Part 23 (1/2)

”I don't see anything to do but to follow Tom to Chicago,” said d.i.c.k.

”We might send a telegram to the authorities, but I can't see how it would do any good. They don't know him, and in a big city like that it is hard enough to find a fellow when he is well-known. If we take that one o'clock train we'll be in Chicago by morning, and I'd rather look around myself than trust the police to do it.”

”All right, I came prepared for the trip,” answered Sam, and pointed to his suitcase.

When the station man came back they purchased two tickets for Chicago and the man set out his lantern to signal the express. Then Songbird said good-bye, wis.h.i.+ng them all kinds of good luck, and rode back to Brill.

”Sam, this is simply terrible,” observed the big brother, as he paced the depot platform, the station master having gone away. ”I never thought such a thing as this would come to Tom.”

”Neither did I, d.i.c.k. Nellie is all broke up over it, too.”

”Naturally.”

”Did you send word home? I didn't.”

”No, I didn't want to worry the folks until the last minute. But Dora knows, and so does Mrs. Stanhope.”

”What about Dad's business, d.i.c.k? Can you get away from it?”

”I can't get away any too easily, Sam. Things are in a fearful snarl.

But I telephoned to Mr. Powell, the lawyer, to look after matters during my absence. I think we've got those brokers under our thumb--at least I hope so. But if we haven't, we stand to lose a bunch of money.”

”How much?”

”Twenty or thirty thousand dollars.”

”That's too bad. If you think you ought to go back, I might look for Tom alone.”

”Don't you dare to mention such a thing, Sam. I think more of Tom than I do of twice that amount of money--and so do you and the rest of the family. Our whole duty is to find Tom, and do it, too, before he gets into more mischief, or gets hurt,” concluded the oldest Rover.

Promptly on time the night express bound west came along. It seldom stopped at Brill and the conductor gazed curiously at the two youths as they got aboard. Then the lantern was extinguished and set aside, and the heavy train rolled on.

Fortunately travel was light that night, so the lads had no trouble in getting a section of a sleeper from the Pullman porter. They had only the lower berth made up, and on that laid down, to talk matters over and get some sleep.

”Yes, it must have been that moving picture that set Tom off,” said d.i.c.k, during the course of the conversation. ”And that gives us something like a clue to work on. The main scenes took place in Alaska, and he may be just topsy-turvy enough in his mind to want to find those places. Talking about golden nuggets, and about being on the trail of Bill Stiger, looks like it, anyway.”

”I think so myself, d.i.c.k. But his mind may change and he may go to Mexico, or Europe,” and Sam sighed deeply.

Neither of the boys slept much and both were up almost as early as anybody on the train. More to pa.s.s the time than because they felt hungry, they went into the dining car for breakfast.

At last the train rolled into the suburbs of the great city of the lakes and finally came to a stop at the big depot. The youths took up their suitcases and filed out with the other pa.s.sengers.

”Have you any idea where we ought to look first?” asked Sam.

”I think we may as well leave our bags on check at this depot and look around here,” was the answer. ”Tom started from here and maybe we'll be lucky enough to meet somebody who saw and remembered him.”

Having checked the suitcases, the Rovers started in earnest, asking the men at the news stand and in the smoking room and at the lunch counter and restaurant. Then they questioned the taxicab drivers, and even some of the newsboys and bootblacks.

”It looks almost hopeless,” said Sam, at last.