The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle | Page 4

can never guess who is going there, too."
"Who?"
"William Philander Tubbs and Mr. Strong."
"What, our own dude going to camp in the wilderness," cried Tom. "Oh,
if I was only along wouldn't I give him some surprises!"
"I'll have some fun--don't forget that!" replied George, with a grin. "But
as Mr. Strong is going to be along, of course I'll have to be a little
careful."
"Dear Mr. Strong!" murmured Sam, with a sigh. "What a fine teacher
he is, and how I hate to give him up!"
"I envy your having him along," said Dick.
At that moment the train rolled into a station and Larry and some of the
others got off.
"We leave you at the next station," said Songbird, to the Rovers.
"When you find out what you are going to do this summer, write and
let me know."
"I certainly shall," answered Dick.
The three Rover boys soon after found themselves alone. They had to
make a change of cars, and some time later rolled into the station at
Oak Run.
"Home again!" shouted Tom, as he alighted on the depot platform.
"Yes, and there is Uncle Randolph waiting for us," added Dick, as he
hurried forward to meet his relative. "How do you do, Uncle!" he cried.
"I am well, Richard," answered Randolph Rover, and then he shook
hands with all three boys. "Your--er--your father----" he began and

hesitated.
"Father? What of him?" asked Tom, in quick alarm, for he saw that his
uncle was much disturbed.
"Isn't he with you?"
"Why, no!" answered the three, in a chorus.
"He started for home last night," added Dick. "Took the train after the
one you and Aunt Martha took."
"But he didn't come home," said Randolph Rover.
"Didn't come home?"
"No."
"Didn't he send any word?" questioned Sam.
"None that I received."
"He said he was going straight home--would telephone from Lockville
for the carriage to meet the last train," said Tom. "This is mighty
queer."
It was queer and for the moment the Rover boys and their uncle stared
blankly at one another.
"Something is wrong," declared Dick, presently. "And I am going to
make it my business to find out at once what it is."
CHAPTER II
AN IMPORTANT TELEGRAM
Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's
disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover,
on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he

would take the last train home that night. This train got into Oak Run at
one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the
platform usually deserted.
"Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came
in," suggested Tom.
They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed
individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him
in times past. He shook his head at once.
"Don't keep the station open that long," he grunted. "I was home an' in
bed, an' I don't know anything about your father."
"Was anybody around the station, that you know of?" went on Dick.
"No."
"Did any telegram come in for our family?"
"If it did I reckon Jackson would send it over, or telephone."
"Let us ask Jackson and make sure," said Sam, and led the way to the
telegraph office. The telegraph receiver was ticking away at a lively
rate, and Jackson, who had charge of the office, was taking down a
message on a blank.
"Hullo!" cried the telegrapher, as he finished and looked up. "Here is a
message for Mr. Randolph Rover hot off the wire. It won't take long to
deliver it," and he handed it over. "It's paid for," he added. "But you'll
have to sign for it," and Mr. Rover did so.
Eagerly all the Rovers read the communication, which ran as follows:
"Am following man I want to catch if possible. May be away from
home several days or a week. Very important to see man--trip this
summer depends upon it.
"ANDERSON ROVER."

"Wonder who the man can be?" mused Dick, after reading the message
twice.
"He has something to do with this matter father was going to tell us
about," returned Sam. "It's certainly a mystery."
"Well, this relieves our anxiety," said Randolph Rover. "So long as I
know nothing has happened, your father can stay away as long as he
pleases."
"But I am dying to know what it is all about," burst out Tom, who was
always impatient to get at the bottom of things. "Uncle Randolph, do
you know what father has in mind to do this summer?"
"He talks about taking a sea trip, but where to I don't know."
"And