The Rover Boys Down East Part 38

"I-I guess not. But he gave me an awful crack!" And pulling himself up, Tom staggered to a wood-chopping block and sat down.

d.i.c.k waited to hear no more, but made for the gate and ran into an alleyway beyond. This made a turn and came out on a street behind that upon which the house was located. d.i.c.k looked up and down the crooked thoroughfare, but could see no signs of Tad Sobber or the woman.

"Did you see a young man and a woman come out of here?" asked d.i.c.k, of a boy who was playing with a ball.

"Sure I did," answered the lad.

"Where did they go?"

"Took the auto and went that way."

"An auto?"

"Yes."

"Was it waiting here?"

"Sure."

"Somebody in it?"

"A man was running it. He was here yesterday, too."

"Did you see who he took out yesterday?" went on d.i.c.k, growing interested.

"He came twice. Once he had a lady and a gent for pa.s.sengers. They came out of that alleyway, just as you did."

"When was this?"

"Just about supper time."

d.i.c.k ran down the street in the direction the automobile had taken. He could see no signs of the machine, and presently returned to the back yard where he had left Tom. There the pair were joined by Sam.

"We were too late-they got away!" said d.i.c.k, with something like a groan in his voice.

"But not too late for Tad Sobber to leave me his card!" muttered Tom, putting his hand to the cut on his forehead.

"We'll have to have that tended to, Tom," said d.i.c.k, kindly.

"Oh, it isn't so bad. I'll put some court-plaster on it, after I've washed it."

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't locate a policeman anywhere," said Sam.

"Never mind, I guess a policeman would only be in the way," returned his oldest brother. "He'd ask a lot of questions, and let it go at that. I'm going into the house, and see if I can find out anything."

"Maybe Mrs. Stanhope is in there," cried Sam.

"No-they have taken her off in an auto, I am almost sure of it, Sam."

The three Rover boys entered the old house, to find Mr. Mason walking nervously up and down in the parlor.

"Where is Mrs. Sobber?" he asked anxiously.

"I imagine she has run away," answered d.i.c.k. He drew a long breath. "Mr.

Mason, I am going to ask you some questions. If you wish to avoid trouble with the authorities, you will answer me directly and truthfully."

"Yes! Yes! I felt that something was wrong!" cried the old man. "I want no trouble, I am too old and respectable. What is it all about?"

"Briefly, a lady has been abducted and a fortune has been stolen."

"Oh, then the lady they said was-er-insane, was not insane at all."

"Did they tell you she was insane?"

"Yes, that is what Mrs. Sobber and one of the men said. They said they were going to take her to a private asylum."

"The villains!" burst out Tom.

"What asylum?"

"I don't know that. But I overheard them talking about taking a boat to Portland."

"Portland?" repeated d.i.c.k. "Are you sure they were bound for that city?"

"Oh, I am not sure of anything-I am only telling you what I overheard."

"Please tell us all about those men who came here, and about the lady, and about Mrs. Sobber," pursued d.i.c.k.

"Hadn't we better get after the auto?" asked Tom, who believed in action.

"You and Sam can try to hunt it up," answered the elder Rover. "I'll hear all Mr. Mason can tell first. It may give us a direct clue. I'll meet you later at the Parker House."

Sam and Tom went off, and then d.i.c.k listened patiently to the rather rambling tale Oliver Mason had to tell. The old man said that he had known Mrs. Sobber when her husband was alive and had hired her to be his housekeeper after the death of his three sisters and his wife.

"She was all alone in the world excepting for a young man named Tad Sobber, who came to see her once in a while," said Oliver Mason. "I didn't like the young man much, but the two had quite some business together."

The old man then told how Mrs. Sobber had gone away for several days, stating she must look after a lady friend who had become insane. She stated that possibly she would bring the lady to the house for a day or two, but that if she did, Mr. Mason need not be afraid, for a doctor and a nurse would come along. Then the lady had arrived, in company with Tad Sobber and two men. He had not been allowed to talk to the woman, the others saying she might become violent in the presence of strangers. Then the lady had been taken away by the men and Tad Sobber the night before, and Tad Sobber had come back for Mrs. Sobber just about the time the Rovers tried to get into the house.

The story was told with such simpleness that d.i.c.k felt bound to believe it, and consequently he saw no reason for blaming Oliver Mason, who was, in truth, on the verge of second childhood.

"I must look around and see if those scamps left anything behind," said d.i.c.k. "You won't object to that, will you?"

"No! no!" cried the old man. "Only please do not take any of my few belongings."

"I'll not take anything, sir, you can trust me absolutely," answered d.i.c.k, readily.

He made a search of the rooms, and especially the apartments occupied by Mrs. Stanhope and her abductors. At first he found little of value, although he picked up a handkerchief that had Mrs. Stanhope's initials embroidered in the corner.