"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: