"I won't get into any more trouble than I can help," he replied. "But we are bound to find Tom and bring him back."
It was dark when the boys got back to Brill, and while Songbird prepared to go to supper, Sam hurried to the office of the head of the institution. He found Doctor Wallington pouring over some teacher's reports. He listened with a troubled face to what Sam had to tell and shook his head slowly.
"Too bad, Rover, and I sympathize with you and your family from the bottom of my heart. Clearly that blow on the head has put your brother completely out of his mind. I am glad that Richard is coming to Ashton to aid you. What you had better do next is a problem."
"I think we'll send word West about Tom and then try to follow him," answered Sam. "That is why I came here—to notify you that I'd have to leave."
"I shall be sorry to lose you, Samuel. Let us hope that you'll be able to come back in a few days—and that Thomas's case will not prove as bad as we think. I agree that it is best for you to move at once, for there is no telling what your missing brother may do. Can I aid in any way?"
"You may cash a check for me—I may need some ready money,—if Dick doesn't happen to have enough with him."
"I'll do that with pleasure. Anything else?"
"I want to go to Ashton late this evening, to meet Dick. I'll take a suitcase with me."
"One of the men can drive you down. Will your brother come here?"
"Possibly. But both of us may stay in Ashton, to take the one o'clock train for Chicago. It stops on signal, you know."