Mr. Powell's coming inspired Dick with immediate confidence. He was a clean-cut man, with a shrewd manner but a look of absolute honesty.
"My nephew has often spoken of you," he said, shaking hands with Dick. "I shall be pleased to do what I can for you."
"It's a complicated case," answered Dick. "My father can tell you about it first, and then I'll tell you what I know, and show you all our papers."
A talk lasting over an hour followed. The lawyer asked many questions, and studied the various documents with interest.
"From what I can make out, Mr. Rover, that concern—Pelter, Japson & Company—are a set of swindlers," said he, at last. "If I were you I'd close down on them at once, and with the heaviest possible hand. To give them any leeway at all might be fatal to your interests."
"Do as you think best,—with Dick's advice," returned Mr. Rover. "I am going to leave my business affairs in his hands after this," he added.
"Then we'll go ahead at once!" cried the lawyer. "I will draw up the necessary papers and you can sign them. We'll get after that whole bunch hot-footed!"
"And don't spare them," added Dick, thinking of poor Tom. "They deserve all that is coming to them."
"And they'll get it," said the lawyer, briefly.