“Gracious!” cried Jack, “we must hurry to the house at once.”
“An’--an’ dat ain’ de wustest,” stammered out Jupe.
“De do’ ob de safe done be open an’ it look lak’ some papers bin done taken out!”
But, for the time being, the condition of the safe did not occupy any place in Jack’s thoughts. His sole care was for his father. Hastening to the house at top speed, he found that Professor Chadwick had been placed in bed and a physician summoned.
The doctor was coming out of the room just as Jack, with a pale, agitated face, came flying in.
“Oh! Dr. Goodenough,” he exclaimed, “how is dad? What has happened?”
“Be calm, my lad,” said the doctor kindly, placing a hand on the excited boy’s shoulder. “Your father has suffered nothing worse than an attack of vertigo brought on by overwork and study. A few weeks’ quiet will make him perfectly well again, and then I shall forbid him overexerting himself.”
“Not just now. He is still only partly conscious. From what I can gather, the servant who answered the bell found him lying on the floor of the library unconscious. He was carried to his room, and I was sent for at once.”
“When can I see him?” demanded Jack anxiously, and Tom, who had now arrived, repeated the question.
“Probably this evening, when I shall pay another visit.”
“He is only suffering from vertigo, doctor?” asked Jack, with curious insistence, “not from any--any injuries?”
“He had not been in any struggle, then? That’s what I mean.”
“Of course not. What an odd question!” The doctor looked at Jack quizzically. “I shall have you under my care next,” he said jokingly.
“Go on, my lad. I can see there is something on your mind. What is it?”
“Just this, doctor. Old Jupe, our colored man, told me that the door of the library safe, in which some valuable papers were deposited, was open when my father was found.”
“I knew nothing of this,” he said. “Were there any signs that a violent entry had been effected?”
“That I don’t know, doctor. Naturally I came here first to find out my father’s condition.”
“It need give you no worry, my boy. I can assure you of that. Let us go to the library at once. What you have just told me may place a very different light on the matter.” And the doctor’s face grew serious.