“No.  I had the combination changed.”

“And you haven’t got the least idea then who took the bonds?” questioned Barton Pelter.

“Not so far.”

“It’s strange.  Say, that’s a fierce loss!  I couldn’t lose that much;” and the young man laughed nervously.

“Are you working in New York?” asked Tom, following an awkward pause.

“I haven’t anything to do just now, but I am hoping to get a situation soon,” answered Barton Pelter.  “I’ve got to be going now,” he added, and after a few words more, he made his way to the elevated station at the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Evidently a pretty decent sort of a fellow,” was Dick’s comment, as the three brothers walked over to look at the newspaper bulletin boards.  “It’s too bad he has Jesse Pelter for an uncle.”

“That news about our robbery seemed to astonish him,” said Sam.  “Did you hear him ask about the combination on the safe?  He must have been wondering whether we suspected his uncle or Japson.”

“That isn’t strange,” was Tom’s comment, “when one knows what kind of rascals those two men are.”

With the shadow of the loss hanging over them the Rover boys were in no mood to amuse themselves.  Had it been otherwise, they might have gone to the theater or some concert, or possibly to some moving picture show.  But, as it was, they spent most of their time at the offices and the hotel, and in looking around for clews.

“I received two nice letters to-day,” said Dora that evening, when her husband and the others appeared, and she held up the missives.  “One is from mamma, and she sends her best love to all of you.  The other is from your Aunt Martha.”

“And what does she say about dad?” asked Dick, quickly.

“She says there is no change in his general condition, but that he continues to worry about business matters.  He wants to make sure that everything here, in New York City, is going along all right.”

“Poor, old dad!” murmured Tom, and his voice was full of sympathy.  “We certainly can’t let him know the truth.”

“Oh, not for the world, Tom!” cried Dora.

“But what are we going to do if the bonds are not found?” questioned Dick.  “He has got to know it some time.”

“Well, put it off as long as you can,” returned his wife.

“Oh, if we could only find those bonds!” exclaimed Sam.  “We’ve just got to do it!  We’ve got to!”

CHAPTER XXI

 Days of anxious waiting

Another week passed without bringing anything new to light concerning the missing bonds.  During that time the Rover boys received two visits from the headquarters’ detectives, and were again subjected to innumerable questions.

“We’re on a new tack,” said one of the sleuths.  “I think we’ll be able to report something to you in a few days.”