Part 47 (2/2)
The youngest Rover opened the door, and like a flash d.i.c.k and Tom sped past him and into the room. Dora and Nellie rushed to meet them, laughing and crying hysterically.
”Oh, d.i.c.k! d.i.c.k!” burst out poor Dora, and then sank into his arms, too weak to stand.
”Dora!” he murmured. ”Oh, this is awful! Well, it shall never happen again, never!” And he pressed her to him.
”Oh, Tom, how glad I am that you came!” said Nellie as she clung to him.
”They didn't hurt you, did they?” demanded d.i.c.k.
”They carried us off--that was enough,” answered Dora. ”Oh, Sam, what of Grace?”
”It was Grace who told us,” answered the youngest Rover. ”She got away from them, you know.”
”We hoped so, but we weren't sure. They wouldn't tell us about her,”
said Nellie. ”Are you alone?”
”No, indeed; we have the sheriff and his posse with us. Every one of the rascals is under arrest.”
”Good! It is what they deserve!”
”Have you got Mr. Crabtree?” faltered Dora.
”Yes,” returned d.i.c.k. ”And this time we'll take care that he is put where he will never bother you and your mother again,” he continued.
Although told to do so by Mrs. Sobber, the girls had refused to go to bed and were fully dressed. They had been offered supper by the woman but had found it impossible to eat.
”Well, we haven't had a mouthful ourselves,” said Sam.
”But we are going to have the finest kind of a spread just as soon as we get to town and those rascals are locked up,” added Tom.
”But how did you manage to follow us so quickly?” asked Dora, wonderingly.
”We came to Hope to call on you in the _Dartaway_,” d.i.c.k explained. ”And we followed most of the way by biplane.”
”Then you have the flying machine here?”
”Yes, although we didn't bring it very close to the house.”
”What are you going to do with me?” cried Mrs. Sobber. ”Oh, please do not send me to prison! Tad made me do it!”
”This case is now in the hands of the law,” answered d.i.c.k, coldly. Then the sheriff, who had said nothing, came forward and handcuffed the woman and marched her downstairs.
When the Rovers and the girls went below they found that all of the prisoners had been marched outside. The sheriff was anxious to get them to the jail and the boys did not blame him.
”I don't see how that auto is going to hold all of us,” said the county official. ”Reckon we'll be kind of crowded.”
”Oh, I'd hate to ride with those bad men!” murmured Dora. ”I'd rather walk!”
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