This, indeed, was another startling discovery, and one which brought a flood of thoughts to Bob Somers' brain.  
He waited until satisfied that there was no danger of discovery, then slipped down from his perch¹ and started rapidly away.
 
"A lucky thing I climbed that tree," he soliloquized. "A mighty² good morning's work. Now I think I'd better give father's letter to Mr. Jenkins at once."
 
Passing a restaurant, he was reminded of the fact that lunch time had arrived, and accordingly entered.
 
During the course of the meal, Bob took from his inside pocket a wallet. It contained a letter which Mr. Somers had sent to his agent. The inscription³ on the envelope read:
 
John C. Jenkins,
243 State Street,
Tocono, Wisconsin.
He remembered the locality, and on leaving the restaurant started off without hesitation⁴.
 
Number 243 State Street was an old-fashioned building. The march of progress had left it dingy⁵ and dreary-looking between two of its more pretentious⁶ modern neighbors. In the hallway was a directory of tenants⁷.
 
"Fifth floor, rooms 501 and 502," read Bob. "It's a rather poor-looking office building,—and these stairs certainly do creak."
 
When Bob reached his destination, he found a notice tacked⁸ on the door which informed him that Mr. Jenkins would return at half-past two.
 
"I'll walk around a bit," he mused⁹, slowly retracing¹⁰ his steps.
 
Promptly¹¹ at the time stated, Bob was again standing¹² before the office door.
 
Mr. Jenkins, however, was still absent.
 
Ten minutes passed, then fifteen, and Bob, impatient at the delay, once more reluctantly descended¹³ to the street. Finally a neighboring clock struck the hour of three.
 
The notes had scarcely ceased reverberating¹⁴, when a tall, thin man rapidly crossed the street, headed directly for the doorway¹⁵. He brushed past Bob Somers and mounted the stairs.
 
Bob gave a gasp¹⁶ of surprise and quickly followed.
 
As the man turned on the fifth landing, Bob had reached the fourth. He waited long enough to hear a door opened and shut, then mounted the remaining steps two at a time.
 
The notice at the entrance to Mr. Jenkins' office had been removed.
 
"Another important discovery," mused Bob. "So Mr. John C. Jenkins happens to be one of the very men I saw with Mr. Wingate a few minutes ago. This is interesting—sure enough. Guess I don't care to see him just yet."
 
Whistling softly, Bob turned away, and headed directly for the post-office.
 
In a long letter he told his father of the various discoveries he had made, advised him not to sell his land, and concluded by urging him to come to Tocono at once.
 
At half-past four he reached the Wisconsin House.
 
The boys had not yet put in an appearance, and another trying wait followed.
 
At ten minutes past six, a welcome sound reached his ears. The Ramblers were ascending¹⁷ the stairs.
 
"Hello, fellows!" he cried, stepping out upon the landing.
 
"Hello, Bob, you runaway¹⁸; any news?" asked Sam.
 
Even Dave listened eagerly, as Bob related his experience. Wonder and surprise were depicted¹⁹ on the faces of all when he told about the men on the steamboat, and the discovery of the agent in Mr. Wingate's company.
 
"You have done yourself proud, Bob Somers," declared Dick Travers; "you'd make a great detective."
 
"Just to think, those chaps on that little steamboat did all the mischief²⁰," observed Sam; "who could have believed it?"
 
"One thing we know, now," said Bob; "Nat Wingate isn't quite as mean as we thought."
 
"But somebody ought to be in jail."
 
"Well, just wait until dad gets here. The whole scheme is plain—they wanted to buy that land before we could get there."
 
"Maybe there's a gold mine on it," suggested Tom, jestingly.
 
Bob Somers' thoughts were, naturally, very much occupied with his discoveries.
 
"Dad will find out all about it in short order," he said to himself, "or else I'm much mistaken."
 
Sightseeing, a trolley²¹ ride to an amusement park and an evening spent at the public library were all enjoyed.
 
Early on the following morning, Bob received the hoped-for letter.
 
"Father is coming on this afternoon," he announced joyfully²² to Sam Randall; "he expects to get here at 2:37."
 
"Splendid!" cried Sam. "I only hope he clears up everything."
 
"Don't for the world let Nat know that dad will be here," cautioned Bob.
 
"Trust me for that. I'm too anxious to have things settled."
 
The two boys kept together until nearly train time. Then Sam Randall took his departure, while Bob entered the railroad station.
 
He walked up and down the long platform, viewing the sights with interest. Trucks, loaded with trunks and valises, were being rattled²³ forth²⁴ and back, while passengers in groups or walking to and fro awaited their trains.
 
At length a whistle sounded in the distance, a puff²⁵ of smoke rose above the buildings, then the train rounded a curve and within a few minutes a roar and the hiss²⁶ of escaping steam filled the air.
 
Suddenly Bob darted²⁸ forward. He had caught sight of a stout²⁹, prosperous-looking gentleman, who, bag in hand, had alighted.
 
"Hello, dad!" he cried, seizing his hand.
 
"Hello, Bob! Glad to see you safe and sound."
 
"How is mother?"
 
"Very well, but, naturally, anxious about you. You seem to have had a most extraordinary trip."
 
"Yes, indeed—I should say so."
 
"You must tell me all about it—from the very beginning," said Mr. Somers.
 
He waved his arm toward a rickety-looking conveyance³⁰.
 
"Now, Bob," said his father, settling himself back in his seat, "let us go over the various points together. Mr. Jenkins may have been playing a pretty deep game."
 
"I'm almost sure he has."
 
"So you told me. You have done remarkably³¹ well in finding out so much."
 
As the cab rolled along, the two discussed the whole affair at length.
 
"Mr. Jenkins saw me at Kingswood, and I was on the point of accepting his terms, when your letter arrived," declared Mr. Somers; "everything seemed square and aboveboard."
 
"And you weren't going to wait until we got there?" asked Bob, reproachfully.
 
Mr. Somers smiled.
 
"Your trip had been so much delayed that I began to feel it wasn't worth while. Then, your mother urged me to accept, and I could see no reason for holding out any longer, as the terms were satisfactory."
 
"What is your plan, father?" asked Bob.
 
"I shall see Mr. Jenkins t............