“Yes; I guess they are important,” thought Tom.
With no very good grace Mr. Cutler left the office to go to the court house. He had not been gone more than an hour before a special messenger left a bulky package for him.
“These must be the deeds and mortgages, secured from Dr. Spidderkins by that rascally Sandow,” thought Tom, as he left the switchboard for a moment, to take them to Mr. Boise.
“You had better remain here, Tom,” said the senior lawyer. “I may want you to go to see Dr. Spidderkins. Tell Roscoe to take the switchboard for a while.”
Roscoe was the young clerk who relieved Tom at noon.
“Yes, these are the papers,” went on Mr. Boise, when Tom had returned to his office. “Ah, to what depths of depravity Cutler has sunk! He would commit a serious crime in order to enrich himself.”
“Is it too late to save the property for Dr. Spidderkins?” asked Tom.
“No; fortunately you spoke in time. Had it not been for you the doctor would have lost nearly all he possessed. His sister-in-law seems to be in the game also. Her name is on some of the documents. Now I want you to hurry to the doctor’s house. You must see him at once, and get those papers which I sent to him by you, some time ago. I will need them in arranging this matter. Do not let Mrs. Sandow know what you come for.”
“All right,” said Tom as he started off. “Here is where I get ahead of Sandow, and get even with him for calling me a gutter-pup,” he added to himself.
Mrs. Sandow answered the door bell, as usual, when Tom rang. Probably the old doctor, if he ever heard it, forgot all about it as soon as the echoes of the peals died away.