Sam run the machine," put in Tom. "No use
of your doing that."

"All right," answered the eldest Rover boy.

That night, when the others had gone to bed, the three Rover boys
gathered in Dick's room to discuss further the news regarding Josiah
Crabtree and Tad Sobber.

"Do you suppose it is possible that Sobber thinks to come here and blow
the house up?" queried Tom.

"He might be equal to it," answered Dick, soberly. "We'll have to keep
our eyes peeled, and, when we go back to Brill, we'll have to warn dad
and Uncle Randolph."

"Do you know, dad looked worried when he went away," put in Sam.

"I noticed it, Sam. Did he say anything to you about business?"

"Not a word. Why, do you think it's that?"

"There is some trouble out west--has been ever since there was a strike
at that Golden Horseshoe mine in which dad invested so heavily last
summer. They had a strike, and now one crowd is trying to get the
control from another crowd. I don't know the particulars, but I guess
dad is worried."

"Dick, don't you think you ought to help him in these affairs?" came
suddenly from Sam. "Uncle Randolph is too absorbed in his books and in
scientific farming to pay any attention, and--well, dad isn't as young
as he used to be--and we are growing older."

"I've been thinking of that, Sam. I wish I was through college, I'd jump
right into the game and try to take the load from his shoulders."

"Are you going to take the full course?"

"No, I talked it over with dad last week and I'm going to take the
shorter course. He said you two could take the long course if you wanted
to."

"Not much! The short course for yours truly!" cried Tom.

"Ditto here!" came from Sam.

"I want to settle down and get into business," went on Tom.

"He thinks Nellie won't wait much longer," remarked Sam, with a wink at
Dick.

"Huh! I guess, you think Grace won't wait!" snorted Tom. "Didn't I see
you looking over that furniture and picture catalogue the other day? Ha!
I caught you, Sammy, my boy!"

"Rats!" cried Sam, growing suddenly red in the face. "I was thinking of
buying a new chair and maybe a picture or two for our quarters at Brill.
The old ones are pretty punk, if you'll remember. Besides, we've got to
wait until Dick and Dora step off, you know," went on the youngest
Rover.

"That's so--so we have," added Tom, with more of a grin than ever. "By
the way, Dick, how much longer are you going to linger before you scrape
up money