“What, Tom?”

“I—­ I hate to say it, but do you think it’s possible that dad got—­ got a little bit out of his head—­ with that business worrying him?”

“It’s possible, Tom.  Men have been known to get that way from business troubles, and dad was far from well, we all know that.”

“He should have taken somebody to New York with him,” put in Sam.  “But it’s no use talking about that now.  The question is, What are we going to do?  I can’t stay here and study when he is missing.”

“Not much—­ I couldn’t study a thing!” cried Tom.

“I know what I am going to do,” replied Dick.  “I am going to take that early train home, and see Uncle Rudolph.  I’ll send another message to that hotel manager, too, and then, unless we get word that everything is O. K., I’m going to New York as fast as I can get there.”

“And I’ll go along!” cried each of the two brothers.

“Yes, that might be best—­ for if he is still missing we may have a great task to learn what became of him.  We’ll have to hunt the hospitals, and the police headquarters, and the—­ the——­” Dick was going to add “morgue,” but he could not bring himself to utter the word.  It was too awful to think that their father might be dead.

“We’ll have to explain to Doctor Wallington, or Professor Blackie,” said Tom.

“And send word to the girls,” added Sam.

“I don’t want to worry anybody more than I have to,” said Dick.  “This may turn out all right after all,” he added.  But he had his doubts.  That something unusual had happened to his father he was certain.

The boys spent some little time in packing their suitcases with such things as they deemed necessary for the trip, and then turned out the lights and went to bed.  But none of them slept well.  All tumbled and tossed on their couches, trying in vain to solve the mystery that surrounded the disappearance of their parent.

They were up an hour earlier than usual, and it was Dick who took the liberty to knock on the door of the head of the institution.

“Who is it?” asked the worthy doctor, and the young collegian told him.  A moment later the head of the college appeared, wrapped in a dressing gown.

“I am sorry to disturb you, sir,” said Dick.  “But something has happened that has upset me and my brothers a great deal.”  And he briefly related the condition of affairs, and asked leave of absence for himself and Tom and Sam.

“This is certainly alarming,” said Doctor Wallington, sympathetically.  “I trust your, father is speedily found and that nothing serious has happened to him.  Yes, you may go, and remain as long as is necessary.  When he is found, let me know.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Dick, and after a few words more he hurried off.  Then he and his brothers got an early breakfast, and had Abner Filbury drive them to the Ashton depot.  Only a handful of students saw them depart.