“I am afraid we’ll have to wait quite a while for an answer,” returned Dick.

“Oh, I don’t know.  They can telephone the messages up to the seminary from the telegraph office.”

“They’ll find the ring just as I said unless somebuddy cleaned out the inkwell and took it,” declared Andy Royce, who was rapidly sobering up because of the turn of affairs.

As it was getting late, it was decided that Dick should go to dinner with Dora as usual, while Tom and Sam took the former gardener to a corner of the restaurant for something to eat.

“I don’t feel much like filling up,” said Sam.  “I’m on pins and needles about an answer to those messages you sent, Tom.”

“Exactly the way I feel, Sam.  But we’ll have to have patience, I suppose.”

The meal at an end, Dora went upstairs, and Dick rejoined his brothers and Andy Royce in the smoking room.  Tom had left word at the hotel telegraph office that any message which might come in for hire must be delivered at once.

“Here comes a bellboy now!” cried Dick, presently.

“Mr. Rover!  Mr. Rover!” cried the boy, walking from one group of persons to another.

“Here you are! here you are, boy!” cried Tom, leaping up; and in another moment he had a telegram in his hand and was tearing it open to see what it contained.

CHAPTER XXV

 More telegrams

“Who is it from, Tom?”

“Read it out loud!”

Such were the exclamations from Sam and Dick as their brother scanned the telegram in haste.

“Hurrah! they’ve found it!” broke out Tom.  “This is the best yet!”

“Good!”

“Fine!”

“This is from Miss Clara Parsons,” went on Tom, “the teacher who owned the ring.  Here, you can read the telegram if you want to,” and he passed the sheet over.  The message ran as follows: 

“Ring found in inkwell.  Perfect condition.  Did Miss Laning put it
there?

“Clara Parsons.”

“Short and sweet, but it tells the story,” was Dick’s comment.  “Say, I’m mighty glad of this,” he added, and his face showed his pleasure.  “That clears Nellie, Tom.  You’ll have to let her know at once.”

“I sure will!” exclaimed the brother.  “But say, did you notice what Miss Parsons wants to know—­ if Nellie put the ring in the inkwell?  Talk about nerve!”

“You can’t exactly blame her, Tom, because she knew nothing of Royce’s visit to the office; and as you sent the message, and you and Nellie are so intimate

“Oh, I understand, Dick; and I shan’t blame her.  I’m too happy to blame anybody,” and Tom’s face broke into a broad smile.  “I’m going to send a telegram to Cedarville this minute.”

“Didn’t I tell you gents the ring was there?” broke in Andy Royce.  “I told you the truth, didn’t I?”

“You did, Royce,” answered Dick.