"What will you do?"

"I think I'll send for Mr. Vanderhoof and ask him to explain. We'll have your friend Tim in here. No doubt it is all a mistake. I wouldn't place too much faith in what a boy says."

"You don't know Tim," responded d.i.c.k. "He's as bright as they make 'em.

I guess all New York newsboys are. But where does Mr. Vanderhoof live?"

"He is stopping at the Globe Hotel. He told me he would remain in town about two weeks longer, as he had some business to transact. I'll just call up the hotel and ask him to come here. Meanwhile, tell Tim to come in."

"Don't 'phone, dad," advised d.i.c.k. "I'll run down to the hotel in my auto. If you call him on the wire he may suspect something. I'll bring him here in the machine."

"All right, d.i.c.k. Maybe that's a good plan. But don't get excited. Be calm. This may be only a boy's excited imagination. Mr. Vanderhoof certainly seemed like a business man and not like a swindler. Of course, I may be fooled. I have been, once or twice, in my time, but you've got to take those chances. However, we'll not decide anything until we talk to him. Go ahead."

"What will I do with the youngsters?" asked d.i.c.k. "I've got five of them with me."

"Give 'em a quarter apiece and let 'em buy ice-cream," advised the millionaire, with a laugh. "That is, all but Tim. Let him come in here and wait."

"Twenty-five cents' worth of ice-cream each would put them all in the hospital," explained d.i.c.k. "I'll make 'em distribute their wealth," and, in a few moments he had sent the four boys off to see the sights of the town, happy in the possession of a quarter of a dollar each, and with strict injunctions not to get lost, and to be back at the bank in an hour.

"Me to go inside de bank?" asked Tim, when d.i.c.k told him what was wanted. "Say, I'm gittin' real swell, I am! If de kids on Hester Street could see me now dey'd t'ink I was president of a railroad," and, with a laugh he went into Mr. Hamilton's private office. While d.i.c.k was gone the millionaire questioned the newsboy, who stuck to his story that the man he had seen was a swindler, who had been under arrest in New York.

d.i.c.k made fast time to the Globe Hotel. When he jumped from the auto, and hurried inside, the manager, who knew him, nodded a greeting.

"Is Mr. Vanderhoof about?" asked d.i.c.k, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Mr. Vanderhoof?" repeated the manager. "No, he went out a little while ago."

"Where?"

"Why, he said he was going back to New York," was the rather surprising answer. "A telegram came for him as soon as he got here and he left in a hurry. He just caught the express, and didn't even have time to take his baggage. He paid me his bill and rushed out in a hurry, telling me he'd send word where to forward his trunk. Did you want to see him about anything important?"

"It was, but I guess it will keep," replied d.i.c.k, trying not to show any alarm.

His worst fears were realized. Vanderhoof, _alias_ Bond Broker Bill, had been warned by some confederates, perhaps, and had fled, after securing large sums of money from d.i.c.k and his father.

"And maybe we're not the only victims," thought d.i.c.k, as he left the hotel and turned the auto toward the bank.

"Well, what luck?" asked Mr. Hamilton, as his son entered.

"He's skipped out, dad!"

"He has, eh? Now to find out how badly we have been bitten. d.i.c.k, my boy, it looks as though there was a hoodoo hanging over your investments. Still, this mine stock may be all right. I'll wire to a lawyer in Yazoo City."

"Oh, he's a foxy guy, is Bond Broker Bill," said Tim, when d.i.c.k told him what had taken place. "I wish I'd a spotted him before. Maybe he seen me an' flew de coop."

"No, I don't believe he would have known you were on his trail," replied d.i.c.k, with an uneasy laugh. "I think he left on general principles."

It was several hours before Mr. Hamilton received a reply from the lawyer in Yazoo City, Nevada. When it came the telegram stated that the Hop Toad and Dolphin mines were producing a quant.i.ty of ore, and were generally believed to be good mines.

"Not much known about them here, though," the telegram went on. "Would advise a personal inspection. Believed that some promotor has a lot of stock and is trying to sell it in the East. Better look into it."

"Well, there's a chance yet," said Mr. Hamilton. "As I said, Vanderhoof may be a swindler, but the mines seem to be good. I'll have someone right on the ground look them up. We must make our plans carefully."

"Whom will you get, dad?"

"I don't know yet. I must write to this lawyer."

"Dad!" exclaimed d.i.c.k, suddenly. "Let me take a trip out West! Let me look up those mines! If they're no good I want to know it soon, so I can make some other investment. Can't I go to Nevada?"

CHAPTER XXII

OFF FOR THE WEST

Mr. Hamilton glanced at his son. d.i.c.k was all excited over the events of the last hour and by the sudden desire that had come to him.

"You go to Nevada?" repeated the millionaire.

"Yes, dad, and look up this mining business. I could see the lawyer and find out whether we have been swindled. The trip would do me good," he added, with a smile.

"I haven't any doubt of that, d.i.c.k," replied his father. "And, after thinking it over, I don't know but you could make whatever investigation would be needed. I think I'll let you go. How soon can you be ready?"

"To-night."

"Well, there's no such rush as that. If we've been swindled, finding it out now isn't going to help matters any. If, on the other hand, as I hope may be the case, the mines are all right, there's no need of hurrying out there. You'd better make good preparations for the trip. It isn't going to be much fun traveling alone."

"But, dad, I needn't travel alone. I was thinking I could take some of my chums with me. Bricktop, Frank Bender and Walter Mead would think it bully fun to go along. Why couldn't I take them?"

"I suppose you could if their parents did not object. They would be your guests, of course--that is, you would have to pay all expenses."

"I'd be willing to. I've got two thousand dollars invested in the Dolphin mine, and I've got to spend some more to see if I've thrown that money away. I might as well have some fun out of it, if I can."

"Four lads will make a nice party. I'll have McIverson go to the depot and get some time-tables. Meanwhile you had better get the fresh-air boys back to Sunnyside. It's getting near supper-time, and the matron may be worried about them."

"Say, is youse really goin' out where they make gold mines?" asked Tim Muldoon, as he and d.i.c.k went back to the automobile, around which the other lads, having spent all their money, and seen all the sights, were waiting. "Are youse goin' out West among de Indians an' cowboys?"

"Well, yes, but I guess there aren't any Indians left."

"Sure dere is! Didn't I read about in a book? It's a crackerjack! I'll lend it to youse. It's 'Three-Fingered Harry; or, De Scourge of de Redskins!'"

"No, thanks," answered d.i.c.k, with a laugh. "I wouldn't read such trash if I were you. There are very few Indians left out West and they're too scarce to kill off."

"Well," spoke Tim, with a sigh, "it's in de book. Say," he added, "does it cost much to go out West?"

"Well, I'm not sure just how much it does take, but I guess it's rather costly."

Tim sighed heavily.