"Uncle Randolph, do you know this Mr. Jardell personally?" asked Dick.
"Why—er—not exactly. But his letters——"
"How did he look?"
As well as he was able Mr. Rover described the man and also his companion. The boys exchanged glances.
"Merrick and Pike," muttered Tom.
"What is that you say, Thomas?"
"We think those men were swindlers," said Sam.
"Swindlers! Oh, my dear Samuel, impossible!" cried Randolph Rover aghast. "Why, they were very nice gentlemen, very nice. They asked me how my scientific farming was getting along, and both had read my article in the Review on the grafting of grape vines, and——"
"But we know these chaps," said Dick, "and they are called Merrick and Pike."
"And they talked about getting the best of you," added Tom. "That is why we followed you to Carwell. Where are the men now?"