“He usually stopped with a distant relative of his—­ a man named Crowley Pelter.”

“Then that’s all I want to know for the present, Mr. Crabtree,” announced Dick.  “If we can locate him I’ll let you know and then the fifty dollars will be yours.”

“How soon are you going to look for the man?” asked the former teacher, curiously.

“At once,” was Dick’s quick reply.  “Leave me your address, and as soon as we hear anything I’ll let you know.”  And a few minutes later the boys brought the interview to an end.

CHAPTER XXIX

 The japanned box

“Now to find out where Crowley Pelter lives!” said Dick.

The train carrying the three Rover boys from New York to Philadelphia was rolling into the big, smoky station.  It was about two o’clock in the afternoon, and the youths had dined on the train while making the journey.  They had left the offices in charge of Bob Marsh, stating that they would most likely be away for the rest of the day.  At first Dick and Tom had thought to leave Sam behind, but the latter had insisted on going along.  It had been a two hours’ run to the Quaker City.

“Let’s look at a telephone directory,” suggested Tom.

“Oh, you don’t want to telephone to him, do you?” queried Sam.  “That might put Jesse Pelter on his guard.”

“We won’t telephone, we’ll simply look for the address,” answered his brother.

But there proved to be no Crowley Pelter in the telephone directory, so the boys had to consult a regular directory.  They found that the man lived quite a distance out, in the Germantown section.

“Let’s hire a taxi, and get out there as fast as we can,” suggested Dick.  Now that they were actually on the trail of the missing broker he was anxious to bring the pursuit to an end.

Outside the railroad station taxicabs were numerous, and the boys quickly hired one of the best of the machines and gave the driver directions where to go.

“And don’t lose any time,” ordered Dick.

“I’ll run as fast as I dare,” returned the chauffeur.

The ride to Crowley Pelter’s residence took a good three-quarters of an hour.  The place was a small but well-kept one on a corner.

“I guess I had better go in alone,” suggested Dick.  “If I need you I’ll whistle or wave my handkerchief;” and then he ran up the front steps and rang the bell.  A tall, angular woman, wearing large spectacles, soon answered his summons.

“Good afternoon,” said Dick, politely.  “Is this Mr. Crowley Pelter’s residence?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I believe Mr. Jesse Pelter is staying here.  Can I see him?” went on Dick.

“Mr. Jesse Pelter was staying here, but he has just gone—­ he went about an hour ago.”

“Is that so!” cried Dick.  “Can you tell me where he went to?”

“Well, I—­ er—­ I don’t know,” faltered the woman, and eyed Dick sharply.