"Who is it?" he asked the housekeeper, who brought the message.
"I don't know. It's a gentleman from Hamilton Corners."
"I hope it's some of the boys," murmured Dick. "Or even a sight of 'Hank' Darby would be welcome," for, in spite of the activities at Kentfield, Dick was a bit homesick.
He found waiting for him Captain Handlee.
"I come to see if you had any news of my son," said the veteran pitifully. "I'm about to go out west on a clue I have, but I thought I'd stop off here."
"No," replied Dick, "I'm sorry, but I haven't any news for you. I wrote you about my inquiries."
"Yes, I know, but I hoped something might have happened since then."
"No, I regret to say, there hasn't. But how does it come that you're going out west?"
"Well, I have an idea I can get some clues there. I'm going to look up some old soldiers who were in my son's company. Your father gave me the money to go."
"My father? Is he home?" asked Dick quickly, hoping his parent had unexpectedly returned from abroad.
"Oh, no. He gave it to me before he left. I mentioned that I'd like to go out west, and he gave me a good sum. I don't know what I'd do but for him."
