Gradually, from the very much upset housekeeper and from the servants,
Ned and Frank obtained an account of what had happened. Their uncle, who
had been busily engaged in the intervening days in trying to straighten
matters out, had arrived from New York in the early afternoon.
He had been busy in the library over papers and documents, when two
strangers called and spent some time with him. There were loud words,
the housekeeper said, and then Mr. Arden had come out, accompanied by
the two men.
"He told me to tell you," Mrs. Brun said, "that they were taking him to
Atlanta."
"Atlanta!" exclaimed Ned.
"There is a federal prison there," said Frank. "Well, what happened
next?" he asked the housekeeper.
"Your uncle begged and pleaded for time, saying he wanted to see you,
and tell you of certain matters. But the men--they must have been
detectives I guess--"
"Probably secret service men," interrupted Frank. "But go on, I beg your
pardon, Mrs. Brun."
"They took him away," said the housekeeper. "That's all there was to it.
They said there was a train they could get from New York to-night, and
they hurried off. Your uncle only had time to pack a suit case of
clothes, and they took him away. And what's to become of all of us, or
who's to look after things, I don't know!" she sobbed.
"Well, there's no use worrying," said Frank. "I'll go to see Mr.
Thursby. He's a lawyer, and Uncle Phil has consulted him on some
matters. He can tell us what to do. If worst comes to worst we'll let
this house, get rent for it, and shift for ourselves. You can easily get
a place," he said to the housekeeper, "and so can the other servants,
probably."
"Oh, yes. It isn't about that I'm worrying," she announced, drying her
eyes; "it's you poor boys! What will you do without a home?"
"Without a home?" exclaimed Ned. "Why, won't we have this place?"
"Oh, no, Ned, dear!" cried Mrs. Brun, who was very like a mother to the
boys. "Your uncle said this house was attached also, and that you
couldn't stay here. I don't know what you are going to do. You can't
rent it and use the money, either."
"Well, we'll just have to shift for ourselves, that's all," said Frank,
with assumed cheerfulness. "It might be worse! We'll make out somehow,
eh, Ned?"
"Oh, I guess. But say, this is sudden, all right!"
"Sudden isn't any name for it," commented Frank. "I wonder what we had
really better do? I'll have a talk with the lawyer."
"Do you imagine we can stay here to-night?" asked Ned.
"I don't see why not," his brother answered. "At least I don't see any
one around to put us out."
"It won't be as sudden as that," Mrs. Brun informed them. "Your uncle
said it would be a week before you would have to leave here, and perhaps
not then, if he could get matters straightened out."
"Well, then let's have supper," proposed Ned. "The secret service men
didn't take away all the victuals, did they?"
"Oh, no; there's plenty to eat," the housekeeper said. "That is, if any
one has the heart to eat."
"Well, I feel bad enough about uncle's trouble, as far as that goes,"
observed Frank, "but there's no use in starving. Besides, we must keep
up our strength. There'll be plenty to do from now on."
"I'm with you!" agreed his brother. "I don't know just what we can do,
but we'll do our best, anyhow."
The household was upset, naturally, but Mrs. Brun managed to put a meal
on the table. In the evening the two boys went to see the local lawyer.
He could give them little satisfaction, however, as he knew hardly
anything about Mr. Ardens affairs. He said, though, that he would do
what he could to aid the boys in case further legal proceedings were
taken against them or their uncle.
And there was need of his help, for the next day formal notice was
served of the attachment of the Arden property for the benefit of the
persons in the South American republic.
"But what does it mean?" asked Frank, when a copy of the papers had been
left at the house and a surly man put in charge.
"It means that I'm in possession," was the answer. "The property has
been seized, and will be held for the benefit of the damaged parties."
"Can't we stay here?" asked Ned.
"Don't see how you can very well," was the answer. "I don't want to be
mean, boys, but orders is orders. If you've got any way of living I
don't object to your staying in the house. It won't hurt it any, I
guess. But how are you going to live?"
"That's so," conceded Frank. "There'll not be any money coming in with
our uncle away. Our money is tied up, as is his. Have you got much,
Ned?"
"A few dollars."
"That's the way with me. We'd better go to see that lawyer. Maybe he can
fix things up."
But the legal representative was unable to do anything. The attachment
was perfectly legal he said, and the boys were practically ousted. The
servants took alarm at the first warning, and left to look for other
situations. Mr. Arden had anticipated something like this though, and
had paid them up to the end of the month, as he had the housekeeper.
"I don't like to leave you boys," said Mrs. Brun, tearfully, "but what
can I do? There will be nothing for me to do with that sheriff's officer
in charge. Soon there will be nothing left to cook, and if you have no
money--"
"It is better that you should go," agreed Frank. "And we'll go too,
Ned."
"Go! Where can we go?"
"That's what we've got to figure out. I don't see any sense in staying
here, though. We can't make a living here."
"What about taking out parties in our motor boat?"
"I don't believe that would work. I think we'd better sell her and use
the money."
"What! Sell that dory?"
"Well, if our fortune is gone we can't run her, and if our fortune isn't
lost, we can buy another later. I say, let's get together all the cash
we can and shift for ourselves."
"Where shall we go?"
"New York!" exclaimed Frank. "That's the place of opportunities. And
say, Ned, I've got a scheme!" and his eyes twinkled.
"What is it?" asked the younger brother.
"Tell you later," was the answer. "If it works we may be able to see
Uncle Phil again soon."
"I'm with you on anything like that!" Ned cried.
There being nothing else for them to do under the peculiar and strange
circumstances, the two boys prepared to shift for themselves.