CHAPTER XXVIII
AT THE OLD MANSION
After that the chauffeur became more communicative, and in a few wordstold how he had been engaged by Koswell and Larkspur to do a certain jobthat they said might take the best part of the afternoon and night. Theyhad told him that a certain college professor at Brill had a waywardstepdaughter and that the daughter and her school chum had grosslyinsulted a lady teacher and were in danger of being arrested. The oldprofessor wanted to get the two girls away and place them under the careof an old lady, a distant relative, who would know how to manage them.He had been promised fifty dollars if he would do the work and saynothing about it to anybody, he being informed that the old professorwanted to avoid all publicity and also wished to shield hisstepdaughter.
"They told me first there were three girls," went on the man. "And sothere were, but one got away somehow, so then we took only the two."
"But you heard what the girls said, didn't you?" asked Dick, sharply.
"I was paying attention to running my car," mumbled the chauffeur.
"How about when I and my brother came after you on horseback? Why didn'tyou stop and find out what we wanted?"
"The young fellow, Sobber, said you were from the school where the youngladies attended and that maybe you wanted to arrest them. They made mego on."
"That sounds pretty fishy to me," returned Dick. "Still, I won't condemnyou until this whole thing is cleared up. Just now we've got to findthose young ladies."
"Going to leave me tied up?" cried the chauffeur.
"Yes, until we get back."
"That aint fair nohow!"
"Well, fair or not, that's the way it is going to be," put in Tom. "Myown opinion is, you are almost as guilty as anybody. You didn't planthis thing, but you were perfectly willing to do your share in carryingit out."
The chauffeur begged and pleaded, but the three boys would not listen tohim. All were eager to go on, to ascertain what had become of Dora andNellie. They felt that the girls must be suffering intensely even thoughMrs. Sobber was with them.
"No use of taking the lantern, we can easily find the way," said Dick."I'd rather have the stick handy, and my pistol."
Leaving the chauffeur grumbling roundly, the three Rover boys hurriedalong the woodland trail. It made half a dozen turns, the last around aspring of pure cold water, which the tired-out lads could not resist.Each got a good drink and felt much refreshed. All were too excited tonotice their hunger, even though they had not tasted a mouthful of foodsince the noon lunch.
"I see the house!" whispered Sam, presently, and pointed ahead, and hisbrothers nodded.
Set in a cleared space was an old stone mansion, two stories high, andwith several wings. The porch was badly rotted, the chimney top gone,and the whole structure showed signs of decay. Around the place was whathad once been a well-kept flower garden, now overrun with a tangle ofdead flowers stalks and untrimmed rose bushes. Evidently no one had doneany work around the place for several years.
"Just the kind of a place those chaps would pick out," whispered Dick tohis brothers. "They never suspected anybody would trace 'em. I supposethey found out the old mansion was not being used, and they either hiredit or took possession without asking."
"I begin to think this was all a well-laid plot," said Sam.
"Sure thing," muttered Tom. "The only trip-up they made was when theydidn't catch Grace as well as Nellie and Dora."
"And when old Crabtree dropped that visiting card," added Dick.
The boys saw that lights were burning in one of the lower rooms of theold mansion and in two of the upper rooms.
"I guess they are all there," said Dick.
"Can't we get closer and make sure?" pleaded Tom.
"We don't want them to see us, Tom."
"Why not?"
"Because it might spoil everything. Remember they are four or fivestrong, not counting the woman, and she would probably fight as hard asanybody, if cornered."
"Five?" queried Sam.
"Yes, counting that fellow the girls took for a doctor."
"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten him. The machine certainly had a load coming tothe place."
"If the girls are there--and safe for the time being--I know what I'dlike to do," went on the big brother, after a pause.
"What?"
"Go to the nearest town and notify the authorities, and make that wholecrowd prisoners."
"That would be fine!" cried Tom. "But can we do it? They might try toslip away."
"That is true, although I doubt it. I think their plan is, now they arehere, to lay low. They'll think they are perfectly safe here. Mostlikely they'll send some kind of a letter to dad, and to Mrs Stanhopeand Mrs. Laning, asking for money, and then they'll wait for answers.They'll want us to pay a big sum for the release of Dora and Nellie."
"If only we could capture them ourselves!" murmured Tom, his eyesglistening. "Don't you think we can do it, with the sticks and pistols?"
"We might, Tom,--but it would be a big risk. Those fellows aredesperate, Sobber especially, and they must be armed, too. There is nouse of our getting shot if it can be avoided."
With extreme caution the three boys walked around the old mansion. Inone of the upper rooms, the curtains of which had been drawn, they couldmake out several forms moving about.
"There, I think that was Nellie!" cried Tom, as a shadow appeared on thecurtain.
"And there is that woman!" added Sam, as another form appeared andvanished.
"I'd like to know if Dora is there," murmured Dick.
They waited for a minute and saw several shadows pass and repass thecurtain. They were sure Nellie was there but were not so certain abouther cousin. The woman was Mrs. Sobber beyond a doubt.
"If they leave the girls in that room and alone--with that windowunlocked----" began Dick.
"The woman may stay with them," interrupted Tom.
"Get back--somebody is coming!" whispered Sam, and dragged his brothersdown, behind some rose bushes.
Two persons were coming out of the old mansion. One carried a lanternand what looked to be some bed slats and the other a ladder. They wereTad Sobber and Jerry Koswell.
"Do you think the ladder is long enough?" they heard Koswell ask.
"I guess so--I'll soon see," answered Tad Sobber.
The pair walked around to the side of the house and the ladder wasplaced in position under the window of the room the boys had beenwatching. Then Sobber went up with the slats, and some nails and ahammer, and commenced to nail the slats across the window.
"He's going to make a regular prison cell of the room!" whispered Tom."Oh, if only I dared to run in and yank that ladder from under him!" headded, with grim humor.
"Hush, or they'll hear you," warned Dick. "I am glad to see this," hewent on, in a low whisper. "It shows that they think they haven't beenfollowed and are safe. Now to get to the nearest town, notify theauthorities, and bag the bunch of them!"
"If we could only get some word to the girls," murmured Tom.
"Yes, Tom, that would be very nice. But we can't afford to take thechance. If some of those rascals get away, sooner or later they'll makemore trouble for us."
"I know that."
"I think one of us might remain here on guard, while the others go totown for help."
"How are you going to get to town?"
"I've got a plan for that," and Dick smiled faintly. "I'll make ourfriend, the chauffeur, do us a good turn."
"What, will you go in that touring car?" cried Sam.
"Why not? It's a big, roomy car, and can carry a lot of officers of thelaw. And we know it can make speed."
"All right, Dick, go ahead. I guess you know the right thing to do."
After a few words, it was decided that Tom should remain on guard whileDick and Sam went for assistance. Dick cautioned Tom not to showhimself.
"If you do, you may spoil everything," said he.
"All right, I'll lay low," answered Tom, "that is, unless I
find outthat the girls actually need me," he added. "I won't stand it if thatold woman, or Crabtree, illtreats them."
"No, if they try that, sail in and do what you can to save them," saidDick.