“He is no worse,” reported Doctor Garrison.  “I hope to see him improved by this afternoon.  I will call again about three o’clock.”  And then he left directions with the nurse as to what should be done.

“This is terrible, Dick!” murmured Sam, when the brothers were alone, in the room at the hotel.  “Poor Tom!  I can’t bear to see him lay as he does!”

“I feel the same way, Sam,” answered Dick.  “But I think I ought to go down to New York and help father with his business affairs.  He isn’t well enough to do anything alone.”

“That’s true, Dick; and this news about Tom has upset him worse than ever.”

A little later they separated, Sam promising to send word both to New York city and to Valley View farm as soon as there was any change in Tom’s condition.  Dick hurried to the railroad station and a little later got a train that took him to the Grand Central Depot.

The youth found his father at the rooms in the Outlook Hotel, he having promised to remain there until Sam returned, or Dick arrived.  Mr. Rover looked much careworn, and Dick realized more than ever that his parent was in no physical or mental condition to transact business.

“You ought to return to the farm and rest, Father,” said he, kindly.

“I must fix up these papers first, Dick,” was the answer.  “But tell me about poor Tom!  Oh, to think that those villains should strike him down that way!”

“They are desperate and will stop at nothing now,” answered the son.

Then he told as much as he could about his stricken brother.  Anderson Rover shook his head sadly.

“I am afraid he will never get over it, Dick!” he groaned.

“Let us hope for the best, Father,” answered the son, as bravely as he could.

Then he questioned his father about the investments in the Sunset Irrigation Company and in the lands out west, and soon the pair were going over the matters carefully.

“I think we need the services of a first-class lawyer—­ one we can trust absolutely,” said Dick.

“But where can you find such a lawyer?” asked the father.

“Oh, there must be plenty of them.”  Dick thought for a moment.  “One of my best chums at Putnam Hall and at Brill was John Powell—­ Songbird.  You know him.  He has an uncle here, Frank Powell, who is a lawyer.  The family are well-connected.  Perhaps this Frank Powell may be the very man we need.  I can call him up on the telephone and find out.”

“Do as you think best, Dick,” sighed Mr. Rover.  “From now on I shall leave these business matters in your hands.  I realize that I am too feeble to attend to them properly.”

Dick lost no time in communication with Mr. Frank A. A. Powell, as his name appeared in the telephone book.  When the youth explained who he was the lawyer said he would be glad to meet the Rovers.  His office was not far from the Outlook Hotel, and he said he would call at once, Dick explaining that his father was not feeling very well.