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 somewhere 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 attack, 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 house? Why didn't they cut a door through?"
He looked out of a window and saw the roof of a porch. At the end of the roof was another window, one of a room in the main building. 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 consultation.
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, somewhat dismayed. Then he thought of an enclosed 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 discarded 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 you here?"
He listened and heard a tapping, coming from one end of the garret. He moved over in the direction and struck a match. Then he gave a cry, half of gladness and half of dismay.
His parent was there, bound to an upright of 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, talking 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 investigate."
"Good! Then we are four 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, signed any papers, or anything like that?" asked the son, anxiously.
"No. They wanted to keep me from signing certain papers that must be signed inside of two days, Dick."
"I know it."
"They also wanted me to sign other documents, and Crabtree said if I didn't do it he would 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 business 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 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 their way to the second floor 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, simultaneously, 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, never 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 main 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 wagon or an auto, 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 presently 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 stopped the 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."
"Will you take 'em over?"
"Sure—I'm going there myself."
Dick hurried back to the barn, and soon Sam and Mr. Rover were in the wagon. Before Sam left his big brother gave him some instructions in private. Then the wagon went on through the rain.
"Thank heaven! dad is safe!" murmured Tom, when the wagon had disappeared. "I 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 Hotel 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 depend upon what father may have to say."
"Then we can't do anything until somebody gets here from town," said Tom, somewhat disappointedly.
"We can watch those rascals and listen to what they are talking about," returned Dick.
Both boys returned to the barn, 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 conversation coming from the three men in the dining room.
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 Plankville jail, to assist the brokers in making Anderson 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 smashedDartaway!Was that fellow mixed up in this game also? It looked like it.
"This is getting interesting!" whispered Tom.
"I should say so," murmured Dick.
"That must have been what was bringing Belright 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 the talk between the brokers and Josiah Crabtree. From what was said it was easy to guess that the plotters expected to make quite a large sum of 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. "Even if we have to starve him into it."
"I hope those boys didn't come after the schooner," muttered Japson.
"I reckon Captain Rodney will know how to 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 exclaimed:
"Why can't we make Rover sign those papers now? Maybe 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 behind 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 'em in that garret until help arrives."
"Just the cheese, Dick! I remember there was a lock on the door,—and 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 pile of furniture to get to where Anderson Rover had been kept a prisoner.
"Quick now!" cried Dick, as the men disappeared 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 wall 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 getting 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 could 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."
"He cut the ropes!" cried Josiah 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 unlock that door."
To this call Dick did not answer.
"He must have run away!" exclaimed Japson. "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 nonsense!"
"Who is that?" asked Japson.
"That wasn't Rover's voice," added his partner.
"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.
"Yes."
"Anderson Rover's oldest son? The one who was 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 of the steps of the stairs.
"See here, Dick Rover," said Jesse Pelter, after a pause. "Let us see if we can't—er—patch this up somehow."
"You can do your patching-up after you are in jail, Mr. Pelter."
"If you have me arrested, boy, you will be sorry for it!" growled the broker.
"We can ruin your family, and disgrace your father," added Japson. "Better let us go and fix this up without the police."
"No, I am going to have you locked up," replied Dick, determinedly. "As to what charge will be brought against you, I'll have to consult 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 lowered.
"Nobody in sight!" cried Crabtree, looking down. "Oh, I trust we can get away from 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 windows," he said. "If they 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 Josiah Crabtree dangling just under the garret window. "Get back there, or I'll fire at you!" And looking 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. Josiah Crabtree uttered a wild yell of terror and clutched vainly 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!"
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 to Crabtree.
"I don't know."
The youth ran up to the former school teacher and turned him over. As he did this Josiah Crabtree gave a gasp and a groan and opened his eyes.
"Oh! Oh! what a—a fa—fall!"
"If you hadn't tried to get away it wouldn't have happened," returned Tom, briefly. He could have but little sympathy for such a hardened rascal.
Josiah Crabtree sat up and then tried to get to his feet. There was a cut on his forehead from which the blood was flowing.
"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 impossible, 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 before. He placed Crabtree on an old couch in the sitting room and, getting some water, laid a wet cloth over his bruised and swelling forehead. Knowing but little about broken limbs, he did not attempt to do anything for the broken leg but placed that member out in a somewhat straight position. He called up to Dick and told his brother of what had happened.
"Keep the other fellows up there, Tom!" yelled back the big brother. "Don't let 'em get away!"
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 disappeared 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 with your father and if you have us locked up we won't let go—no matter what happens," put in Japson.
"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 we have fought so hard to get? Not much!"
While 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 produced. As the lower end struck the ground, Pelter commenced to slide down, closely followed by his partner. Evidently they were both willing 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 hesitated 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 partner went after him. They crossed a back lot, and then, coming to a side road, took to that, running as fast as their wind and strength permitted.
In the meantime Dick, hearing Crabtree groaning, 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! Can't you get a doctor?"
"Perhaps,—later on," answered Dick.
"Oh, Rover, I never thought I would come 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 outside, 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 prisoners 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 water. When he returned Tom was just opening 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.
A carriage was approaching, containing three men. As it drew closer Dick saw that one of the men wore a shining badge on his coat and carried a policeman's club.
"Want me here?" he cried, on catching sight of the youth.
"Are you a policeman?"
"I am."
"Then come right in."
The policeman and the other two men followed 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 watching from me," replied the policeman, grimly.
"The other two rascals who were with him got away, after hitting my brother with a footstool and 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 carriage.
"Will you get him for me, just as soon as you can?"
"I will," said the man, and went off at once after the physician.
While he was gone Dick told his story to the policeman and the other man, who was a local constable. 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 hospital at once!"
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.
"Can I go to the hospital with you?" he asked, when 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 up, to murmur something about his head, but that was 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 those 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 your brother," answered the physician in attendance, 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, Japson & Company, and also look out for Belright Fogg.
Before the specialist arrived to care for Tom, 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 weeks," said one of the doctors, grimly. "Those breaks are had 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 report on his brother's condition. When the specialist came to the youth he looked unusually 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 the 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 the shock has been a heavy one, and he will need 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 Garrison, gravely.
There were no accommodations for Dick at the hospital, so he found a room at a hotel several 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 anxious 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 Garrison. "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 the 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 send 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. Rover looked much careworn, and Dick realized more than ever that his parent was in no physical or 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 down that way!"
"They are desperate and will stop at nothing now," answered the son.
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!" he groaned.
"Let us hope for the best, Father," answered the son, as bravely as he could.
Then he questioned his father about the investments in the Sunset Irrigation Company and in the lands out west, and soon the pair were going over the matters carefully.
"I think we need the services of a first-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 my 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 family 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 business matters in your hands. I realize that I am too feeble to attend to them properly."
Dick lost no time in communication with Mr. Frank A. A. Powell, as his name appeared in the telephone book. When the youth explained who he was the lawyer said he would be glad to meet 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 feeling very well.
Mr. Powell's coming inspired Dick with immediate 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 then 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 heaviest possible hand. To give them any leeway at all might be fatal to your interests."
"Do as you think best,—with Dick's advice," returned Mr. Rover. "I am going to leave my business affairs in his hands after this," he added.
"Then we'll go ahead at once!" cried the lawyer. "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, thinking of poor Tom. "They deserve all that is coming to them."
"And they'll get it," said the lawyer, briefly.
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 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'd 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.
"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 towards straightening out the business tangle.
Mr. Powell was to see some people in Brooklyn 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. At three o'clock Dick left the Outlook Hotel to keep the engagement.
"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 condition had been taken to some house up in Harlem. From there he had been transferred to theEllen Rodneyon 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 answered. "Sam telephoned that his leg was in 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 instructions how to reach the offices where he was to meet Mr. Powell and the others.
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 corner, and as he did so, somebody tapped him on the shoulder.
"Dick Rover! of all people!" came the exclamation. "What are you doing in Brooklyn?"
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?"
"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 out all right," said Dan Baxter, sympathetically. "But who are those men you mentioned?"
"A firm of 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 Japson to-day—not two hours ago."
"You did? Where?" And now Dick was all attention.
"I 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."
"Dan, show me that place—and do it as quickly as possible!" cried Dick. "Come on—don't tell me you can't. I'll pay you for your time!" 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 admiringly at the oldest Rover boy. "Just you come with me."
Dan Baxter led the way to the nearest elevated station and they ran upstairs to the platform and soon boarded a car bound for the vicinity of Prospect Park.
"The young lady lives in the Nirwick Apartments," explained Baxter. "It is a big place, with elevator service. I don't know to which apartment Japson went, but maybe the elevator man can tell us."
"Describe the other two men to me, if you can, Dan."
The young 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.
"Maybe it was that Belright Fogg," thought the youth. "Well, I'll soon find out—if they 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 latter led the way for a distance of two blocks.
"There is the apartment," said Baxter, pointing 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 often 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 Dick.
"A lawyer, sah—a Mr. Fogg. He's got a queer first name."
"Belright?"
"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 without using the elevator, although they could use the stairs."
"Which apartment is it?"
"On the fourth floor—the apartment in front, on the right," answered the elevator man.
"I'll go up," said Dick. He motioned Baxter 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 salesman, 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 of voices. He listened intently. The voices were those of Pelter, Japson and Fogg.
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 rascally brokers and the former railroad lawyer.
"Then you want me to date those papers a 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 Pelter.
"Oh, I'll remember that," returned the lawyer, with a sly chuckle. "And I'll remember also that I got two telegrams from you—one from Chicago and one from Detroit." And he laughed again.
"Thatalibiought to fix us up," remarked Japson. "Anyway, it will set the authorities to guessing."
"It will help, provided that fellow, Crabtree, doesn't squeal," 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 hospital," said Japson. "Tell him it will do no good for him to tell anything, and that, if he keeps mum, we will remain his friends and do all we possibly can for him."
"You are piling a lot of work on my shoulders," 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, we'll make it two thousand dollars," cried Japson. 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 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 Japson. "Maybe we would be safer out of the country until this matter blew over. Hang 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," observed Fog. "I know, for I once ran up against them," and he told about the biplane incident.
"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 Rovers," went on Jesse Pelter. "They are pretty well tangled up—they got so while Rover was sick. I think we can make something out of them yet."
"Not if I know it," murmured Dick, to himself. "You are a first-class fellow to put in jail—you and the others, too!"
The talk in the apartment went on, covering the things Belright Fogg was to do while Pelter and Japson were in hiding in Canada. The unscrupulous lawyer was to produce a power of attorney dated some days before, so that he might act in place of the brokers. He was also to do his best to help the brokers prove analibiwhen accused of the abduction of Anderson Rover.
"I'm getting dry," remarked Japson, presently. "Fogg, haven't you got something to drink, and some cigars?"
"Sure I have," answered the lawyer, and Dick heard him leave the apartment and go into a dining-room.
While Dick was listening at the door he also kept his ears open for the return of Dan Baxter. Presently he heard the elevator come upstairs, 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 way down the corridor. Baxter came forward to meet him, accompanied by two policemen, and the elevator man, who wanted to know what the trouble was.
"The two brokers are in that room," whispered Dick, pointing to the door of the apartment. "They are planning to skip out to Canada and leave their affairs in the hands of the lawyer who has rented this apartment. He is almost as much of a rascal as any of them, for he is to take their power of attorney dated some days back, and is going to try to prove analibifor 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," returned Dick, warmly.
"What do you want us to do?" asked one of the policemen.
"I want all three men arrested," answered Dick. "I'll make a charge against them. Don't let 'em get away. They'll do it if it's possible."
"All right, but you must come along to make the charge," answered the bluecoat.
"All right."
"Please don't make no more row in the house than you can help," put in the elevator man. "This is a swell apartment and we don't like rows. I didn't know that lawyer who took this apartment was a crook."
"We'll do the job as quietly as possible," answered the second policeman, who chanced to know the elevator man.
"Dan, I think you can help me out," suggested Dick. "You might go to the door and call out that there is a telegram for Belright Fogg. Then, when he opens the door, push into the room and we'll follow."
"Want me to help?" asked the elevator man, who was becoming interested.
"If you will," said Dick. "You can guard the stairs—so they can't run 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 somewhat startled voice, and Baxter heard several chairs shifted back as the occupants of the apartment leaped to their feet.
"Telegram for Mr. Fogg—Belright Fogg!" drawled Dan, in imitation of an A. D. T. youth.
"A telegram, eh?" muttered the lawyer. "Wonder what is up now?"
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 Belright 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 progress.
"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 Baxter, as he saw the attack. "Two can play at that!" And drawing back, the young traveling salesman hit Japson a blow on the chin that bowled the broker over like a tenpin.
In the meantime Dick had grappled with Pelter 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.
"Surrender, in the name of the law!" said the bluecoat. 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 handcuffs and in a twinkling they were slipped upon Japson's wrist. Then the bluecoats turned towards 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.
"Stop him!"
"He must not get away'"
Such were some of the cries that 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, and as she did so Dick made a wild leap and caught Pelter by the foot.
"Let go, Rover!" yelled the broker, hoarsely.
"I won't! You are not going to get away, Pelter."
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 of the policemen came up, and then, much against his will, the head of the firm of Pelter, Japson & Company was handcuffed like his partner in crime.
"You'll suffer for this, Rover; see if you don't!" growled Jesse Pelter, after the excitement 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 do 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 the 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 explained 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 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 before 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 occurred. Now he engaged a taxicab to take him 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 & Company 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 it 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?" asked 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 captured."
"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 tell his father the details of all that had occurred. Then he got a late supper, and some time after that he and his parent retired. The youth was thoroughly tired out, but happy.
The next few days were as busy as those just past had been. Dick and his father ran up to where 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 his Aunt Martha's motherly care, and gave a deep sigh.
"He can be moved in four or five days—the doctor said so," put in Sam. "I've figured it 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 permission from the specialist who had attended Tom to take him home. An easy-riding automobile was procured, and in this the two brothers drove to the nearest railroad station. A compartment in a parlor car had already been engaged, 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 station.
"Dis am de wust yet, de werry wust!" came from Aleck Pop, who had come along. Both men aided Sam in getting Tom into the car, and then Jack started for Valley Brook farm, 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, what 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," went 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 allowed to go in and talk to the youth.
In the meantime, Dick and his father had several interviews with their lawyer, and also with a lawyer who represented Pelter, Japson, 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 stammered 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.