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156 find out, if he could, what had become of the fortune," suggested Sam.

"Sam, I think you've struck it!" almost shouted Dick. "It may be that he came here, heard Mrs. Stanhope ask dad to invest the money for her, and heard dad say that he would let her know when he wanted the cash. Then, perhaps, he went off, and sent Mrs. Stanhope a bogus letter, or telegram, signing dad's name."

"Say, Dick, you're a regular sleuth!" cried Fred. "I guess you've got it straight."

The boys entered the house, and there told their uncle and aunt of what had been found. Randolph Rover looked at the stone with interest.

"It is a curious one," he said slowly. "I do not imagine there are many like it. If this Sobber had one, then this is probably his."

"You didn't see any strangers around the farm, did you?" asked Sam.

"None that I noticed. Of course plenty of folks have passed up and down the main road, and the back road, too."

It was not long after that when Jack Ness drove up with the camping outfit. The boys aided the man in putting the outfit away and also questioned him concerning Sobber.

"There was one man, or young fellow, hanging around," answered Jack Ness. "I tried to reach