"Nothing doing here," said Tom. "They don't even seem to know what town he is going to stop at first."
"I think we had better call up Mr. Bronson, and tell him about this and put him on the trail of the Pelters," answered Dick.
The detective was as astonished as the boys had been when he saw the hole in the back of the safe.
"This is certainly one on me," he confessed, frankly. "I looked that safe over very carefully, too. I should have discovered that;" and his face showed his chagrin.
Then he was told about the Pelters and about Japson, and he agreed with the Rovers that he had best try to locate Barton Pelter and his uncle without delay.
"I'll put a man on the trail of the young fellow who went West," he said, "and as soon as he sends me any word regarding Jesse Pelter I'll go after that fellow, and I'll also let you know what I'm doing;" and so it was arranged.
CHAPTER XXVIII
JOSIAH CRABTREE ONCE MORE
When the boys arrived at the hotel that evening the girls had much to tell them. Nellie had received a letter from Miss Harrow, in which the teacher had frankly begged her pardon for having suspected the girl of taking the diamond ring.
"It is a lovely letter," said Nellie. "I never thought that she could humble herself in that fashion."