CHAPTER VI

WAITING FOR NEWS

It took Randolph Rover several minutes to comprehend the various

statements made by the boys. That he had really been swindled by such

nicely-spoken men as he had met at the Carwell hotel seemed

extraordinary to him.

"I understand the bonds were not registered," said Dick.

"That is true," groaned his uncle.

"Then anybody could use them."

"Yes, although I have the numbers,--on a sheet in my desk at home."

"Well, that will make it more difficult for the rascals to dispose of

them," said Sam.

"I'd like to catch that Merrick and that Pike, and punch their heads for

them," commented Tom. It angered him exceedingly to see how readily his

open-minded relative had fallen into the swindlers' trap.

"But there may be some mistake," said Randolph Rover, in a forlorn tone.

"Would that Merrick dare to impersonate Mr. Jardell?"

"Swindlers will do anything," answered Sam.

"We can make sure of that point by sending word to the traction company

offices," answered Dick. "You are sure Mr. Jardell is the treasurer?"

"Yes--Mr. Andrew D. Jardell."

"Let us go back to town and see if we can catch him by long distance

'phone or by telegraph."

Shaking his head sadly, Randolph Rover turned his buggy around and

followed the boys to the central office of the telephone company. Here

all was activity on account of the broken-down wires, but communications

were being gradually resumed. They looked into the telephone book, and

at last got a connection which, a few minutes later, put them into

communication with Andrew D. Jardell's private residence in the city.

"Is Mr. Jardell at home?" asked Dick, who was doing the telephoning.

"Mr. Jardell is away," was the answer.

"Is he at or near Carwell, New York state?"

"No, he is in Paris, and has been for two weeks."

"You are sure of this?"

"Yes."

"Who are you?"

"I am Mrs. Jardell. Who are you?"

"My name is Richard Rover. My uncle, Randolph Rover, has been swindled

out of some traction company bonds by a man who said he was Mr.

Jardell."

"Mercy me! You don't say so! Well, my husband had nothing to do with it,

you may be sure. He went to London first and then to Paris, and in a day

or two he is to start for Switzerland. His health is very poor and the

doctor said he needed the trip."

Some more talk followed, and Mrs. Jardell advised Dick to communicate

with the traction company at once, and he said he would do so.

"It wasn't Mr. Jardell at all, Uncle Randolph," said the youth, as he

hung up the receiver. "The whole thing was a cleverly-planned swindle,

and unless you can get the bonds back you'll be out the money."

At this announcement Mr. Rover nearly collapsed--for he was rather a

retired man, and had had little to do in a business way since his trip

to Africa with the boys, as related in "The Rover Boys in the Jungle."

He did not know what to do, and stood rubbing his hands nervously.

"The swindlers!" he murmured. "Really, it is getting so that nobody can

be trusted!"

"The best thing we can do is to send word to the various towns to stop

the runabout with the two men in it on sight and have the rascals held

by the authorities," said Dick, who felt he must take charge of affairs.

"That's the talk!" cried Tom, "and the sooner we get at it the better."

"Let us find out where that side road leads to," added Sam, "I mean the

road on which we heard the auto."

Inside of an hour various messages had been sent by telephone and

telegraph. It was now growing late and the Rovers hardly knew what to do

next. From their uncle the boys got the whole tale concerning the bonds,

but the new light shed on the subject did not help matters.

They also told the authorities about the cave and the boxes stored

there, and some men were at once sent off to investigate and take

possession of whatever could be found.

"I think some of us ought to go home," said Sam. "Aunt Martha won't go

to bed until we get back, and she will be greatly worried."

It was finally decided that Tom and Dick should remain at the Carwell

hotel over night and Sam and his uncle should go home in the buggy. The

team was put up at the hotel barn, and then all hands went to the dining

room for a late supper.

"I'm as hungry as two bears," announced Tom.

"Well, I shan't say no to a good feed," answered Sam.

Randolph Rover could eat but little. Now that he realized what had

occurred, he upbraided himself bitterly for having been so deluded.

"They talked about scientific farming just to get me into good humor,"

he said, bitterly. "I see it all! Oh, if I can only get my hands on

them!"

After Mr. Rover and Sam had departed, Dick and Tom wandered around the

hotel and the vicinity for three hours. They anxiously awaited some

message regarding the two swindlers, but nothing came. Then, worn out by

the strenuous day they had put in, they went to bed and slept soundly

until morning.

Before having breakfast they asked for messages. There was one from a

village called Bahan, saying a green runabout with two men had passed

through there about midnight. But the men had not been captured, and it

was not known what had become of them.

At noon the telephone line between Oak Run and Carwell was in working

order once more, and the boys sent word home. Then they left directions

at the hotel, so that any messages coming in might be transmitted to the

Rover farm.

"Well, I never!" cried Dick, suddenly.

"What now?" asked his brother.

"That freight thief, and that stuff in the cave----"

"Humph! it slipped my mind entirely. I was thinking only of Uncle

Randolph's bonds."

"Let us find out if anything has been done."

At the local police headquarters they found that a wagon had just come

in, loaded with the three full boxes of goods located at the cave. A

search was still in progress for Dangler, but so far he had not been

located.

"This clears up the mystery of the freight thefts," said an officer to

the boys. "I only hope we can get our hands on Bill Dangler."

"You know him?" asked Dick.

"Oh, yes. Years ago he used to work for the freight division of the

railroad."

"Do you know anything of this Merrick and the fellow called Pike?"

"No, but our idea is that the three men were in the deal together.

Probably this Merrick and this Pike pulled off this affair of the

traction company bonds as a side issue."

"Have the freight robberies been large?" asked Sam.

"Not so large at one time, but they have been going on for months, and

the total from four different stations along the line foots up to a good

many thousand dollars."

"Well, I hope we catch all three of the men--and any others who may be

in league with them," said Dick, and then he and Tom walked off. A

little later they were on the buckboard and bound for home.

When they arrived at the farm they found that their uncle had sent a

long letter to the officers of the traction company, relating in full

what had occurred. In return the officials of the concern said they

would put a private detective on the case, and this was done. But weeks

went by and nothing was seen or heard of Merrick and Pike, and what had

become of the missing bonds remained a mystery.

"I am anxious to take a look at that cave where the stolen freight was

stored," said Sam one day. "Supposing we drive to it?"

"That will suit me," answered Dick. "I want to learn about something

else--that red tin box I saw hanging from a tree."

"Oh, yes, I had forgotten about that," put in Tom. "Well, shall we walk

or drive over?"

It was decided to drive as far as the cave, and not knowing how long

they would be gone, the boys took a lunch along.

"Now, take care of yourselves," warned Randolph Rover. "Don't fall into

any more holes."

"We'll try to watch out!" sang out Tom.

Then Dick cracked the whip, and off the team started at a good pace, the

eldest Rover, however, holding them well under control. It was a clear

and beautiful day. The boys did not dream of the odd adventure in store

for them.