Part 32 (1/2)

”What's the row?” questioned the first watchman, and when told, emitted a low whistle.

”I think those fellows are in the factory yet,” continued d.i.c.k.

As soon as the second watchman came up both went into the box factory and were gone fully ten minutes. Then d.i.c.k followed them, since Sam was rapidly recovering.

”Can't find them,” said one of the watchmen. ”But yonder window is open. They must have dropped into that yard and run away.”

”Is the window generally closed?”

”Yes.”

”Then you must be right.”

”Why don't you call up the police? You can do it on the telephone.”

”Have you a telephone here?”

”Of course.”

d.i.c.k went to the telephone and told the officer in charge at the station what had occurred.

”I'll send two men at once,” said the officer over the wire; and in five minutes the policemen appeared.

Again there was a search, not only of the box factory, but also of the whole neighborhood, but no trace of Dan Baxter or Lew Flapp could be found.

Having bathed their hurts, both Sam and Tom felt better, and all three of the Rovers walked to the police station with the policemen, and there told the full particulars of their story.

”You were certainly in hard luck,” said the police captain, who happened to be in charge. ”I'll do what I can to round these rascals up.” But nothing came of this, for both Baxter and Flapp left Penwick that very night.

When the Rover boys returned to the houseboat, it was long after midnight, but none on board had gone to bed. The Stanhopes and Lanings had come back, bringing their friends with them, and all had been surprised to find the Rovers absent. After remaining on the houseboat a couple of hours the friends had gone home again.

”Something is wrong; I can see it in your looks, d.i.c.k,” said Dora, as she came to him.

”Sam, where did you get that hurt on your head?” questioned Grace, in alarm.

”Oh, we had a little trouble, but it didn't amount to much,” answered the youngest Rover as bravely as he could.

”Yes, but your head is in a dreadful condition.”

”And Tom has a cut over the left eye,” burst in Nellie. ”Oh, you have had a fight of some kind, and I know it!”

”A fight!” cried Mrs. Stanhope. ”Is it possible that you have been fighting?”

”We had a brush with a couple of rascals in Penwick,” said d.i.c.k. ”We tried to catch them, but they got away from us. That is all there is to it. I'd rather not talk about it,” he went on, seeing that Mrs. Laning also wanted to ask questions.

”Well, you must really be more careful in the future,” said Mrs.

Stanhope. ”I suppose they wanted to rob you.”