"Oh, where can my Dora be?" she moaned. "Something dreadful has happened to her--I feel certain of it."

"Where is that note?" asked d.i.c.k.

"I left it on the mantelpiece in our dining room. It said: 'Dear Friend Dora: Meet me as soon as you can down at the old boathouse on the lake. I have something important to tell you,' and it was signed 'Richard Rover.'"

"Mrs. Stanhope, as true as I stand here, I never wrote that note or sent it."

"I believe you, d.i.c.k. But who did send it?"

"Some enemy who wanted to get her away from the house--Dan Baxter or--" d.i.c.k paused.

"Or who?"

"Well, Josiah Crabtree, if you must know. He hates her and he wants to separate her from you."

At the mention of Josiah Crabtree's name a curious shiver pa.s.sed over Mrs. Stanhope. "We--we'll not talk about Mr. Crabtree,"

she faltered. "But, oh, I must have my Dora back!" And then she came near to fainting again.

"I would like to go over to the Stanhope cottage and investigate," said d.i.c.k, after the lady had been placed in Mrs.

Green's care. "To my mind it won't do to lose time, either."

"You can go, Richard," answered Captain Putnam. "But be careful and keep out of trouble."

"Can I take Tom and Sam with me?"

At this the master of Putnam Hall smiled broadly. "Always like to be together, eh? All right, I don't know but what it will be safer for the three of you to go together," he said; and d.i.c.k lost no time in telling his brothers. In a few minutes the trio set off for the Stanhope cottage, little dreaming of the long time that was to elapse before they should see Putnam Hall again.

CHAPTER XV

d.i.c.k'S BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD

The three Rover boys reached the Stanhope cottage on a run, to find n.o.body in charge but a washwoman, who was hanging up some clothing in the back yard.

Explaining the situation so far as was necessary, they went inside and hunted up the note Mrs. Stanhope had mentioned.

"I believe that is Dan Baxter's writing," said d.i.c.k slowly.

"It is," came from Sam. "I know it from the flourishes on the capitals. He was always great on flourishes."

"We won't waste time here," went on d.i.c.k. "Let us go down to the old boathouse."

They were soon on the way, along a road lined with brush and scrubby cedars, the trees which in years gone by had given Cedarville its name.

At the old boathouse everything was quiet and not a soul was in sight. Walking to the end of the house float they gazed out on the lake.

"Not a boat anywhere," murmured d.i.c.k. "Now, what could have become of Dora, do you suppose?"

"It's ten to one that Baxter took her off in Mumps' boat!" cried Tom. "By jinks, I think I see through this. Don't you remember the plot Josiah Crabtree and Mumps were hatching? I'll wager they are all in this, to get Dora away from her mother."

"I believe Tom is right," came from Sam. "And if that is true, Dora was taken off on a boat beyond a doubt.'

"If she was it won't take very long to find her," returned d.i.c.k.

"Let us go to Cedarville and see if anybody has seen the _Falcon_."

d.i.c.k had scarcely spoken when a small steam tug hove into sight, bound up the lake.

"There's a tug now!" exclaimed Tom. "Hi there! Hi!" he yelled.

"Stop!"

The captain of the tug heard him and saw him waving his hand, and, slowing up, made a half circle toward sh.o.r.e.

"What's wanted, young man?" he asked. "Anything wrong?"

"Yes, a good deal is wrong," replied Tom. "Have you seen a yacht named the _Falcon_ today?"

"No, but I saw her late yesterday afternoon," was the reply.

"Around here?"

"No, further down the lake. I think she was bound for Cayuga."

"Did you notice who was on board?"

"You seem to be very particular about it."

"We are particular. A young lady has disappeared, and we think she was taken away on that yacht," explained d.i.c.k, as the steam tug came to a halt.

"Is that so? Yes, I did see a young lady on board of her. She called to our boat as we pa.s.sed, but I thought it was only in fun."

"I guess she wanted you to help her," said d.i.c.k bitterly. Then he continued suddenly: "Have you anything to do just now?"

"No; I was going up to Ithaca to look for a tow."

"What will you charge to take us down to Cayuga?"

The captain of the tug thought for a moment. "Three dollars. It ought to be worth that to find the young lady."

"We'll go you," answered d.i.c.k promptly. "Swing in and we'll jump aboard."

Captain Lambert did as requested, and in a moment more the three Rover boys were on board of the _Cedar Queen_, as the craft was named. The captain proved to be a nice man and became thoroughly interested in the story the lads had to tell.

"I hope we spot the rascals," he said. "I'll certainly do all I can for you."

The _Cedar Queen_ was a little craft and somewhat slow, and the boys fretted a good bit at the long time it took to reach Cayuga.