The Rover Boys in New York Part 48

"Please don't make no more row in the house than you can help," put in the elevator man. "This is a swell apartment and we don't like rows. I didn't know that lawyer who took this apartment was a crook."

"We'll do the job as quietly as possible," answered the second policeman, who chanced to know the elevator man.

"Dan, I think you can help me out," suggested d.i.c.k. "You might go to the door and call out that there is a telegram for Belright Fogg.

Then, when he opens the door, push into the room and we'll follow."

"Want me to help?" asked the elevator man, who was becoming interested.

"If you will," said d.i.c.k. "You can guard the stairs--so they can't run down that way."

"I'll do it."

Without further delay Dan Baxter walked to the door at which d.i.c.k had been listening. He chanced to have an old telegram envelope in his pocket and this he produced. He knocked loudly on the portal.

"Who is there?" cried the lawyer, in a somewhat startled voice, and Baxter heard several chairs shifted back as the occupants of the apartment leaped to their feet.

"Telegram for Mr. Fogg--Belright Fogg!" drawled Dan, in imitation of an A. D. T. youth.

"A telegram, eh?" muttered the lawyer. "Wonder what is up now?"

He came to the door and unlocked it cautiously. He was going to open it only a few inches, to peer out, but Baxter threw his weight against the portal, sending the lawyer backwards and b.u.mping into Jesse Pelter.

"Hi, what's this?" stammered Belright Fogg. "What do you mean by----"

He got no further, for at that instant d.i.c.k came into the apartment, closely followed by the two policemen.

At once there was a wild commotion. Pelter and j.a.pson let out yells of alarm, and both tried to back away, into the next room. But d.i.c.k was too quick for them and barred their progress.

"Let me go!" yelled Pelter, and tried to hurl d.i.c.k to one side. Then j.a.pson struck out with his fist, but the oldest Rover boy dodged.

"So that's your game, is it?" cried Dan Baxter, as he saw the attack.

"Two can play at that!" And drawing back, the young traveling salesman hit j.a.pson a blow on the chin that bowled the broker over like a tenpin.

In the meantime d.i.c.k had grappled with Pelter and was holding the rascally broker against the wall. One of the policemen already held Fogg, who was trembling from head to foot in sudden panic.

"Surrender, in the name of the law!" said the bluecoat. And he made a move as if to draw a pistol.

"I--I sur--render!" gasped Belright Fogg, and up went his hands, tremblingly.

The other policeman produced a pair of handcuffs and in a twinkling they were slipped upon j.a.pson's wrist. Then the bluecoats turned towards Pelter.

"You shan't arrest me!" yelled that broker, savagely, and with a wrench, he tore himself from d.i.c.k's grasp and started through the rooms to the rear of the apartment.

CHAPTER XXIX

BROUGHT TO TERMS

"Stop him!"

"He must not get away'"

Such were some of the cries that echoed through the apartment as Jesse Pelter ran for the rear room.

He knew there was a fire escape there and thought he might reach the ground from that.

But d.i.c.k was at his heels, determined that the broker should not escape if he could possibly prevent it.

The window to the fire escape was open, for a maid in the kitchen had just set out some cooked dish to cool.

Pelter made a leap for the window, nearly scaring the maid into a fit.

She screamed loudly, and as she did so d.i.c.k made a wild leap and caught Pelter by the foot.

"Let go, Rover!" yelled the broker, hoa.r.s.ely.

"I won't! You are not going to get away, Pelter."

There was a struggle, and the broker aimed a blow at d.i.c.k's head. Then the oldest Rover boy suddenly caught the rascal by the neck and banged his head vigorously against the window casing.

"Ouch! Don't!" groaned the broker. "Oh, my skull is broken!"

"Then keep still," answered d.i.c.k, grimly, and he continued to hold the man. Soon one of the policemen came up, and then, much against his will, the head of the firm of Pelter, j.a.pson & Company was handcuffed like his partner in crime.

"You'll suffer for this, Rover; see if you don't!" growled Jesse Pelter, after the excitement was over. "I have done nothing wrong, and I can prove it. This is all a plot on the part of you and your family to get our firm into trouble."

"You can do your talking when you are in jail," answered d.i.c.k, briefly. "I know what I am doing."

"Maybe you got Crabtree to hatch up a story against us," came from j.a.pson.

"Never mind what Crabtree confessed," said d.i.c.k. "You'll get what is coming to you, never fear."

"I guess I had better send in a call for the patrol wagon," said one of the policemen. "Can you watch 'em, Jake?"

"Sure," answered the second bluecoat. "I guess the young fellows will help."

"I will," said d.i.c.k.

"So will I," put in Dan. He turned to d.i.c.k. "I'm mighty glad to be of service to you. It kind of helps to--to--pay off old scores, eh?" he faltered.

"Yes, Dan; you are doing us a great service, and I shan't forget it,"

returned d.i.c.k, with warmth.

A number of tenants in the apartment house had been alarmed by what was going on, and among them were the girl Baxter was engaged to marry, and her mother. Dan quickly explained matters to them, and introduced d.i.c.k, and the latter told of the service Baxter had done.

Then the police patrol wagon came along, and the prisoners and the others went below.