Arthur M. Winfield

“ He guided his parent, and both tiptoed their way to the second floor of the dwelling. Then they entered the bed chamber opening on the top of the porch, and so made their way down to the kitchen and then into the cellar.
"Father!" cried Sam and Tom, simultaneously, and rushed to embrace their parent.
"My boys!" murmured Anderson Rover, and the tears stood in his eyes. Never before had he realized how much they were to him.
"Come on—no time to talk now," said Dick, in a low voice. "We'll get away from here first."
"But those rascals——" began Sam.
"We'll take care of them, Sam, never fear." ”

“ The oldest Rover boy was right about the affair getting in the newspapers. The local sheets gave the accident a column or more and some city sheets took it up and made a "spread" of it, with pictures that were truly thrilling even though they were inaccurate.
"Humph! look at this picture!" cried Sam, showing up the supplement to a New York Sunday newspaper. "Looks as if we hit the smokestack of the locomotive and sailed along on that for a mile or two! Phew! what an imagination that artist must have!"
"And here is a picture showing the train climbing over the biplane!" returned Tom. ”

“ Soon it became noised all over the place that the Dartaway had been wrecked, and before they could get a mouthful to eat the three Rovers had to tell the story over and over again.
"I'm sorry the biplane was wrecked, but glad you escaped," said Songbird, earnestly. He cherished his old friends as if they were brothers.
"Just what I say already," cried Max Spangler, a German-American student. "You can buy a new flying machine, yes, but you can't buy a new head or a body, not much!" ”

“ There was a sudden meeting of the pair, and the pad fell to the ground and with it the fancy headgear the dudish student was wearing.
"Oh, I—er—I beg your pardon, really I do, don't you know!" stammered William Philander.
"Great Hannibal's tombstone!" spluttered the other student. "What are you trying to do, Tubbs, knock me down?"
"I beg your pardon, Powell, I didn't see you coming," answered the other, as he picked up his hat and commenced to brush it off with care.
"You must be getting blind," growled John Powell, otherwise known as Songbird. ”

“ On and on rushed the touring car at a rate of speed varying from twenty to thirty-five miles an hour.
"I could eat this road up if it was dry," shouted the chauffeur. "The machine is good for fifty miles an hour."
"Well, don't climb a tree, or a stone wall," cautioned Dick, grimly.
Ordinarily the Rover boys might have been anxious because of such wild riding, but now every thought was centered on their father. How he was faring, and would they be able to rescue him?
Twice the touring car made dangerous lurches to one side, once fairly brushing some trees which lined the roadway. ”

“ And then he left directions with the nurse as to what should be done.
"This is terrible, Dick!" murmured Sam, when the brothers were alone, in the room at the hotel. "Poor Tom! I can't bear to see him lay as he does!"
"I feel the same way, Sam," answered Dick. "But I think I ought to go down to New York and help father with his business affairs. He isn't well enough to do anything alone."
"That's true, Dick; and this news about Tom has upset him worse than ever." ”

“ The boys hurried into their clothing, and then, led by Dick, walked noiselessly through the various hallways of the big hotel in the direction where the oldest Rover boy had heard the door shut. But though they passed many doors, Dick could not determine which was the right one.
"Let us set a regular watch," suggested Tom. "We can take turns. One can watch while the others sleep."
"All right, I'll watch first," answered Dick.
"Call me in an hour, Dick," returned Tom.
"And call me an hour after that—if you want me," added Sam.
The hallway was long and but dimly lighted. ”

“ Stanhope's eyes were still full of tears, but she smiled at her newly-made son-in-law.
"It's all right, Dick!" she whispered. "I'm not a bit sorry. But—but a woman can't help crying when she sees her only girl getting married."
"You are not going to lose Dora," he answered, tenderly. "You are going to get a son, that's all."
A long table had been spread, from the dining-room to the sitting-room, with another table in the library, and soon a grand wedding dinner was in progress. Dora sat at her husband's side, and never did a pair feel or look more happy. ”

“ Think of the novelty of it!"
"No, a steamboat or a parlor car will be good enough for me, when I go on a honeymoon trip," answered Dick, and for a very good reason he blushed deeply.
"Hello, William Philander Tubbs!" cried Tom, as a tall, dudish-looking student crossed the college campus. "What's the price of eggs this morning?"
"What is that, Tom?" questioned the stylishly-dressed youth, as he turned in the direction of the others.
"I asked what was the price of eggs?" said Tom, innocently.
"The—er—the price of eggs? How should I know?" stammered William Philander Tubbs, in astonishment. ”

“ Close at hand was Tom, paying his attentions to Nellie, and at the smaller table Sam was doing his best to entertain Grace. Mr. Anderson Rover sat beside Mrs. Stanhope, and not far away were the others of the families.
"Well, they are married at last," said Mr. Rover to Mrs. Stanhope. "I, for one, am well satisfied. I think they will get along well together."
"Yes, Mr. Rover, I think they will get along finely," answered Mrs. Stanhope. "I liked Dick from the first time I met him—and Dora—well, there was nobody else after he came into view," and she smiled faintly. ”

“ 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 Dick. "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." ”

“ Presently the long train rolled into the city and came to a stop at One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street. Then they rolled on and on, through the city, past block after block of apartment houses, stores and offices, and private dwellings.
"Talk about a bee hive!" murmured Tom. "You cant' beat New York City, no matter where you go!"
"Well, Chicago is a close second," answered Dick.
"And St. Louis and Philadelphia, and some other cities," put in Sam. "Ours is a big country and no mistake." ”

“ As he did this there was a sudden tearing Sound, and the blanket-rope parted at the point where it passed over the window sill. Josiah Crabtree uttered a wild yell of terror and clutched vainly at the sill and the clapboards under it. Then he came tumbling to the ground, doubling up in a heap as he did so. Tom expected him to arise and run, but he lay still where he had fallen. ”

“ Then the boys told their story and answered innumerable questions which the girls put to them.
"This will be bad news for mother," said Dora, to Dick. "She is afraid of Josiah Crabtree, and always has been—because of his strange hypnotic power."
"I don't think he will dare to show himself—at least, not for a while, Dora," he answered. "He knows only too well that the jail is waiting to receive him." ”

“ The other lads climbed in, and all those left at the farm waved them an adieu. Then Tom threw in the clutch, and off they sped, down the lane to the main road. Soon a cloud of dust hid them from view.
"It's awful, Randolph!" murmured Mrs. Rover to her husband. "New York is such a busy place—and there are so many wicked people in it!" ”

“ All were rather thoughtful as they got into the carriage once more and drove off.
"Just to think of it!" cried Tom. "Crabtree was around here a night and a day, and nobody knew it!"
"It's too bad we didn't get news of it before," returned Dick. "We might have followed up that 'autymobile,' as the old man called it. But it's too late now. They must be miles and miles away. Crabtree may be in Canada, or on his way to Africa, or China."
"I don't believe he'd go to Africa or China," said Tom. "I think he'll hang around, trying to do us or the Stanhopes or Lanings an injury." ”

“ Did you ever try to write poetry—real poetry, I mean?"
"No, my dear boy, no. I'm afraid I would not be equal to it."
"Then I don't see how you are going to help me," murmured Songbird, and he passed on a few steps, coming to a halt presently to jot down some words on his pad.
"Hello, Songbird!" called out Tom. "How is the Muse to-day, red-hot?" ”

“ They tell me he'll limp for life."
"Limp for life!" cried Dick.
"That is what they say."
"What a terrible affliction!" murmured the oldest Rover boy. "But he has nobody to blame but himself."
"Tom, are you quite comfortable here?" asked Mr. Rover, anxiously.
"Oh, yes, they do all they can for me, Dad," was the answer.
"We must send you home as soon as we can."
"Well, I'll be willing to go," returned Tom. He thought of the quiet farm, and of his Aunt Martha's motherly care, and gave a deep sigh. ”

“ Evidently a storm was in the air.
"We are going to catch it!" was Tom's comment.
"Oh, I don't think it will storm just yet," returned Sam.
"Watch yourself, Sam!" cried Dick, warningly. "If the wind gets too strong bring her down in the first field we come to."
"I will," was the answer.
They were now flying close to the railroad tracks. Presently they saw a glare of light illuminate the rails and a long line of freight cars, drawn by a big locomotive, passed beneath them. ”

“ The earth looks altogether different when viewed from the sky from what it does when looked at from a level, and when an airman is five or six hundred feet up he has all he can do to make out what is below him.
It had begun to cloud up a little and this made it darker than ever. After following the turnpike for nearly two miles, Sam veered slightly to catch the railroad tracks and the gleam of the signal lights.
"I can follow the lights best of all!" he shouted, into Dick's ear. "It's too dark to sec the road." ”

“ And then Tom stopped short.
"What, Tom?"
"I—I hate to say it, but do you think it's possible that dad got—got a little bit out of his head—with that business worrying him?"
"It's possible, Tom. Men have been known to get that way from business troubles, and dad was far from well, we all know that."
"He should have taken somebody to New York with him," put in Sam. "But it's no use talking about that now. The question is, What are we going to do? I can't stay here and study when he is missing."
"Not much—I couldn't study a thing!" cried Tom.
"I know what I am going to do," replied Dick. ”

“ All three boys walked into the dining room of the tavern and took seats at the same table with the master of the schooner. He started, and was about to spring to his feet, when Dick stopped him.
"Sit where you are," said the oldest Rover boy, sternly. "If you attempt to leave I'll call the police."
"What do you—er—mean?" stammered the man, and he looked decidedly uncomfortable.
"I reckon you know who we are, Captain Rodney," said Tom. ”

“ And he held them up.
"One of 'em is new," said Sam, examining the bunch.
"Maybe it was made for the lock of the door to the room father occupied," suggested Tom.
"It's like the old key," returned Dick, comparing the two. "That rascal, whoever he is, must have had the key made for the sole purpose of getting into this room!"
"But for what reason?" questioned Sam.
"To get at dad's private papers," answered his big brother. "Boys, if we catch that man maybe we'll be able to find out what has become of father!" ”

“ Secretly he was quite proud of the students' success with the Dartaway, as it had advertised Brill College not a little.
"Possibly we won't be able to get back until to-morrow," said Tom. "We may be detained, or it may storm——"
"Take your time on the trip. Only be careful that you have no accidents."
"We'll try to be careful," answered Dick, with a grim smile. "We don't want a tumble if we can help it."
"It is a grand sport," answered the head of the college. "Before long I expect to see aeroplanes in constant use." ”