The Rover Boys in New York Part 27

"Not more than half an hour at the most--and maybe not half that,"

responded the big brother.

Sam dropped behind and d.i.c.k entered the dingy office building. From the directory on the wall the oldest Rover boy learned that the brokers were located on the fourth floor, rooms 408 to 412,--the numerals really meaning offices 8 to 12 on floor 4. He got into one of the narrow elevators and soon reached the fourth floor.

The offices of Pelter, j.a.pson & Company were located in the rear, overlooking the roof of a restaurant on the street beyond. d.i.c.k entered a tiny waiting room and an office boy came to ask what he wanted.

"I wish to see Mr. Pelter," said d.i.c.k.

"Not in yet."

"When do you expect him?"

"Ought to be here now."

"Then I'll wait," and d.i.c.k dropped on a chair. He had hardly done so when the door opened and a burly individual hurried in. He gave d.i.c.k an inquiring look.

"Wants to see you, Mr. Pelter," said the office boy. "Just came in."

"Want to see me? What is it?" and the head of the brokerage firm stepped up to d.i.c.k.

"You are Mr. Pelter?"

"Yes."

"I am Richard Rover--Anderson Rover's son."

"Ah! indeed!" cried Jesse Pelter, and gave a slight start. "Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover," and he held out his hand. "Will you--er--step into my office?"

He led the way through two offices to one in the extreme rear. This was well furnished, with a desk, a table, several chairs and a bookcase filled with legal-looking volumes. In one corner was a telephone booth, and a telephone connection also rested on the desk.

"I came to see about my father," said d.i.c.k, as he sat down in a chair to which the broker motioned.

"You mean, about your father's business, I suppose."

"No, about my father. Do you know where he is, Mr. Pelter?"

"Know where he is? What do you mean? Isn't he in New York?" The broker pretended to arrange some papers on his desk as he spoke and did not look at d.i.c.k.

"He has disappeared and I thought you might know something about it."

d.i.c.k looked the man full in the face. He saw the broker start and then try to control himself.

"Well that--er--accounts for it," said Jesse Pelter, slowly, as if trying to make up his mind what to say.

"Accounts for what?"

"Why, he didn't come back here as he said he would."

"He has been here then?"

"Yes, a number of days ago. We had quite some important business to transact. He said he would come back the next day and sign some papers, and fix up some other matters. But he didn't come."

"Did he say he would be here sure?"

"He did. So he has disappeared? That is strange. Perhaps some accident happened to him."

"I hope not. I knew he came to New York to see you and your partners.

I thought you could tell me something about him."

"I don't know any more than that he called here one day and said he would come in again the next, Mr. Rover. If he is--er--missing you had better notify the police,--unless you have some idea where he went to," continued the broker.

"I have no idea further than that he came to New York to see you--and that he came here from his hotel."

"See here! Do you mean to insinuate that we--er--may know where he is--why he is missing?" demanded Jesse Pelter, sharply.

"I insinuate nothing, Mr. Pelter. But if you expected him the next day after he was here, and he didn't come, why didn't you telephone to him?"

"I--er--I didn't know where he was stopping. If I had known, I might have telephoned to him. Although he had a right to stay away from here if he wanted to."

"He is transacting quite some business with you, isn't he?"

"We have done quite some business together in the past, yes," answered the broker, coldly.

"And matters were not going very well, were they?" questioned d.i.c.k, sharply.

"They were going as well as could be expected."

"You owed my father a great deal of money, didn't you?"

"We did owe him something. But we don't owe him anything now. We settled up with him in full," was the reply, which filled d.i.c.k with new astonishment.

CHAPTER XVI

MORE DISCOVERIES

"You settled up with him in full?" gasped Rick.

"Yes--some time ago."

"Not for that stock in the Sunset Irrigation Company."

"I was not talking about the Irrigation Company. That is another affair. Your father was to see us about that on the morning when he--er--when he failed to come here. I--er--I thought he had gone back home to get certain doc.u.ments which he stated he did not have with him."

"And you haven't seen or heard of him since?"