“May I ask who rented it?” asked Dick.
“A lawyer, sah—a Mr. Fogg. He’s got a queer first name.”
“Belright?”
“That’s it, sah; Belright Fogg.”
“Just as I thought,” murmured Dick “They didn’t go out, did they?”
“I don’t think they did. I didn’t see ’em, and I don’t think they would go downstairs without using the elevator, although they could use the stairs.”
“Which apartment is it?”
“On the fourth floor—the apartment in front, on the right,” answered the elevator man.
“I’ll go up,” said Dick. He motioned Baxter to one side. “Dan, will you go out and get a policeman or two, just as quickly as you can?” he whispered.
“I will,” returned the young traveling salesman, and hurried out on the street again.
Dick stepped into the elevator and in a few seconds was deposited on the fourth floor of the apartment house. He walked to the front and to the right, and stopped in front of one of the doors. From the room beyond came a murmur of voices. He listened intently. The voices were those of Pelter, Japson and Fogg.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE CAPTURE
With bated breath Dick knelt at the door and applied his ear to the keyhole. At first he could hear only indistinctly, but gradually he caught the drift of the conversation between the rascally brokers and the former railroad lawyer.
“Then you want me to date those papers a week back?” he heard Belright Fogg ask.
“That’s it,” answered Pelter.
“And remember, we signed them just before we went to the West,” added Japson.
“And remember also that you saw us take a train at the Grand Central Depot,” went on Pelter.
“Oh, I’ll remember that,” returned the lawyer, with a sly chuckle. “And I’ll remember also that I got two telegrams from you—one from Chicago and one from Detroit.” And he laughed again.
“That alibi ought to fix us up,” remarked Japson. “Anyway, it will set the authorities to guessing.”
“It will help, provided that fellow, Crabtree, doesn’t squeal,” said Pelter. “He gave his word, when we were in the garret, that he would keep mum, no matter what happened. But if he was badly hurt he may have told everything.”
“Fogg, you must try to see him in the hospital,” said Japson. “Tell him it will do no good for him to tell anything, and that, if he keeps mum, we will remain his friends and do all we possibly can for him.”
“You are piling a lot of work on my shoulders,” grumbled the lawyer. “And shady work, too. What do I get out of this?”
“You know what I promised you,” answered Jesse Pelter.
“A thousand isn’t enough. Just look at the risk I am running.”
“Well, if you help us to clear ourselves, we’ll make it two thousand dollars,” cried Japson. He paused a moment. “Quite a swell apartment, Fogg.”
“It’s good enough.”
“Why can’t we stay here for a day or two?” questioned Japson.
“I—er—suppose you could,” answered the lawyer, with some hesitation. “But don’t you think you would be better off out of the State, or in Canada?”
“That’s what I say!” cried Pelter. “Canada for mine. I’ve been wanting to visit Montreal and Quebec. Now is our chance.”
“All right, whatever you say,” answered Japson. “Maybe we would be safer out of the country until this matter blew over. Hang the luck! It was too bad to have Rover get away from us as he did. If we could have held him back a couple of days longer that land and maybe those stocks would have been ours.”
“He’s got some smart sons, that man,” observed Fog. “I know, for I once ran up against them,” and he told about the biplane incident.
“They are altogether too smart,” growled Pelter. “I’d like to wring their necks for ’em!”
“Well, we’ll turn the trick on ’em yet,” said Japson. “Remember, the game isn’t ended until the last card is played.”
“That’s right,” thought Dick. “And it won’t be long before I play the last card!”
“After this affair is a thing of the past, I am going after those business interests of the Rovers,” went on Jesse Pelter. “They are pretty well tangled up—they got so while Rover was sick. I think we can make something out of them yet.”
“Not if I know it,” murmured Dick, to himself. “You are a first-class fellow to put in jail—you and the others, too!”
The talk in the apartment went on, covering the things Belright Fogg was to do while Pelter and Japson were in hiding in Canada. The unscrupulous lawyer was to produce a power of attorney dated some days before, so that he might act in place of the brokers. He was also to do his best to help the brokers prove an alibi when accused of the abduction of Anderson Rover.
“I’m getting dry,” remarked Japson, presently. “Fogg, haven’t you got something to drink, and some cigars?”
“Sure I have,” answered the lawyer, and Dick heard him leave the apartment and go into a dining-room.
While Dick was listening at the door he also kept his ears open for the return of Dan Baxter. Presently he heard the elevator come upstairs, and then there sounded a low whistle—a whistle Dick had heard many times while he was a cadet at Putnam Hall.
Eagerly the oldest Rover boy tiptoed his way down the corridor. Baxter came forward to meet him, accompanied by two policemen, and the elevator man, who wanted to know what the trouble was.
“The two brokers are in that room,” whispered Dick, pointing to the door of the apartment. “They are planning to skip out to Canada and leave their affairs in the hands of the lawyer who has rented this apartment. He is almost as much of a rascal as any of them, for he is to take their power of attorney dated some days back, and is going to try to prove an alibi for them. I heard ’em arrange the whole thing.”
“The rascals!” murmured Baxter. “Glad you cornered ’em, Dick.”
“You helped, Dan—I shan’t forget that,” returned Dick, warmly.
“What do you want us to do?” asked one of the policemen.
“I want all three men arrested,” answered Dick. “I’ll make a charge against them. Don’t let ’em get away. They’ll do it if it’s possible.”
“All right, but you must come along to make the charge,” answered the bluecoat.
“All right.”
“Please don’t make no more row in the house than you can help,” put in the elevator man. “This is a swell apartment and we don’t like rows. I didn’t know that lawyer who took this apartment was a crook.”
“We’ll do the job as quietly as possible,” answered the second policeman, who chanced to know the elevator man.
“Dan, I think you can help me out,” suggested Dick. “You might go to the door and call out that there is a telegram for Belright Fogg. Then, when he opens the door, push into the room and we’ll follow.”
“Want me to help?” asked the elevator man, who was becoming interested.
“If you will,” said Dick. “You can guard the stairs—so they can’t run down that way.”
“I’ll do it.”
Without further delay Dan Baxter walked to the door at which Dick had been listening. He chanced to have an old telegram envelope in his pocket and this he produced. He knocked loudly on the portal.
“Who is there?” cried the lawyer, in a somewhat startled voice, and Baxter heard several chairs shifted back as the occupants of the apartment leaped to their feet.
“Telegram for Mr. Fogg—Belright Fogg!” drawled Dan, in imitation of an A. D. T. youth.
“A telegram, eh?” muttered the lawyer. “Wonder what is up now?”
He came to the door and unlocked it cautiously. He was going to open it only a few inches, to peer out, but B
axter threw his weight against the portal, sending the lawyer backwards and bumping into Jesse Pelter.
“Hi, what’s this?” stammered Belright Fogg. “What do you mean by—”
He got no further, for at that instant Dick came into the apartment, closely followed by the two policemen.
At once there was a wild commotion. Pelter and Japson let out yells of alarm, and both tried to back away, into the next room. But Dick was too quick for them and barred their progress.
“Let me go!” yelled Pelter, and tried to hurl Dick to one side. Then Japson struck out with his fist, but the oldest Rover boy dodged.
“So that’s your game, is it?” cried Dan Baxter, as he saw the attack. “Two can play at that!” And drawing back, the young traveling salesman hit Japson a blow on the chin that bowled the broker over like a tenpin.
In the meantime Dick had grappled with Pelter and was holding the rascally broker against the wall. One of the policemen already held Fogg, who was trembling from head to foot in sudden panic.
“Surrender, in the name of the law!” said the bluecoat. And he made a move as if to draw a pistol.
“I—I sur—render!” gasped Belright Fogg, and up went his hands, tremblingly.
The other policeman produced a pair of handcuffs and in a twinkling they were slipped upon Japson’s wrist. Then the bluecoats turned towards Pelter.
“You shan’t arrest me!” yelled that broker, savagely, and with a wrench, he tore himself from Dick’s grasp and started through the rooms to the rear of the apartment.
CHAPTER XXIX
BROUGHT TO TERMS
“Stop him!”
“He must not get away’”
Such were some of the cries that echoed through the apartment as Jesse Pelter ran for the rear room.
He knew there was a fire escape there and thought he might reach the ground from that.
But Dick was at his heels, determined that the broker should not escape if he could possibly prevent it.
The window to the fire escape was open, for a maid in the kitchen had just set out some cooked dish to cool.
Pelter made a leap for the window, nearly scaring the maid into a fit. She screamed loudly, and as she did so Dick made a wild leap and caught Pelter by the foot.
“Let go, Rover!” yelled the broker, hoarsely.
“I won’t! You are not going to get away, Pelter.”
There was a struggle, and the broker aimed a blow at Dick’s head. Then the oldest Rover boy suddenly caught the rascal by the neck and banged his head vigorously against the window casing.
“Ouch! Don’t!” groaned the broker. “Oh, my skull is broken!”
“Then keep still,” answered Dick, grimly, and he continued to hold the man. Soon one of the policemen came up, and then, much against his will, the head of the firm of Pelter, Japson & Company was handcuffed like his partner in crime.
“You’ll suffer for this, Rover; see if you don’t!” growled Jesse Pelter, after the excitement was over. “I have done nothing wrong, and I can prove it. This is all a plot on the part of you and your family to get our firm into trouble.”
“You can do your talking when you are in jail,” answered Dick, briefly. “I know what I am doing.”
“Maybe you got Crabtree to hatch up a story against us,” came from Japson.
“Never mind what Crabtree confessed,” said Dick. “You’ll get what is coming to you, never fear.”
“I guess I had better send in a call for the patrol wagon,” said one of the policemen. “Can you watch ’em, Jake?”
“Sure,” answered the second bluecoat. “I guess the young fellows will help.”
“I will,” said Dick.
“So will I,” put in Dan. He turned to Dick. “I’m mighty glad to be of service to you. It kind of helps to—to—pay off old scores, eh?” he faltered.
“Yes, Dan; you are doing us a great service, and I shan’t forget it,” returned Dick, with warmth.
A number of tenants in the apartment house had been alarmed by what was going on, and among them were the girl Baxter was engaged to marry, and her mother. Dan quickly explained matters to them, and introduced Dick, and the latter told of the service Baxter had done. Then the police patrol wagon came along, and the prisoners and the others went below.
“Maybe I had better go to headquarters with you,” suggested Dan to Dick.
“Yes, you’ll have to go,” put in one of the policemen.
The ride was not a long one, and as soon as the prisoners were brought in, Dick explained the situation and asked that the authorities in Brooklyn communicate with those in New York. This was done, and then Pelter, Japson, and Fogg were held for a further hearing.
“Can’t we get bail?” demanded the lawyer.
“Certainly, if you wish,” was the reply. And then the amount was fixed, and the prisoners sent out a messenger, to see if they could not get somebody to go on their bail bonds.
Dick’s parting with Baxter was very cordial. The oldest Rover boy realized that the former bully of Putnam Hall was greatly changed and that he had done him a great service.
“I wish you all kinds of luck, Dan,” he said. “You’ve got a nice position and a fine girl, and you ought to do well.”
“Do you like her, Dick?” and Dan blushed a little. “We expect to be married soon.”
“Well, I am going to be married myself before long.”
“Is that so? Good enough! I guess I know the girl,” and Dan grinned.
“You do, Dan.”
“Give her my best regards, and tell her I think she is getting the best fellow in the world!” said Baxter, and shook Dick’s hand. And thus the two former enemies parted.
Dick had already called up Mr. Powell on the telephone, telling the lawyer of what had occurred. Now he engaged a taxicab to take him to the place which he had started out to visit when coming to Brooklyn. It was rather late, but the lawyer had persuaded the people he had come to see to wait.
An interview lasting over an hour followed. The lawyer had already explained many things, and now Dick told of others.
“You have opened our eyes, Mr. Rover,” said one of the men present, when Dick had finished. “We rather suspected Pelter, Japson& Company and we were bewildered by what your father proposed to do. Now all is perfectly clear, and, if you wish us to do so, we’ll stand by your father to the end.”
“Thank you very much!” cried the youth, in delight.
“Your father is not very well, you say,” said another of the men. “In that case—”
“I am going to transact his business for him, after this,” answered Dick. “He is going to place it in my hands.”
“You are rather young, Mr. Rover. But the way you handled those brokers shows you can do things. I wish you success.”
“I shall rely upon Mr. Powell for assistance,” said Dick.
“And I’ll do what I can,” put in the lawyer.
When Dick got back to the Outlook Hotel it was quite late. But he had telephoned to his father, so Mr. Rover was not alarmed. The youth found his parent smiling pleasantly.
“Good news all around!” cried Anderson Rover.
“Then you’ve heard from Sam?” asked Dick, quickly.
“Yes, he sent in word about an hour ago. Tom is doing very well, and the specialist says he will soon be himself again.”
“That’s the best news yet!” cried Dick, and his face showed his relief.
“Yes, it is even better than this news you sent me—that Pelter and Japson have been captured.”
“Well, I am mighty glad we rounded up those rascals,” said the son.
“So am I.”
“Did Sam say anything about Crabtree?”
“He said Crabtree was about the same. The doctors are doing what they can for him. But he will
most likely be a cripple for life.”
“That’s bad. But he has nobody to blame but himself.”
After that Dick had to sit down and tell his father the details of all that had occurred. Then he got a late supper, and some time after that he and his parent retired. The youth was thoroughly tired out, but happy.
The next few days were as busy as those just past had been. Dick and his father ran up to where Tom lay in the hospital. They found the sufferer had come to his senses. Sam and a nurse were with him.
“Oh, I’ll be all right again, in a few days!” cried Tom, with a brave attempt at a smile. “I guess I fared better than old Crabtree. They tell me he’ll limp for life.”
“Limp for life!” cried Dick.
“That is what they say.”
“What a terrible affliction!” murmured the oldest Rover boy. “But he has nobody to blame but himself.”
“Tom, are you quite comfortable here?” asked Mr. Rover, anxiously.
“Oh, yes, they do all they can for me, Dad,” was the answer.
“We must send you home as soon as we can.”
“Well, I’ll be willing to go,” returned Tom. He thought of the quiet farm, and of his Aunt Martha’s motherly care, and gave a deep sigh.
“He can be moved in four or five days—the doctor said so,” put in Sam. “I’ve figured it all out. We can take him to the train in an auto, and I’ll see that he gets to Oak Run all right. There Jack can meet us with our own machine, and the rest will be easy.”
“I can go along,” said Dick.
“It won’t be necessary, Dick,” said Tom “You stay in New York and get Dad’s affairs straightened out.”
The matter was talked over, and it was at length decided that Sam should remain with Tom and take him home, while Mr. Rover and Dick returned to the city.
Four days later the youngest Rover got permission from the specialist who had attended Tom to take him home. An easy-riding automobile was procured, and in this the two brothers drove to the nearest railroad station. A compartment in a parlor car had already been engaged, and Tom was placed in this and made as comfortable as circumstances permitted. The ride was a long and tedious one for the youth, and by the time he had made the necessary changes to get to Oak Run he was pretty well exhausted, and had a severe headache.
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