Part 20 (1/2)

”Yes, yes! Read the message!” cried d.i.c.k, and all three boys listened closely while d.i.c.k held the receiver.

”He says: 'No news of Anderson Rover. Better come on and investigate.'”

”Is that all?”

”Yes.” And the operator repeated the message. ”I'll mail the sheet to you,” he added.

”All right, much obliged.” d.i.c.k turned to his brothers. ”Shall I send word back that we are coming?” he questioned.

”Yes.”

”Take this message down, Mr. Barnes,” went on d.i.c.k, and dictated what he wished to say. ”I'll settle next time I see you,” he added, and hung up the receiver.

The uncle and the aunt of the boys wished to know the news, if such it can be called, and the lads told them. At once Mrs. Rover burst into tears.

”I am sure something has befallen Anderson!” she sobbed. ”Oh, what shall we do, Randolph?”

”I--I think I had better go to New York and--er--make some--er--inquiries,” answered her husband, somewhat helplessly, for a visit to the teeming metropolis always appalled him.

”No, you stay here, and wait for some word, Uncle Randolph,” said d.i.c.k. ”Sam and Tom and I are going to New York.”

”Oh, boys!” cried Mrs. Rover. ”Going alone?”

”Why not, Aunt Martha?” asked Sam. ”We are not afraid.”

”I know that. But this is--er--no ordinary trip. You may get into trouble, and----”

”If we do, we'll get out of it again,” put in Tom, grimly.

”Oh, if only we knew what had become of your dear father!” and the lady's eyes filled again with tears, while Uncle Randolph looked deeply sympathetic.

”I think we had better start at once,” went on d.i.c.k. ”We can get the five-thirty train down.”

”What, to-night!” exclaimed the aunt. ”Why, that will get you to New York at midnight!”

”Just about,” said Tom.

”You had better start in the morning. What will you do at midnight in a big city like New York!”

”We'll go direct to the Outlook Hotel,” answered d.i.c.k. ”And then, if we can't find out anything about father, we can go down to the offices of Pelter, j.a.pson & Company in the morning.”

”And if you don't find out anything there?” asked Randolph Rover, timidly.

”Then we'll go to the police, and maybe get a detective or two on the case,” returned d.i.c.k. ”And we'll have to look up the hospitals--in case he met with an accident. But I don't think he has met with any accident,” he continued hastily, for he saw how alarmed his aunt was becoming. ”For if he had an accident, the authorities would find out, from the things in his pockets, who he was, and notify us, or the hotel.”

Mrs. Rover heaved a deep sigh, and her husband shook his head slowly.

d.i.c.k closed the desk again and locked it, and then the three boys hurried to their rooms, to prepare for the trip to the metropolis.

”Say, I dun heah dat you am gwine to New York,” came a voice from the entrance to d.i.c.k's bedroom, and looking up from the suitcase he was packing, the oldest Rover boy saw Aleck Pop standing there, an anxious look on his ebony face.