“Why, yes, of course,” replied the woman, smiling at the youth’s flushed, excited face.
She pointed to the instrument in the hall.
“Give me Horace Dunstan’s place, on the west shore, like lightning, will you, Central?” begged Tom, as soon as he had rung.
He got the Dunstan place. The butler answered that Mr. Dunstan was not at home, but at the Stillman House in Nantucket, with Mr. Crane.
“Oh, it’s you, is it, Captain Tom?” continued the butler. “You and Dawson being away, the master imagined that you might be on the track of the young gentleman. So, this afternoon, right after luncheon, Mr. Dunstan and Mr. Crane went over to the Stillman House to wait for any news that might come.”
“I’ve found Master Ted, and we’re trying to rush him to the court house in time. I’ll call up Mr. Dunstan, thank you.”
With that he rung off, asking for the Stillman House. Nor did it need more than a few seconds to get that anxious father to the telephone. He had been waiting for such a call, hoping against hope.
In the fewest words possible Halstead told his employer the bare news of finding the Dunstan heir, adding that they were now on the way to the court house with him.
“Be over there, you and Mr. Crane,” urged Halstead, feverishly. “We will do our best to reach you in time. Now—we’ve got to hustle—good by, sir!”
Again ringing off, then uttering a breathless “Thank you,” and leaving a quarter of a dollar to pay tolls, Tom dashed out of the house.