“I know that. Father sent to New York for a couple of first-class detectives. Perhaps they’ll be able to get on the trail quicker than any of us realize.” But though Dick spoke thus it was more to allay Dora’s anxiety than through any faith in what the sleuths of the law might be able to accomplish.
The matter was talked over a little longer, and then Dora dressed and packed her suit-case and announced herself ready to go to the Laning farm, located some distance away. Dick drove her over. They found the whole household in excitement over what had occurred.
“I declare, that fortune has brought nothing but trouble from the start,” said Mrs. Laning, with a deep sigh. “Sometimes I wish we had never heard of it!”
“I shouldn’t care so much for the fortune, if only I knew mamma was safe!” answered Dora.
“I am going down to Cedarville and see if I can’t get on the trail of the party who took your mother across the lake,” said Dick.
“And I’ll go along,” came from Tom.
“So will I,” added Sam.
“I am going to Ithaca, to look into that lumber office business,” said Mr. Rover. “I want to get a good description of the fellow who got that valise with the fortune.” In his excitement he did not think of his injured knee.
All drove to Cedarville, and there Mr. Rover took the boat down Lake Cayuga. The boys walked along the docks, looking for a man named Belcher, who rented out small boats. They found the fellow at a boathouse, putting a new seat in a rowboat.
“Do you know anything of this affair?” asked Dick, after he had learned how the news of Mrs. Stanhope’s disappearance, and the disappearance of the fortune, had spread.