"First thing in the morning. There's a good road, and we can make the sixteen miles in the auto in no time."
"All right," said Sam, and told Peter Marley of what had been said. The farmer agreed to remain around his house until they arrived and then do all in his power to help locate the _Dartaway_.
"Dick, do you think you'll be able to take that trip?" questioned Randolph Rover. "Hadn't you better remain behind? I can go with Tom and Sam if necessary."
"Oh, I'll be all right in the morning," was the reply.
"But you've got to let me and Sam run the machine," put in Tom. "No use of your doing that."
"All right," answered the eldest Rover boy.
That night, when the others had gone to bed, the three Rover boys gathered in Dick's room to discuss further the news regarding Josiah Crabtree and Tad Sobber.
"Do you suppose it is possible that Sobber thinks to come here and blow the house up?" queried Tom.
"He might be equal to it," answered Dick, soberly. "We'll have to keep our eyes peeled, and, when we go back to Brill, we'll have to warn dad and Uncle Randolph."
"Do you know, dad looked worried when he went away," put in Sam.
"I noticed it, Sam. Did he say anything to you about business?"
"Not a word. Why, do you think it's that?"
"There is some trouble out west--has been ever since there was a strike at that Golden Horseshoe mine in which dad invested so heavily last summer. They had a strike, and now one crowd is trying to get the control from another crowd. I don't know the particulars, but I guess dad is worried."
"Dick, don't you think you ought to help him in these affairs?" came suddenly from Sam. "Uncle Randolph is too absorbed in his books and in scientific farming to pay any attention, and--well, dad isn't as young as he used to be--and we are growing older."
"I've been thinking of that, Sam. I wish I was through college, I'd jump right into the game and try to take the load from his shoulders."
"No, I talked it over with dad last week and I'm going to take the shorter course. He said you two could take the long course if you wanted to."
"Not much! The short course for yours truly!" cried Tom.
"I want to settle down and get into business," went on Tom.
"He thinks Nellie won't wait much longer," remarked Sam, with a wink at Dick.