CHAPTER II
WAR ON MR. HAMILTON
"The rumor is true then," mused Dick, as he hurried out of the chapterhouse, and started toward the telegraph office. "I rather hoped it wouldprove to be _only_ a rumor, but if dad has heard it also, there must besomething in it. Now I wonder if I can get hold of any more news, so Ican wire him? Let's see, what is it he says."
Dick glanced again at the telegram that had been brought to him. It wasfrom his father, Mortimer Hamilton, a multi-millionaire, and was inanswer to a message the youth had sent his parent that day.
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"Have heard rumor you speak of," the father's message read, "see if youcan learn more. Wire me at once. Our trolley interests are threatened.They are trying to get me out of control."
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"If they do that it will be a hard blow for dad," said Dick, as hehurried along.
Of late Mr. Hamilton had put much money in an important trolley line,and had called in several other investments so that he might buy moreof the stock. A large part of his fortune was now involved in theelectric road, and if he lost the controlling interest it might mean hisruin.
Consequently our hero was not a little alarmed. Only that day he hadheard the disquieting rumor. It came from a fellow cadet, Sam Porter,whose father was very wealthy. In the hearing of Dick, Sam hadaccidently mentioned a deal his father was putting through, involvingthe very electric line in which Mr. Hamilton was so vitally interested.But then Sam did not know how much of the stock Mr. Hamilton owned, infact he did not know that Dick's parent was at all interested.
But the young millionaire--for Dick was that in his own right--had takenalarm at once, and had immediately wired his father.
"And now I must see if I can get any further information," mused thelad. "It will hardly be safe to ask Porter directly. I wonder if I couldpump him through Jake Weston, his crony? I'll try it, after I wire dadthat I'm on the job."
While Dick is on his way to send the message I will take the opportunityto explain to you something more about him, and also something about theprevious books in this series. As I told you in the first volume,entitled "Dick Hamilton's Fortune," he was left a large sum by hismother, who had been dead some years. But he must comply with certainconditions of Mrs. Hamilton's will, before he could get control of hismillions.
One stipulation was that he must use his funds to make some sort of apaying investment. If he failed in this he would have to spend some timewith a crabbed old uncle, Mr. Ezra Larabee, who lived in a gloomy placecalled Dankville.
Dick tried several schemes to make money for himself, but, as may beimagined from a lad who had had no experience, one plan after anotherfailed. But, at the last moment a small investment he had made, to helpa poor, but fine-charactered lad, named Henry Darby, start in the junkand iron business, proved wonderfully successful, and Dick fulfilled theconditions of the will. Uncle Ezra was much provoked that he was not toget control of his dead sister's son, and his millions, but he wasrouted, and had to flee from Grit, the prize bulldog Dick owned.
"Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days," was the title of the second volume. Inthat I told how Dick, to further comply with the instructions in hismother's will, went to the Kentfield Military Academy. There he was tomake his way, unaided by any influence of his millions.
He had an up-hill struggle, for there was a prejudice against him. Buthe was delighted with the military life. He took part in the drills, inthe cavalry exercises, he helped to win a victory in a big sham battle,and he fought a duel that had a curious outcome. He was wounded in abroad sword combat, and was the means of saving the life of his enemyDutton, who later became his friend.
Kentfield Academy was located in one of the middle western states, nearLake Wagatook. Colonel James Masterly was superintendent, Major HenryRockford, commandant, and Major Franklin Webster, of the United StatesArmy, was the instructor in military tactics. Captain Hayden was headmaster, Captain Grantly in charge of the science classes, and CaptainNelton of those in mathematics.
Dick, while attending there, was the means of solving the mystery of theidentity of "Toots," the whistling janitor, and when the society houseof the Sacred Pig burned down, and it was found that the insurance hadexpired, Dick rebuilt the meeting place in much handsomer style thanformerly, thereby gaining the everlasting admiration of the cadets.
Dick and his chums had many social pleasures, and if you care to knowhow well they could dance, Miss Nellie Fordice, Mabel Hanford, NettieFrench or Mildred Adams could tell you.
Dick spent his first summer's vacation at Hamilton Corners, a town namedafter his father, who was the principal citizen there, as well as ownerof many local enterprises, including a bank. In the fall Dick returnedto the academy, and was promoted to a captaincy.
In the third volume of the series, entitled "Dick Hamilton's SteamYacht," I told of a long trip our hero took in a steam yacht which hepurchased from his ample fortune. With a party of friends he went toCuba.
Uncle Ezra Larabee thought that Dick did very wrong to spend so muchmoney, so the crabbed old man conceived a plan of kidnapping the youth,and taking him in charge, to "teach him frugal ways," as he said.
Mr. Larabee hired a small steamer, and set off after his nephew. He didkidnap a youth--or, rather the men he hired did--but it was not Dick,and that made all the confusion. However, Dick had trouble enough, forhis yacht was stolen, and he was left marooned with his friends on alonely island. How they built a raft, set out to sea, how they wererescued, and the pursuit after Dick's yacht, aboard which was his meanuncle--all this you will find set down in the book.
After his trip Dick came back up north. All too soon the academy opened,and our hero had to dock his fine vessel, don his uniform, and get backto his studies. But he did not mind, once he was among his classmatesagain, and he had been "buckling down to hard work" as he expressed it,for a few weeks, when the events narrated in the first chapter tookplace.
Dick's interest was divided between anxiety over the plight that mightbefall his father, and the "slump" that hung over the football eleven.
"I hope my football scheme works," he said. "But I can't think aboutthat now. I must help out dad. It's too bad, after all the work he putin on getting that trolley line in shape, to be threatened with the lossof it. I must do all I can to stop it. I'll just wire him that I'll beon the lookout, and then I'll see what I can pick up from Porter orWeston."
Dick knew where to find the two cadets in question. They were first-yearstudents, and were not members of the Sacred Pig, though they would havegiven much to join. Dick was not especially friendly with them, but henow resolved to cultivate their acquaintance, at least long enough tosee if he could get on the track of the men who were seeking to wrestthe control of the trolley line from Mr. Hamilton.
After sending his second message, Dick strolled toward a "fashionable"pool club in town, where many of the more "sporty" cadets spent much oftheir time, when not at study.
"Hello, Hamilton!" greeted Porter. "Have a cue. I'm tired of playingWeston. He's too easy."
Dick was a good pool and billiard player, and had two fine tables athome. But somehow he did not play well on this occasion. Porter easilybeat him.
"I'll try again," said the young millionaire, and when the second gamewas well under way he gradually led the talk around to business matters.
"My dad is great on business, and deals," chuckled Porter as he made agood shot, and finished up with a run of six. "He's got a deal on nowthat will put a few crimps in a couple of people that think themselvessome pumpkins."
"Yes?" queried Dick, as he missed what seemed to be an easy shot.
"Sure. That trolley deal I mentioned. But I forgot, I'm not supposed totalk about it. Only there's some gazabo of a millionaire, down east orsomewhere, that will get the gaff all right. Say, I hear your dad ispretty well up in business, Ham?"
"Yes, he has a number of interests," spoke Dick, as
he chalked his cuefor a billiard game. He was hoping it would not develope that he was theson of the "gazabo" in question.
"Well, my dad is the limit," went on Porter. "When this trolley dealgoes through, as it will, he'll be several millions better off. It's warto the knife, so he told me. I don't know who he's fighting, but it'ssome one."
Dick knew, but he kept still.
"It sure is war," he reflected as he made ready to shoot. "I must learnall I can about the plans of Porter's father, and the men who are inwith him. Then I can help dad. And then--there's the football trouble.Well, Dick Hamilton," and he paused for a serious moment before making anice shot that required plenty of "English" on it, "you sure have yourhands full."