"And that is just about what I have been doing," answered Dick with a sickly laugh. "Do you know anything of Buddy Girk?" he added quickly. "He ran away from the tenement, and Arnold Baxter was with him," replied Sam. "Did you follow them?" "No; we tried to find out what had become of you." Each had to tell his story, and then Dick was led into the house. He lost no time in brushing up and washing himself, and by that time breakfast was ready in the dining room. "It's a curious adventure, truly," said Senator Harrington, as he sat down with the boys. "I am glad you got out of it so well. The next time you see anything of those rascals you had better lose no time in informing the police." The senator was one of that class of busy men who eat breakfast and read their morning newspaper at the same time. Having listened to what Dick had to say, he unfolded his paper and propped it up against a fruit dish before him. "Excuse me, but I am in a hurry," he remarked apologetically. "I want to catch a train for New York at eight-thirty-five, and--hullo, what's this! Rush & Wilder, Brokers and Bankers, Robbed! Thieves enter the office and loot the safe! This is news certainly." "Rush & Wilder!" cried Frank. "Is that the firm you do business with?" "Yes, Frank. They have lost over sixty-five thousand dollars, besides a lot of unregistered bonds. That's a big loss." "Will you suffer?" "I don't know but what I shall. I'll have to let that trip to New York go and look into this." And Senator Harrington settled back to read the account of the robbery in full. "They haven't any trace of the thieves, have they?" asked Tom. "No. It says a rear window was broken open and the iron bars unscrewed. The safe door was found closed but unlocked." "Then the thieves had the combination," put in Sam. "More than likely." "I wonder if Baxter and Girk committed that crime?" came from Dick. "I think they would be equal to it. They were up to some game." "It might be," returned Senator Harrington, with interest. "But how would those men obtain the combination of Rush & Wilder's safe?" "I'm sure I don't know, but--yes, they mentioned a man named Mooney who was to assist them. Perhaps he is known around the bankers' offices." "We can soon find out. What were you boys going to do this morning?" "I was going back to the tenements to see if I couldn't have Baxter and Girk arrested," said Dick. "If they learn you have escaped, they will probably clear out." "I suppose that's so. But I might go down and see." "Yes, I'd do that. Later on you can come over to Rush & Wilder's offices." This was agreed to, and as soon as breakfast was over Dick and the other boys hurried off to where Yates' tenements were located. Caleb Yates was on hand, and all visited the apartment Baxter and Buddy Girk had occupied. It was found that the men had not returned, and it did not look as if they intended to come back.