“I can’t answer that question, Sam.  But it is going to be answered sooner or later—­ if I have to have all those men arrested.  I am certain in my own mind that they are responsible for dad’s disappearance.  They got him out of the way so that they could get the best of him in that Sunset Irrigation Company scheme.”

“I think we ought to watch the men and see where they go.”

“So do I. But, now they know we are on guard, they will be very careful.”

“Do you think they had father abducted?”

“That is just what I do think.  If you’ll remember, that is one of Crabtree’s favorite tricks.  He would not dare to put father out of the way—­ take his life, I mean—­ and that would be the only other thing he could do.”

“Where could they take him to, in such a city as this?”

“Oh, there are a dozen places—­ empty stores and basements, vacant flats and apartments.  And then they may have taken him away from New York, in an automobile, or on some vessel in one of the rivers.”

“I’d give a good deal to know where he is now!” cried Sam, bitterly.

“So would I, Sam.  Well, we’ll do what we can,” added Dick, with determination.

It did not take the boys long to return to the Outlook Hotel.  They looked around for Tom, but he was not in sight.  However, he arrived a few minutes later.  His face showed that his quest had been an unsuccessful one.

“I talked to everybody around that end of Central Park,” he said.  “One man saw Crabtree, but he couldn’t tell where the rascal went to.  Did you learn anything?”

“We did,” answered Dick.  “Come on to dinner and we’ll tell you.”

While the three ate a hasty midday meal, Dick and Sam told of their discoveries.  Tom listened with interest.

“I think you are right!” he cried.  “Crabtree is in with the brokers, and the whole bunch is a bad one.  I think they are holding dad a prisoner somewhere.  The question is, Where?  And how can we get to him and rescue him?”

“We might watch those offices,” suggested Sam.  “But those fellows will be on guard, and we may not learn anything for days and days.”

“We could have them arrested,” suggested Tom.  “But it won’t do any good without positive evidence.”

“There is something about this whole affair that I can’t understand,” said Dick.  “That man Pelter claims that he settled up with father for everything excepting this Irrigation Company project.  Father never told me that he settled up—­ and I think he would have said something if it was so.”

The three boys talked the affair over from every possible standpoint, but could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion.  All were sorry that they had not captured Josiah Crabtree.

“Let me get my hands on him and I’ll make him tell what has become of dad,” said Dick.

The meal concluded, they went up to their rooms, to talk the matter over further.