CHAPTER II

THE START OF THE DODGE MYSTERY

“This is the way it always goes,” jerked out Bradley, as the two High School boys hurried into the office after him.

“One of my men is sick, and the other two are somewhere—–­where, I can’t find out.”

“All” his men sounded large enough; as a matter of fact, the only reporters “The Blade” employed were three young men on salary, and Dick Prescott, mainly as gleaner of school news.  Dick didn’t receive any salary, but was paid a dollar a column.

“What’s happening, anyway?” Dick asked coolly.

“You know Theodore Dodge?” demanded Mr. Bradley.

“I know him when I see him; he never talks with me,” Prescott replied.

“Theodore Dodge is the father of a fellow in our senior class at High School,” Dave put in, adding under his breath, “and the son is one of our football ‘soreheads.’”

“Dodge has vanished,” continued Bradley.  “He went out early this morning, and hasn’t been seen since.  Tonight, just after dark, a man walking by the river, up above the bend, picked up a coat and hat on the bank.  Letters in the pocket showed the coat to be Mr. Dodge’s.  The finder of the coat hurried to the Dodge house, and Mrs. Dodge hurriedly notified the police, asking Chief Coy to keep the whole matter quiet.  Jerry (Chief Coy) doesn’t know that we have a blessed word about this.  But Jerry, his plain clothes man, Hemingway, and two other officers are out on the case.  They have been on the job for nearly three hours.  So far they haven’t learned a word.  They can’t drag the river until daylight comes.  Now, Prescott, what occurs to you as the thing to do?”

“I guess the only thing,” replied Dick quietly, “is to find Theodore Dodge.”

Mr. Bradley gasped.

“Well, yes; you have the right idea, young man.  But can you find Dodge, Dick?”

“When do you go to press?”

“Latest at four o’clock in the morning.”

“I think I can either find Theodore Dodge, or else find where he went to,” Prescott replied, slowly.  “Of course, that’s brag—–­not promise.”

“You get us the story—–­straight and in detail,” cried Bradley, eagerly, “and there’ll probably be a bit extra in it for you—–­a good bit, perhaps.  If Dodge doesn’t turn up without sensation this is going to be our big story for a week.  Dodge, you know, is vice-president and actual head of the Second National Bank.”

“Whew!” thought Dave Darrin, to himself.  “It’s easy enough for any suspicious person to imagine a story!  But it might not be the right one.”

“Some time ago,” asked Dick thoughtfully, “didn’t you publish a story about some of the big amounts of insurance carried by local rich men?”

“Yes,” nodded Bradley.

“I think you stated that Theodore Dodge carried more than any other citizen of Gridley.”