Arriving at the college, they turned the carriage over to Abner Filbury, explaining about the axle and offering to pay for the damage done.  Then they hurried to their room, to get ready for the feast Bob Grimes was to give.

As they entered the dormitory they saw a letter lying on the table.  It bore a special delivery stamp and was addressed to Dick.

“Hello, what’s this?” cried the oldest Rover boy; “A letter from home, and sent by special delivery.  What can it mean?”

“No bad news, I hope,” said Sam, his face sobering.

“Read it, Dick,” put in Tom.  “It must be something important.”

CHAPTER X

 Startling news

Sam and Tom watched with interest while Dick tore open the envelope and took out the letter it contained.  The oldest Rover boy scanned the communication hastily.

“What is it?” questioned both of his brothers, impatiently.

“It’s from Uncle Randolph,” replied Dick.  “He says father went to New York several days ago.”

“Is that all?”

“No, he adds that he sent father a telegram and so far no answer has come back,” went on Dick, seriously.  “He thinks something has happened to dad.”

“Oh, Dick” cried Sam.  “What could happen to him?”

“A great many things, Sam—­ in a big city like New York.  He might get run down by a street car, or an automobile, or be hurt in the subway, or on the elevated railroad.  He wasn’t very well, remember.”

“Yes, I know that.  Is that all?”

“Uncle Randolph wants to know at once whether we have heard from dad during the past three days.”

“We haven’t had a word,” broke in Tom “I thought it kind of strange, too.”

The other boys read the letter, and then the three talked the matter over.  They were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Stanley appeared.

“Going to the spread, aren’t you?” he questioned.  “Hurry up—­ it’s getting late.”

“I don’t think I can go,” answered Dick.  “I’ve got something I must attend to—­ this letter from my uncle,” and he held the communication up.  “Sam and Tom can go.”

“I don’t feel much like it—­ now,” murmured Sam.

“Neither do I,” added Tom.

“Oh, you might as well go,” urged Dick.  “I’ll attend to the message to Uncle Randolph.  Everything may be all right—­ and there is no use of the three of us disappointing Bob.  You go, and explain why I didn’t come.”

“Maybe you can come later,” suggested Stanley.

“I’ll see.  But I must get word to my uncle first,” answered Dick.

While Sam and Tom got ready to attend the spread Bob Grimes was to give, Dick hurried downstairs again.  In the hallway he ran into Paul Orben, one of the older students whom he knew real well.

“Why in such a hurry, Dick?” questioned Paul, good-naturedly grabbing him by the shoulder.