The Rover Boys in New York Part 45

Before the specialist arrived to care for Tom, the ambulance came back with Josiah Crabtree. The former teacher of Putnam Hall showed his cowardly nature by groaning dismally every time he was moved. He was placed in a public ward, and those in attendance were told that he was an escaped prisoner and must not be allowed to get away again, under any circ.u.mstances.

"He won't try it himself for a good many weeks," said one of the doctors, grimly. "Those breaks are had ones. He'll be lucky if he gets over them."

At last the specialist came and took charge of Tom. For over an hour d.i.c.k waited for a report on his brother's condition. When the specialist came to the youth he looked unusually grave.

"Your brother's case is a peculiar one, Mr. Rover;" said he. "I do not find any crack in the skull. But he has received a great shock, and what the outcome of that will be I cannot say."

"You don't think he will--will die?" faltered d.i.c.k, hardly able to frame the words.

"Hardly as bad as that, Mr. Rover. But the shock has been a heavy one, and he will need close attention for some time. I will come in again to-morrow morning and see him."

"Well, do your best," said d.i.c.k, brokenly,

"I always do that," answered Doctor Garrison, gravely.

There were no accommodations for d.i.c.k at the hospital, so he found a room at a hotel several blocks away. From the hotel he sent another telephone message to Sam, telling him what the specialist had said.

Then he asked Sam if he would come up.

"If you'll do that I can go down and help father," he added.

"All right--I'll come up to-night or first thing in the morning,"

said Sam.

It was eight o'clock in the morning when the youngest Rover boy appeared. He was as anxious as d.i.c.k concerning Tom, and both waited for the specialist to appear and report. Tom had regained consciousness for a few minutes, but that was all.

"He is no worse," reported Doctor Garrison. "I hope to see him improved by this afternoon. I will call again about three o'clock."

And then he left directions with the nurse as to what should be done.

"This is terrible, d.i.c.k!" murmured Sam, when the brothers were alone, in the room at the hotel. "Poor Tom! I can't bear to see him lay as he does!"

"I feel the same way, Sam," answered d.i.c.k. "But I think I ought to go down to New York and help father with his business affairs. He isn't well enough to do anything alone."

"That's true, d.i.c.k; and this news about Tom has upset him worse than ever."

A little later they separated, Sam promising to send word both to New York city and to Valley View farm as soon as there was any change in Tom's condition. d.i.c.k hurried to the railroad station and a little later got a train that took him to the Grand Central Depot.

The youth found his father at the rooms in the Outlook Hotel, he having promised to remain there until Sam returned, or d.i.c.k arrived.

Mr. Rover looked much careworn, and d.i.c.k realized more than ever that his parent was in no physical or mental condition to transact business.

"You ought to return to the farm and rest, Father," said he, kindly.

"I must fix up these papers first, d.i.c.k," was the answer. "But tell me about poor Tom! Oh, to think that those villains should strike him down that way!"

"They are desperate and will stop at nothing now," answered the son.

Then he told as much as he could about his stricken brother. Anderson Rover shook his head sadly.

"I am afraid he will never get over it, d.i.c.k!" he groaned.

"Let us hope for the best, Father," answered the son, as bravely as he could.

Then he questioned his father about the investments in the Sunset Irrigation Company and in the lands out west, and soon the pair were going over the matters carefully.

"I think we need the services of a first-cla.s.s lawyer--one we can trust absolutely," said d.i.c.k.

"But where can you find such a lawyer?" asked the father.

"Oh, there must be plenty of them." d.i.c.k thought for a moment. "One of my best chums at Putnam Hall and at Brill was John Powell--Songbird.

You know him. He has an uncle here, Frank Powell, who is a lawyer. The family are well-connected. Perhaps this Frank Powell may be the very man we need. I can call him up on the telephone and find out."

"Do as you think best, d.i.c.k," sighed Mr. Rover. "From now on I shall leave these business matters in your hands. I realize that I am too feeble to attend to them properly."

d.i.c.k lost no time in communication with Mr. Frank A. A. Powell, as his name appeared in the telephone book. When the youth explained who he was the lawyer said he would be glad to meet the Rovers. His office was not far from the Outlook Hotel, and he said he would call at once, d.i.c.k explaining that his father was not feeling very well.

Mr. Powell's coming inspired d.i.c.k with immediate confidence. He was a clean-cut man, with a shrewd manner but a look of absolute honesty.

"My nephew has often spoken of you," he said, shaking hands with d.i.c.k.

"I shall be pleased to do what I can for you."

"It's a complicated case," answered d.i.c.k. "My father can tell you about it first, and then I'll tell you what I know, and show you all our papers."

A talk lasting over an hour followed. The lawyer asked many questions, and studied the various doc.u.ments with interest.

"From what I can make out, Mr. Rover, that concern--Pelter, j.a.pson & Company--are a set of swindlers," said he, at last. "If I were you I'd close down on them at once, and with the heaviest possible hand.

To give them any leeway at all might be fatal to your interests."

"Do as you think best,--with d.i.c.k's advice," returned Mr. Rover. "I am going to leave my business affairs in his hands after this," he added.

"Then we'll go ahead at once!" cried the lawyer. "I will draw up the necessary papers and you can sign them. We'll get after that whole bunch hot-footed!"

"And don't spare them," added d.i.c.k, thinking of poor Tom. "They deserve all that is coming to them."

"And they'll get it," said the lawyer, briefly.

CHAPTER XXVII

DAN BAXTER GIVES AID

The next morning was a busy one for d.i.c.k. He visited the lawyer's office at an early hour and then went to the police station.

"We are watching those offices in Wall Street," said the officer at the desk in the station. "But so far neither Pelter nor j.a.pson has shown himself. The clerks say they are out of town one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia, but can't give any addresses."

"Well, don't let up on the watch," replied d.i.c.k. "We want to get them if it can possibly be done. I may have another charge to make against them," and he told of how Tom had been struck with the footstool and was now in the hospital.