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Updated: April 30, 2025
"Did you get the bonds back?" asked Sobber, with sudden interest. It may be added here that Sid Merrick had gone back long after the chase to look for the pocketbook, but, of course, had been unable to get any trace of it. "We did." "My uncle didn't steal them. Your uncle put them in his hands to sell," went on Tad Sobber, with sudden boldness.
The boys got a number of letters from home, and these brought news that the law case Tad Sobber had instituted against the Stanhopes and the Lanings was being pushed vigorously. Mr. Rover wrote that he felt certain the shyster lawyer Sobber had on the case was going to present a great mass of "evidence," no doubt manufactured for the occasion. "It's a shame!" cried Tom after hearing this.
Losing no time, the three Rover boys stepped into the bushes beside the trail. As they did so the other party came closer, and the lads saw that they carried not only an acetylene gas lamp, but also a ship's lantern and several other things. The party was made up of Sid Merrick, Tad Sobber, Cuffer and Shelley. "It's mighty rough walking here," they heard Tad Sobber complain.
Then Tom and Sam joined in, and they kept this up, off and on, for fully an hour. "I am not only dry but hungry," said Tom. "Wish I had that lunch we brought along." "Tad Sobber sneaked that away," said Dick. "If ever there was a fellow with a heart of stone he's the chap. Why, Dan Baxter in his worst days wasn't as bad as this young rascal."
"They can't touch a cent until the courts decide who the fortune really belongs to," answered Dick, "and if Sobber should win, the Stanhopes and the Lanings will have to pay back that which they have already used." "Oh, how can Sobber win?" cried Tom. "Father said the Stanhope and Laning claims were perfectly legal." "True, Tom; but you can never tell how a case is going to turn out in court.
The Rover boys managed to locate the freight thieves, but Sid Merrick got away from them, dropping a pocketbook containing the traction company bonds in his flight. This was at a time when Dick, Tom and Sam had returned to Putnam Hall for their final term at that institution. At the Hall they had made a bitter enemy of a big, stocky bully named Tad Sobber and of another lad named Nick Pell.
"What's what?" asked the men in concert. "There that thing bobbing up and down over the rocks?" And Tad Sobber trembled as he spoke. This lonely walk through the darkness of the forest had somewhat unnerved him. "That's strange," muttered Merrick. "It's groaning!" "It's a ghost!" screamed Tad, and shrank back, as did Cuffer and Shelley. "A ghost?" repeated Sid Merrick. "Nonsense!
Sobber is wild and wicked. I was so afraid he would attack mamma and me I hardly knew what to do. And his eyes rolled so when he talked!" "Did he go to the Lanings?" "No." "Probably he was afraid of your uncle. Mr. Laning won't stand for any nonsense. I suppose your mother is afraid he'll come back?" "Yes; and to protect herself she has hired one of the farm men to sleep in the house.
Evidently they were in league with Merrick and under his directions. "We must capture those fellows by all means," whispered Tom, excitedly. "If we do, maybe we can find out where Merrick is." "Yes, and Tad Sobber, too," added Sam, who had not forgotten the poisonous snake episode at Putnam Hall. "They weren't after chickens that was only a blind," said Dick.
They talked and cracked jokes to their hearts' content, and the boys told their best stories. They also grew serious at times, talking of home and their folks. "Mamma hasn't heard another word from Tad Sobber," said Dora to Dick. "And I hope he never appears again," answered the oldest Rover.
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