. They gave chase in the bi- plane, and, after several adventures, located the girls in a lonely mansion in the country, where they were prisoners, in charge of Sobber's aunt. The boys at once went for the authorities, and, after something of a fight, the rascals were made prisoners, and the girls were rescued and taken back to the Seminary. " You will appear against these scoundrels ? " asked the sheriff, Jackson Fells, of the Rover boys, as they were about to leave the sheriff's office at Plankville. " We'll appear all right enough," Tom had an- swered. "Why, Mr. Sheriff, you couldn't beat jus away with a club ! " And so it had been ar- ranged that the Rover boys should appear in court against the evildoers whenever wanted. Then Crabtree, Sobber, and the others had been put under lock and key in the old-fashioned coun- ABOUT THE PAST n try jail; and there, for the time being, the matter had rested. " I wish we could learn more about Crabtree's icscape," remarked Tom, as he and his brothers (entered the main building of the college. " So do I," added Sam. " Can't we telephone over to Plankville, to Sheriff Fells.?" " More than likely the sheriif is out, hunting [for Crabtree and the others," answered Dick. "But I'll tell you what we might do — if the iweather stays good," he added, suddenly. " Sail to Plankville in the Dartaway? " quer- ied both of the others. " Yes, if Doctor Wallington will give us per- mission." " He ought to — since we are so much inter- ested in this case," returned Tom. " We'll find out, as soon as the morning ses- sion is over," said the eldest Rover boy; and then all hurried to their classes, for the final bell had ceased to ring. It was hard work for the boys to keep their N^minds on their lessons. Dick, especially, was /yery serious, and for a good reason. Something ,iwas worrying him greatly — something of which Tom and Sam knew little. What it was we shall llearn later. The boys had a quarter of an hour after 16 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK dasses before going to lunch, and they imme- diately sought out Doctor Wallington, whom they found in his private ofSce. I "Yes, it is too bad that that rascal Crabtree escaped," said the head of the college. " I can well imagine that you are worried — since he has caused you and your friends so much trouble in the past. Let us >hope that the authorities will quickly recapture him." "Have you had any further word, sir?" asked Dick. " I had word at eleven o'clock, from the news- paper office. Up to that time he had not been located." "We wish to ask a favor," went on Dick, and spoke about the proposed trip to Plauk- ville. " Very well, you may go, and in your biplane if you deem it safe," said the worthy doctor. Secretly he was quite proud of the students' suc- cess with the Dartaway, as it had advertised Brill College not a little. "Possibly we won't be able to get back until to-morrow," said Tom. " We may be detained, or it may storm " " Take your time on the trip. Only be care- ful that you have no accidents." " We'll try to be careful," answered Dick, ABOUT, THE PAST 19- with a grim smile. " We don't want a tumble if we can help it." " It is a grand sport," answered the head o£ the college. " Before long I expect to see aero- planes in constant use." " Wouldn't you like to go up with us some day. Doctor?" questioned Tom, slyly. " Well — er — perhaps, Thomas. But not just iyet. I wish — er — to see them more in general use first." And then the doctor bowed the stu- dents out. The boys lost no time in preparing for the .trip to Plankville. After a somewhat hasty lunch they put on their flying suits and then ^ent down to where the Dartaway was housed, in one of the buildings attached to the gym- nasium. " Looks to be all right," remarked Dick, after an inspection of the flying machine, and while Sam and Tom were filling the gasoline tank and the oil distributor. The engine was tried out for a minute, and found to be in perfect order. As usual, as soon as the explosions of the motor were heard, a) 'crowd commenced to gather, to see the start o£ the flight. "Wish you luck!" cried Stanley. " Say, look out that you don't forget how K" t 20 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK Stop and sail to the North Pole ! " sang out Spud {Jackson. "As if thai could really occur!" murmured William Philander Tubbs, with a lofty look of disdain. " Sure it could happen," returned Spud, good- naturedly. " Why, I heard of an airman who twent up once and forgot how to turn his ma- chine down, and he went around and around in a circle for sixteen hours. And then he dropped ker-plunk right on top of a baker's wagon and smashed twenty-six pies — all because his gaso- line gave out." " Ridiculous ! " murmured William Philander, "Absolute fact, Tubbs," responded Spud, ear- nestly. " Come with me, some day, and I'll showi you where the pies made a dent in the street iwhen the flying machine struck 'em." And then a general laugh went up, and the dudish student stepped back in the crowd, out of sight. "All aboard!" sang out Dick, as he hopped into the driver's seat and took hold of the J iwheel. " Start her up, somebody ! " Sara and Tom got aboard and willing hand^ grasped the propellers and gave each a twist.'] Bang ! bang I bang ! went the explosions, and soon the propellers were revolving swiftly, and thea, (with a swoop the Darta,way ran over the campus. ABOUT. THE PAST m on its -wheels and suddenly arose in the air. A cheer went up, and the students threw up their caps. Then Dick swung around in a quarter circle and headed directly for Plankville. It was an ideal day for flying, not too hot or too cold, and with very little breeze, and that of the " steady " kind, not hkely to develop " holes " > — the one great terror of all airmen. " Wish we had the girls along," remarked Sam, when they were well on the way. " Not for this trip, Sam," answered Dick, grimly. "We have got our work cut out for us." "Why, wiiat do you mean?" " If old Crabtree hasn't been caught yet we j must see if we can't round him up." CHAPTER III A USELESS HUNT "Say, that's the talk!" cried Tom, quickly., " I hadn't thought of that, — ^but it's just whal: we ought to do." " It won't be easy, Tom," said his younger brother. " The chances are that Crabtree has l made good use of his time. He may be hun' dreds of miles away — ^bound for the West or the South, or Canada or Europe." " Well, we can have a try at finding him, any- way," put in Dick. " Sometimes a criminal sticks close to the jail until the excitement is over. Look at those fellows who escaped from jail in New York City not long ago. The de- tectives thought they had gone to Chicago or St. Louis, and all the while they were on the East Side, right in New York ! " " Oh, my ! but wouldn't I just like to land on old Crabtree ! " muttered Tom. " I think I'd be apt to put him in the hospital first and jail after- wards! He certainly deserves it — for all the trouble he has caused us and our — er — friends." 22 A USELESS HUNT 2^, " ' Friends ' is good, with Dick engaged to marry Dora and you as good as engaged to Nellie," snorted Sam- I " Precisely, and you and Grace making goo- goo eyes at each other," added Tom, with a wink at his younger brother. Then he quickly changed the subject. "Dick, do you think you can strike a straight course for Plankville?" " I'll try it," was the answer. . " I don't think I'll go much out of the way." The Dartaway had a powerful motor, and once on the right trail the eldest Rover advanced his gasoline and spark, and they went rushing 1 through the air at express-train speed. The boys were provided with face guards, iSO they did not mind this. They did not fly high, and so kept the railroad and other familiar objects fairly well in view. They passed over several villages, the inhabitants gazing up at them in open- mouthed wonder, and finally came in sight of a big church spire that they knew belonged in Plankville. Then Dick slowed down the engine, and soon they floated down in an open field close to the main street and not a great distance from 'the sheriff's office and the jail. "Well, it certainly didn't take long to get here," cried Tom, as he consulted his watch. A man who lived close by was approaching 24 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW, YORK and he readily agreed, for a small amount, to guard the biplane. " Have they caught those men who escaped from the jail ? " asked Sam, of the man. " Got two on 'em," was the reply. " Dacker and Penfield." "What of Crabtree?" asked Dick. " Nuthin' doin', up to an hour ago. The sher- iff is out with about ten men, lookin' fer him." " Then there is no use of our going to the sheriff's office," said Dick to his brothers- " We'll go right to the jail." "Will they let us in?" asked Sam. " In the office, yes. We won't want to go to the cells," answered Dick, with a short laugh. When they reached the office of the jail they ifotuid several men present, including the head keeper and one of the State detectives. The keeper had seen the Rover boys at the time of the capture of Crabtree and the others and he smiled a little as he shook hands. " Bad business," he said, in answer to a ques- tion Dick put. " But I can't exactly blame my men for what happened." ' " Weren't you here at the time ? " asked Tom. " No, I was out of town — calling on my mother, who is very old and quite sick. There iwas a fire in the pantry off the kitchen, and for 'A USELESS HVNZ 25 a few minutes it looked as if the old jail would burn to the ground. Of course the guards got excited, and all they thought of was to put out the blaze — and it's a good thing they did that. That's how the prisoners got away. I suppose you've heard that we rounded up two of them." " Yes," answered Dick. " Have they any idea what became of Crabtree?" " I haven't. If the sheriflf knows anything he hasn't told it By the way, boys, I'll tell you something, now you are here. That man is a hypnotist ! " "We know it," said Dick. " I thought I told you." "He tried to hypnotize one of the men one iday, — almost got away, doing it ! " "Did he hire any lawyer to defend him?" asked Tom, curiously. " I don't know about a lawyer. He had a man out to see him, several times. The two were anery friendly." "They were?" cried Dick. "I never knew Josiah Crabtree had any friends, outside of the rascals he associated with. Who was the man?" "He gave his name ias John Smith. But I gfuess that was false, for he acted as if he didn't want to be knowa." 26 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "What kind of a looking man was he?" asked Sam. " Why, he was a tall, thin fellow with a very pointed chin, and bushy black hair and heavy, black eyebrows. When he spoke his voice had' a regular rumble to it." At this description the Rover boys shook their heads. They could think of nobody they had met who would fit the picture. " When was that man here last? " asked Dick. " A couple of days ago. I didn't like him for a cent, but as the prisoners haven't been con- victed of any crimes as yet I had to let 'em see their friends," explained the jail keeper. "What of Sobber, Larkspur and the others?" questioned Tom. "All safe enough. Nobody else is going to get out of here if I can help it," and the keeper shook his head decidedly. The boys remained at the jail for a while longer, and heard the particulars of how the fire had originated and of how the prisoners had gotten away. Two of the men had kept together, but Crabtree had gone off by himself, and the last seen of him was when he was running for the river, which flowed some distance back of the jail. " Let us go down to the river and take a look A USELESS HUNT. nf around," su^ested Dick, at last, and bidding th^ jailer good-bye, they hurried away. Along the river bank they found several men and boys, all looking for Crabtree, some think- ing there might be a reward offered for the cap- ture of the criminal. The Rovers joined in the hunt for the best part of an hour, but without success. " It's worse than looking for a pin in a hay- stack," grumbled Tom, presently. "We might as well give it up." " Let us walk around the town and see if we can learn anything," suggested liis big brother. They walked down the main street of Plank- ville from end to end, questioning several peo- ple they knew. At last they got word that a; mysterious automobile had passed through the town about midnight of the day Josiah Crab- tree had broken from jail. But who had been in the touring car nobody could tell. " He may have escaped in that," declared Dick. "And if he did, that man who came to se^i him at the jail had the car," added Sam. "Just what I think," cried Tom. "Well, if he got away in an auto there is no use of our looking for ihim here," he added, with a sigh. Nevertheless, the boys hung around PlanK- 28 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEVH YORK ville for an hour longer. Then they got aboard of the Dartaway, and with Tom at the wheel, and Dick with a pair of field glasses to his eyes, swung in several circles about the neighborhood. "No use," declared the oldest Rover boy, at I last. " It is getting late. We might as well re- turn to college. We can do nothing here." " Haven't we got time to go to Hope ? " asked Sam, a bit wistfully. "Well, I don't know," answered his big brother, just as wistfully. " Let us take time — Doctor Wallington didn't .want us to hurry back," put in Tom. " I think the girls ought to know about this, so as to be on guard, in case old Grabtree tries to molest them again." As the lads were all of one mind, the biplane was headed in the direction of Hope. As before, the flying machine swung through the air at 3 good rate of speed, and half an hour before sun- down they came in sight of the Seminary build- ings. "Wonder where they are?" mused Dick, as the biplane came to earth at the spot where they 'had landed before. "If they are around they must have heard «s," answered Tom. "The engine makes noise enough to wake the dead." And this was well A USELESS HUNX 39 expressed, for the niotor, like many of the flying machine kind, had no muffl6r attached, and the explosions were not unlike the firing of a gat- ling gun. Some girls had seen them eome down, and^, presently the boys saw three figures hurrying towards them. "Oh, what made you come so late?" cried Grace, as she rushed up and shook hands witli Sam and then with the others. "We thought you might come to-day/' pub in Nellie, as she beamed on Tom, and ej^tended both hands. "I heard the machine first," declared Dora,; and came straight to Dick, who did not hesi- tate to give her the hearty kiss to which he thought his engagement entitled him. " We have been to Plankville," came from Tom and Sam, in a breath. " Have you heard the news? " questioned their big brother, and he looked anxiously from Dora to her cousins. " What news ? " cried Dora, quickly. " We have heard nothing unusual." "Josiah Crabtree broke out of the Plankville jail and ran away." " Oh, Dick ! " and Dora grew suddenly pale. " Do you really mean it ? " 30 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "When was this?" demanded Nellie. "Tell us all about it," supplemented Grace. " We can't tell you any more than what we .feave heard," answered Sam. "We just got word ourselves this morning." Then the boys told their story and answered innumerable questions which the girls put to them. " This will be bad news for mother," said Dora, to Dick. " She is afraid of Josiah Crab- tree, and always has been^ — ^because of his strange hypnotic power." " I don't think he will dare to show himself — > at least, not for a while, Dora," he answered. ** He knows only too well that the jail is wait- ing to receive him." "That strange man with the bushy eyebrows and the pointed chin must have helped him to get away," was Nellie's comment. " So we think," answered Tom. " But who was he ? " questioned her sister. "That's a conundrum we can't answer," re- turned Sam. "I think he was waiting around with that auto, and as soon as the fire started Crabtree saw the chance he wanted and got put." " Maybe Crabtree started the fire ? " sug- gested Dora. " No, that was purely an accident — so the A USELESS HUNT. jif jailer says. The wind blew a curtain against a lamp and the burning curtain fell into some ex- celsior in a box of new dishes. The excelsior made quite a blaze and a lot of smoke, and every- body in the jail was badly frightened for a while." After that the talk became general, and quite unconsciously Dick and Dora strolled off by; themselves, down towards a tiny brook that flowed past the campus grounds. "You must be very careful, Dora, now that Crabtree is at liberty," said the eldest Rover boy. " I wouldn't have ihim run off with you agaia for the world," he added, tenderly. " I shall watch out, Dick, — and I'll make the others watch out, too." And then, as he squeezed her hand, she added, in a lower voice : " How^ is that other matter coming along?" " Not very well, Dora," and Dick's face be- came more serious than ever. "Can't your father manage it.?" " I don't think so. You see, he isn't in very good health — he breaks down every once in a while. Those business matters worry him a great' deal." "Can't your uncle help him?" "No, Uncle Randolph means well, but fie is no business man — ^he showed that when he al- 22 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK lowed those men to swindle him out of those bonds," went on Dick, referring to an event iwhich has been related in detail in " The Rover -Boys on the Farm." " But what can you do, Dick ? " questioned ' the girl, earnestly. " I think I'll have to quit college and take up the matter myself," answered Dick Rover. CHAPTER W THE END OF THE " DARTAWAY " "Quit college? Oh, Dick, do you want to do that?" " Not exactly, Dora — and yet I don't think 1 am exactly fitted for a professional career. That seems to be more in Tom and Sam's line. I like business, and I'd enjoy getting into some- thing big, something worth while. I think I could handle those matters, if father would onlj^ let me try. 'Knd then there is another thing, Dora," went on the youth, looking squarely into his companion's face. " Perhaps you can guess what that is." She blushed deeply. "What?" she whispered. " I want to marry you, and take you some place where I know you'll be safe from such creatures as Crabtree and Sobber and Larkspur* • — and I want the right to look after your mother, too." "Oh, Dick!" KJid she clung tightly to hisi erm. 33 "34 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "Aren't you willing, Dora?" "Yes." She looked at him frankly 'Yes, Dick, whenever you say." " And your mother " "Mamma depends upon me in evfr.ytiiing^ /and she has told me to do just as we thought best." Dick gave a swift look around. Nobody was in sight at that moment. He pressed Dora to him. " You best and dearest sweetheart in all the THTorld ! " he cried, in a low tone. " Then I can depend on you? We'll be the happiest couple in the whole world ! " " Indeed, yes, Dick ! " And Dora's eyes fairly beamed with happiness as she snuggled closer to him. " But about your father," she continued, a moment later. " I am selfish to forget him. Then he is not so well ? " " He is fairly well, but he gets a bad spell ever so often, and then to attend to business is out of the question. But that isn't the worst of it. He has gotten tangled up in some sort of financial scheme with some brokers in New York City and it is worrying iiim half to death. He has told me something about it, but I don't know half as much as I'd like to know." " Then you must find out, Dick, and help THE END OF THE "DART AW AY" 35 l»im all you possibly can," declared the girl, promptly. "I'm looking for a letter from home every ,day — I mean one telling about these financial af- fairs. As soon £is it comes I'll know what to ido." All too soon the boys' visit to Hope Seminary had to come to an end. Sam and Tom returned to the biplane and gave the motor a brief " try- put," which noise reached Dick's ears just as he iwas trying to break away from Dora. He gave her a last hug and a kiss and then ran to join his brothers. "The best of friends must part, as the hook said to the eye ! " sang out Tom, merrily. " I believe you are anxious to leave us ! " re- iturned Nellie, teasingly. " Sure thing ! " he retorted, promptly. " I planned to get away an hour before I came." 'And then she playfully boxed his ear, at which he chased her around the biplane and gave her a hearty smack just below her own pretty ear. " Tom Rover ! " she gasped. But, somehow, she looked pleased, nevertheless. ' "All in the family!" sang out the fun-loving Rover, coolly. " As the lady said .when she kissed her cow." "Who is going to run the Dartaway back?"' 36 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW. YORK. questioned Sam. " I think it's my turn at the wheel." "It's rather dark, Sam," answered Dick. "But you can try it — if you want to." " All right — I think I can see as much as you or Tom," responded the youngest Rover. "If I get off the course, and you find it out, let me know." Darkness was settling down when the boys finally bid the girls good-bye and flew away. " Beware of old Crabtree ! " sang out Dick. " We'll watch out ! " answered Nellie. " Indeed we will ! " came from Dora and Grace. "If you catch sight of him, have him ar- rested ! " yelled Sam, and then the biplane sailed out of hearing. Sam knew how to handle the Dartaway al- most as well as did Dick and Tom, and as there was but little wind, and the flying machine ap- peared to be in good condition, the others did liot doubt but what Sam would make a fine flight of the trip. " Keep a little to the south," called out Dick, ^ after Hope had been left behind and when they: were sailing over some broad fields. " If you do that you can follow the old turnpike for quite a distance." THE END OF THE "DARTAWAY" 37 "I thought I'd run for the railroad tracks," answered the lad at the steering wheel. "You can do that later — after we pass that big farmhouse with the four barns." Running along in the air is a different propo- sition front! running on the ground, and the air- man has to be careful about the lay of the land below him or he will soon go astray from his course. The earth looks altogether different iwhen viewed from the sky from what it does when looked at from a level, and when an air- man is five or six hundred feet up he has all he can do to make out what is below him. It had begun to cloud up a little and this made it darker than ever. After following the turn- pike for nearly two miles, Sam veered slightly to catch the railroad tracks and the gleam of the signal lights. " I can follow the lights best of all ! " he shouted, into Dick's ear. " It's too dark to see the road." "All right, follow the railroad right to Ash- ton," answered the oldest Rover boy, naming 'the town that was tlie railroad station for Brill College. The cloudiness increased rapidly, and long be- iore Ashton was gained it commienced to blow. 38 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK gently at first, and then stronger and stronger. Evidently a storm was in the air. " We are going to catch it ! " was Tom's com- ment. " Oh, I don't think it will storm just yet," re^, turned Sam. "Watch yourself, Sam!" cried Dick, warn- ingly. "If the wind gets too strong bring her down in the first field we come to." " I will," was the answer. They were now flying close to the railroad tracks. Presently they saw a glare of light il- luminate the rails and a long line of freight cars, drawn by a big locomotive, passed beneath' them. "Wish that was going our way — we could follow it with ease," said Sam, as the train dis- appeared from view, leaving the landscape be- low darker than ever. The youngest Rover boy now had to give the Dartaway all of his attention. The breeze was coming in fitful gusts, sending the biplane -first to one side and then to the other. They struck a " bank," and he had to use all his wit and cour- age to bring the flying machine to a level keel once more. "Better go down!" cried Tom. "This is Ifetting dangerous." THE END OF THE "DART AWAY" 39 " Don't go down here ! " sang out Dick. "There are iwoods on both sides of the track!" Sam had been working the horizontal rudder, to bring the biplane down, but at Dick's words he shifted again and they went up. "I'll teH you when we reach an open field," iwent on the oldest Rover. " Say, this sure is some blow ! " he added. Another fitful gust struck the Dartaway and for one brief moment it looked as if the biplane iwould be turned over. Had this occurred the machine would have dropped like a shot and most likely all of the boys would have been killed. But Sam was on guard, and worked his levers like lightning. As quickly as she had tipped, the Dartaway righted herself, and then they shot •upward on a long slant. " Phew ! that was some escape ! " mirttered Tom. "Dick, can't you see any open field where we can land ? " "Must be one ahead," was the answer. "I 1 fancy^ " Dick did not finish, for at that moment came a blast of air stronger than any that had gone before. The Dartaway spun around, left the railroad tracks, made a semi-circle, and then 40 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK came back again. As it made the final tura there was a crack like that of a pistol. " What was that? " cried Tom. " Was it the engine ? " " No, it was one of the stays ! " answered Dick. He glanced around. " The right plane is giving 'way! Sam, let her down, as quick as you can ! " " On the tracks ! " gasped the lad at the wheel.: " Yes— anywhere — ^before we tumble I " The biplane was already out of control. Sam manipulated the rudders as best he could, and likewise the ailerons, and the machine dropped in several wild dashes. "The train!" yelled Tom. "Look out for the express!" There was another gleam of light along the railroad tracks. The evening express was ap- proaching, running at topmost speed, to make up some lost time. The biplane was coming down swiftly. It veered towards the woods beside the railroad! tracks. Then it took another wild turn and hung directly over the railroad. The boys were^ speechless, not knowing \vhat to do. The light of the express train kept coming closer and closer. Crash! the biplane had stnick the earti, di- THE END OF THE "DARTAWAY" 41 rectly beside the railroad tracks. One end of the machine rested across the rails, the other end hung in the bushes bordering the tracks. As they struck Tom and Dick were thrown (iput — ^the former into the bushes and the latter }'pn the tracks. Sam kept at the wheel, the force qi the impact smashing the landing wheels be- , neath him. For the instant all three boys were too stunned to do anything. Then, as the gleam from the express train came closer, Tom let out a wild cry. 1 "Jump! Jump for your lives I We haven't a moment to lose!" "Dick!" screamed Sara. "Save Dick! He is on the tracks ! ' "Where?" " There ! " and Sam pointed with one hand, while he clambered down from his seat. The seat was broken and his coat got caught in the splinters, and it was several seconds before he could release himself. Tom looked to where his brother pointed and saw Dick l)ring in a heap, face downward. The fall had been sufficient to stun him and he was jthus unable to help himself. Tom did not hesitate over what to do. Dick ^ras very dear to him and never for an instant did 42 tTHE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK he consider the risk he was running in going toi the rescue. He made a flying leap from the bushes to the tracks and took another leap to his brother's side. "Get up, Dick" he yelled. "Here, let me get you off the tracks ! The train is coming ! " Only a faint groan answered him. Dick was still too dazed to think or to act. Tom caught hold of his brother and raised him up, and commenced to drag him to the other side of the tracks, away from the wrecked biplane. As he did this there came a shrill warning shriek from the locomotive whistle. The engineer had seen the obstruction on the tracks and had poi: on brakes, in a vain endeavor to stop the ex- press. As Tom commenced to haul Dick across the tracks, Sam came bounding to his assistance^ the shreds of his torn coat flapping behind him. He caught his big brother by one arm. " Hurry ! " he yelled, hoarsely. " The ex- press is almost here ! " Both boys made a wild leap to the edge of the railroad, dragging Dick between them.' Tom got his foot caught in the rails and almost pitched headlong. They fairly fell into the bushes, and Dick went down with them. Then the express thundered up, the whistle "hurryI" he yelled hoarsely, "the express is almost herhJ" — Page 42. n* Rmr Boy) in Nfw Ytrk. THE END. OF. THE "DARTAWAY" 43 shrieking loudly and the sparks flying from the wheels where the brakes gripped them. The locomotive struck the Dartaway, and the next instant the biplane was smashed to pieces, the broken parts flying in all directions ! CHAPTER V. TWO VISITORS "That's the last of the Dartaway!" *' Are you hurt, Dick? " ** My, wasn't that a narrow escape ! " "A minute later and it would have been al! tip with us ! " " I — I guess I'm all right," stammered Dick, putting one hand to his forehead, where a lump was rapidly rising. " I' got some fall though ! " he added, grimly. ■ " Look what hit me ! " cried Sam, picking up a section of a bamboo stick — one which had sup- ported one of the planes of the flying machine. " I'm glad we weren't closer to that smash- tip!" Having plowed through the biplane, the ex- press train had come to a halt with the last car itanding not a great distance beyond the scene of the collision. Already the trainmen were hurrying out, some with lanterns, , to learn if anybody had been killed or hurt. "Why, it's an airship!" cried the conductor. * How in the name of Adam did that get here? " 44 TIVO VISITORS^ 45 "Here are three fellows!" cried the en- gineer, as the rays of a lantena revealed the Rover boys. "Were you in that flying ma- diine?" he called. " We were," answered Tom, grimly. "Anybody hurt?" " My brother got a bad tumble and is partly stunned." " We didn't hit anybody, did we? " questioned the engineer, anxiously. " Nothing but the biplane," answered Sam. *' You made mince-meat of that." " How did you happen to land on the track? " asked the fireman. " The wind put the machine out of control and iwe eame down quicker than we wanted to," ex- plained Sam. "Then you came along-=— before iwe had a diance to drag the biplane off the tracks." " Well, I'm glad I didn't hit anybody," said the engineer, in tones of relief. "We had a close shave," returned Tom, and then he and Sam told of how they had struck, and of how Dick had been dragged out of the | way. By this time the oldest Rover boy was feeling more like himself and he managed to stand up, even though somewhat dizzy " Well, we're fosing time," said the conductor. 46 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK consulting his watch by the light of his lantera. " We'll have to get into Ashton and report this." "And somebody has got to pay for the bi- iplane," said Tom. " I don't see as it is our fault," answered the I' trainman, and then he gave the order to go ahead — after it had been ascertained Hiat the track was clear. " We'll ride to Ashton with you," said Dick. *' No use of staying with this wreckage," he added, to his brothers. " We can drive down to- morrow and look it over. I don't think it is Svorth much." "Never mind — I am glad nobody was seri- ously hurt," returned Sam. " I guess we all feel that way," added Tom. It was a run of only a few minutes to Ash- ton. On the way the conductor of the train, took the Rover boys' names and address. " I don't see how you can blame us for smash- ing the flying machine," he said. " You had no business to come down on the track." "We might have gotten our biplane off the track, if you had' halted the train," returned Dick. "We could have dragged it into the bushes." " I don't know about that." As soon as the train rolled into Ashton the TWO VISITORS 47- boys alighted. The only other passenger to get off was one of the local storekeepers. "You were lucky boys," said the man, pleas- antly. He knew them by sight, for they had traded at his shop. " That's true, Mr. Striker," said Dick. " But me don't seem to be lucky just now." "How's that?" "There isn't a conveyance of any kind here .to take us to Brill, and I must say I don't feel like walking." "You go around to Carson's livery stable. He'll take you over to the college," answered Mr. Striker. TTie livery stable was but a short distance away and they found the proprietor on hand, readiag- a newspaper and smoking his pipe. "It's a wonder you wouldn't have a rig over at the depot, to meet the main trains," grumbled Tom. " 'Twouldn't pay," answered Neal Carson. "I tried it once, and earned two dollars and a half in two weeks. Folks that want me can come here for me." "Well, iwe want to get to Brill College," said* Dick. "All right, but it will cost you fifty cents each." 48 THE ROVER BOYS IN MEW YORK "Very well." The livery stable keeper hustled around and soon had a team ready. The boys were glad enough to take it easy in the carriage, and oa the way to college but little was said. " Rather late, young gentlemen," remarked Professor Blackie, sharply, as they entered. " We had an accident. Professor," returned Dick. "An accident?" and the instructor was all attention. " Our biplane got smashed up," put in Tona. " Indeed ! I am sorry to hear that. ' Are you hurt?" " Got a shaking up and a few scratches," an- swered Sam. Then their story had to be told in detail. Soon it became noised all over the place that the Dartaway had been wrecked, and before they could get a mouthful to eat the three Rovers bad to tell the story over and over again. " I'm sorry the biplane was wrecked, but glad you escaped," feaid Songbird, earnestly. He cherished his old friends as if they were broth- ers. "Just what I say already," cried Max Spangler, a German-Ajmerican student. "You can buy a new flying machine, yes, but you can't TIVO VISITORS 49 buy a new Head or a body, not much ! " HSKad lie shook his head earnestly. Even while the lads were eating they had t© give further details of the disastrous flight. Doctor Wallington congratulated them on their escape. " You had better leave flying alone after this," he remarked. " I think we shall — for a while, at least," an- swered Tom, dryly. As soon as it was possible to do so, the boys sent a message to the girls and to their folks, telling about the accident and of their escape. "It's bound to get in the newspapers," said Dick. "And if we don't send word the others will be scared to death." The oldest Rover boy was right about the af- fair getting in the newspapers. The local sheets gave the accident a column or more and some city sheets took it up and made a " spread " of it, with pictures that were truly thrilling even though they were inaccurate. " Humph ! look at this picture ! " cried Sam, showing up the supplement to a New York Sun-y day newspaper. " Looks as if we hit the smoke- stack of the locomotive and sailed along on that for a mile or two ! Phew ! what an imagination that artist must have ! " so THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "And here is a picture showing the train climbing over the biplane!" returned Tom. " Say, it's a wonder we didn't wreck the Ex- press instead of the Express wrecking us ! " On the day following the accident the boys were told, after class hours, that some gentlemea iwished to see them. They went to the reception room, to find two men there — a lawyer and a doctor. " You are liie — er — ^the young gentlemen who (were in the — er — the flying machine smash-up? " (jueried one of the visitors, sharply. "Yes," answered Dick. "Mr. Rover?" " Yes, Richard Rover." "Just so. Qad to know you. My name is Fogg — Belright Fogg. This is Doctor Stamper. ,We represent the railroad company, Mr. Rover. The doctor came along to see if you had been fourt." " I got this," answered Dick, with a quiet smile, and pointed to the lump on his forehead. "Ah, yes, I see," put in Doctor Slamper. " Not very serious, I take it." "Oh, it didn't kill me." "Ha! ha! Good joke, Mr. Rover! Feel fpretty good otherwise, eh? " " Oh, I'm able to sit up." TWO VISITORS 51 "And these other young gentlemen are all ■right, of course," went on the doctor, smoothly. His manner was such that the boys were dis- gusted. Evidently he had come to smooth mat- ters over, so that they would not put in a claim for personal injuries. And the lawyer had come to ward off a claim for the loss of the Dart- away. " No, I'm not all right, Doctor — far from it," cried Tom, before the others could say another word. 'And then the fun-loving Rover went on : " My knee is sprained, and my back twisted, and J. have a pain in one of my right teeth, and my brothers both got their arms wrenched, and one got his left big toe out of joint, and none of U9^ can see extra good, and I think my big brother's ' right ear is out of order, and my digestion is not what it should be, and I fear " "Stop! stop!" interrupted the doctor, in amazement. " Do you mean to say " " And the back of my neck feels out of kilter somehow," continued Tom, " and Sam's left hip isn't just as straight as it should be, and -when I hit my elbow I have the funniest sensation crawl down my shoulder blade ever was, and we all think we ought to go to a sanitarium for at least six months or a year; don't you think so, too. Doctor? " ' 52 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "Well, I never!" gasped Doctor Slamper, f alliiig back against a center table. " Why, my: dear young men, I think " " And the Dartaway is gone — our dear old fly- ing machine ! " groaned Tom, " The machine we hoped to fly in to Washington, to the next inauguration. Why, don't you know that the planes of that machine were covered with the au- tographs of most of the big men of this country? Whenever we sailed around to visit our friends or the big men we had them write their auto- graphs on the canvas wings of the machine. Those autographs alone were worth about a mil- lion, more or less!" "What's this?" put in Belright Fogg, quickly. " A flying machine valuable because of the autographs on it? Preposterous! If you think the railroad will stand to pay anything on such a thing as that, you are mistaken." "But how are we to get those autographs back ? " whined Tom. " Some of the men whoi gave them may be dead now ! " " See here, let us get down to business," cried , Belright Fogg. " You don't look to be knocked out — at least, not a great deal anyway. Am I right, Doctor?" " I — I think so. Of course they may be — ^be shocked a little," returned the physician. TWO VISITORS 53 " Probably they are — from the way this young man talks— little nervous disorder." And he pointed at Tom, while Dick and Sam had to turn away, to keep from bursting into laugh- ter. "Um! Nervous, eh? Well, a few days of quietness will remedy that," answered the law- yer. " Now, see here." He looked wisely at the three Rovers. "Our railroad disclaims all responsibility for this accident But at the same time we— er — we want to do the right thing, you know — rather do that than have any un- pleasant feelings, understand? Now if you are ^willing to accept our offer, we'll fix this matter right up and say no more about it." "What is you offer?" questioned Dick. " Three hundred dollars — one hundred dollars each." "You mean for out personal injuries?" ques- tioned Sam. "I mean for everything." "Nothing doing," returned Dick, (promptly, ^nH with a bit of pardonable slang. " You will not accept? " "We might accept three hundred dollars for \ the shaking up we got — although we don't know if our nerves are all right or not. Sometimes Iflaese things turn out worse than at first antiei- 54 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK pated. But the railroad has got to pay for the biplane it smashed." "Never!" "I think it iwiU." "You got in the way of the train — it was your own fault." " Your track isn't fenced in — I have a right to cross it where I please. If I had a wagon and it broke down, you would have no right to run into it. The law ijnight not hold you crim- inally liable, but it would hold you liable for the worth of the wagon and contents. " Say, are you a lawyer ? " queried Belright Fogg, curiously. " No, but I know my rights," returned DieW, promptly. CHAPTER VI THE MISSING BIPLANE For a moment there was silence. The law- yer and the doctor who represented the railroad company looked 'from one to another of the Rover boys. " Pretty shrewd, aren't you? " said the law- yer, finally. "We have to be — in dealing with a railroad company," answered Dick, bluntly. "Now let ■us get to business — if that is what you came for," he continued. " We might put in a big claim for damages, and I think a jury would sustain our claim. But we want to do what is fair. The question then is. Do you want to do what is fair?" "Why, yes, of course," returned Belright t'Fogg, but he did not say it very cordially. " Very well then. That flying machine cost us twenty-eight hundred dollars new and we have spent over two hundred dollars on improve- ments, so when she was smashed she was worth at least three thousand dollars." 55 S6 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "But you can save something, can't yo«?" ^t in the lawyer. "Perhaps we can save the engine, and a dealer in second-hand machinery may give a hundred dollars for it. Now what I propose is this: You pay for half the value of the bi- plane and we'll call it square." " Preposterous ! " " Very well then, Mr. Fogg, we'll consider tiie interview closed." " If you sue, you won't get a cent, Mr. Rover.'* "That remains to be seen." " I am willing to give you five hundred dol- lars in place of the three hundred first offered." "No, sir — it is fifteen hundred or nothing, Mr. Fogg." "But you have not been hurt" " Yes, we have been ihurt. I have been to our college doctor about this lump on my head, and my brothers have been to him, too. We were badly shaken up — not as much as my brother made out, but enough. If we have to sue we'll put in our claim for personal injuries as well — and maybe for time lost from our studies." " But fifteen hundred dollars ! I — er — I can't see it," and the lawyer began to pace the floor. " Maybe we had better sue," suggested Sam. "We might get the full amount of our loss—' THE MISSING BIPLANE 57 three thousand for the Dartaway and some for our injuries." This did not suit the lawyer at all, for he had been instructed to settle if possible and thus avoid litigation, for the railroad a'uthorities had heard that the Rovers were rich and might make the affair cost a good deal. "I will — er — make my offer an even thou- sand dollars," he said, after some more talk. " But that is my limit. If you won't take that, you'll get nothing." " All right — we'll sue," said Dick, and be ■ made a move as if to close the interview. " See here, are you of age — have you authority to close this matter.?" demanded Belright Fogg, suddenly. " I can close the matter, yes," answered Dick. " My father will be perfectly satisfied with what- ever I do. I transact much of his business for him." "Ah, well then, let us consider this thing a little more, Mr. 'Rover." And thereu|)on the lawyer went all over the matter again. Pres^- ently he offered twelve hundred dollars. But Dick was firm; and in the end the lawyer said he would pay them fifteen hundred dollars the next day, provided they would s^ign off all claims on the railroad. 58 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " We'll do it as soon as we see the money," answered Dick. " Can't you trust me, Mr. Rover ? " demanded Belright Fogg. ^ " I like to do business in a business-like way,'', answered Dick, coolly. "When you bring that"- check kindly have it certified," he added. " Very well ! " snapped the lawyer ; and then he and the doctor got out, Belright Fogg stating he would return the next morning. " Dick, you ought to be a lawyer yourself ! " cried Tom. " You managed that in fine style." "Tom helped," added Sam. *'He nearly scared that doctor into a fit, talking about our aches and pains ! " " Wait — perhaps the lawyer won't come back with the money," said Dick. " He may recon- sider the offer." "You didn't say anything about the wreck- age," said Sam. " Who gets that? " " We do, Sam. They are to pay us for dam- ages, don't you see? If they pay only that, they can't claim the wreckage." Promptly at the appointed time the next dayl Belright Fogg appeared. He was a bit nervous, for the railroad officials had told him to settle at once — ^before the Rovers took it into their heads to bring suit. THE MISSING BIPLANE S9 " I have the check, certified," he said, produc- ing the paper. "Here is what you must sign,- in the presence of witnesses," he added, and brought out a legal-looking document. " We'll call in two of the teachers," answered Dick. The oldest Rover boy read the document over with care. It was all right, excepting that in it the railroad claimed the wreckage of the Dart~ away absolutely. "Here, this comes out," cried Dick. "The wreckage belongs to us." At this there was another long discussion. But the Rovers remained firm, and in the end the clause concerning the wreckage was altered to show that the Dartaway must remain the boys' property. Then the three brothers signed the paper and it was duly witnessed by two teachers, and the certified check was handed to Dick. "Very sharp young man, you are," was B^ right Fogg's comment, as he was about to leave. " You ought to be a lawyer." " Perhaps I will be some day," was Dick's an- swer. "Better get that check right in the bank!" cried Sam, when he and his brothers were alone. " That fellow may stop payment on it." " He can't stop a certified check, Sam. I'll put 6o THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK it in the school safe for the present What we iwant to do is to look after the Dartaway. She may not be worth much, but what there is of her belongs to us." " Right you are. Let us get permission to go •after her right away. For all we know, some- body may have carted her off already ! " The boys readily obtained permission to see to their property, and walked down to the col- lege stables to get a horse and carriage to take them to the spot where the accident had occurred. Just then came a toot of an automobile horn, and a fine five-passenger car rolled into view, with Stanley Browne and a stranger on the front seats. "Hello, you fellows!" cried Stanley, as the auto came to a stop. " Come over here ! I hoped I'd see you ! " The Rovers hurried across the campus and were introduced to Jack Mason, Stanley's cousin, the driver of the car. He was passing through Ashton on the way to join his folks in the White Mountains. "Jack wants me to take a ride with him this afternoon," said Stanley. "And I can invite three others to go along. Will you come with us?" "That is kind," answered Dick. "But THE MISSING BIPLANE 6l we have some business to attend to," and he re- lated what it was. " Say, let's take a look at the wrecked bi- plane ! " cried Jack Mason. " I'd just as soon go there as anywhere." "So would I," added Stanley. "Very well — ^that will suit us down to the Aground ! " cried Tom. " We were going to drive over in a carriage," explained Dick. " We can get there much quicker in the auto." The boys piled into the tonneau of the car and they started off. " Got to show me the roads," said Jack Mason. "All I know around here is the regu- lar auto road to the White Mountains, — and I don't know that any too well." " You can't lose us on the roads ! " cried Tom. " We'll keep you straight." Jack Mason loved to run fast and soon they were bowling along at a forty-mile-an-hour rate. Stanley and Tom told the driver what turns to make, and almost before they knew it they had passed the outskirts of Ashton and were approaching the locality where the fast Express had dashed into the crippled bi- plane. " Here we are ! " cried Tom, presently. " We, 62 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK can't go any further on the road. We'll have to T/ralk through the woods to the tracks." " I see a wood road ! " exclaimed Jack Mason. " If the ground isn't too soft I'll try that." He went on and passed in between the trees, and soon they were within a hundred feet of the railroad tracks. As the car came to a stop the Rover boys jumped to the ground and ran for- ward. Then, of a sudden, all three set up a shout : " The biplane is gone ! " "Gone?" queried Stanley, who was close be- hind them. " Yes, gone," returned Tom. "Are you sure this is the spot where it was struck?" " Of course I am." "There are the marks where* we landed and where the locomotive >hit the Dartaway," said Sara. He looked around. "Wonder who took her, and to where?" "That's to be found out," lanswered Dick, seriously. "I don't see any airship," said Jack Mason, as he came up, having shut off the engine of the touring car. " Somebody has hauled it away," answered Dick. He looked on both sides of the track. THE MISSING BIPLANE 63 "This is queer," he added, presently. "I can't see any marks in the sand or mud or bushes. She'd make marks if anybody hauled her." " I've got it ! " cried Tom. " They hoisted her on a flat car! The railroad people have taken her!" "But she is our biplane!" cried Sam, stub- bornly. " Maybe they took her to the freight house ia A'shton," suggested Stanley. "We'll soon find out — if you'll take us there in the auto." " Sure I " answered Jack Mason, promptly. The boys were about to leave the neighbor- hood when' they heard the strokes of an axe, ringing through the woods. " There's a wood chopper ! " cried Dick. "Maybe he knows something about this. I guess I'll ask him." They soon located the man — an elderly in- dividual who worked for the farmer who owned the woods. "Yes, I see 'em hoist the airship on the flat car," said he, in answer to their questions. " Had quite a job o' it, too." "Did they take it to A'shton?" queried Dick. " No. They was goin' to fust, but then Jimmy Budley — ^the section boss — said it would be bet- 64 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK ter t® take it up to the freight yards at Rails- ton." "And they took it there? " " I 'spect they did. They went off that way, anyway," replied the old wood chopper. " To the Rallston freight yards ! " cried Sam. "What a nerve!" " I'll make 'em bring it back ! " cried Dick, Krmly. "How far is it to Rallston?" asked Jack Mason. "About nine miles." "Pooh! that's nothing. Jump in and I'll take you there in no time — if the road's any good." " The road is O. K.," answered Dick. The automobile was backed out of the woods, and turned in the direction of Rallston. Jack Mason was in his element, and in less than twenty minutes they came in sight of the town and turned into a side street leading to the freight yards. " There she is ! " cried Sam, a minute later. He pointed to one of the tracks in the yards ' iand there, on a flat car, the boys beheld the wreck of the biplane. A small crowd of curious men and boys surrounded the remains of the Dartaway. THE MISSING BIPLANE. 6S' "What yer going to do with her, Jimmy?" , asked a man in the crowd, of a burly individual^ on the flat car. "I guess the railroad is going to sell her,'5 replied the section boss. CHAPTER yil THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE "Did you hear what that man said?" de- manded Sam in a whisper, of his brothers. " I did," returned Dick. " But he isn't going to sell our property," added Tom, warmly. "Hardly," responded Dick. He pushed his way through the crowd and iwalked straight up to the flat car. "Who is in charge here? " he demanded. " What's that ? " came in some surprise from the section boss. " I asked who was in charge of this flat car iwith this flying machine?" " What business is that of yours, young fel- low?" "This is our biplane — it belongs to me and my brothers here," and Dick waved Jiis hand at ,Tom and Sam. "Oh! Are you the Rover brotfiers?'' " Yes. And I want to know what business you 66 THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE 67 3iad to bring that flying machinie here? " went on Dick sharply, for he saw the kind of a man with whom he had to deal. " Say, look here, if you've got any kick com- ing you go to the office with it," cried Jimmy Budley. " Very well, I will. But I want to know who ordered you to bring that biplane here." " Never mind ; you go to the office and find out." "You brought it here, didn't you.?" asked Tom, who had now come up to Dick's side, along with the others. "I ain't answering questions when I don't have to," returned the section boss, with a sneer. " Sure he brought it here — on this flat car ! " cried a man in the crowd. " Why don't you an- swer the young fellow straight, Jimmy? " "This biplane belongs to my brothers and me," went on Dick, as sharply as before. " You had absolutely no right to touch it. If I wished to do so, I could have you arrested for this," he continued. " Say, I don't allow nobody to talk to me like that ! " growled the section boss. " You git out of here and see the men at the office." " We'll not get out !" put in Tom. " This fty- iag machine is ours and we want it." 68 THS ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORKi " You'll take it right back to where you found it," added Sam. " And be careful that you don't break it worse than it is, or you'll foot the bilL" " I won't listen to you ! " stormed the section boss, who was of an ugly disposition naturally and not liked in the neighborhood. " Very well then," answered Dick. He turned to Stanley. " Will you go out and see if you can iind a policeman?" he asked, loudly. " Sure," returned the college youth, readily. " Wow ! he's goin' to have Budley locked up 1 ** exclaimed a small boy. " See here, don't you get fresh ! " stormed the section boss, eying Dick angrily. "We'll have a policeman settle this," an- swered the oldest Rover boy. "This is our property, and we can easily prove it. You had no right to touch it." " I had orders," said Jimmy Budley, doggedly, " Why don't you telephone to the office, Jimmy?" suggested a friend. • "Maybe there swas some mistake." "Wasn't no mistake," growled the section boss; nevertheless he hopped down from the flat car and hurried in the direction of a shanty wherein was located a telephone. Dick followed him. "You can tell them iwhat I said," said tJkei THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE 69 youtL "And they may find it to their interest to call up Mr. Belright Fogg before they give you orders." "Have you seen Fogg?" demanded the sec- tion boss. "Yes." " Did he say yt)u could take the machine? " "He said nothing about our taking it. He settled for what damage the railroad did to the biplane. We went to get our property and found ft: gone. Nobody had a right to touch it, ex- cepting to take it from the tracks." " Huh ! " grumbled the section boss, and shot into the shanty, banging the door behind him. Dick heard him shout something into the tele- I^one, and quite a lengthy conversation ensued- In the meanwhile Stanley had gone off for a (policeman and presently came back with a blue- coat who did duty in the streets beyond the rail- road yards. " Well, what have you got to say about It? " demanded Dick, when the section boss came from Hie shanty and while Stanley and the policeman >vere approaching. "Do iwe get our propertjr 'or not?" " It's yours," returned the railroad man, and fais voice was much milder than before. "They ^^ssA. no right to give me the orders they did." 70 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " What about taking it back ? " went on Dick. " I've got orders to take it to any place where you want it," answered the section boss, and he looked anything but happy as he made the con- fession. " Then you can run it down to Ashton," an- swered Dick. " Will you do it right away? " " I guess so — I'll see," was the answer. " What do you want me for ? " asked the policeman, as he came up. " I don't believe you'll be needed — ^now," an- swered Dick. "It's all right, Murphy," put in Jimmy Bud- ley, quickly. " We had a misunderstanding over orders, that's all." " This young man told me a flying machine had been stolen," said Murphy, and nodded to- wards Stanley. " It was a misunderstanding. I wasn't to blame." The section boss turned to Dick. " I'll get a freight engine to run the car with the machine down to Ashtoo inside of an hour." " Very well," answered Dick. " And be careful that the biplane isn't damaged in un- loading." " She ain't much but kindlin' wood now," and the section boss smiled a trifle. " Well, tlie engine is all right — and that's the THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE 71 valuable part of her," returned Dick. " I'll look Ifor her at A'shton in an hour." "Want to ride down on the flat car ,with -her?" " I'll see about that." The matter was talked over, and in the end it was agi-eed that Dick and Sam should ride on the flat car, while Tom went with Stanley and Jack Mason in the automobile. Then the sec- tion boss went off to get the freight engine to haul the flat car. " Got out of that better than I expected," [wdiispered Sam to his big brother. " It pays to put on a front, Sam," was the an- swer. " If I had been weak-kneed about it that ifeilow wouldn't have done a thing." " Oh, you've got a head for business, Dicl? — I can see that," said the youngest Rover, ad- miringly. "I hope so, Sam — for I think I'll need it soon." "You mean for helping Dad? " " Yes," "It's too bad he has these weak spells, isn't 'it? " "Yes. What he needs, I think, is a good, long rest." The oliiers went off in the touring auto, and 72 THE ROVER BOYS IN MEW YORK, Dick and Sam made themselves at home on tke flat car. Soon a freight engine backed up, the car was attached; and off they started, in com- pany with the section boss and two track labor- ers, in the direction of Ashton. As the Rovers could readily see, the Dartaway^ was a complete wreck, beyond the possibility of being repaired. But the motor looked to be in good order, and the stays and turn-buckles would, of coursa, be worth something. When Ashton was reached Sam and Dick found that the automobile and its party had got- t«n there ahead of them. " I've found a place where we can store the biplane — or what's left of it," said Tom. " In that barn," and he pointed to a structure di- rectly beside the tracks. "Good enough!" cried Dick. "That will save the trouble and expense of hauling it any distance." The flat car was stopped in front of the barn, and after some trouble the remains of the bi- plane were transferred to the structure. Then the section boss brought out a receipt which Dick signed. " Next time I move a flying machine I'll make sure that orders are O. K.," he remarked, ^grimly. THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE 73 "It might save a lot of trouble," answered Tom, dryly. " Tell me — didn't you act on orders from that lawyer, Fogg? " questioned Dick, curiously. " I did — if you want to know." "I thought so. He's too sharp for his own good." I " You're right — and maybe he'll catch it for this," answered Jimmy Budley; and then he and his men rode away on the flat car, leaving our friends to themselves. "Well, now you've got the wreckage, what are you going to do with it? " questioned Stan- ley. "Offer it to the folks who build flying ma- chines," answered Dick. "I'll write the letters to-night." With the biplane off their minds, the Rovers rejoined their friends in the automobile, and took a run through the country for fifty miles or more. They stopped at a country hotel, and there Dick treated to cake, ice-cream and other refreshments. The letters to the flying machine manufac- /turers brought various replies. Several did not care to buy the wreckage at all, vfhile others of- fered a ridiculously low price. "This doesn't look encouraging,'* vas Dick's ^4 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK j> comment. " Boys, I guess we'll have to pocket our share of the loss." The next day, however, came another letter, one from a young aviator of Worcester. He' wrote that he had heard that they had the wreck- age for sale and if it was still on the market he would come and look at it. " Maybe he'll give us a little more than those manufacturers offer," said Sam, hopefully. The letter was answered, and the young avia- tor came on the next day, going first to inspect the remains of the Dartaway and then coming up to the college. "Pretty well smashed," said he, to the Rover boys. " About all that is good is the motor and fittings." "But that engine is a dandy," said Tom. " How much do you want for the outfit as it stands?" " I don't know," answered Dick. " The bi- plane cost us about three thousand dollars." " Yes, but she's a complete wreck. All I can use is the engine — and maybe a few other things." " Well, make an offer," put in Tom. " I might pay three hundred dollars." " Make it double that and the machine is yours," returned Dick. THE SALE OF THE BIPLANE yS " No, it wouldn't be worth six hundred dollars to me," answered the young aviator. A discussion lasting the best part of half an hour ensued. The aviator went up to four hun- ' dred dollars and then to four hundred and fifty. Finally, Dick said he would accept five hundred*^ dollars cash; and the bargain was concluded at that figure. The money was paid over, and the Rover boys gave the purchaser a bill of sale, and he departed without delay, stating he wished to make arrangements for shipping the wrecked bi- plane away. " Not so bad, after all," declared Dick, when the brothers were alone. " It's very good," put in Tom. " That's the end of the Dartaway," came from Sam, mournfully. " Well, we had some pretty good times in her while she lasted." CHAPTER VIII A BOX OF CANDY *' Say, I've got to have some fun or bust ! " It was Tom who uttered the words. For over a week everything had run along smoothly at Brill College. The boys had settled down to their studies. They had sent letters home, and to the girls, and had received several communica- tions in return. They had been congratulated on their escape from the wrecking of the biplane, and Dora had written to Dick urging him to give up flying. " I'm going to give it up for a while; at least," Dick had answered. During those days the Search had been kept ■up for Josiah Crabtree, but so far nothing had been heard of the fugitive from justice. That the man had left the neighborhood was quite probable. " What sort of fun do you want, Tom? " asked Sam, throwing down the book he had been studying. " Oh, anything," was the answer. " I feel 76 'A BOX OF CANDY Ijf as i£ I was getting musty and rusty, aad I've simply got to do something. Wish there was sC hazing on, or something like that," and the fun- loving Rover gazed moodily out of the window. " Now don't you get yourself into trouble, | Tom," warned Dick. " Better get at that theme you've got to write on ' Educational Institu- tions of the Revolutionary Period '." " Hang the themes, Dick ! I've got to have some fun — and I'm going out for it ! " answered Tom, and catching up his cap he passed out of the dormitory. " Guess I'll go, too," added Sam, and quickly followed. Soon Dick came also, not wishing to be left behind if anything unusual was t6 take place. In the lower hallway the boys found several men at work, cleaning and oiling the hardwood floor. They had a box of wax polish with them, and this immediately gave Tom an idea. " I'd like to buy a little of that," he said, to the head workman, and a bargain was quickly; struck, and the fun-loving Rover walked away with half a box of the wax polish. "What are you going to do with it?" sk^ed Sam. "Don't know jfc* — ^but I'll do somettekig,"' was Ae rq>ly. 78 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " Looks like maple sugar candy," said Dick, gazing at the wax. "Wait! I've struck it!" cried Tom. "Just the thing! Hurray!" And his face brightened. "What is it, Tom?" asked both of his broth- ers. " I'll make William Philander Tubbs a present of this," was the reply. "Come on, and watch how I do it." " William Philander has gone to see that new girl of his," answered Sam. " Not just yet — ^but he'll be on the way soon. I'll have to hurry, if I want to do something." Tom led the way up a back stairs and to the room occupied that term by Tubbs and some other students. They met the dudish student, half dressed, going to the lavatory to wash up. "Quick!" cried Tom. "I hope I can find the box." " What box? " asked Dick, as he and Sam fol- lowed Tom into Tubbs' room. " The box of candy he bought for Miss Rug- gles. It was a dandy — but maybe we can im- prove it just a little," and Tom grinned broadly. All looked around and presently found the box of candy on a dresser. It was tied up with a blue ribbon, but this Tom slipped off witS A BOX OF CANDY 79 ease. Inside of the box were chocolates amd bonbons and some candied fruit. " Hold the box, Sam," said Tom, whipping out his knife. " We've got to move mighty quick!" On the instant he wa& at work with his pocket- knife, cutting the floor wax into various shapes to resemble candy. He took out some of the candied fruit and substituted the wax. Then he felt in his pocket. "This will help," he said, bringing forth a soapstone slate pencil, which he cracked into tiny lengths. " The candy that lasts ! " he cried softly, as he dropped the bits into the box. " Rather rough on the girl," declared Dick. " Not at all, Dick," said Sam. " I was intro- duced to her last week and the very next day she passed me on the road with a stare as if she had never seen me." "And Stanley says she is stuck up to the last degree," added Tom. " Maybe this will take her down a peg- — anyway I hope so." Sam was searching his pockets. He brought out several dried beans and a heavy rubber elastic. " The remains of a slingshot and ammunition I confiscated from a Freshy who was taking shots at me," he explained. 6o THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "Drop the beans in — th€y'll look like jdly beans!" cried Tom. "And cut up that rubber band into pieces for jujube-paste!" Dick was at the door on guard, and presently he gare a low whistle, to notify the others that Tdbbs was coming back. Instantly Tom shut the caady box, put back the paper covering and ribbon; and then he and Sam slipped out of the dormitoify by a side door, so that the dudish student might not see them. Such a joke as had been played Tom could not keep to himself, and when the Rovers went idownstairs he told Stanley, Songbird and Spud Jackson. "Fine!" cried Stanley. "That Miss Rug- gles deserves it, too. She thinks, just because her father has rocks, that she is too good to even recognize any of us. The only fellow she tolerates is Tubby — I guess because he's such a dude." Tom wanted to follow William Philander Tubbs when he went to see the young lady, who was stopping with an aimt who lived not far( from Brill. The others were willing, and all hung around the campus until the stylish student made his appearance. " She's crazy for candy — Tubby told me so himself," said Spud. " Eats about a barrelful A BOX OP CANDY 8l fl wedc, SO I anderstaiid. iThat's why he got her ♦Jic box, I gosss." " If she eats ihat boxful she'll be a good one," was Tom's dry comment. It was not long before Tubbs appeared. The Stylish student was faultlessly attired, in light'^ trousers, dark Prince Albert coat, white vest, spats, and a siUc bat. In one hand he carried a cane and in the other the box of candy. " My, but we are some swell ! " murmureii Sam. " He ought to pose for a fashion magazine," returned Tom. " Keep back, fellows, or he'll spot us ! " And he pulled those nearest to him behind some shrubbery. William Philander passed them and they fol- lowed at a safe distance in the darkness. The dudish student headed directly for the house at which Miss Clarabel Ruggles was stoppin'g, and the others saw him ascend the front piazza and ring the bell. A servant ushered him in, and the boys saw the light turned up in a parlor. "Come on and see the fun," said Tom, and led liie way across a lawn. The curtains to the ■parlor windows were half up, so they could look into the room with ease. One window was partly open for ventilation., Tb^ saw William Philander sitting in a chair. 82 THE ROTTER BOYS IN NEW YORK the box of candy on his lap. Presently Qarabel Ruggles came in, attired in an elaborate even- ing gown. Tubbs at once arose to his feet and, bowing very low, accepted her hand, which was held on high. Then the dudish student said something and offered the box of candy. " Oh, is this really for me ! " those outside heard the young lady cry, the words coming through the partly open window. "No, he bought it for the cat!" murmured Tom, and at this the others had to snicker. "A — er — a slight token of my regard, don't you know," said William Philander, with a flourish. "So kind of you, Mr Tubbs!" The girl gazed hungrily at the box. "Shall I open it now ? " "If you wish to," answered the dudish stu- dent, gallantly. " I will — and you shall have a share of the candy," said the young lady, and quickly drew: off the ribbon and paper. " Oh, my, how per- fectly delicious I " she murmured. " Oh, Mr. Tubbs, how could you guess just the kind I "like!" " Help yourself, my dear Miss Ruggles," said Tubbs, as the box was held out. "Ladies first, lion't you know," and he smiled sweetly. A BOX OF CANDY 83 She took a candy and he did likewise, and as they ate they talked of various things. Then the box was passed back and forth. " Yes, I came to see if you would go to the — < er — to the — er " stammered William Philan- der, and then he came to a dead halt. " Oh, my tooth ! " he gasped, suddenly. "What is it, Mr. Tubbs?" " I — er — I really think I've broken one of my e— er — teeth, don't you know ! " gasped the styl- ish student. "Oh, dear, that candy is awfully hard!" " I didn't find it so, Mr. Tubbs. Here, try another piece," answered the young lady, and helped both him and herself. "As you were going to say," she added, with a smile. "Was it that concert that " She, too, stopped short. " Oh, my ! " she gasped. "Wha — ^^what is it?" stammered William Philander. "This piece of candy I have! It tastes aw- ffully queer!" "So does this piece I have!" groaned the dudish student. "Oh, Mr Tubbs, what kind of candy is it anyway? My teeth arc' — are stuck fast in it!" At this moment the aunt of the yoong lady 84 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW, YORK came in. She looked in woiider at the others, ior both were making wry faces. " It's the candy, Aunt Mabel !" cried the young lady. " It — it tastes so queer ! " "Ha! Let me see that box?" exclaimed the aunt, who was a portly person. " I read in the'- newspaper only yesterday of some folks being poisoned by eating cheap candy." And she looked severely at poor Tubbs. " This is — er — not cheap candy, my dear Mrs. Garlett," spluttered William Philander. "It is some of the best to be had in Ashton, I assure you." By this time the lady had taken something from the box and was sampling it. iAs it chanced to be a piece of the rubber band sbe made slow progress in chewing it. " I never saw such candy ! " she declared, 'wi
  • im." I66 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YQRKi \ " Dick 1 " The cry came from Sam, as he arrived on a run. " Did you learn anything? " " Not much. But you look excited, Sam. [What's up?" " I think I saw Crabtree ! " "You did! Where? Why didn't you collar him? " " I didn't get the chance," returned the youtigf- est Rover, answering the last question first. " It was on the corner below here. I was standing in a doorway, watching up and down, when I saw a tall man come along slowly. He halted at the corner and presently another man came out of the side street and touched him on the arm. The second man wore a heavy beard and ■ a slouch hat and colored eyeglasses, but I am al- anost sure it was Josiah Crabtree." "Why didn't you go up and make sure? You could have pulled the beard from his f ace-ri if it was false." "Just what I thought. But I decided that ifirst I would listen to what the two men had to say. When I got closer to the pair I made an- ' other discovery. " What was that" " The first man had a pointed chin and the heaviest pair of eyebrows I ever saw." "What!" ejaculated Dick, and his mind ran MORE DISCOVERIES 167 back to the jail at Plankville, and to what had been said about the man who had visited JosiaH Crabtree. And then he thought of the myster- ious automobile and its driver. " Yes, I know what you think. Did? — and I 7 think the same — that that man was the one wfao aided Crabtree to escape from jail," said Sam. " What did the men say, Sam ? " " I didn't get a chance to listen. As I was cwning lip 1 saw the first man give the second man some money. Then the second man looked «p and saw me, and shoving the money into his pocket, he dove across the street and into the crowd. That made me febl sure it was Crabtree, !Mid I ran after him pell-mell. I followed him [for about half a block. But the crowd was too much for me, and he got away. I was going to tell a policeman, but then I thought he couldn't i 4o any more than I could, and I made up my mind I'd wait for you." " What became of the other fellow — ^the maia ;with the pointed chin ? " "I don't know. He went off somewhere jwhile I was after Crabtree — if it was Crabtree/* 'answered Sam. " Show me which way Crabtree wieai," said Dick, and the brothers walked in the dii"ectioQ ithe fugitive had taken. But, though they spei^ r68 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK over an hour in looking for the maai, not a trace of him could be found. "Well, this proves one thing anyway," said Dick, as he and Sam started on the return to the hotel. " Crabtree is in league with Pelter, Japson & Company. If he wasn't, he wouldn't show himself so close to their offices." "Just what I think," returned his brother. "And another thing, Dick; I think that man with the pointed chin is in with the brokers, too." " More than likely. For all we know he mayj be one of the firm ! " went on Dick suddenly. "Wait, I've got an idea. I think I'll go back to those offices." " And see if the man with the pointed chin is there?" " Yes." "All right. Want me to go back, too?" "You might hang around as you did before. I don't know of anything else to do." The boy§ walked back, and while Sam sta- tioned himself in the street Dick walked into the office building which he had before visited. He 'was just in time to see a boy come from the ele- vator, some letters in his hand. "Their office boy," he thought. "Maybe I can get something out of him." MORE DISCOVERIES 169 He walked up to the youth and nodded pleas- antly. "You're the boy from Palter, Japson & Com- |)any, areh't you? " he asked. " Yep," was the laconic reply. "I want to find a man connected with your concern — I don't know his name," continued Dick. " He has a pointed chin and very heavy ieyebrows." " Oh, you mean Mr. Japson," said the boy, quickly. " Is that Mr. Japson? " repeated Dick, scarcely able to suppress his astonishment. "Sure it is. He's got a very long chin, and his eyebrows is so heavy they come right down pver his eyes. I don't see why he don't cut 'em off some — I would quick enough," went on the office boy. "Is Mr. Japson in the offices now?" "No." "Are you sure of that? He was coming down." "I know it. But he just telephoned to Mr. Pelter that he couldn't come — something im- jportant." " How long ago was this? " "Oh, just a couple of minutes ago." "Is Mr. Pelter there yet?" I7D THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW, YORK " No, he went out as soon as he got the message.' Nobody there but a clerk." "When will Mr. Pelter be back?" " I dunno — maybe not till late — or maybe not' till tomorrow," answered the office boy, and hur- ried away. In a thoughtful mood Dick rejoined Sam, and the pair this time hurried to the subway, to get a train uptown. " I've found out who the second man was," said the oldest Rover boy. " It was Japson, of Pelter, Japson & Gampany. Sam, I begin to think this is some deep game. This fellow Jap- son aided Crabtree to escape from the Plank- yille jail and in return Crabtree is aiding these brokers in their efforts to get the best of father!" " If we can prove that, we ought to have the brokers arrested." " But we can't prove it, absolutely. But I am convinced that I am right. The office boy told me that Japson telephoned to Pelter that he could not come in. More than likely Japson was afraid you would be on guard and spot him. As soon as Japson telephoned in Pelter wemf out — most likely to meet his partner." " And maybe to hunt up Crabtree, Dick." " Perhaps." MORE DISCOVERIES ny-i « ' ' But what of father? " went on the youngest Rover, anxiously. " I can't answer that question, Sam. But it is going to be answered sooner or later — ^if I have to have all those men arrested. I am cer- ! tain in my own mind that they are responsible' ifor dad's disappearance. They got him out of the way so that they could get the best of him in that Sunset Irrigation Company scheme." " I think we ought to watch the men and see iwhere they go." "So do I. But, now they know we are on guard, they will be very careful." "Do you think they had father abducted?" "That is just what I do think. If you'll re- member, that is one of Crabtree's favorite tricks. He would not dare to put father out of tiie way — take his life, I mean — and that would be the only other thing he could do." " Where could they take him to, in such a city as this.?" " Oh, there are a dozen places — empty stores and basements, vacant flats and apartments. And then they may have taken him away from' New York, in an automobile, or on some ves- sel in one of the rivers." "I'd give a good deal to know where he 13 jxow ! " cried Sam, bitterly. 172 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK " So would I, Sam. Well, we'll do what we jean," added Dick, with determination. It did not take the boys long to return to the Outlook Hotel. They looked around for Tom, but he was not in sight. However, he arrived \a few minutes later. His face showed that his quest had been an unsuccessful one. " I talked to everybody around that end of Central Park," he said. "One man saw Crab- tree, but he couldn't tell where the rascal went to. Did you learn anything?" "We did," answered Dick. "Come on to dinner and we'll tell you." While the three ate a hasty midday meal, Dick and Sam told of their discoveries. Tom listened with interest. " I think you are right ! " he cried. " Crab- tree is in with the brokers, and the whole bunch is a bad one. I think they are holding dad a prisoner somewhere. The question is, Where? And how can we get to him and rescue him? " "We might watch those offices," suggested Sam. " But those fellows will be on guard, and we may not learn anything for days and days." " We could have them arrested," suggested Tom. "But it won't do any good without posi- tive evidence." "There is something about this whole affair MORE DISCOVERIES 173 iiat I can't understand," said Dick. "That man Pelter claims that he settled up with father for everything excepting this Irrigation Com- pany project. Father never told me that he 1 settled up — and I think he would have said something if it was so." The three boys talked the affair over from every possible standpoint, but could arrive at no ^satisfactory conclusion. All were sorry that they had not captured Josiah Crabtree. " Let me get my hands on him and I'll make him tell what has become of dad," said Dick. The meal concluded, they went up to thein rooms, to talk the matter over further. " I suppose Aunt Martha and Uncle Randolph! are as anxious, almost, as we are," said Sam. "Hang the luck! I wish old Crabtree was back in jail, and Pelter, Japson & Company were with him!" There was a knock on the door and a boy ap- peared with a telegram. It was addressed to Dick. " Maybe it's from dad ! " cried Sam and Tom, in a breath. Dick tore open the envelope and read the message rapidly. His brow darkened and he shook his head slowly. "What does it say?" asked Sam. 174 "^^ ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "Who it is from?" added Tom. "It is from Uncle Randolph," answered (Dick. Listen!" 'And he read as follows: "Important news. Your father's signature demanded on important documents inside of three days, or great financial loss and dishonor to all of m. "Randolph Rover.' CHAPTER XVII AN IMPORTANT TELEPHONE MESSAGE "Thske's the answer!" cried Tom. " It's as plain as day ! " added Sam. " You are right," came from DicL " I see it all now." He signed for the telegram and dis- missed the boy, closing the door after him. " They are keeping father a prisoner somewhere, so that he cannot sign those documents." "And it means a big financiall loss and dis- honor to all of us," went on Tom. "That must mean Uncle Randolph as well as dad." " I wish Uncle Randolph had sent some par- ticulars," sighed Sam. " They may come in by mail — ^most likely they will," answered Dick. "It would be just like him to send a letter and then telegraph after- wards." "Well, one thing is clear," remarked Tom. f "We have got to find dad, and do it pretty quickly, too. We know — or, at kast, we are pretty sure of it — that he is tn the power of 175 '' 176 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK Crahtree and Pelter, Japson & Company. Now the question is, What are we going to do about k?" " I said this morning I had an idea, Tom," answered his big brother. "I don't know whether it will work out or not, or if you'll care to tr)r it. You know I told you to go to Cen- ■ trzii. Park while Sam and I went down to those offices. I did that so that those brokers wouldn't see you. They don't know you, and you can go iiown and interview them as a stranger. Do jrau catch the idea?" "I do!" cxied Tom, eagerly. "Knd I'll do 5t! But what shall I say?" he asked, suddenly sobering. "You might state that you had heard of the Sunset Irrigation Company and thought of in- yesting, or something like that. Maybe they might give you some information that would be valuable for us. And, while there, you may hear something about Crabtree, or something about where father may be." " I'll go this afternoon," cried Tom. The idea of playing the spy pleased him greatly. f "But you want to be careful," warned his plder brother. " If cornered, those brokers may prove to be desperate men." " I'll be on my guard, Dick." 'AN, IMPORTANT. TELEPHONE MESSAGE, vj^ " Sam and I can go down part of the wayj with you, and when you go in, we can hang around outside, one at the upper and one at the lower street corner. Perhaps by doing that» we'll catch another sight of Crabtree, although' I think, for the present, he'll keep away from Wall street and meet those brokers somewhere, else, or telephone to them." It was not long after this when the three Rover boys set out for the lower part of the great metropolis. They took the subway, that being the quickest way to get there. Dick gave Tom directions how to find the brokers' offices, and then the brothers separated as agreed. Tom had fixed himself up for the occasion, wearing a slouch hat and a flowing tie, in the manner of a young man from the West or South. He carried a pocket full of timetables and an- other pocket full of legal-looking documents. He also carried half a dozen visiting cards, with the name and address: Roy A. Putnam Denver, Colo. With eyes on the alert for the possible ap- pearance of somebody who might know him, Tom walked into the office building where Peker, 15® THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK, Japson & Company did business and entered the elevator. He was the only passenger, and ar- riving at the fourth floor, he found himself alone in the corridor leading to the brokers' of- fices. ' "Guess I'll listen a bit and see if I can Hear anything," he told himself, and tiptoed his way, to one of the doors. He listened intently, but the only sound ihai broke the stillness was the click of a typewriter and the occasional shifting of some papers-. Then he tiptoed his way to the next door, that marked Private. Straining his ears, Tom caught the scratching bf a pen and then a deep sigh, as if somebody] had just completed an important bit of work. Then he heard the footsteps of a man, walking from the inner to the outer office. " If he comes out, I'll have to show myself," thought the youth. But the man did not ap- pear, instead Tom presently heard him return to the inner office. Then the telephone rang and the man answered it. "Yes," Tom heard him say. "All right. ' Wait a second," And then the man kicked shut: a door between the offices, to assure himself of privacy, Thefe 'foIlowe3 a long wait, during vrhuM AN. IMPORTANT. TELEPHONE MESSAGE 1179 time the man in the office was probably receivii^ some message. " Tomorrow morning? " Tom heard him ask. "What time? Ten o'clock. That is rather , early, but I can go there directly from my home." There came another pause. " Leave that to me," cried the man. "I'll make him do it!" He paused again. " I am not afraid of those boys," he added. "I'll be there, sure." An- other pause. " Yes, the boat is the best place. Nobody can disturb us there. Good-bye." And then the man hung up the telephone receiver. Tom had taken in every word that the man said. If it was Pelter he must be talking to Japson, or Crabtree, or somebody else in the af- fair. And Tom did not doubt but what by "those boys" the man had meant himself and his brothers. "And when he said, 'I'll make him do it,' he must have been speaking of father," he rea- soned. "And he mentioned a boat. Maybe they have dad on a boat." Tom waited for some time longer in the cor- ; ridor, but nothing of importance occurred. Then he stepped loudly to the main door of the. offices and entered. The same boy Dick had met was t&re anif iasked him what he wanted. l8o THE ROVER BOYS IN, NEW. YORK. " I want ta see about some shares in the Sun- set Irrigation Company," answered Tom. "Anybody in I can talk to?" And he handed put one of the cards he had fixed up. " I'll see," answered the office boy, and disap^ peared into the inner office with the card. A moment later Jesse Pelter appeared, hold-' ing the card in his hand. He smiled pleasantly. " Glad to meet you, Mr. Putnam," he said» bowing. " I am Mr. Pelter. I'll be glad to let you know all about our Irrigation Company and its prospects." He ushered Tom into his private office and of- fered him a chair. "Want to make an investment for your- self?" he said, suggestively. " If it's a good one," returned Tom, with an assumed grin. " A fellow who comes into a fat legacy has got to do something, hasn't he? " " Surest thing you know," responded Jesse Pelter. "And this Irrigation Company of ours is the best thing in the world for rapid money making," he continued. "Just come on from Denver, Mr. Putnam? " " I've beep in New York a couple of days," answered Tom. "I want to look around a bit before I invest anything. I heard something of this company before I reached here." "AN IMPORTANT TELEPHONE MESSAGE igj "No doubt! No doubt! It is a big tiling, and our rivals are all watching and envying us. Did you get our printed prospectus? " " No, but I saw one somewhere, some time ago." " Here you have it, with a map of the prop- erty. The shares are now selling at sixty-five, but next week I think we'll have to advance them to seventy or seventy-five, owing to the demand." " Could a fellow buy five thousand dollars' (worth at sixty-five? " asked Tom, trying to show an interest. " You could, if you were quick about it." " Well, I want to know something more about this property first," continued Tom. "I don't iwant to throw any money away." " Quite right. I see you are a level-headed young man and that is the kind I like to deal iwith. We'll go over this matter carefully." And then Jesse Pelter plunged into the details oi the irrigation scheme, showing up its many good points, and how, in the near future, it was bound to make a lot of moiiey for all who in- vested in it. "And you have the shares to seU?" asked Tom. "Oh, yes." I^ THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW. YORK "Do you own the property, Mr. Pelter?" "Our company owns it — that is, we have a eontrolling interest in it." "There are no other big stockholders?" "None at all. We have invested heavily, — buying out the old company and reorganizing it. All of the other stockholders are small ones. You see, we have such faith in this scheme that iwe don't want to let too much stock get away from us." Tom did not see, but he did not say so. Not a word had been said about Mr. Rover and his interest — Mr. Pelter ignored Tom's father en- tirely. And yet the youth know that his par- ent had fifty thousand dollars or more tied up in that very company! " I'd like to know some of the people who have fnvested in this stock," said Tom, after the matter had been talked over for nearly an hour. " I will give you some names," was the brok-i er's reply, and he wrote them down. "They are the principal stockholders outside o^ our-.' selves." Tom took the list and glanced at it. His father's name did not appear, nor did the names of two other men he knew were interested ia the concern. AN IMPORTANT TELEPHONE MESSAGE 183 " Thank you," said the youth, rising. " I will look into this. It might be a good investment for me." " Finest in the world," returned Jesse Pelter. j " Better let me put you down for five thousand dollars' worth of shares to-day." " No, I want to think it over first." " Supposing I hold the shares for you un- til to-morrow ? " went on the broker, per- suasively. "You can do that, if you wish," answered Tom. "Do you want to leave a deposit on them? " " I didn't bring any money with me — that is, not enough." " You might write out a check, Mr. Putnam." " No, I'll think it over first." "Then I'll hold the shares and look for you to-morrow," returned Jesse Pelter, somewhat 'disappointedly. He loved to get his hands on another's money at the first interview. " Please come in after lunch," he added. " I have aa important engagement for the morning." With the map and prospectus and list of names in his pocket, Tom left the offices. He saw that the man with the pointed chin a»d heavy eyebrows was not present. The force consisted of Mr. Pelter, the office boy, a girl at li84 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW. YORK a typewriter, and a very old man who was al; the books. "Japson must be keeping out of the way," mused Tom, as he descended to the street. " I wonder if it was he or old Crabtree who talked to Pelter over the 'phone ? " Tom soon rejoined his brothers and all three walked away from the vicinity of Wall street. The youth told of his interview with the broker, ' and of the talk he had overheard while Jesse Pelter was at the telephone. " They must have been talking about father ! " cried Dick, eagerly. ** Maybe they have him a prisoner on a boat ! " added Sam. " It looks that way to me," said Tom. " And' I know what I think we ought to do," he con- tiinied. " So do I," answered Dick, quickly. " Watch this Pelter to-morrow, when he leaves his home, and see where he goes to." " Right you are." " Where does he live? " questioned Sam. "I don't know, but we can easily find out.'? The boys presently passed an office building", in which there was a large telephone station, and there they hunted up Jesse Pelter's home address. ' AN, IMPORTANT. TELEPHONE MESSAGE 185 " He fives up in the Bronx," said Dick, taking down the street and number. " We can find out up at the hotel how to reach the place. Let us go back to the Outlook and see if there is any .etter from home. Maybe we'll get more news about that financial loss mentioned in that tele- )gram." CHAPTER XVIII ON THE HUDSON RIVER When the boys returned to the Outlook Hotel they found several letters awaiting them. There was one each from the girls and also a commu- nication from Songbird, written partly in verse, and telling of matters at Brill. But the letter that interested them most jusf , then was one from their Uncle Randolph, in which he explained something of the financial matters mentioned in the telegram. Their uncle •was not a good business man, and often got his statements mixed, but from the communication the boys learned the truth. There were two matters of importance — the irrigation scheme and the purchase of a large tract of land which would be benefited by the flow of water, when the irrigation plant was put into operation. In both of the schemes the Rov- ers held large interests — that is, they held what were called options, for which Anderson Rover had put up large sums of money, and he had »86 ON THE HUDSON RIVER 187 likewise induced some friends to let him put up money for them. In order to clinch their hold, on the two business propositions Anderson Rover must sign ci^rtain papers and have them delivered to the right parties inside of the next three days. 1 Should he fail to do this, then his options on the property would terminate, and Pelter, Japson & Company would be able to step in and gain con- trol. The brokers had at first tried to gain con- trol by getting Anderson Rover to assign his in- terest in the options, but this the boys' father had refused to do. " And now that father wouldn't turn the con- trol over to them, they have had him kidnapped, so that he can't sign those papers and serve them," said Dick. "The case is as plain ^* day." "And they got old Crabtree to manage the kidnapping," put in Tom. "But how did they know about Crabtree?" asked Sam. "Most likely he has been mixed up in some of their shady transactions of the past," re- plied Dick. " When he got in jail, he sent for Japson and made him fix it up 'so he. could escape. That fire helped the rascals. Then both came down to New York, and all hands hatched the plot to put dad out of the way." l88 THE ROVER BOYS IN NBtV, YORK " Poor dad ! If only we knew he was safe ! " .murmured Tom. "That's just it — ^he may be suflfering terri- bly!" added Sam. " I think we'll find out something defmite to- morrow — ^when we follow Pelter," said Dick. He, too, was greatly worried. The evening proved a long one to the boys, even though they spent some time in penning tefters to the girls and to the folks at home. Dick had received a most sympathetic letter from Dora, in which the girl stated that she ;wished she was with him to help him. " Dear Dora ! " he murmured, as he placed the letter in his pocket. "I wish all this trouble was over, and we could be married and go off on our honeymoon ! " The boys had found out from the hotel clerk how to reach the address in the Bronx, as the upper portion of New York city is locally called. They could take a subway train to within two blocks of Pelter's home. They were up bright and early, and after a hasty breakfast went out to a nearby store, >vhere all purchased variously-colored caps of the automobile variety, and also some automobile goggles. " We'll pass for chauffeurs in a crowd," said ON THE HUDSON RIVER 189 Dick. " The goggles will change our appearance, even if we only wear 'em on our foreheads." They were soon on a subway train and being whirled northward. The train was an express, making but few stops, and almost before they knew it, the guard called out their station. Dick had consulted a street map at the hotel, ; so he knew exactly how to turn. They easily located the apartment house in which Jes^ Pd- ter resided, and then stopped at a nearby comer to await his appearance. " We have got to be very careful how we fol- low him," said Dick. " If he spots us, it wiM be all up with us. I think Sam had better go first. I will follow, and Tom, you can bring up the rear. And let us all act as if we were perfect strangers to each other." Then came a wait of nearly half an hour. At last they saw the front door of the apartment open and several men came out. Two of the men turned in one direction and the other man hurried off alone. "There he is — there's Pelter!" cried Dick, in a low voice. "Now, Sam, see to it that be' doesn't get out of your sight." "I'll do my best," answered the youngest Rover, and walked off after the broker. As Jesse Pelter hurried along he consulted ipo THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK his watch. Then he hastened his steps, making his way to the nearest railroad station. He boarded a train, and the boys followed, Sam get- ting in the same car with the broker and Dick and Tom entering the next car, but keeping in sight of their brother. A number of stations were passed and then jthe broker left the train and the boys did like- wise. On the street Jesse Pelter called a cab that was handy and entered it. "Say, this looks as if we might lose him!" cried Dick, in alarm. Then he chanced to see another cab, and hurried to it, waving for Tom and Sam to do the same. He ordered the driver to keep the first turnout in sight, but not to get too close. " I can do that with ease," said the driver, with a broad grin. "It's Jerry Dillon's oab, and Jerry's horse is no good at all." The two cabs rolled on for several blocks, and then the first turned in the direction of the Hud- son River. It halted near the railroad, and Jesse Pelter sprang to the ground. He paid the driver of the cab and dismissed him. Then he hurried along the railroad on foot. " I guess he is going up to the dock yonder," said Tom, while the boys got out. "Looks like it," answered Dick. ON THE HUDSON RIVER igi All left the cab and harried after Jesse Pelter, who was now all but out of sight. He passed between two buildings and the boys followed him slowly. "Wait!" cried Dick presently. "Look!" "Why, it's Crabtree!" exclaimed Sam, as an-' other figure came into view — that of a heavily*- bearded man with a slouch hat. , " Exactly," returned Dick. " Now keep back, or we may spoil everything," he continued, cautiously. The three boys saw Pelter and Josiah Crab- tree converse earnestly for several minutes. The man who had escaped from jail pointed to a big bundle he carried and Pelter nodded. Then both walked slowly across the railroad tracks to a dock jutting out into the Hudson. At the dock lay a rowboat, with a man who looked like a sailor at the oars. Pelter and Crab- tree climbed down into the boat, which was quickly shoved away. Then the sailor took up the oars and commenced to row out into the broad river. " Now we are stumped I " murmured Tom, as he and his brothers watched the departure of the rowboat from behind a shed at the inner end of the dock. " Let us watch that rowboat as far as we caa," 19* THB ROVER BOYS IN NEW, YORK returned Dick. "I don't believe they intend to row very far." "Maybe they are going to one of the ves- iSels anchored out yonder," remarked Sam. "More than likely." The sailor was pulling up the stream, close to the shore, and the brothers could watch him with ease. The tide was running out and the oars- man had all he could do to make any heaflway. " If he is going to keep to the shore, we might follow him on foot," suggested Tom, after sev- eral minutes had passed, and while the rowboat twas still clearly in view. " He is turning out now ! " cried Dick. " See, I think he is making for yonder two-masted schooner." The rowboat had turned out and in a few minutes more the boys felt certain it was headed ifor the schooner. "Oh, if we only had a rowboat!" groaned Tom. Dick did not reply. He was watching a steam ■tug that had come up the river. !AI line had been thrown from the tug to the schooner and made fast. " The steam tug is going to tow her down the river!" exclaimed Sam. "Oh, Dick, what shaU iwe do?" ON THE HUDSON. RIVER 198- •* Dad may be on that schooner ! " supple- mented Tom. Dick gazed up and down the stream. ht rowboat was coming along, manned by two? boys. Dick gave the lads a hail. " Hi ! want to earn a dollar quick ? " he asked. " How ? " questioned both lads, in a breath. " See that schooner? We want to get on board of her as quickly as possible." "All right — ^but let us see the dollar first," answered one of the lads, shrewdly. The rowboat came to the dock and the three Rovers leaped on board. Dick produced a dol- lar bill, and the boys commenced to row withi all the power at their command. In the meantime the first rowboat had reached the schooner's side and the men and the sailor had gone on board. The boat was tied fast to the stern and orders were given to the captaia of the tug to go ahead. " Stop ! stop ! You rascals ! " cried Tom, as the schooner commenced to move down the Hud- son. And in his anger he shook his fist at those on the vessel. At first the actions of the boys attracted no attention. Then there was a stir on the reair > deck of the craft. " Somebody in a rowboat, calling to you," ^ 194 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK remarked the captain of the schooner, to JosiaK Crabetree. "To me?" exclaimed the former- teacher, in •sarprise. " I will see about this." He hurried to the stern of the schooner. The , rowboat with the Rovers had now come quite close. Josiah Crabtree gave a start. "Can it be possible?" he gasped. "What is it?" asked Jesse Pelter, who had stepped up. "Those young men in yonder boat! Unless I am mistaken they are Anderson Rover's sons ! " " Is it possible ! " ejaculated the broker. " Oh, ^ere must be some mistake." "No, no! I know them well! And see, tiiey are motioning to us! They want us to stop!" " They must have seen and followed us ! " said the broker, and his manner showed his sud- den fear. • "Want to take those fellows on board?" questioned the captain of the schooner. "No! no!" cried Josiah Crabtree. "Tell the captain of the tug to hurry up! That we — * er — that we must make better time ! " " I will, sir," said the captain of the schooner, and hurried forward to give the necessary or- )der. A big steamboat was passing up the river and ON THE HUDSON RIVER 195 tiie wash from this sent the rowboat containing the Rover boys dancing up and down. The lads at the oars headed the craft to meet the rollers, and the schooner passed further and further away. " They are leaving us ! " groaned Sam. " Oh, mhat luck ! " "Mr. Rover!" yelled Dick, at the top of his lungs. "Are you on board? Rover! Ander- son Rover! It's Dick! Dick!" For fully a minute no answer came back. Then there was a commotion on the deck of the schooner and a man appeared, clad in a torn suit of clothing and hatless. "Dick! Where are you.?" was the exclama- tion, and the man rushed to the stern of the craft. "Dick! And Tom and Sam! Help me!" "It's father!" ydled Dick. "Stop tthat schooner ! Stop her, I say ! " " Get back there ! " exclaimed Josiah Crabtree, catching Mr. Rover by the arm. " Get back, I say! Help me, somebody! This man is crazy ! " He and Jesse Pelter hustled Knderson Rover back, and then the boys saw their father disap- (pear from view. Swiftly the tug and the schooner gathered headway. The boys shouted 196 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK in vain. They looked around for some other boat to come to their aid, but none was in sight. ' Then the schooner passed down the Hudson River and the Rover boys were left in the row- boat, gazing at each other in dismay. CHAPTER XIX THE SEARCH FOR THE SCHOONER "Anyway, ,we have got the name of the schooner," remarked Sam, after a moment of silence. " She's the Ellen Rodney" " And we ought to be able to follow her some- how," added Tom. "We must!" cried Dick. "Let us get to S'hore and see what we can do." "Don't we get that dollar?" queried one of the boys who rowed the boat. " Yes," answered Dick, and handed the money over. "Now get us to shore as quickly as pos- sible." "If you want to catch that schooner, why don't you go downtown after her?" asked the second boy of the rowboat. "Just what I was thinking of doing," an- swered Dick. " I think we can get down there ahead of them. The only question is. Can we get anybody down there to go out after the schooner? " " You can get a boat at the Battery, if you're 198 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK willing to pay for it. Plenty o£ tug captains down there looking for jobs." " Then we'll get to the Battery as fast as pos- sible," said Tom. The boys who had been rowing the boat were tired, so Tom and Dick took the oars, and thus the little craft was speedily brought back to the dock from which it had started. " You can get an elevated train over there," said one of the boys, pointing with his hand. " It will take you right to the Battery." The Rover boys lost no time in leaving the dock and crossing the railroad tracks. Then they fairly ran to the nearest station of the ele- vated railroad. Dick purdiased the tickets and dropped them in the box. Then came a wait of several minutes on the platform. " Train for South Ferry ! " called out the guard, as a rumble was heard. "Does that go to the Battery?" questioned Dick. " Sure." The boys piled on board and away swept the line of cars, on the way downtown. But it was a local train, making all the stops, so their prog-' ress was not as fast as they wished. Here and there, through the cross streets, iitey caught sight of the glistening river, with its ntt- THE SEARCH FOR THE SCHOONER 199 merous craft. Once Tom thought he saw the Ellen Rodney, but at that distance he could not be sure. At last the train swept around a curve into the Battery, as the little park at the extreme lower point of the great metropolis is called. Here were located several ferries and also some shipping offices, as well as the Aquarium. Dick almost ran to the nearest shipping office. "I want to stop a schooner that is coming' down the Hudson River," he said, to the clerk in charge. " Can I hire a boat around here to take me out? " " Anything wrong? " lasked the clerk, curi- ously. "Yes, very much wrong." "In that case, why don't you put the harbor pdlice on the job?" " Can I get them handy? " "Yes, the office is up there," and the man pointed it out. " Thanks," returned Dick, and headed for the frface in question, with Tom and Sam at his heels. An officer was in charge of the office of the harix)r police and he listened with interest to what the boys had to tell. "This is certainly a serious matter," be said. 200 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORKi when they had finished. "Those men are ac- tually kidnapping your father — in fact, they have already kidnapped him. We'll have to get after them." "You have a boat handy?" " Yes, several of 'em." The officer touched a bell and another man in uniform appeared. He was given some instruc- tions, and then the second man told the Rover boys to follow him. He led the way to a dock where a steam tug lay, the smoke pouring from the funnel. " Quick work here, Andy ! " he cried, to an officer on board. " We've got to catch a schooner coming down the river — the Ellen Rod- ney. Do you know her ? " " I've seen her," was the answer, from the tug officer. " The fellows on board the schooner are kid- napping the father of these boys. I reckon it's a serious case — a money affair," he added, in a; lower tone. "Who is the man?" "Anderson Rover is his name. If you fin*, him, and the boys make a charge, place all hands under arrest." " I will." The steam tug was fully manned, earrying a| THE SEARCH FOR THE SCHOONER aoi fcrew and several police officers. The Rover boys iwere told to get aboard, and the tug was headed out into the Hudson, or, as here called, the North, River. " You don't suppose they have passed here, do ♦jrou?" questioned the captain of the tug. " I don't think so — unless that towing tug was an extra fast one," answered Dick. " They wouldn't dare to run too fast, with so many ferryboats crossing the river. It would be ' too dangerous." The police tug swept out into the bay and then started slowly up the river, moving from one shore to the other. The police officer in charge had a pair of glasses and he used these on the various craft that came into view, and also allowed the boys to use them. " Ought to be along soon," said Tom, after a ' quarter of an hotu* had passed. ** It took us quite some time to get down here, you know." " Maybe they didn't come down the river," suggested the officer. " Didn't come down? " cried Sam. " What do you mean ? " " Maybe they thought you would come down here and wait for them and so changed their plans and went up the river instead." 202 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " That's so ! " exclaimed Tom. " They might do that." " Well, if they went up the river, we ought to be able to catch them sooner or later," put irt Dick. " Let us hope so," returned the officer. Soon they had passed up the river to a point opposite the Twenty-third Street ferries. Here a number of boats were moving up and down the stream, and from the Hoboken shore a big trans-Atlantic steamer was coming out, to start on its trip across the ocean. " That looks like her ! " cried Sam, pointing to a craft behind the trans- Atlantic steamer, " So it does ! " returned Toni. They made a semi-circle, other boats giving way to the police tug. But when they got closer to the schooner in question, all the Rover boys uttered a cry of dismay. It was a craft similar to the Ellen Rodney, but that was all. " Either we missed her or else the schooner went up the river," said Dick, at last. " Looks that way," returned Tom, with a sigh. They continued to move up the stream, scan- ning each shore closely. They passed numerous boats, but not one that looked like the craft they were after. " Well, here we are, at the spot where Crab- THE SEARCH FOR THE SCHOONER 2Q3 tree and Pelter got aboard," said Dick, a while later. " So, either we have missed them, or else the Ellen Rodney went up the river instead of down." The boys were much disheartened, for they had thought that the police tug would surely locate the craft and that they would thus be able to come to their father's rescue. They scarcely knew what to do next. " I'll go up the river a bit further, if you say so," said the police officer in charge of the tug. " Perhaps we had better run down first and make another search on our second trip," sug- gested Dick. " I shouldn't like them to get out into the Bay and give us the slip." The tug was turned back, and a little later they reached the vicinity of the Battery once more. Then began another search up the river, from shore to shore, as before. But not a trace of the schooner could be found. " Must have gone up the river," said the police official. " We'll try it for a way and see." This they did, the police tug moving from side to side as before. "This is the end of it, so far as we are con- cerned," said the officer in charge of the tug, at last. "We don't go up the river any fttrtheas than this." a04 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK, "AH right then," answered Dick, much dis- heartened. " I guess the only thing for you to do is to put us aghore." " Sorry we couldn't find that schooner. Of course, if you'll make a regular charge against these men we'll send word up the river to be on the lookout for them." " We'll make the charge," answered Dick. The steam tug turned in on the New York ■City side and the Rover boys went ashore. "I'll make the regular charge a little later," said Dick. " It may be that I'll have some men in the city arrested first." And then he and his brothers moved off, after receiving instructions from the police official as to what might be best to do. " Are you going to have Japson arrested ? " asked Sam. " If I can find him. But I guess he'll keep out of sight for the present, Sam. You must remember one thing — these rascals only want to keep dad a prisoner for three days. After that they will let him go — and then it will be too late 'to save that property." " Would that be so if we could prove that dad had been kept a prisoner? " asked Tom, with much anxiety. " I don't know. Another thing, they may make dad sign certain papers. Don't you r^ THE SEARCH FOR THE SCHOONER 205 member Pelter said over the telephone that he would 'make him do it'? They'll force father into something — ^if they can." " Well, what's our next move ? " asked Sam, impatiently. "As it is after noon, we had better visit a quick lunch room and get a bit to eat. Then I think we had better hire some private tug to take us up the river. I am almost certain now that the Ellen Rodney went that way." " If she went up the river she might go all the way to Albany," said Tom. " Possibly, but I think those rsfscals would be too afraid to do that. They'll leave the schooner at the first chance they get, and take father with them." The boys did not have to walk far before they came to a small shedlike building display- ing the sign, " Quick Lunch." They entered and ordered some sandwiches, pie, and coffee. While they were eating they questioned the proprietor about some craft to take them up the river. "We are hunting for a schooner," explained Dick. " We don't know just where ' she is. We'll pay somebody well for finding her for us." " I know a young fellow who owns a motor- boat," said the quick lunch man. "He eould itake ypa anywhere ypn'd want to go." 2o6 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW, YORK "Just the thing!" cried Dick, quickly. "Where is that fellow?" "He ought to be here now — ^he generally comes in about noon for sandwiches and coffee." " I wish he would come now," murmured Sam. After that they did not hurry their lunch, hoping the owner of the motor-boat would ap- pear. He came in ten minutes later — a bright, cheery individual, not much older than Dick. " Sure I can take you anywhere along the river, if you are willing to pay for it," said he, in answer to a question from the oldest Rover boy. " Just give me time to get a mouthful and I will be with you." "Let us take some lunch along," suggested Tom. " There is no telling how long this search iwill last." "We might take a little," answered Dick. " But I don't think we'll be on the river long." Ten minutes later the crowd was on the way to the river, to a dock where lay the motor-boat. It was not a very elegant craft, but it had a : good engine and could travel well — and that, just then, meant everything to the Rover boys. A bargain was struck for the run, and the boys and the owner got aboard. And then the search ifor tte schooner was begun anew. CHAPTER XX A MINUTE TOO LATE "WELt., yed the top of an old wind mill, used for pumping water from a driven welL " Think we had better go right up to the door and knock?" asked Sam, as they halted at the edge of the hedge. "No, I think we had better spy around a lit- tle at first," answered his big brother. All crawled through a gap in the hedge and, skulking from tree to tree, gradually neared the house. Near one of the windows grew some bushes, and they crept along to these. Then Dick looked through the window. HOT ON THE TRAIL 231 He saw Pelter and Japson seated at a table, going over some legal papers. Nobody else ,was visible. " Perhaps Crabtree took father to some other place, after the chauffeur left ! " thought the youth, in dismay. The window was closed, so the boys could not hear what was being said. They consulted among themselves, and walked around the house, being careful to keep well under the windows, which were rather high. " Here is a cellar door, let us try that," said Tom, and he raised it up, and, almost before theyj knew it, they were in the cellar under the build- ing. Above them they could hear footsteps and at murmur of voices. Evidently Josiah Crabtree had joined the brokers. "You stay here and I'll investigate further," said Dick, after a pause, during which he had espied a stairs leading upward to the rear of the house. He mounted the stairs and came out into a .wide kitchen. No one was present, nor did any fire burn in the big stove. From the kitchen a door led to a dining room, which, in turn, led to a sitting room. In the last-named room w^e the three men. ag^ THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YOKK "Do you think he'll raise a row?" Pelter iwas asking. "He can't raise much of a row, with that towel bound over his mouth," replied Josiah Crabtree. " It's lucky we had this place to come to," put^ in Japson. " I only hope they don't get on ottr • trail and follow us." " I don't think they will follow us here," said Pelter. Then followed a murmur, as he and the other broker went over the legal papers on the table. Dick wondered what he had best do next. He gazed around the kitchen and saw a small side door, opening on an enclosed stairs leading to the second floor. He went up the stairs noise- les«ij. CHi\:PTER XXIII THE RESCUE The oldest Rover boy had reached a rapid conclusion. This was that his father was not on the first floor of the house, nor in the cellar. Consequently, if he was in the building at all — > and Dick believed he was — ^he must be some- [(vhere upstairs. While the three rascals were in the sitting room he intended to make a quick investigation. With his stick still in his hand, in case of at- tack, Dick reached the second floor and entered a small bed chamber. Opening from this was a second room, containing a cot. Beyond the rooms was a closet, and that was all. "Too bad! This stairs leads only to a kitchen- addition ! " murmured the boy. " How can I get into the main hquse? Why didn't they cut a door through .'' " He looked out of a window and saw the roof ipi a porch. At the end of the roof was another (tpindow, one of a room in the main buildings 233 234 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK Without hesitation Dick raised the sash of the window at which he stood and stepped out on the porch top. Soon he was at the other window. It was locked, but the catch was not a strong one, and with the blade of his pocketknife he easily pushed it back. Then the sash came up and he stepped into the bedroom beyond. The room was empty and the bed showed that it had not been used for some time. Dick crossed the apartment and opened a door leading to a wide hallway. From downstairs came a murmur of voices. The rascals were still in con- sultation. Swiftly the oldest Rover boy passed from one room to another of the big house. Each was empty, and in the last he came to a halt, some- what dismayed. Then he thought of an en- closed staircase he had noticed, leading to the next floor, and he hurried to this. The third floor of the building was but an open garret, piled high with old furniture and dis- carded things generally. The two windows were covered with dirt and cobwebs, and as it was dark outside, because of the rain, Dick could see but little. "Father!" he called softly. "Father, are iyou here? " He listened and heard a tapping, coming from THE RESCUE 23S one end of the garret. He moved over in the di- rection and struck a match. Then he gave a cry, half of gladness and half of dismay. His parent was there, bound to an upright o£ the garret floor. He had his hands behind him, and a towel was tied over his mouth. With deft fingers Dick unloosed the towel, and then he cut his father's bonds with his pocketknife. "Oh, Dick! How glad I am that you have come ! " gasped Anderson Rover, when he could speak. " That towel nearly smothered me ! " "Did they hurt you any. Dad?" asked the boy anxiously. " Not so very much, Dick. We had several rough and tumble fights, — when I tried to get away from them. But they were too many for me. Have they gone?" " No, they are in the sitting room below, talk- ing matters over." "And you came here all alone?" asked Mr. Rover, stretching his cramped limbs. "No, Tom and Sam are down in the cellar., I told them I would come upstairs and investi-* gate." "Good! Then we are f^r to three. I am glad to know that. It will make it easier to get away from them." " Have you done anything for them — I mean. «36 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK signed any papers, or anything like that? " asked Jhe son, anxiously. " No. They wanted to keep me from signing certain papers that must be signed inside of two ■ days, Dick." " I know it." 1 "They also wanted me to sign other docu- ments, and Crabtree said if I didn't do it he iwould leave me here to starve ! " "The rascal!" muttered Dick. "We have got to get him back to jail, that's sure! Are you sure you are well enough to go with me. Dad?" "I — I think so, Dick. But this has been an awful strain on me," sighed Anderson Rover. He was very pale, and the hand he placed on Dick's shoulder trembled greatly. " After this you must let me attend to busi- ness for you," said the son. " I am old enough to do it. You need a complete rest." " Yes, Dick, but your college career " "We'll talk about those things later. Dad. First, I want to get you away from here, and in a safe place. Then we'll attend to Crabtree, Pelter and Japson," added Dick, grimly. " The business matters have been too much for me — I realize it now," sighed Anderson Rover. ■" I must take a rest — a good, long rest. They; THE RESCUE ajf [would not have gotten the best of me if I had been stronger." " Come," said Dick, " Don't make any noise if you can help it," he added, in a whisper. He guided his parent, and both tiptoed theit ■way to the second flopr of the dwelling. Then they entered the bed chamber opening on the top of the porch, and so made their way down to the kitchen and then into the cellar. " Father ! " cried Sam and Tom, simultane- ously, and rushed to embrace their parent. " My boys ! " murmured Anderson Rover, and the tears stood in his eyes. Never before had he realized how much they were to him. " Come on — no time to talk now," said Dick, in a low voice. "We'll get away from here first." " But those rascals " began Sam. "We'll take care of them, Sam, aever fear." The boys led their father from the cellar and across the back yard to the barn. From the barn a lane ran to the mam road. The lane had a hedge that practically hid it from the house. " Wait here, in the barn," said Dick. " But keep out of sight." " Where are you going? " asked Tom. "To watch on the road for a wagOQ or an 238 THE ROVER ■BOYS IN NEW. YORK aato, to take us to the nearest town or railroad station." "Going to leave those men here, Dick?" " Not much! I thought Sam might take dad ,back to New York, while you and I had it out With Crabtree and the others." " Good ! I'm with you ! " cried Tom. Dick posted himself on the highway, and pres- ently saw a covered wagon approaching, drawn by a spirited team. The driver was a young man, evidently from some nearby town. "Going to town?" asked Dick, as he stoppeH' ^He fellow. " Yes, want a ride ? " and the young man smiled. " I don't, but another fellow, my brother, and my father, do," said Dick. " If you'll take them, [we'll pay you." ' " All right," was the answer. " Come right along." " How far is it to the railroad station ?. " went ^on Dick. " About two miles." " iWill you take 'em over? " " Sure — I'm going there myself." Dick hurried back to the barn, and soon Sam Sand Mr. Rover were in the wagon. Before Sam left his big brother gave him some instruc- THE RESCUE 239 tions in private. Then the .wagon went on through the rain. " Thank heaven ! dad is safe ! " murmured Tom, when the wagon had disappeared. "Ij hope Sam doesn't let him out of his sight until' those business affairs are settled up." " He is going to take him to the Outlook Ho- tel first," answered Dick. "But he is going to do more than that, Tom — if it is possible." "What?" " I told him to stop in that town and send ' some help here — a police official, or a constable, or some men. Crabtree has got to go back to jail, and I think we ought to have Pelter and Japson locked up, too — although that may de- pend upon what father may have to say." " Then we can't do anything until somebody] gets here from town," said Tom, somewhat dis- appointedly. " We carr watch those rascals and Ksten to iwhat they are talking about," returned Dick. Both boys returned to the bam, to get out of the rain. Then they sneaked to the cellar of the house and up to the kitchen, and then to a ' little storeroom next to the dining room. From the storeroom they could catch much of the ctm- versation coming from the three men in the (fin- Sng room. 240 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK There were some matters Dick and Tom did not understand. But from what was said they learned that Japson was a distant relative of Josiah Crabtree and the two had been in several shady transactions together. Crabtree had agreed, if aided in his escape from the Plank- yille jail, to assist the brokers in making Ander- son Rover a prisoner and keeping him such until he signed certain documents and until the time had passed when he could no longer take up the options which were so valuable to the Rovers and their friends. " Well, I think these documents are all right," the boys heard Jesse Pelter say, presently. " Now we can turn them over to Belright Fogg and tell him to go ahead." The boys looked at each other in amazement Belright Fogg! The lawyer who had tried to outwit them in their claim against the railroad company because of the smashed Dartaway! IWas that fellow mixed up in this game also? It looked like it. CHAPTER XXIV FROM A GARRET WINDOW "This is getting interesting!" iwMspeiieii Tom. " I should say so," murmured Dick. " That must have been what was bringing Bd- right Fogg down to New York City." " It looks like it." "Well, if he is mixed up in this he can get pinched with the rest of the rascals." " Right you are." After that the boys listened to more of tHfii talk between the brokers and Josiah Crattree. From what was said it was easy to guess thai: ithe plotters expected to make quite a large stan jpf money out of their evil doings. " But you have got to get Rover's signatures to those papers," said Jesse Pelter. " We'll do it! " cried Josiah Crabtree. " Ev^ Sf we have to starve him into it." "I hope those boys didn't come after ^ schooner," muttered Japson. 241 242 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW, YORK " I reckon Captain Rodney will know how t(» throw 'em off the scent," returned Crabtree. "We were lucky to find that automobile at the tavern," went on Pelter. Some more talk followed and then Japson ex- ' claimed : " Why can't we make Rover sign those papers iKTW? Maiybe we can scare him into it." " We might try," answered his partner, slowly. The men arose and Japson lit a lantern, for he knew it was dark in the garret. Then, one be- hind the other, they filed out into the hallway and went upstairs. " They are going to find out something pretty; soon ! " chuckled Tom. " Come on, let us follow 'em, Tom," answered his brother. " I've got a new idea." "What is it?" " Perhaps we can lock 'era in that garret until help arrives." " Just the cheese, Dick ! I remember there ■vsras a lock on the door, — rand maybe we can fasten it in some other way, too — so they can't break out" " They can't get out by the. windows — they are too high from the ground." By this time the three men were mounting the garret stairs. They had to pass around a THE FORMER TEACHER TURNED A LOOK OF GENUINE HISERr ON TOM. — Page 250. 7%# Rover Boys in Nevj York. FROM A GARRET WINDOW 243 pile of furniture to get to where Anderson Rover had been kept a prisoner. " Quick now ! " cried Dick, as the men dis- appeared from view. He closed the garret door and turned the key in the lock. " Get a chair or two, Tom, so we can wedge the door fast." Tom understood, and ran into a nearby room, to bring out a square table. The stairway to the garret ran from a right angle of the wall, so that the table could be stood up against the door, with the bottom of the four legs against the iwall opposite. Some books chanced to be handy, and the lads were able to place these against the wall under the feet of the table legs, thus wedging the door fast. " Now I reckon they'll have their own job get- ling out! " cried Tom, grimly. " Go to a front window and watch the road," ordered his big brother. "If you see any help* coming, call them." Tom at once departed, to station himself at the window of one of the front bed chambers. By this time a clattering of feet coidd be heard on the garret stairs. " He has locked the door on us ! " came a cry in Jesse Pelter's voice. "How did he get free?" asked Japson. "I thought we tied him good." 244 "^H^ ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK " He cut the ropes ! " cried JosiaK Crabtree. " But how he got hold of his knife to do it, I can't guess." Dick had to smile to himself. Evidently the rascals thought his father had liberated himself/ and turned the tables on them. "Hi, Rover! Are you out there?" called Jesse Pelter. " If you are you had better un- lock that door." To this call Dick did not answer, " He must have run away ! " exclaimed Jap- eon. " Break the door down ! We must catch him!" " That's the talk ! " added Josiah Crabtree, in great excitement. " Touch the door at your peril ! " cried Dick, sharply. " I am armed and I will stand no non- sense ! " "Who is that?" asked Japson. " That wasn't Rover's voice," added his part- ner. "I think I know who that is," answered Josiah Crabtree, and his voice commenced to tremble. " Dick Rover, is that you? " he called, faintly. " Yes. Don't you dare to touch that ,door, Crabtree," replied Dick. " Is it Dick Rover? " questioned Pelter. FROM A GARRET. WINDOW "Yes." "Anderson Rover's oldest son? The one who iwas in the rowboat with the others? " "Yes." " Then we have been followed after all ! " shouted Japson, hoarsely. "We have been trapped ! " " You've hit the nail on the head," called out Dick. " Now, don't touch that door, or it will be the worse for you." "Is he alone?" whispered Pelter. " No, I am not alone ! " answered Dick. " Hi, Tom, am I alone?" he called. " Not much ! " answered Tom. " We are all on deck here, and all armed. You just sit still and suck your thumbs until the officers come," he added, dryly. " The officers ! " shrieked Josiah Crabtree, (and was so overcome that he sank down on one pi the steps of the stairs. "See here, Dick Rover," said Jesse Pelter, after a pause. "Let us see if we can't — er — • jpatch this up somehow." "You can do your patching-up after you are fin jail, Mr. Pelter." "If you have me arrested, boy, you will be «orry for it ! " growled the broker. " We can ruin your family, and disgrace your 246 THE ROVER BOYS /AT NEW YORK father," added Japson. "Better let us go and fix this up without the poHce." " No, I am going to have you locked up," re- plied Dick, determinedly. "As to what charge will be brought against you, I'll have to consulti! my father about that first." ".You lock us up and you'll get nothing out of us!" growled Japson. "We can ruin your family, and we'll do it ! " "Can't we get out another way?" asked Josiah Crabtree, in a whisper. " I don't think so," said the owner of the house. " We can go up and look around." All returned to the garret floor and walked to one window and the other. The distance to the ground was all of twenty-five feet, too far for any of them to risk a drop. " We might make a rope of these old blankets,'" suggested Jesse Pelter. " Talk to Rover at the door while I try it." His partner went back to the door, while the others commenced to make a rope by tearing a blanket into strips and tying the ends together. The back window was raised and the rope low-' ered. "Nobody in sight!" cried Crabtree, looking down. "Oh, I trust we can get away from FROM A GARRET. WINDOW 247 them!" He saw a term in prison staring him in the face. " Don't lose any time ! " cried Japson. " Here, tie the end fast to that old bed. Now let me get out!" , "I'll go first!" cried Josiah Crabtree, and shoved the broker aside. With trembling hands he grasped the improvised rope and slipped out of the window. In the meantime Dick commenced to suspect that all was not right and called to Tom. " Go below and outside and look at those win- dows," he said. " If thej try to drop, shy some stones at 'em ! " "I will!" answered Tom, and ran down the stairs three steps at a time. He looked up at the front of the house but saw nothing unusual. Then he dashed to the rear. "Hi! stop!" he called out, as he saw Josiaii Crabtree dangling just under the garret window. " Get back there, or I'll fire at you ! " And look- , ing around, Tom saw a sharp stone and picked it )Up. As he did this there was a sudden tearing /sound, and the blanket-rope parted at the point where it passed over the window sill. Josiaii Crabtree uttered a wild 3r€ll of terror and clutched atS THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK Tainly at the sill and the clapboards under it. Then he came tumbling to the ground, doubling up in a heap as he did so. Tom expected him to arise and run, but he lay still where he had, fallen. "He's hurt, seriously hurt!" muttered the youth. " Maybe he's killed ! " CHAPTER XXV WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM Tom glanced up, to see the white face of Jesse Pelter peering down upon him. " You had better let us out of this ! " cried the broker, hoarsely. " You stay where you are — if you know what Is best for you ! " returned Tom. "Is he dead?" went on the broker, referring io Crabtree. "I don't know." The youth ran up to the former school teacher iand turned him over. As he did this Josiah Crabtree gave a gasp and a groan and opened his ieyes. "Oh! Oh! whata— a fa— fall!" "If you hadn't tried to get away it wouldn't ^bave happened," returned Tom, briefly. He pould have but little sympathy for such a hard° ened rascal Josiah Crabtree sat up and then tried to get Ito his feet There was a cut on his forehead Ifrom which the blood was flowing. 249 250 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK " Oh ! oh ! " cried the man and put his hand to his left leg. It was twisted under him in a peculiar fashion. To get up on it was impossi- ble, and Crabtree fell back with a cry of pain and fright. "My leg! It is broken! Oh, what shall I« do ? Rover, please help me ! " And the former teacher turned a look of genuine misery on Tom. " Let me examine it," said the boy, in a more kindly tone. He approached the man and felt of the injured limb. By the way it was doubled up Tom felt certain it must be broken, perhaps in two places. " I don't know what I can do," said Tom. "I guess you need a doctor. I'll carry you to the barn, if you say so — or into the house." " Can't you — ^you " began Josiah Crabtree, and then another look of pain crossed his face and he fainted. Alarmed, Tom picked up the tall, thin form and carried the man into the house, for it was still raining, although not as hard as bdfore. He placed Crabtree on an old couch in the sit- ting room and, getting some water, laid a wet cloth over his bruised and swelling forehead. Kiiowing but little about broken limbs, he did not attempt to do anything for the broken leg but placed that member out in a somewhat WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM 251' Straight position. He called up to Dick and told his brother of what had happened. " Keep the other fellows- up there, Tom ! " yelled bade the big brother. " Don't let 'em ge^t Bway ! " At this Tom ran out of the house once more. With the fall of Crabtree had come the greater portion of the blanket^rope. Pelter had disap- peared from the window, and evidently he and Japson were in consultation. " See here. Rover, we want to talk to you ! " called out the broker, reappearing at the window a minute later. " Call your brothers." "What do you want?" " We want to fix matters up with you." " You can do that after you are in jail." "You'll gain nothing by having us arrested." " That remains to be seen." " We have got the upper hand in those deals spith your father and if you have us locked up fwe won't let go — ^no matter what happens," put in Japsoru " We'll make you let go," returned Tom, with determination. "You fellows have reached the end of your string, and the sooner you realize it the better it will be for you." " Bah ! Do you think we'll give up the things five have fought so hard to get? Not nrachl" 252 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK iWhile Japson was speaking Pelter had stepped back into the garret. Now he came again to the window, at the same time whispering to his companion. "Hello, Dixon!" he called, as if to somebody behind Tom. As was but natural, the youth below turned quickly, thinking some friend of the broker's had appeared. The moment Tom turned, Pelter hurled something down at him. It was an old wooden footstool, and it struck the youth squarely on the head. Down went poor Tom in the grass, senseless. " Now is our time ! " exclaimed Pelter. " Quick, with that other rope ! " A second rope, also made from sections of a blanket — but stronger than the first — was pro- duced. As the lower end struck the ground, Pelter commenced to slide down, closely followed by his partner. Evidently they were both will- ing to risk their lives in an effort to escape. The thought of going to jail filled them with grim terror. Reaching the ground, neither of the men hesi- tated an instant over what to do next. The man (who owned the place knew it thoroughly, and he turned in the direction of the barn, and his part- ner went after him. They crossed a back k)t. WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM 253, and then, coming to a side road, took to that, running as fast as their .wind and strength per- mitted. In the meantime Dick, hearing Crabtree groan- ing, came down in the sitting room to look at the sufferer. The man was still flat on his back. "Oh, my leg!" he groaned. "Oh my leg.'i Can't you gjet a doctor ? " "Perhaps, — later on," answered Dick. " Oh, Rever, I never thought I would comei to this ! " whined the criminal. " Oh, the pain ! " "We'll do what we can for you, Crabtree. You had better lie still for the present." Dick listened in the hallway. As nobody seemed to be at the garret stairway, he ran out- side, to learn how Tom was faring. "Tom! Tom! What happened to you?" he cried, in horror, when he beheld his brother on the ground. Then he saw the footstool and a cut on Tom's head and understood what had. occurred. The dangling rope told the rest of the story. " They have gotten away ! " he groaned. *' And after all our efforts to hold them prisoner^, until help came! Too bad!" He wanted to go after the brokers, but just now his concern was entirely for his brother. He turned Tom over and then ran for some. 'aS4 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK water. When he returned Tom was just open- ing his eyes. " Dick ! Some — something hi — hit me ! " gasped the hurt one. "They threw that wooden footstool at you, Tom. I'm afraid you're badly hurt." "Am I? I — I feel mighty queer," returned Tom, and then he closed his eyes again. Dick was now more alarmed than ever. He carried his brother to the dining room, and laid him on some chairs, with a doubled-up blanket from a bed for a pillow. He washed Tom's head and bound it up as best he could. Once or twice the injured youth opened his eyes for an instant, but he did not make a sound. " It was a fearful blow, — it must have been ! " thought Dick. " I hope they didn't crack his skull!" Josiah Crabtree was still groaning in the next: room, but Dick paid little attention to the man. Nor did he think of the rascals who had escaped.. All his thoughts were centered on Tom. " If I only knew where to get a doctor," he mused. Then he ran out of the house by; the front door and looked up and down the road. 2S carriage was approaching, containing three men. A« it drew closer Dick saw that one of WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM 255" the men wore a shining badge on his caat and carried a policeman's club. " Want me here ? " he cried, on catching si^h* of the youth. " 'Are you a policeman ? " i am. "Then come right in." The policeman and the other two men fol- lowed Dick into the house. The youth took them first to where Josiah Crabtree lay. " There is a man who escaped from the jail at Plankville. He tried to get out of a garret window and had a fall. I guess his leg is broken." "If that's the case, he won't need much watch- ing from me," replied the policeman, grimly. " The other two rascals who were with him got away, after hitting my brother with a footstool &nd hurting him quite badly. Here he is. Can I get a doctor anywhere around here? " " Doctor Martin lives up the road about half a mile," said the man who had driven the car- riage. " Will you get him for me, just as soon as you can?" " I will," said the man, and went off at once alter the physician. .While he was gone Dick told his story to the ±56 THE ROVER BOYS IK NEW YORK, policeman and the other man, who was a local <:onstable. Both listened with interest, and said they would make a hunt for Pelter and Japson. , "They may go back to New York," said Dick. "If they do, telephone down there to _have them arrested." And he gave the address of the brokers' offices. It was about half an hour later when Doctor Martin, and elderly physician, arrived. Dick escorted him at once to where Tom lay, still in a semi-conscious state. "A bad case, I am afraid,'' said the doctor, after a brief examination. "His skull may be fractured. We had better get him to the hospi- tal at once!" CHAPTER XXVI DICK TAKES THE REINS It was long after dark before an ambulance could be brought to the old house. Tom was still unconscious, in fact he had not even opened his eyes for the past half hour. Dick's heart was filled with fear. Was it possible that his brother, so full of fun and high spirits, was so badly hurt that he was going to die? " No ! no ! Not that ! " groaned poor Dick^ and sent up an earnest prayer to heaven that Tom might be spared. The doctor had said that Josiah Crabtree's leg was broken in two places, above and below the knee. The physician had done what he could for the sufferer, and Crabtree was to be removed to the hospital after Tom was taken there. Neither the policeman nor the constable had come back to the house, so Dick did not know! whether or not the brokers had been captured. To tell the truth, he hardly thought of the men, so anxious was he concerning Tom's condition, 257; ■!258 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " Can I go to the hospital with you? " he asked, wvhen they were about to take Tom away. "If you wish, Mr. Rover," said the ambulance doctor. " Hop up on the seat with the driver." 'And Dick did so. It was a drive of several miles and during that time Dick said but little. Once Tom roused vtp, to murmur something about his head, but that ^as all. As soon as the hospital was reached, Tom was placed in a private room, Dick asking for such accommodations. "Do your best for my brother," said he, to tiiose in attendance. "Don't let money stand in the way. I'll see that all bills are paid." " We'll have the best doctor we can get for iyour brother," answered the physician in attend- ance, and then he sent for a specialist. 'After that there was nothing to do but to wait. Dick went down to the office and called up the Outlook Hotel in New York by telephone. He found that Sam had just arrived there with his father, and told his younger brother of what had occurred. " Don't worry father too much about it," said he. "Maybe it will all come out right in the end — ^anyway I hope so." And then he told Sam to get the police to watch the offices of Pelter, DICK TAKES THE REINS 259 Japson & Company, and also look out for Bd- right Fogg. Before the specialist arrived to care for Toer, the ambulance came back with Josiah Crabtree. The former teacher of Putnam Hall showed his cowardly nature by groaning dismally every time he was moved. He was placed in a public ward, and those in attendance were told that he was an escaped prisoner and must not be allowed to get away again, under any circumstances. "He won't try it himself for a good many iweeks," said one of the doctors, grimly. " Those breaks are bad ones. He'll be lucky if he gets over them." 'At last the specialist came and took charge of Tom. For over an hour Dick waited for a re- port on his brother's condition. When the specialist came to the youth he looked unusualljj grave. "Your brother's case is a peculiar one, Mr. Rover," said he. "I do not find any crack in the skull. But he has received a great shock, and what jthe outcome of that will be I cannot; say." "You 'don't think he will— will die?" faltered Dick, hardly able to frame the words. "Hardly as bad as that, Mr. Rover. But tfie shock has been a heavy one, and he will need 26o THE KOVER BOYS IN NEW YORK close attention for some time. I will come in again to-morrow morning and see him." " Well, do your best," said Dick, brokenly. ' "I always do that," answered Doctor Gar- rison, gravely. * There were no accommodations for Dick at the hospital, so he found a room at a hotel sev- eral blocks away. From the hotel he sent another telephone message to Sam, telling him what the specialist had said. Then he asked Sam if he would come up. "If you'll do that I can go down and help father," he added. " All right — I'll come up to-night or first thing in the morning," said Sam. It was eight o'clock in the morning when the youngest Rover boy appeared. He was as anx- ious as Dick concerning Tom, and both waited for the specialist to appear and report. Tom had regained consciousness for a few minutes, but that was all. "He is no worse," reported Doctor Garrisoa. " I hope to see him improved by this afternoon I will call again about three o'clock." And then he left directions with the nurse as to what should be done. " This is terrible, Dick ! " murmured Sam, when the brothers were alone, in the room at tbt BiCK TAKES THE REINS 261 hotel. " Poor Tom ! I can't bear to see him lay as he does ! " " I feel the same way, Sam," answered Dick. " But I think I ought to go down to New York and help father with his business affairs. He isn't well enough to do anything alone." " That's true, Dick ; and this news about Tom has upset him worse than ever." A little later they separated, Sam promising to Bend word both to New York city and to Valley View farm as soon as there was any change in Tom's condition. Dick hurried to the railroad station and a little later got a train that took him to the Grand Central Depot. The youth found his father at the rooms in the Outlook Hotel, he having promised to remain there until Sam returned, or Dick arrived. Mr. iiover looked much careworn, and Dick realized more than ever that his parent was in no physical ior mental condition to transact business. "You ought to return to the farm and rest, ,Father," said he, kindly. " I must fix up these papers first, Dick," was the answer. "But tell me about poor Tom! Oh, to think that those villains should strike him 3own that way ! " " They are desperate and will stop at nothing iaow," answered the son. 262 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK Then he told as much as he could about his stricken brother. Anderson Rover shook his head sadly. " I am afraid he will never get over it, Dick I " he groaned. " Let us hope for the best, Father," answered the son, as bravely as he could. Then he questioned his father about the in- vestments in the Sunset Irrigation Company and in the lands out west, and soon the pair were go- ing over the matters carefully. " I think we need the services of a firgfi-class lawyer — one we can trust absolutely," said Dick. "But where can you find such a lawyer?" asked the father. "Oh, there must be plenty of them." Dick thought for a moment. " One of ray best chums at Putnam Hall and at Brill was John Powell — ^ Songbird. You know him. He has an uncle here, Frank Powell, who is a lawyer. The fam- ily are well-connected. Perhaps this Frank Powell may be the very man we need. I can call him up on the telephone and find out." " Do as you think best, Dick," sighed Mr. Rover. " From now on I shall leave these busi- ness matters in your hands. I realize that I am too feeble to attend to them properly." Dick lost no time in communication wiih Mr. DICK TAKES THE REINS 363 Frank A. A. Powell, as his name appeared in the telephone book. When the youth explained! jwho he was the lawyer said he would be glad to ,ineet the Rovers. His office was not far from the Outlook Hotel, and he said he would call at .once, Dick explaining that his father was not Reeling very well. Mr. Powell's coming inspired Dick with imme- idiate confidence. He was a clean-cut man, with! a shrewd manner but a look of absolute honesty. "My nephew has often spoken of you," he said, shaking hands with Dick. " I shall be pleased to do what I can for you." " It's a complicated case," answered Dick. " My father can tell you about it first, and them I'll tell you what I know, and show you all our papers." A talk lasting over an hour followed. The lawyer asked many questions, and studied- the (various documents with interest. "From what I can make out, Mr. Rover, that concern — Pelter, Japson & Company — are a Set of swindlers," said he, at last. " If I were you I'd close down on them at once, and with the heav- iest possible hand. To give them any leeway ai all might be fatal to your interests." " Do as you think best, — with Dick's ad- Srice," /eturned Mr. Rover. "I am going to 264 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK leave my business affairs in his hands after this," he added. " Then we'll go ahead at once ! " cried the law- yer. " I will draw up the necessary papers and you can sign them. We'll get after that whole bunch hot- footed ! " "And don't spare them," added Dick, think- • ing of poor Tom. "They deserve all that is coming to them." "And they'll get it," said the lawyer, briefly. CH?tPTER XXVn DAN BAXTER GIVES AID The next morning was a busy one for Dick. He visited the lawyer's office at an early hour and then went to the police station. "We are watching those offices in Wall street," said the officer at the desk in the station. " But so far neither Pelter nor Japson has shown himself. The clerks say they are out of town — i one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia, but can't give any addresses." "Well, don't let up on the watch," replied Dick. " We want to get them if it can possibly be done. I may have another charge to make against them," and he told of how Tom had been struck with the footstool and was now in the hospital. "They sure must be rascals," returned the man at the desk. "Well, we'll do all we can. '' "But maybe they've cleared out for good." Towards noon came a telephone message from Sam to the hotel. Dick had just come in and he answered it. 26s 266 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " Tom is a little better," said the youngest Rover. " He is conscious and has asked about dad and you. He has taken a little nourishment, too." " What does the doctor say about the case ? " questioned Dick, anxiously. " He said it is a strange case and that he will watch it closely. I heard him say to the nurse to watch Tom very closely." "Why, that he was so low?" " No, that he might go out of his mind. Oh, Dick, wouldn't that be awful!" and Sam's voice showed his distress. "You mean that he might go — go insane, or something like that? " "Yes, — not for always, you understand, but temporarily." " Well, all they can do is to watch him, Sam. And you keep close by, in case anything more happens," added Dick, and then told his brother of what had been done in the metropolis to- wards straightening out the business tangle. Mr. Powell was to see some people in Brook- lyn regarding the land deal in which Anderson Rover held an interest, and he had asked Dick to meet him in that borough at four o'clock. Ai three o'clock Dick left tke Outlook Ekitel to keep the engagement. DAN BAXTER GIVES AID 2^> " You had better stay here until I get back, in case any word comes in about Tom," said he to his father. " Very well, Dick; I shall be glad of the rest," replied Anderson Rover. He had already given the particulars of how he had been kidnapped while on his way to meet Japson. The broker had come up accompanied: by the disguised Crabtree, and he had been forced into a taxicab and a sponge saturated with chloroform had been held to his nose. He had become unconscious, and while in that con- dition had been taken to some house up in Har- lem. From there he had been transferred to the Ellen Rodney on the evening before the boys, had discovered his whereabouts. " They treated me very harshly," Mr. Rover had said. " Mr. Crabtree was particularly mean." "Well, he is suffering for it," Dick had an- swered. " Sam telephoned that his leg was ia very bad shape and the doctors thought he would be a cripple for life." To get to Brooklyn Dick took the subway, crossing under the East River. He did not know much about the place, but had received in- structions how to reach the offices wha"e he was. to meet Mr. PoweH and the others. i68 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YOKKt There was a great rush on the streets, owing to a small fire in the vicinity. Dick stopped for a minute to watch a fire engine at work on a cor- ner, and as he did so, somebody tapped him on Sthe shoulder. "Dick Rover! of all people!" came the exclamation. "What are you doing in Brook- lyn?" Dick turned quickly, to find himself confronted by a tall, heavy-set youth, dressed in a business suit. "Dan Baxter!" he cried. "How are you? " and he shook hands. As my old readers well know, Dan Baxter was an old acquaintance of the Rover boys. When at Putnam Hall he had been a great bully, and had tried more than once to get the best of our heroes. But he had been foiled, and then he had drifted to the West and South, and there the Rovers had found him, away from home and practically penniless. They had set him on his feet, and he had gotten a position as a traveling salesman, and now he counted the Rovers his best friends, and was willing to do anything for them. " Oh, I'm pretty well," answered Dan Baxter, , (with a grin. " My job agrees with me." " What are you doing, Dan? " DAN BAXTER GIVES AID ^ " Oh", I'm still selling jewelry ■■ — doing first- rate, too," added the former bully, a bit proudly, " I am mighty glad to hear it." " How are you and the others getting along, Dick?" went on Baxter curiously. "Thought, you were at Brill College." "I'm here on business," and Dick gave the other a brief account of what had happened. " Sorry Tom got hurt and hope he will come put all right," said Dan Baxter, sympathetically. " But who are those men you mentioned ? " " A! firm o£ brokers, named Pelter, Japson & Company." " What ! " ejaculated Dan Baxter. " Did you say Japson?" "Yes, Dan. Do you know him?" " Sure I do. He used to be in a jewelry firm in Albany. They tried to stick our firm — ^but we shut down on 'em. But that isn't all, Dick. I saw Jap%on to-day — ^not two hours ago." "You did? Where?" And now Dick was all attention. "1 visited a — er — a lady friend of mine. She lives in an apartment house near Prospect | Park. I might as well tell you that some day we are going to be married. Well, when I was coming out of the place I saw Japson go in — < he and two other men." 370 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW. YORK " Dan, show me that place — and do it as q«ickly as possible ! " cried Dick. " Come on — don't tell me you can't Fll pay you for your tbne!" And Dick caught the other youth by the arm. " I'll do it willingly, Dick, and there won't be any time to pay for, even if it takes a week!" cried Dan Baxter. " I am glad to be able to do you a favor, indeed I am ! " And he gazed ad- miringly at the oldest Rover boy. " Just you €ome with me." Dan Baxter led the way to the nearest elevated station and they ran upstairs to the platform and sooa boarded a car bound for the vicinity of Prospect Park. " The young lady lives in the Nirwick Apart- ments," explained Baxter. " It is a big place, .with elevator service. I don't know to which apartment Japson went, but maybe the elevator saan can tell us." " Describe the other two men to me, if you can, Dam." The yotmg traveling salesman did so, and Dick came to the conclusion that one of the men must have been Pelter. The identity of the third was a mystery. "Maiie it was that BeJright Fogg," thought mbe y^oafSa. "Well, I'll soon find out — if they DAN BAXTER GIVES AW 371 are still at the apartment house — and I hope they are." At last the elevated train reached the proper station and Dick and Baxter alighted. The lat- ter led die way for a distance of two blocks. "There is the apartment," said Baxter, point- ing the building out. " If you want those men arrested, hadn't you better call a policeman or two?" "I can do that later, — after I have spotted them," answered Dick. A colored man ran the elevator. He had ofte® seen Dan and knew him. "The gentlemen you mean went up to the 'fourth floor — to the apartment that was rented last week." " May I ask who rented it? " asked Diclc. "A lawyer, sah — a Mr. Fogg. He's got a {jueer first name." "Beh-ight?" "That's it, sah; Belright Fogg." "Just as I thought," murmured Dick.. " They didn't go out, did they?" " I don't think they did. I didn't see 'em, and I don't think they would go downstairs withoat using the elevator, although they could mse ^fe stairs." " Which apartment is it? " ■&J2 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK " On the fourth floor — the apartment in front, pa the right," answered the elevator man. " I'll go up," said Dick. He motioned Bax- ter to one side. " Dan, will you go out and get a policeman or two, just as quickly as you can? " he whispered. "I will," returned the young traveling sales- man, and hurried out on the street again. Dick stepped into the elevator and in a few, seconds was deposited on the fourth floor of the apartment house. He walked to the front and to the right, and stopped in front of one of the doors. From the room beyond came a murmur pf voices. He listened intently. The voices twere those of Pelter, Japson and Fogg. CHMTER XXVIII THE CAPTURE With bated breath Dick knelt at the door and applied his ear to the keyhole. At first he could hear only indistinctly, but gradually he caught the drift of the conversation between the ras- cally brokers and the former railroad lawyer. "Then you want me to date those papers ai week back ? " he heard Belright Fogg ask. " That's it," answered Pelter. "And remember, we signed them just before -we went to the West," added Japson. "And remember also that you saw us take a! train at the Grand Central Depot," went on Pel- ter. "OK, m remember that," returned tiie law- yer, with a sly chuckle. "And I'll remember also that I got two telegrams from you — one Ifrom Chicago and one from Detroit." And he laughed again. " That alibi ought to fix us up," roaaricea ijap- 273 2f4 2"H£ ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK son. "Anyway, it will set the authorities to Igtiessing." " It will help, provided thai fellow, Crabtree, doesn't squeel," said Pelter. " He gave his word, when we were in the garret, that he would keep mum, no matter what happened. But if he [was badly hurt he may have told everything." " Fogg, you must try to see him in the hospi- tal," said Japson. " Tell him it will do no good if or him to tell anything, and that, if he keeps mum, we will remain his friends and do all we ipossibly can for him." "You are piling a lot of work on my shoul- iders," grumbled the lawyer. "And shady (work, too. What do I get out of this ? " " You know what I promised you," answered Jesse Pelter. "A thousand isn't enough. Just look at the risk I am running." "Well, if you help us to clear ourselves, iwe'U make it two thousand dollars," cried Jap- son. He paused a moment. "Quite a swell apartment, Fogg." " It's good enough." " Why can't we stay here for a day or two? " questioned Japson. "I — er — suppose you could," answered the lawyer, with some hesitation. "But don't you THE CAPTURE 275 think you would be better off Out of the State, or in Canada ? " " That's what I say ! " cried Pelter. " Canada for mine. I've been wanting to visit Montreal , and Quebec. Now is our chance." "All right, whatever you say," answered Jap- son. "Maybe we would be safer out of the country until this matter blew over. H^g the luck! It was too bad to have Rover get away from us as he did. If we could have held him back a couple of days longer that land and maybe those stocks would have been ours." " He's got some smart sons, that man," ob- served Fogg. " I know, for I once ran up against them," and he told about the biplane in- cident. "They are altogether too smart," growled Pelter. "I'd like to wring their necks for 'em!" "Well, we'll turn the trick on 'em yet," said Japson. " Remember, the game isn't ended until the last card is played." " That's right," thought Dick. " And it won't be long before I play the last card ! " ' " After this affair is a thing of the past, I am going after those business interests of the Rov- ers," went on Jesse Pelter. "They are pretty well tangled up — they got so while Rover 2^6 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK mras sick. I think sK'e can make scnnething out of them yet" "Not if I know it," murmured Didc, to him- self. "You are a first-class fellow to put in jail- — ^you and the others, too ! " The talk in the apartment went on, coverii^ the things Belright Fogg was to do while Peltec and Japson were in hiding in Canada. The tmscrupulous lawyer was to produce a power of attorney dated some days before, so that he , might act in place of the brokers. He was alsd ' to do his best to help the brokers prove an alibi when accused of the abduction of Anderson Rover. "I'm getting dry," remarked Japson, pres- ently. " Fogg, haven't you got something tqi drink, and some cigars ? " " Sure I have," answered the lawyer, and Dick heard him leave the apartment and go into ^ dining-room. While Dick was listening at the door he also; kept his ears open for the return of Dan Bax- ter. Presently he heard the elevator come up« stairs, and then there sounded a low whistle — a whistle Dick had heard many times while he was a cadet at Putnam Hall. Eagerly the oldest Rover boy tiptoed his wayj ,dQwa the corridor. Baxter came forward t£» THE CAPTURE 27J meet him, accompanied by two policemen, an« the elevator man, who wanted to know, what th«t trouble was. "The two brokers are in that room," whis- pered Dick, pointing to the door of the apart- ment. " They are planning to skip out to Can- ada and leave their affairs in the hands of the lawyer who has rented this apartment. He is jalmost as much of a rascal as any of them, for he is to take their power of attorney dated some 3ays back, and is going to try to prove an alibi for them. I heard 'em arrange the whole thing." "The rascals!" murmured Baxter. "Glad you cornered 'em, Dick." " You helped, Dan — I shan't forget that," re- turned Dick, warmly. " What do you want us to do? " asked one ipf the policemen. "I want all three men arrested," answered Dids. " I'll make a charge against them. Don't let 'em get away. They'll do it if it's possible." " All right, biit you must come along to make 'Ithe charge," answered the bluecoat. "AH right." " Please don't make no more row in the house tkan you can help," put in the elevator man. "This is a swell apartment and we don't like 278 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK rows. I didn't know that lawyer who took this apartment was a crook." " We'll do the job as quietly as possible," an- swered the second policeman, who chanced to'' know the elevator man. " Dan, I think you can help me out," suggested !pick. " You might go to the door and call out that there is a telegram for Belrigl^t Fogg. Then, when he opens the door, push into the room and pwe'll follow." " Want me to help? " asked the elevator naan, mho was becoming interested. " If you will," said Dick. " You can guard ike stairsr— so they can't nm down that way." "I'll do it." Without further delay Dan Baxter walked to the door at which Dick had been listening. He chanced to have an old telegram envelope in his pocket and this he produced. He knocked loudly; on the portal. " Who is there? " cried the lawyer, in a some- what startled voice, and Baxter heard several/ Ichairs shifted back as the occupants of the apart- ment leaped to their feet "Telegram for Mr. Fogg— Belright Fogg!" drawled Dan, in imitation of an A\ D. T. youth. "A telegram, eh?" muttered jttie bwyer, " Wonder what is up now? " THE CAPTURE 279 He came to the door and unlocked it cautiously. He was going to open it only a few inches, to peer out, but Baxter threw his weight against the portal, sending the lawyer backwards and bumping into Jesse Pelter. "Hi, what's this?" stammered Belrig^t Fogg. "What do you mean by " He got no further, for at that instant Dick came into the apartment, closely followed by the two policemen. At once there was a wild commotion. Pelter and Japson let out yells of alarm, and both tried to back away, into the next room. But Dick was too quick for them and barred their prog- ress. " Let me go ! " yelled Pelter, and tried to hurl Dick to one side. Then Japson struck out with his fist, but the oldest Rover boy dodged. " So that's your game, is it ? " cried Dan Bax- ter, as he saw the attack. " Two can play at ,that ! " And drawing back, the youpg traveling salesman hit Japson a blow on the chin that l^bowled the broker over like a tenpin. In the meantime Dick had grappled with Pel- ter and was holding the rascally broker against the wall. One of the policemen already held Fogg, who was trembling from head to foot in sudden panic. aSo THE ROVER BOYS IK NEW/ YORK' "Surrender, in the name of the law!" said tire bluecoaL And he made a move as if to draw a pistol. " I — I sur — render ! " gasped Belright Fogg, and up went his hands, tremblingly. The other policeman produced a pair of hand- caffs arid in a twinkling they were slipped upon Japson's wrist. Then the bluecoats turned to- wards Pelter. "You shan't arrest me!" yelled that broker, savagely, and with a wrench, he tore himself from Dick's grasp and started through the rooms to the rear of the apartment. CHSPTEK XXIX BROUGHT TO TERMS "Stop him!" "He must not get away!" Such were some o£ the cries IHat echoed through the apartment as Jesse Pelter ran for the rear room. He knew there was a fire escape there and thought he might reach the ground from that. But Dick was at his heels, determined that the broker should not escape if he could possibly; prevent it. The window to the fire escape was open, for a maid in the kitchen had just set out some cooked dish to cool. Pelter made a leap for the window, nearly; scaring the maid into a fit. She screamed loudly, iand as she did so Dick made a wild leap and /caught Pelter by the foot. " Let go. Rover ! " yelled the broker, fioarsdly^ "I won't! ,You are not going to get away,. Pelter." a8« 282 JHE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK There was a struggle, and the broker aimed a blow at Dick's head. Then the oldest Rover boy suddenly caught the rascal by the neck and banged his head vigorously against the window casing. " Ouch ! Don't ! " groaned the broker. " Oh, my skull is broken!" "Then keep still," answered Dick, grimly, and he continued to hold the man. Soon one fof the policemen came up, and then, much against his will, the head of the firm of Pelter, Japson & Company was handcuffed like his part- ner in crime. "You'll suffer for this. Rover; see if you dion't ! " growled Jesse Pelter, after the excite- ment was over. "I have done nothing wrong, and I can prove it. This is all a plot on the part of you and your family to get our firm into trouble." " You can 3o your talking when you are in jail," answered Dick, briefly. " I know what I am doing." " Maybe you got Crabtree to hatch up a story against us," came from Japson. "Never mind what Crabtree confessed," said Dick. " You'll get what is coming to you, never fear." "I guess I had better send in a call for tbe BROUGHT TO TERMS. 283 patrol wagon," said one of the policemen. " Can you watch 'em, Jake? " " Sure," answered the second bluecoat. " I guess the young fellows will help." " I will," said Dick. " So will I," put in Dan. He turned to Dick. " I'm mighty glad to be of service to you. It kind of helps to — to — ^pay off old scores, eh?" he faltered. "Yes, Dan; you are doing us a great service, and I shan't forget it," returned Dick, with warmth. A number of tenants in the apartment house had been alarmed by what was going on, and among them were the girl Baxter was engaged to marry, and her mother. Dan quickly ex- plained matters to them, and introduced Dick, and the latter told of the service Baxter had done. Then the police patrol wagon came along, and the prisoners and the others went below. " Maybe I had better go to headquarters with you," suggested Dan to Dick. " Yes, you'll have to go," put in one of the policemen. > The ride was not a long one, and as soon as the prisoners were brought in, Dick explained the situation and asked that the authorities in Brooklyn communicate with those in New Yoric 284 THE ROVER BOYS m NEU^ YORK This was done, and then Pelter, Japson, and Fogg were held for a further hearing. "Can't we get bail?" demanded the lawyer. " Certainly, if you wish," was the reply. And then the amount was fixed, and the prisoners sent out a messenger, to see if they could not get somebody to go on their bail bonds. Dick's parting with Baxter was very cordial. The oldest Rover boy realized that the former bully of Putnam Hall was greatly changed and that he had done him a great service. " I wish you all kinds of luck, Dan," he said. " You've got a nice position and a fine girl, and you ought to do well." " Do you like her, Dick? " and Dan blushed a little. " We expect to be married soon." "Well, I am going to be married myself be- fore long." "Is that so? Good enough! I guess I know the girl," and Dan grinned. " You do, Dan." " Give her my best regards, and tell her I think she is getting the best fellow in the world ! " said Baxter, and shook Dick's hand. And thus the two former enemies parted. Dick had already called up Mr. Powell on the telephone, telling the lawyer of what had oc- curred. Now he engaged a taxicab to take him BROUGHT TO TERMS 285 to the place which he had started out to visit when coming to Brooklyn. It was rather late, but the lawyer had persuaded the people he had come to see to wait. An interview lasting over an hour followed. The lawyer had already explained many things, and now Dick told of others. " You have opened our eyes, Mr. Rover," said one of the men present, when Dick had finished. "We rather suspected Pelter, Japson & Com- pany and we were bewildered by what your father proposed to do. Now all is perfectly clear, and, if you wish us to do so, we'll stand by your father to the end." " Thank you very much ! " cried the youth, in delight. " Your father is not very well, you say," said another of the men. " In that case " " I am going to transact his business for him, after this," answered Dick. "He is going to place it in my hands." " You are rather young, Mr. Rover. But the way you handled those brokers shows you can do things. I wish you success." " I shall rely upon Mr. Powell for assistance," said Dick. "And I'll do what I can," put in the lawyer. When Dick got back to the Outlook Hotel ft 286 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK was quite late. But he had telephoned to his father, so Mr. Rover was not alarmed. The youth found his parent smiling pleasantly. " Good news all around ! " cried Anderson Rover. " Then you've heard from Sam? " adced Dick, quickly. "Yes, he sent in word about an hour ago. Tom is doing very well, and the specialist says he will soon be himself again." "That's the best news yet!" cried Dick, and his face showed his relief. "Yes, it is even better than this news you sent me — ^that Pelter and Japson have been cap- tured." " Well, I am mighty glad we rounded up those rascals," said the son. " So am I." "Did Sam say anything about Crabtree?" " He said Crabtree was about the same. The doctors are doing what they can for him. But he will most likely be a cripple for ■ life." " That's bad. But he has nobody to blame but himself." After that Dick had to sit down and teH his father the details of all that had occurred. Then Jie got a late supper, and some time after that BROUGHT TO TERMS 287 he and his parent retired. The youth was thor- oughly tired out, but happy. The next few days were as busy as those just past had been. Dick and his father ran up to iwhere Tom lay in the hospital. They found the sufferer had come to his senses. Sam and a nurse were with him. " Oh, I'll be all right again, in a few days ! " cried Tom, with a brave attempt at a smile. " I guess I fared better than old Crabtree. They tell me he'll limp for life." " Limp for life ! " cried Dick. "That is what they say." " What a terrible affliction ! " murmured the oldest Rover boy. " But he has nobody to blame but himself." "Tom, are you quite comfortable here?" asked Mr. Rover, anxiously. " Oh, yes, they do all they can for me, Dad," [was the answer. " We must send you home as soon as we can." " Well, I'll be willing to go," returned Tom. He thought of the quiet farm, and of hin Aunt Martha's motherly care, and gave a deep sigh. " He can be moved in four or five days — the 3octor said so," put in Sam. "I've figured it 288 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORKi all out. We can take him to the train in an auto, and I'll see that he gets to Oak Run all right. There Jack can meet us with our own •.machine, and the rest will be easy." " I can go along," said Dick. "It won't be necessary, Dick," said Tom. " You stay in New York and get Dad's affairs straightened out." The matter was talked over, and it was at length decided that Sam should remain with Tom and take him home, while Mr. Rover and Dick returned to the city. Four days later the youngest Rover got per- mission from the specialist who had attended Tom to take him home. An easy-riding auto- mobile was procured, and in this the two brothers drove to the nearest railroad station. A com- partment in a parlor car had already been en- gaged, and Tom was placed in this and made as comfortable as circumstances permitted. The ride was a long and tedious one for the youth, and by the time he had made the necessary changes to get to Oak Run he was pretty well exhausted, and had a severe headache. " Poor boy ! " murmured the hired man, (who had brought the family touring car to the sta- tion. " Dis am de wust yet, de werry wust ! " came BROUGHT TO TERMS 289) from Aleck Pop, who had come along. Both' men aided Sam in getting Tom into the car,, and then Jack started for Valley Brook farmy. running the machine with the greatest possible? care. Aunt Martha stood on the piazza ready to' receive the boys, and when she beheld Tom's pale face the tears streamed down her cheeks. " My boy! My poor boy! " she cried. " Oh, iwhat a terrible happening ! " And she bent over and kissed him. "Oh, don't worry. Aunt Martha; I'll soon be myself again," answered Tom, as cheerfully as his spirits permitted. " I've got the front room all ready for you," iwent on the aunt. And she led the way into the house and to the apartment in question. Here the sufferer was put to bed, and his aunt did all in her power to make him comfortable. The local doctor had already been notified, and soon he appeared, to read a note written by the city, specialist and listen to what Sam had to tell him. Then he took charge and said Tom must be kept very quiet. "It shall be as you say. Doctor," said Mrs. Rover. And after that, for a number of days, ' nobody but the members of the family was al- lowed to go in and talk to the youth. ago THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK In the meantime, Dick and his father had several interviews with their lawyer, and alsd ■with a lawyer who represented Pelter, Japson, I and Belright Fogg. The brokers and Fogg were '' anxious to hush matters up, and promised to do whatever was wanted by the Rovers if they would drop the case against them. " I think we had better arrange matters, Dick," said Mr. Rover, with a sigh. "I am tired of fighting. If they will do the fair thing all around, let them go." " Just as you say, Father," replied Dick. " But they must give up everything that belongs to us." "Well, you can see to it that they do — ^you and Mr. Powell," answered Anderson Rover. " I am going back to the farm to rest, and after that I think I'll travel a little for my health." "All right, Dad. But— but " Dick stam- mered and grew red. " You — er — ^you won't go away until after my wedding, will you?" " No, Dick, I'll stay home until after you and Dora are married," answered Mr. Rover, .with a quiet smile. CHAPTER XXX MRS. DICK ROVER — CONCLUSION "The day of days, Dick!" "Right you are, Sam! And what a perfect day it is!" " Oh, I had this weather made to order," came from Tom Rover, with a girin. " How do you feel, Tom ? " questioned his big brother kindly, as he turned away from the window to look at the lad who had been hurt. " Oh, I'm as chipper as a catbird with two tails ! " sang out the fun-loving Rover.* But his pale face was not in keeping with his words. Tom was not yet himself. But he wasn't going to show it — especially on Dick's wedding day. All of the Rovers had come up to Cedarville ■■ and they were now stopping at the home of Mr. ' Laning, the father of Grace and Nellie. As my , (M readers know, the Stanhopes lived but '^ short distance away, and nearby was Putnam HaU, where the boys had spent so many happy days. 291 292 THE ROVER BOYS IN. NEW YORK Dora had left Hope as soon as it was settled that she and Dick should be married, and she and her mother, and the others, had been busy ■for some time getting ready for the wedding. Nellie and Grace were also home, and were as much excited as Dora herself, for they were both to be bridesmaids. The girls had spent several days in New York, shopping, and a dressmaker from the city had been called in to dress the young ladies as befitted the occasion, Tom was to be Dick's best man, while Sam was to head the ushers at the church — the other ushers being Songbird, Stanley, Fred Garrison, Larry Colby, and Bart Conners. A delegation of students from Brill — including William Phi- lander Tubbs — had also come up, and were quar- tered at the Cedarville Hotel. The wedding was to take place at the Cedar- ville Union Church, a quaint little stone edifice, covered with ivy, which the Stanhopes and the Lanings both attended and which the Rover boys had often visited while they were cadets at Put- , nam Hall. The interior of the church was a mass of palms, sent up on the boat from Ithaca. Following the sending out of the invitations to the wedding, presents had come in thick and fast to the Stanhope home. From Dick's father came an elegant silver service, and from his MRS. DICK ROVER 293 brothers a beautifully-decorated dinner set; while Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha contributed a fine set of the latest encyclopaedias, and a spe- cially-bound volume of the uncle's book on sci- entific farming! Mr. Anderson Rover also con- tributed a bank book with an amount written therein that nearly took away Dora's breath. " Oh, Dick, just look at the sum ! " she cried. "It sure is a tidy nest egg," smiled the hus- band-to-be. " I knew dad would come down handsomely. He's the best dad ever was ! " " Yes, Dick, and I know I am going to love him just as if I was his own daughter," an- swered Dora. Mrs. Stanhope gave her daughter much of the family silver and jewelry, and also a full supply of table and other linen. From Captain Putnam came a handsome morris chair, and Songbird sent in a beautifully-bound volume of household poetry, with a poem of his own on the flyleaf. The students of Brill sent in a fine oil painting in a gold frame, and the girls ai Hope contrib- uted an inlaid workbox with a complete sewing i outfit. From Dan Baxter, who had been invited, along with the young lady to whom he was en- gaged, came two gold napkin rings, each suit- ably engraved. Dan had written to Dick, say- ing he would come to the wedding if he had t0 294 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW. YORK take a week off to get there, he being then in Washington on a business trip. The wedding was to take place at high noon, and long before that time the many guests began to assemble at the church. Among the first to arrive was Captain Putnam, in military uniform, and attended by about a dozen of the Haii cadets. George Strong, the head teacher, was also present, for he and Dick had always been good friends. Then came the students from Brill, all in full dress, and led by William Phi- lander Tubbs, bedecked as only that dudish stu- dent would think of bedecking himself. The Lanings and Mrs. Stanhope came to- gether and the Rovers followed closely. Soon the little church was packed and many stood outside, unable to get in. The organ was play- ing softly. Suddenly the bell in the tower struck twelve. As the last stroke died away the organ peeled forth in the grand notes of the wedding march. Then came the wedding party up the middle aisle, a little flower girl preceding them. Dora was on her uncle's arm, and wore white satin, dain- tily embroidered, and carried a bouquet of bridal roses. Around her neck was a string of pearls Dick had given her. The bridesmaids were in pink and also carried bouquets. MRS. DICK ROVER 295 Dick was already at the altar to meet his bride, and then began the solemn ceremony that made the pair one for life. It was simple and 1 short, and at the conclusion Dick kissed Dora kenderly. The organ peeled out once more, and the happy couple marched from the church, every- body gazing after them in admiration. "A fine couple," was Captain Putnam's com- ment. "A fine couple, truly!" " Yes, indeed ! " echoed George Strong. " I wish them every happiness." "A perfectly splendid wedding, don't you know!" lisped William Philander Tubbs. "Why, I really couldn't run it off better myself!" " It was all to the merry ! " was Stanley's comment. "She's a dandy girl, too — wish I had one half as good." "Dick Rover deserves the best girl in the world," was Songbird's conclusion. " He is the finest fellow I know, barring none." "I suppose you'll get up a poem about this. Songbird," suggested one of the other students. " Perhaps," was the answer, and the would-be poet smiled in a dreamy fashion. " It seems only yesterday that the Rover boys came to the Hall," remarked Captain Putnam, to 296 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK one of his friends. " My, how the years hare flown! " " But they are still boys — at least Tom and Sam are," was the ready reply. "And Tom is , just as full of sport as he ever was — I don't be- lieve he'll ever settle down." " Time will tell. But with all his fun he is a good lad at heart — and that is what counts." " Right you are, Captain Putnam. I V^ouldn't give a rap for a lad who didn't have some fun in his make-up." "All of them had plenty of fun while they iwere at my school. They cut up a good deal sometimes. But I liked them all the better for it, somehow," concluded the captain, with a twinkle in his eyes. Carriages and automobiles were in waiting, and Dick and his bride, along with their rela- tives and many friends, were quickly whirled away to the Stanhope home. Here followed numerous congratulations, interspersed with not a few kisses. Mrs. Stanhope's eyes were still fuB of tears, but she smiled at her newly-made son-' in-law. "It's all right, Dicic!" she whispered. "I'm I not a bit sorry. But — ^but a woman can't help crying when she sees her only girl getting mar- ried." MRS, BKK ROVER 297 " You are not going to lose Dora," he an- swered, tenderly. "You are going to get a son, that's all." A long table had been spread, from the din- ing-room to the sitting-room, with another table in the library, and soon a grand wedding dinner was in progress. Dora sat at her husband's side, and never did a pair feel or look more happy, dose at hand was Tom, paying his attentions to Nellie, and at the smaller table Sam was doing his best to entertain Grace. Mr. Anderson Rover sat beside Mrs. Stanhope, and not far away were the others of the families. "Well, they are married at last," said Mr. Rover to Mrs. Stanhope. " I, for one, am well satisfied. I think they will get along well to- gether." " Yes, Mr. Rover, I think they will get along finely," answered Mrs. Stanhope. " I liked Dick from the first time I met him — and Dora — well, there was nobody else after he came into view," and she smiled faintly. Then her eyes traveled over to where Tom and Nellie were talking ear- nestly, and his followed. "I think that is an- other pair," she whispered. "I shouldn't wonder," was the reply. "But they caa wait a while. Tom is rather young yet" SgS i7HE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK "He looks rather pale." " Yes, that blow he received on the head was a 'Severe one. I am worried about it," went on Mr. Rover, soberly. It had been arranged that Dick and Dora should depart on a honeymoon trip to Washing- ton late that afternoon. The dinner over, the rooms were cleared, and the young folks enjoyed themselves in dancing, an orchestra having been engaged for that purpose. "How perfectly happy they all seem to be!" remarked Aunt Martha to Anderson Rover, as they sat watching the dancing. " Yes," he answered. " I trust that nothing happens to make it otherwise after this." " Oh, something is bound to happen to those boys ! " murmured the aunt. " You simply can't hold them in ! " And something did happen, and what is was will be related in the next volume of this series, to be entitled : " The Rover Boys in Alaska; Or, Lost in the Fields of Ice." In that book we shall learn how Tom suddenly lost his mind and wandered away from home, and what; strenuous things happened to Dick and Sam, when they went after their brother. But for the time being all went well. The young folks danced to their hearts' content, and Tom kept them roaring over the many jokes he MRS. DICK ROVER 299 had saved up for the occasion. His head ached a good deal, but he refused to let anybody know about it. Then came the time for Dick and Dora to depart. An auto was at the door, gaily deco- ' rated with white ribbons, and bearing on the back a sign painted by Tom which read, " We're Just Married." Another auto' was in the back- yard, to take some of the guests to the steam- boat dock. "Good-bye!" was the cry, as the pair came down the stairs, ready for the trip. " Good-bye and good luck ! " And then came a generous shower of rice and several olid shoes. Dora kissed her mother for the last time and she and Dick hurried to the auto. Away they went, and the other auto after them, Tom and Sam and some others tooting horns and the girls shriek- ing gaily. "To the steamboat dock, I suppose," said the driver of the auto, to Dick. " Not much ! " cried the newly-married youth. "Here is where we fool them. Straight for- Ithaca, and as fast as the law allows ! " "I get you," replied the chauffeur, grinning. "We want to catch the seven- forty-five train for New York," went on Dick. "We'll do it, sir," was the answer, and tiien 300 THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK the auto driver turned on the speed, made a iwhirl around a corner of the road, and in a minute more was on the way to Ithaca, with the second car far behind. "Hello! he's given us the slip!" cried Sam, in dismay. " Never mind, let them go ! " whispered Grace. "Yes, we've had fun enough," added Nellie. " Oh, what a grand wedding it has been ! " she jadded, with a sigh. And then, when Tom squeezed her hand, she blushed. In the other automobile, Dora and Dick sat tlose together on the back seat. Under the robe her hand, the one with the wedding ring upoE it, was clasped tightly within his own. "Glad?" he whispered. "Perfectly," she answered. THE END THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD (Edward Stratemeyer) OVER THREE MILUON COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES ' Uniform Style of Binding, Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in Itself. THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN W^ATERS THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE THE ROVER BOYS D0V7N EAST THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED Grosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE PUTNAM HALL STORIES Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD (Edward Stratemeyer) Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers, Being the adventures of lively young fellow^s at a Mili- tary Academy. Open air sports have always been popular with boys and these stories that mingle adventure with fact will appeal to every manly boy. rTHE MYSTERY OF PUTNAM HALL; pr, The School Chums' Strange Discovery. ' The particulars of the mystery and the solution of it are very interesting. CAMPING OUT DAYS AT PUTNAM HALL; Pr, The Secret of the Old Mill. A story full of fun and vigor, telling what the cadets did dur- ing the summer encampment, including a visit to the mysterious old mill, said to be haunted. The book has a wealth of fun in it. THE REBELLION AT PUTNAM HALL; Or, The Rival Runaways. The boys had good reasons for running away during Captain Putnam's absence. They had plenty of fun and several queer adventures. rTHE CHAMPIONS OF PUTNAM HALL; Or, Bound to Win Out. In this volume the Cadets of Putnam Hall show what they can do in various keen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victory which leads to a most unlooked-for discovery. THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL; Or, Good Times in School and Out. The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blcod fellows, bound to make friends from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out, and something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing with an unexpected ending. THE RIVARS OF PUTNAM HALL; Or, Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore. It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country, written by one who knows all about its pleasures and its perplexi- ties, its glorious excitements, and its chilling disappointments. GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK THE TOM SWIFT SERIES. ^ By VICTOR APPLETON Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers.' Every Volume Complete in Itself. t , Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. fTom Swift is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most interesting kind of reading. Itom swift and his motor cycle tom swift and his motor boat tom swift and his airship ,tom swift and his submarine boat tom swift and his electric runabout ■ tom swift and his wireless message tom swift among the diamond makers tom swift in the caves of ice tom swift and his sky racer tom swift and his electric rifle , tom swift in the city of gold tom swift and his air glider tom swift in captivity itom bwift and his wizard camera ,tom swift and his great searchlight tom swift and his giant cannon itom swift and his photo telephone itom swift and his aerial warship tom swift and his big tunnel tom swift in the land of wonders .tom swift and his war tank itom swift and his air scout itom swift and his undersea search ,tom swift and among the fire fighters tom swift and his electric locomotive tom swift and his flying boat tom swift and his great oil gusher Grosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE DON STURDY SERIES By VICTOR APPLETQN Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by WALTER S. ROGERS ^ Every Volume Complete in Itself In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful knowledge and meeting many thrill- ing adventures. DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYS- Or, Autoing in the Land of the Caravans. TERYj An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters "with wild animals and crafty Arabs. DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE Or, Lost in the Jungles of the Amazon. HUNTERS; Don's uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes to be found in South America — to be deliv- •ered alive ! The filling of that order brought keen excite- ment to the boy. DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD} Or, The Old Egyptian's Great Secret. A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings in Egypt. Once the whole party became lost in the maze of cavelike tombs far underground. DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE; 'Or, Cast Away in the Land of Ice. Don and his uncles joined an expedition bound by air across the north pole. A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship. DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES; Or, The Trail of the Ten Thousand Smokes. An absorbing tale of advfentures among the volcanoes of Alaska in a territory but recently explored. A story that will make Don dearer to his readers than ever. Grosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE RADIO BOYS SERIES (Trademark Registered) By ALLEN CHAPMAN Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc. Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in sending and receiving — telling how small and larg^ amateur sets can be made and operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and adventure out of what they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly fas- cinating, so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads will peruse them with great delight. Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well- known radio expert. THE RADIO BOYS' FIRST WIRELESS; Or, Winning the Ferberton Prize. THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT; Or, The Messsage That Saved the Ship. THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING Or, Making Good in the Wireless Room. STATION j THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS; Or, The Midnight Call for Assistance. THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE; Or, Solving a Wireless Mystery. THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST Or, The Great Fire on Spruce Mountain. RANGERS; THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG Or, Making Safe the Ocean Lapes. PATROL; RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS; Or, Saving the City in the Valley. Grosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE RAILROAD SERIES By ALLEN CHAPMAN Author of the "Radio Boys," Etc. Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance — railroad wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat" locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on board — but there is much more than this — the intense rivalry among railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or ruin. RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE; Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man. RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER; Or, Clearing the Track. RALPH ON THE ENGINE; Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail. RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS; Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer. RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER; Or, the Mystery of the Pay Car. RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN; Or, The Young Railroader's Most Daring Exploit. RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER; * Or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley. RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH; Or, The Stolen Government Bonds. ' GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK Football and Baseball Stories Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in Itself. The RalpK Henry Bartour Books for Boys In these up-to-the minute, spirited genuine stories of boy life there is something which will appeal to every boy with the love of manliness, cleanness and sportsmanship in his heart. LEFT END EDWARDS LEFT TACKLE THAYER LEFT GUARD GILBERT CENTER RUSH ROWLAND FULLBACK FOSTER LEFT HALF HARMON RIGHT END EMERSON RIGHT GUARD GRANT TKe CKristy MatKewson Books for Boys Every boy wants to know how to play ball in the fairest and squarest way. These books about boys and baseball are full of wholesome and manly interest and information. Every young American who has ever tried to stop a grounder or put one over to first will enjoy them and want to own them all. PITCHER POLLOCK CATCHER CRAIG FIRST BASE FAULKNER SECOND BASE SLOAN PITCHING IN A PINCH THIRD BASE THATCHER, By Everett Scott Grosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE RIDDLE CLUB BOOKS By ALICE DALE HARDY Individual Colored Wrappers. Attractively Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. i — Here is as ingenious a series of books for little folks as has ever appeared since " Alice in Wonderland." The idea of the Riddle books is a little group of children — ^three girls and three boys decide to form a riddle club. Each book is full of the adventures and doings of these six youngsters, but as an added attraction each book is filled with a lot of , the best riddles you ever heard. THE RIDDLE CLUB AT HOME An absorbing tale that all boys and girls will enjoy reading. How the members of the club fixed up a clubroom m the Larue barn, and how they, later on, helped solve a most mysterioua happening, and how one of the members won a valuable prize, is told in a manner to please every young reader. THE RIDDLE CLUB IN CAMP The club members went into camp on the edge of a beautiful lake. Here they had rousing good times swimming, boating and around the campfire. They fell in with a mysterious old man known as The Hermit of Triangle Island. Nobody knew his real name or where he came from until the propounding of a riddle solved these perplexing questions. THE RIDDLE CLUB THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS This volume takes in a great number of winter sports, includ- ing skating and sledding and the building of a huge snowman. It also gives the particulars of how the cliib treasurer lost the dues entrusted to his care and what the melting of the great snowman revealed. THE RIDDLE CLUB AT SUNRISE BEACH This volume tells how the club journeyed to the seashore and how they not only kept up their riddles but likewise had good times on the sand and on the water. Once they got lost in a fog and are marooned on an island. Here they made a discovery that greatly pleased the folks at home. GROSSET & DUNLAP, Pubushers, NEW YORK THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES By LAURA LEE HOPE Author of the Popular " Bobbsey Twins " Books, Etc. Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself. These stories by the author of the " Bobbsey Twins " Books are eagerly welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their eyes fairly dance with de- light at the lively doings of inquisitive little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue. BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY f SOUTH BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR K TRICK DOG BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR f C AMP Grosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS For Little Men and Women By LAURA LEE HOPE Author of " The Bunny Brown Series," Etc. Durably BoBod. Illustratad. Uniform Style of Btadina. Every Volame Comitate in Itself. These books for boys and girts between the ages of three and ten stands among children and their parents of this generation where the books of Louisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps of this inimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere. THE BOBBSEY TWINS THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST ' THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY GSOSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NeW YoRK SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES By LAURA LEE HOPE Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny Brown Series, The Blythe Girls Books, Etc. Durably Bound. Illustratad. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself. Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate popiilarity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own — one that can be easily followed — and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the book- ;shelf of every child in the land. SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S .SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S ,SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT INDIAN JOHN'S Geosset & DuNLAP, Publishers, New York THE HONEY BUNCH BOOKS By HELEN LOUISE THORNDYKE Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations Drawn by WALTER S. ROGERS A new line of fascinating tales for little girls. Honey Bunch is a dainty, thoughtful little girl, and to know her is to take her to your heart at once. HONEY BUNCH: JUST A LITTLE GIRL . Happy days at home, helping mamma and the washerlady. And Honsy Bunch helped the house painters too — or thought she did. HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY What wonderful sights Honey Bunch saw when she went to visit her cousins in New York I And she got lost in a big hotel and wandered into a men's convention I HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS ON THE FARM Can you remember how the farm looked the first time you visited it > How big the cows and horses were, and what a roomy place to play in the barn proved to be ? HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE SEASHORE. Honey Bunch soon got used to the big waves and thought playmg in the ■and great fun. And she visited a merry-go-round, and took part in a lea- lide pageant. HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST LITTLE GARDEN It was great sport to dig and to plant with one's own little garden tools. But best of all was when Honey Bunch won a prize at the flower show. HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS IN CAMP It was a great adventure for Honey Bunch when she journeyed to Camp- Snapdragon, It was wonderful to watch the men erect the tent, and more- wonderful to live in it and have good times on the shore and in the water, GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES By LAURA LEE HOPE Author of the "Bobbsey Twins," "Bunny Brown" Series, Etc. Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrapper*. Every Volume Complete in Itself. These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE ; Or, Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE j Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR j Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP j Or, Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA ; Or, Wintering in the Sunny South. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW j Or, The Box That Was Found in the Sand. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND j Or, A Cave and What it Contained. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE j Or, Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS Or, Doing Their Best For the Soldiers. HOUSE j THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT - Or, A Wreck and A Rescue. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE Or, The Hermit of Moonlight Falls. LODGE ; THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE ; Or, The Girl Mmer of Gold Run. THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE Or, The Old Maid of the Mountains. CAMPFIREj THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD j Or, Sally Ann of Lighthouse Rock. GROSSET & DUNLAP, Pubushers. NEW YORK THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS By LAURA LEE HOPE Individual Colored Wrappers and Text IllustratioBs by THELMA GOOCH Every Volume Complete in Itself The Blythe girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, while Margy just out of a busi- f ness school, obtained a position as a private secretary and Rose, plain-spoken and businesslike, took what she called a "job" in a department store. THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND Or, Facing the Great World. ROSE; A fascinating tale of real happenings in the great metropolis. THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY' S QUEER Or, The Worth of a Name. INHERITANCE; The girls had a peculiar old aunt and when she died she left an unusual inheritance. This tale continues the struggles of all the girls for existence. THE BLYTHE GIRLS; ROSE'S GREAT Or, Face to Face With a Crisis. PROBLEM; Rose still at work in the big department store, is one day faced with the greatest problem of her life. A tale of mystery as well as exciting girlish happenings. THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE Or, The Girl From Bronx Park. BOARDER; Helen, out sketching, goes to the assistance of a strange girl, whose real identity is a puzzle to all the Blythe girls. Who the girl really was comes as a tremendous surprise. THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A Or, The Mystery at Peach Farm. VACATION; The girls close their flat and go to the country for two weeks— and fall in with all sorts of curious and exciting happenings. How they came to the assistance of Joe Morris, and solved a queer mystery, is well related. GROSSET & DUNLAP, Pubushers, NEW YORK A:'^-' ;M; '. -^ .. .'3. -^ ■^^^m-