or read it to me?" asked the youth.

"Sure. Hold the wire a minute."

Another connection was apparently made and Sam heard a different voice.

"Is this Samuel Rover?"

"Yes."

"Want that message from Richard Rover?"

"If you please."

"He says he is coming up to Ashton on the train that gets here at
eleven-fifteen tonight."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Thank you," and Sam hung up the receiver.

"What's the news, Sam?" questioned Songbird, and when told he looked
relieved. "Dick will know what to do."

"I know what I am going to do, Songbird. I am going right back to
Brill and get ready to follow Tom."

"I supposed you'd do that. I'd like to go with you."

"I know it. But that won't be necessary--if Dick goes with me." Sam
drew a deep breath. "I--I guess I'd better stop at Hope on the way
back and let the girls know how matters stand," he added, soberly.

"I can go up to-morrow and tell them, Sam."

"No. I'd rather tell them myself," answered the youngest Rover. He
knew exactly how Nellie and Grace would feel when he broke the news to
them.

It was a very sober and thoughtful pair of boys that got in the
carriage and started back to Brill by the way of Hope Seminary. Sam
was laying his plans how to follow Tom in his wild trip West and
Songbird was wondering how he could be of assistance to the Rovers.
Several times the would-be poet started to quote some original verse,
but each time cut himself short.

Presently they came in sight of Hope, just as the girls were coming
from their afternoon classes. They espied Nellie and Grace, and
beckoned to them. Both came forward on a run.

"What is the news, Sam?" asked Nellie, quickly.

"It's not very good, Nellie," he said, kindly. "Tom has run away."

"Run away!" gasped the girl, and turned pale. "Oh, you don't mean it!"

"Where did he go to?" questioned Grace.

"To Chicago."

"And from there, so he told a train conductor, he was going to Seattle
and then to Alaska," said Songbird. "Sam and Dick are going after him,
just as soon as they can."

"To Alaska! Tom has gone to Alaska!" murmured Nellie, and then she
turned and swayed, and the next moment fainted in Sam's arms.

CHAPTER XIV

DICK AND SAM IN CHICAGO

"Get some water, Songbird, quick!"

"Oh, Sam, shall I get some smelling salts!" cried Grace.

"I guess the water will do, Grace. Here, stand on this side, so those
other girls can't see Nellie," went on