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172 Dick, and then, in as few words as possible, he told of the meeting with Dan Baxter and what the young commercial traveler had revealed.

"Yes! yes! that must be the truth of it!" said Anderson Rover. "And Crabtree must have been the one who aided in getting the fortune from the bank where it was being kept."

"Never mind the money, dad, just now. Tell me about Mrs. Stanhope."

"I can't tell you any more, Dick. I went across the lake in a launch, but I could get no trace of her on the other side. Now I am going back to the Stanhope house, and send Dora over to the Lanings. I want you to come up here the first thing in the morning," added Mr. Rover.

"I'll be up, and so will Sam and Tom," answered Dick, and then after a few words more the telephone talk came to an end.

Dick slept but little that night. His one thought was of Mrs. Stanhope. What had become of her? Was it possible that Josiah Crabtree had in some way used his sinister influence to get her to leave her home, and would he be able to hypnotize her into marrying him?

"If he does that it will break Dora's heart!" he groaned. "Oh, it's an outrage! We don't want such a scoundrel in the family!" And he grated his teeth in just indignation.