The Rover Boys in New York | Page 9

every once in a while. Those business matters worry him a great deal."
"Can't your uncle help him?"

"No, Uncle Randolph means well, but he is no business man-- he
showed that when he allowed those men to swindle him out of those
bonds," went on Dick, referring to an event which has been related in
detail in "The Rover Boys on the Farm."
"But what can you do, Dick?" questioned the girl, earnestly.
"I think I'll have to quit college and take up the matter myself,"
answered Dick Rover.
CHAPTER IV
THE END OF THE "DARTAWAY"
"Quit college? Oh, Dick, do you want to do that?"
"Not exactly, Dora-- and yet I don't think I am exactly fitted for a
professional career. That seems to be more in Tom and Sam's line. I
like business, and I'd enjoy getting into something big, something
worth while. I think I could handle those matters, if father would only
let me try. And then there is another thing, Dora," went on the youth,
looking squarely into his companion's face. "Perhaps you can guess
what that is."
She blushed deeply.
"What?" she whispered.
"I want to marry you, and take you some place where I know you'll be
safe from such creatures as Crabtree and Sobber and Larkspur-- and I
want the right to look after your mother, too."
"Oh, Dick!" And she clung tightly to his arm.
"Aren't you willing, Dora?"
"Yes." She looked at him frankly" "Yes, Dick, whenever you say."
"And your mother----"

"Mamma depends upon me in everything, and she has told me to do
just as we thought best."
Dick gave a swift look around. Nobody was in sight at that moment. He
pressed Dora to him.
"You best and dearest sweetheart in all the world!" he cried, in a low
tone. "Then I can depend on you? We'll be the happiest couple in the
whole world!"
"Indeed, yes, Dick!" And Dora's eyes fairly beamed with happiness as
she snuggled closer to him. "But about your father," she continued, a
moment later. "I am selfish to forget him. Then he is not so well?"
"He is fairly well, but he gets a bad spell ever so often, and then to
attend to business is out of the question. But that isn't the worst of it.
He has gotten tangled up in some sort of financial scheme with some
brokers in New York City and it is worrying him half to death. He has
told me something about it, but I don't know half as much as I'd like to
know."
"Then you must find out, Dick, and help him all you possibly can,"
declared the girl, promptly.
"I'm looking for a letter from home every day-- I mean one telling
about these financial affairs. As soon as it comes I'll know what to do."
All too soon the boys' visit to Hope Seminary had to come to an end.
Sam and Tom returned to the biplane and gave the motor a brief
"try-out," which noise reached Dick's ears just as he was trying to break
away from Dora. He gave her a last hug and a kiss and then ran to join
his brothers.
"The best of friends must part, as the hook said to the eye!" sang out
Tom, merrily.
"I believe you are anxious to leave us!" returned Nellie, teasingly.

"Sure thing!" he retorted, promptly. "I planned to get away an hour
before I came." And then she playfully boxed his ear, at which he
chased her around the biplane and gave her a hearty smack just below
her own pretty ear.
"Tom Rover!" she gasped. But, somehow, she looked pleased,
nevertheless.
"A11 in the family!" sang out the fun-loving Rover, coolly. "As the
lady said when she kissed her cow."
"Who is going to run the Dartaway back?" questioned Sam. "I think it's
my turn at the wheel."
"It's rather dark, Sam," answered Dick. "But you can try it-- if you want
to."
"All right-- I think I can see as much as you or Tom," responded the
youngest Rover. "If I get off the course, and you find it out, let me
know."
Darkness was settling down when the boys finally bid the girls
good-bye and flew away. "Beware of old Crabtree!" sang out Dick.
"We'll watch out!" answered Nellie.
"Indeed we will!" came from Dora and Grace.
"If you catch sight of him, have him arrested!" yelled Sam, and then the
biplane sailed out of hearing.
Sam knew how to handle the Dartaway almost as well as did Dick and
Tom, and as there was but little wind, and the flying machine appeared
to be in good condition, the others did not doubt but what Sam would
make a fine flight of the trip.
"Keep a