Part 30 (1/2)
”The best ever. And what is more to the point, I've had a raise in salary.”
”You mean the one you mentioned when you met us at Ashton,” said Tom.
”No, another one. You see, a rival firm made me an offer. My firm heard of it, and they at once came to me, and told me I mustn't think of leaving-and then they tacked another five dollars per week on my salary,”
and Dan Baxter's eyes beamed.
”Good!” cried d.i.c.k. ”Stick to it, Dan, and some day you'll be a member of the firm.”
”That is what I am working for. Going to stay here over night?”
”Yes.”
”Good enough. We can talk things over. I was rather lonely-not having a soul to talk to. And by the way, whom do you think was here some days ago?”
”Tad Sobber?” questioned d.i.c.k, quickly.
”Why-er-yes-he was here. But I wasn't thinking of him when I spoke.”
”Who were you thinking of?” asked Tom.
”Old Josiah Crabtree. He is out of prison, you know, and he heard I was stopping here, and he came to see me.”
CHAPTER XVII DAN BAXTER'S REVELATION
The announcement that Josiah Crabtree had come to see Dan Baxter filled the Rover boys with interest.
”Did he have much to say?” asked d.i.c.k.
”He had a great deal to say,” answered Dan. He looked around at several who had entered the reading room ”Come up to my room and I'll tell you all about it.”
”We will-after we have notified the clerk where we will be,” said d.i.c.k.
”We are waiting for a message from our father.”
The boys engaged their rooms and had their dress-suit cases taken up. A few minutes later the whole crowd entered the apartment Dan Baxter occupied. They noticed that it was well-kept and that on the bureau rested a photograph of Dan's father.
”How is he, Dan?” asked d.i.c.k, motioning to the picture.
”Fairly well. He is getting old, you know.”
”When you see him next, give him our regards.”
”I will,” answered Dan, and then he motioned the Rovers to seats and sank down on the edge of the bed with something of a sigh. In spite of his success as a commercial traveler Dan could not help but think of his own past and of his father's past. How his father might have prospered, even as the Rovers had prospered, had he followed the path of fairness and honor! He had reformed now, but this reform had come too late in life to enable him to make another start in the business world. Dan was supporting him, and father and son were glad enough to have the Rovers drop their many just causes of complaint against them.
”I can tell you I was much surprised to see Josiah Crabtree,” said Dan, after a pause. ”I ask him how he happened to be out of prison, and he said he was let go because of his good behavior.”
”That would make me laugh,” interrupted Tom. ”Think of old Crabtree on his good behavior!”
”He said he had been following me up for nearly a week,” pursued Dan, and then he paused and his face grew red.