"Then I'm going with you, and see you start back to town," asserted
Bert Dodge.
Hemingway did not interfere, but, leaving his brother policeman at the river's edge, accompanied young Dodge. In a few minutes they arrived at the spot in the lane where Dick had tied the horse. Here they found Dave Darrin seated in the buggy. Dave glanced unconcernedly at them all, nodding to Hemingway way, who returned the salutation.
"Now, I'll watch you start away from here," snapped Bert.
"All right, then," smiled Dick, climbing in, after unhitching, and picking up the reins. "I won't keep you long."
With that, and a parting word to the policeman, Dick Prescott drove away.
"I saw Hemingway coming, and knew you wouldn't need me," Dave explained with a laugh. "So, to save Bert a double attack of nerves, I slipped off in the darkness, and came here. But what on earth ails Dodge, anyway?"
"Why, for one thing, he's worried to death about the disappearance of his father," replied Dick Prescott.
"I've seen people awfully worried before, and yet it didn't make madmen of them," snorted Darrin.
"Well—-perhaps——-"
Dick hesitated.