"You can go, Richard," answered Captain Putnam. "But be careful
and keep out of trouble."

"Can I take Tom and Sam with me?" I

At this the master of Putnam Hall smiled broadly. "Always like
to be together, eh? All right, I don't know but what it will be
safer for the three of you to go together," he said; and Dick
lost no time in telling his brothers. In a few minutes the trio
set off for the Stanhope cottage, little dreaming of the long
time that was to elapse before they should see Putnam Hall again.





CHAPTER XV

DICK'S BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD

The three Rover boys reached the Stanhope cottage on a run, to
find nobody in charge but a washwoman, who was hanging up some
clothing in the back yard.

Explaining the situation so far as was necessary, they went
inside and hunted up the note Mrs. Stanhope had mentioned.

"I believe that is Dan Baxter's writing," said Dick slowly.

"It is," came from Sam. "I know it from the flourishes on the