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210 "I don't know that. But I overheard them talking about taking a boat to Portland."

"Portland?" repeated Dick. "Are you sure they were bound for that city?"

"Oh, I am not sure of anything—I am only telling you what I overheard."

"Please tell us all about those men who came here, and about the lady, and about Mrs. Sobber." pursued Dick.

"Hadn't we better get after the auto?" asked Tom, who believed in action.

"You and Sam can try to hunt it up," answered the elder Rover. "I'll hear all Mr. Mason can tell first. It may give us a direct clew. I'll meet you later at the Parker House."

Sam and Tom went off, and then Dick listened patiently to the rather rambling tale Oliver Mason had to tell. The old man said that he had known Mrs. Sobber when her husband was alive and had hired her to be his housekeeper after the death of his three sisters and his wife.

"She was all alone in the world excepting for a young man named Tad Sobber, who came to see her once in a while," said Oliver Mason. "I didn't like the young man much, but the two had quite some business together.

The old man then told how Mrs. Sobber had gone away for several days, stating she must look