“Can you tell me where?” Tom pursued. “It’s rather important,” he added, seeing the clerk hesitate.
“Why, yes, he left word where he could be found,” the clerk said. “He stated that he was expecting rather an important telegram, and I am to send it to him. You’re not by any chance the telegram, are you?”
“No,” answered Tom, smiling, “but I have something important to communicate to Mr. Doolittle.” That statement was certainly true.
“You’ll find him at Lawyer Royse’s office,” the clerk said. “It’s two blocks up the street, on the other side. Mr. Doolittle went there with Captain Hawkesbury a little while ago.”
“Yes, I know,” said Tom, quickly. “Thank you. I’ll call on him there at once. Come on, Sam,” he added.
“What’s the game?” his chum asked him in a low voice, as they left the hotel.
“This,” replied Tom, rapidly. “They have evidently gone to a lawyer’s office to fix up some game. Matters must have developed and be going against them. They’re afraid!”
“But what can you do at the lawyer’s office?”
“I don’t know—I’m not sure. But I know this Mr. Royse by reputation. He stands very high in his profession. I feel sure if Doolittle and the captain asked him to do something that was not right, even though it was strictly legal, he would refuse.”
“You mean he wouldn’t take their case and try to keep that money away from your mother?”