The Rover Boys in New York Part 29

"Is Mr. Pelter there yet?"

"No, he went out as soon as he got the message. n.o.body there but a clerk."

"When will Mr. Pelter be back?"

"I dunno--maybe not till late--or maybe not till to-morrow,"

answered the office boy, and hurried away.

In a thoughtful mood d.i.c.k 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 j.a.pson, of Pelter, j.a.pson & Company. Sam, I begin to think this is some deep game. This fellow j.a.pson aided Crabtree to escape from the Plankville 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 j.a.pson telephoned to Pelter that he could not come in. More than likely j.a.pson was afraid you would be on guard and spot him. As soon as j.a.pson telephoned in Pelter went out--most likely to meet his partner."

"And maybe to hunt up Crabtree, d.i.c.k."

"Perhaps."

"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 certain in my own mind that they are responsible for 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 where 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 remember, that is one of Crabtree's favorite tricks. He would not dare to put father out of the 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 bas.e.m.e.nts, vacant flats and apartments. And then they may have taken him away from New York, in an automobile, or on some vessel in one of the rivers."

"I'd give a good deal to know where he is now!" cried Sam, bitterly.

"So would I, Sam. Well, we'll do what we can," added d.i.c.k, 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 Crabtree, but he couldn't tell where the rascal went to. Did you learn anything?"

"We did," answered d.i.c.k. "Come on to dinner and we'll tell you."

While the three ate a hasty midday meal, d.i.c.k and Sam told of their discoveries. Tom listened with interest.

"I think you are right!" he cried. "Crabtree 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 positive evidence."

"There is something about this whole affair that I can't understand,"

said d.i.c.k. "That man Pelter claims that he settled up with father for everything excepting this Irrigation Company project. Father never told me that he 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 d.i.c.k.

The meal concluded, they went up to their 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, j.a.pson & Company were with him!"

There was a knock on the door and a boy appeared with a telegram. It was addressed to d.i.c.k.

"Maybe it's from dad!" cried Sam and Tom, in a breath.

d.i.c.k tore open the envelope and read the message rapidly. His brow darkened and he shook his head slowly.

"What does it say?" asked Sam.

"Who it is from?" added Tom.

"It is from Uncle Randolph," answered d.i.c.k. "Listen!" And he read as follows:

"Important news. Your father's signature demanded on important doc.u.ments inside of three days, or great financial loss and dishonor to all of us.

"Randolph Rover."

CHAPTER XVII

AN IMPORTANT TELEPHONE MESSAGE

"There's the answer!" cried Tom.

"It's as plain as day!" added Sam.

"You are right," came from d.i.c.k. "I see it all now." He signed for the telegram and dismissed the boy, closing the door after him. "They are keeping father a prisoner somewhere, so that he cannot sign those doc.u.ments."

"And it means a big financial loss and dishonor to all of us," went on Tom. "That must mean Uncle Randolph as well as dad."

"I wish Uncle Randolph had sent some particulars," sighed Sam.