“Is Sobber after that fortune again?” questioned the young commercial traveler.
“We are afraid he already has it in his possession,” answered Dick. “Now that you have been kind enough to tell your story, Dan, we’ll tell ours.” And he related the particulars of what had brought them away from the camp at the lake.
“I guess they are both after that fortune,” said Dan, after listening to the recital. “It seems to me it all fits in. Sobber wanted to get hold of that cash. He couldn’t do it by force, so he had to use cunning. He is not an overly-brilliant fellow, I take it, so he had to get somebody to aid him. In some manner he fell in with Josiah Crabtree. He knew that Crabtree was as smart as he was unprincipled. The two fixed up the plot to get the fortune—and got it.”
“I hope they haven’t got Mrs. Stanhope, too,” murmured Dick.
“I think Crabtree would rather have the money than have the lady,” said Dan.
“Well, we’ll know all about the case tomorrow,” said Sam. “I am dead tired now and am going to bed,” he added, looking at his watch.
“What time is it?”
“Quarter to twelve.”
“Gracious, Dan, I didn’t think we were keeping you up so late!” cried the eldest Rover boy.
“Oh, that’s all right, Dick. I’m glad you came—it saved me the trouble of sending that letter.”