“But where is dad?  Do you imagine Crabtree had anything to do with his disappearance?” came from Tom.

“I certainly do.  Maybe Crabtree is holding him a prisoner.”

“Then Pelter, Japson & Company haven’t anything to do with it?”

“I wouldn’t say that, Tom.  The whole crowd may be working together.”

“You think Crabtree knows those other men?”

“It may be so—­ I am not sure.  But I am sure of one thing,” went on Dick, decidedly.  “Dad didn’t meet with any accident.  His disappearance is due to Crabtree, and, likely, to some of his other enemies.”

“Well, that clears up one corner of the mystery,” said Sam.  “But it doesn’t get us any nearer to finding dad.”

“I think it does, Sam.  If we can locate Crabtree, I think we can locate father.”

“But how are we going to locate Crabtree?”

“I don’t know.  But if we keep our eyes and ears open we may learn something.  In the morning some of us can call on those brokers and see what they have to say,” continued the big brother.

“Some of us?  I thought we were all going?” remarked Tom.

“I’ve got a new plan, Tom; I’ll tell you about it in the morning.  Now, as there is no use of watching that room any longer, let us try to get a little sleep.”

“It will be very little,” murmured Sam, consulting his watch.  “It is nearly five o’clock already!”

“We’ll sleep until eight o’clock.  Those brokers don’t get to business until nearly ten.”

Once more the boys retired, and, after much turning, all dropped into slumber.  Dick had made up his mind to awaken at eight o’clock and promptly at that hour he opened his eyes.  His brothers were still asleep and he allowed them half an hour longer, for he knew they needed it.

“Now then, Dick, what’s your programme?” asked Tom, while he was dressing.

“My programme is this,” answered the big brother.  “Instead of the three of us calling on Pelter, Japson & Company I think one is enough—­ and that ought to be me, for I have already met Mr. Pelter, once, when I came to New York with dad.”

“But what do you want to leave us out for?” grumbled Sam.

“I don’t want to leave you out—­ I want you to be doing something else, for we have no time to lose in this matter.  I want you, Sam, to come with me, and when I go into the offices, I want you to hang around outside and watch for old Crabtree.  If he is in league with the brokers he may be looking for a chance to interview them, but he will be on his guard, knowing that we are here.”

“What am I to do?” asked Tom.

“I think you had better go up to Central Park, Tom, and see if you can find out anything there about Crabtree.  Maybe some of the night prowlers around there saw him last night.  Anyway, I don’t want you to be seen at the offices with me—­ for I’ve got another plan in my head—­ if this one fails,” went on Dick.