“I think we had better call up Mr. Bronson, and tell him about this and put him on the trail of the Pelters,” answered Dick.

The detective was as astonished as the boys had been when he saw the hole in the back of the safe.

“This is certainly one on me,” he confessed, frankly.  “I looked that safe over very carefully, too.  I should have discovered that;” and his face showed his chagrin.

Then he was told about the Pelters and about Japson, and he agreed with the Rovers that he had best try to locate Barton Pelter and his uncle without delay.

“I’ll put a man on the trail of the young fellow who went West,” he said, “and as soon as he sends me any word regarding Jesse Pelter I’ll go after that fellow, and I’ll also let you know what I’m doing;” and so it was arranged.

CHAPTER XXVIII

 Josiah Crabtree once more

When the boys arrived at the hotel that evening the girls had much to tell them.  Nellie had received a letter from Miss Harrow, in which the teacher had frankly begged her pardon for having suspected the girl of taking the diamond ring.

“It is a lovely letter,” said Nellie.  “I never thought that she could humble herself in that fashion.”

“I’ve got an idea; in fact, I’ve had it for some time,” came from Tom.  “I had Royce in this afternoon to see me.  He is very anxious to get work.  I’ve half a notion to ask you to write to Miss Harrow and see if they won’t take the fellow back at the seminary.”

“I am willing to write such a letter, Tom,” answered the girl.  “And if they won’t take Royce back, perhaps I can get my father to give him work at our farm; although I know he is more of a gardener than he is a farmer.”

But the most important news the two girls and Dick’s wife had to tell was that on a shopping tour after lunch they had walked into Josiah Crabtree.

“We came face to face with him in front of a show window,” explained Dick’s wife.  “I was so startled for the minute that I did not know what to say.  Oh, Dick! he was on crutches, and he did look so pale and thin I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him!”

“He has evidently suffered a great deal,” put in Grace.  “In fact, he said as much.  He seemed to be utterly downcast.  He didn’t look like the dictatorial teacher he used to be at all.”

“What did he have to say?” questioned Sam.

“Oh, he was quite confused at first, but he did ask about Dora’s mother—­ if she was well—­ and then he said he understood that you three were going into business together.  He said he hoped you would be successful.”

“The idea of old Crabtree saying that!” burst out Tom.  “It’s enough to make a fellow think the end of the world is coming.”

“Did he say what he was doing, or what he proposes to do?” questioned Dick.

“He said he had received a tentative offer of a position in a boys’ school in Maine,” answered Nellie, “but he did not know whether he was going to take it or not.  My idea is that he is too poor to even go to Maine.  And he had on such an old, rusty, black suit!”