CHAPTER VI
LINK SMITH'S CONFESSION
For a moment there was a painful pause and the Rover boys looked at each other and at Captain Putnam in perplexity.
"Does this mean that we must go to jail?" demanded Tom.
"I don't think it will be necessary to hold them," came from Captain
Putnam. "Squire Haggerty, I presume you know who I am."
"Yes, sir, Captain Putnam of Putnam Hall."
"Then you will, of course, let me go on a bail bond for these three pupils of mine."
"If ye care to do it, captain."
"Certainly. I am convinced that they are innocent. Why, it is preposterous to think that they would break into such a shop and rob it of a hundred and sixty dollars' worth of goods. They are rich young gentlemen, of a high-standing family, and each has all the spending money he needs."
"I see, I see."
"Well, it ain't nuthin' to me what they be, so long as I git my goods back," growled Aaron Fairchild. "I ain't got nuthin' against 'em personally, especially if they are innocent."
"I think you will find it to your advantage to let this whole matter rest for the present," went on Captain Putnam. "If you make a charge against the boys it will hurt both them and my school. I feel sure they will not run away, and I will give you my personal word that they shall appear in court whenever wanted."
"That sounds reasonable," came from the constable, who was beginning to fear the influence which Captain Putnam and the Rovers might bring to bear on the case. "It ain't no nice thing to ruin a boy's repertation, if he ain't guilty," he added.
"That is a sensible speech which does you credit, sir," said the captain.
"I'd like to find this feller Flapp," went on Aaron Fairchild. "How does he look?"
"I have his photograph at the academy. I will let the constable have that, if he wishes it."
"That suits me," returned Josiah Cotton. "Hang me if I don't kinder think he must be guilty. But it puzzles me how them things got in the boys' uniforms."
The matter was discussed for fully an hour, and the whole party visited Aaron Fairchild's shop. But no clews were brought to light. Then a wagon was hired to take the captain and the boys to Putnam Hall. The constable went along, to get the photograph which had been promised.
On the way the three Rovers were unusually silent and but little was said by the master of the school. Arriving at the Hall the picture was turned over to Josiah Cotton, who soon after departed. Then the three Rovers were invited into the captain's private office. The marching battalion had not yet arrived and was not expected for several hours.
"I'd like to sift this matter out," said the captain, seating himself at his desk. "Richard, when did you clean your uniform last?"
"Yesterday afternoon, Captain Putnam."
"Were those holes in there then?"
"I don't think so."
"How about your uniform, Thomas?"
"I cleaned up yesterday morning. I don't remember any holes."
"And you, Samuel?"
"I had a hole in my left sleeve, but the jewelry was found in the right sleeve."
"Let me examine the coats."
This was done, and all concluded that the holes had been cut with the blade of a sharp knife, or with a small pair of scissors.
"I believe the job was done in the dark," said Dick. "Somebody must have visited our tent last night after we went to sleep."
"When did you go to sleep, Richard?"
"Well, I don't think we were real sound asleep until about midnight.
There was some sort of a noise in the camp that kept us awake."
"Somebody said Tubbs was up playing negro minstrel," added Tom, soberly.
"Yes, he was up. So you went to sleep about midnight? And when did you get up?"
"At the first call," answered Sam.
"And your coats were as you had left them?"
"Mine was," came from Sam and Dick.
"I don't remember exactly how I did leave mine," said Tom. "But I didn't notice anything unusual."
"Then, if the real thief visited our camp he must have come in between midnight and six o'clock," went on the master of the school. "I must question those who were on guard duty about this."
"That's the idea!" cried Dick. "If the thief sneaked in somebody must have seen him."
"Unless a guard was asleep on his post," came from Tom. "As it was the last night out they may have been pretty lax in that direction."
Dinner had been ordered, and the three Rovers dined with the captain in his private dining room. Then the boys went up to their dormitory to pack their trunks.
"I must say this is a fine ending for the term," was Tom's comment, as he began to get his belongings out of the closet. "And after everything looked so bright, too!"
"It's a jolly shame!" cried Sam. "If Lew Flapp did this, or Dan Baxter,
I'd like to—to wring his neck for it!"
"It will certainly put a cloud on our name," said Dick. "In spite of what we can say, some folks will be mean enough to think we are guilty."
"We must catch the thief and make him confess," went on Tom.
The three boys packed their trunks and other belongings and then went below again and down to the gymnasium and then to the boathouse. But they could not interest themselves in anything and their manner showed it.
"What is the matter that you came back so soon?" questioned Mrs. Green, the matron of the academy, who knew them well.
"Oh, we had business with Captain Putnam," answered Tom, and that was all he' would say. He dearly loved to play jokes on the matron, but now he felt too downcast to give such things a thought.
Late in the afternoon the distant rattle of drums was heard, and soon the battalion, dusty and hot, came into view, making a splendid showing as it swung up the broad roadway leading to the Hall.
"Here they come!" cried Sam. But he had not any heart to meet his friends, and kept out of sight until the young cadets came to a halt and were dismissed for the last time by Captain Putnam and Major Colby.
"Well, this is certainly strange," said Larry Colby, as he came up to
Dick. "What was the row in the barn about?"
"I'll have to tell you some other time, Larry," was Dick's answer. "There has been trouble and Captain Putnam wants to get at the bottom of it."
"Somebody said you had been locked up for robbing a jewelry shop."
"There has been a robbery and we were suspected. But we were not locked up."
As soon as he was able to do so, Captain Putnam learned the names of the twelve cadets who had been on picket duty between midnight and six o'clock that morning. These cadets were marched to one of the classrooms and interviewed one at a time in the captain's private office.
From the first six cadets to go in but little was learned. One cadet, when told that something of a very serious nature had occurred—something which was not a mere school lark and could not be overlooked—confessed that he had allowed two cadets to slip out of camp and come back again with two capfuls of apples taken from a neighboring orchard.
"But I can't tell their names, Captain Putnam," the cadet added.
"How long were they gone, Beresford?"
"Not over fifteen or twenty minutes."
"Did you see the apples?"
"Yes, sir, I—er—ate two of them."
"And you allowed nobody else to pass?"
"No, sir."
"Very well; you may go," and Beresford went, thankful that he had not been reprimanded for neglect of duty. Had the thing occurred in the middle of the term the reprimand would surely have been forthcoming.
The next cadet to come in was Link Smith, who showed by his general manner that he was much worried. Captain Putnam knew Smith thoroughly and also remembered that the feeble-minded cadet was a fellow easily led astray.
"Smith, you were on guard duty from twelve o'clock to two last night," he began severely.
"Yes, sir," answered Link Smith, with an inward shiver.
"Did you fall asleep on your post during that time?"
"No, sir—that is, I don't think I did."
"What do you mean by saying you don't think you did?"
"I—that is—I was awfully sleepy and could scarcely keep my eyes open.
I—I sat down on a rock for a little while."
"And slept?
"I—I think not."
"Was that before or after you allowed an outsider to get into our camp?"
"Oh, Captain Putnam, how did you know I let somebody in? I—that is—I mean, who said I let anybody in?" stammered poor Smith, taken completely off his guard.
"Never mind who told me. What I want to know is, did you sleep after you let him in or before?"
"Why, I—I—really—"
"Tell me the truth, Smith."
"I guess I took a nap afterwards, sir. But it was only for a minute, sir," pleaded the cadet.
"I see. Did you see the outsider leave camp after you had let him in?"
"Why, sir—I—I—"
"I want the strict truth, remember, Smith. If you don't tell the truth you may get yourself in great trouble."
"Oh, Captain Putnam, I—I didn't mean to do anything wrong!"
"Did you see the outsider leave again or not?"
"Yes, sir, I saw him leave?"
"How soon after he had come in?"
"About fifteen or twenty minutes,—certainly, not much longer than that."
"Now, who was the outsider?"
"Why, I—er—I—"
"Answer me, Smith!" And now Captain Putnam's voice was as keen as the blade of a knife. He stood before the frightened cadet, looking him squarely in the eyes.
"It was Lew Flapp. But, oh, please, don't let him know I told you!
He'll kill me if he finds it out!" Link Smith was about ready to cry.
"Lew Flapp." The captain drew a long breath. "How did you come to let him in? You knew he had been dismissed from the school."
"He begged me to let him in, saying he merely wanted to speak to two of his old friends. I asked him why he didn't wait until morning, but he said he wanted them to do something for him before they left the school—that he must see them then and there."
"Did he mention his friends' names?"
"No, sir."
"What did he say when he went away?"
"Nothing much, sir, excepting that he had seen them and it was all right."
"Where did he go to?"
"I don't know. It was dark and I soon lost sight of him."
"He came alone?"
"Yes, sir. But, please, Captain Putnam, don't tell him I told you, or he'll kill me."
"Don't be alarmed, Smith. I'll protect you. If you see Flapp again tell me at once."
"I will, sir."
This ended the examination of Link Smith, and as soon as it was over the remainder of the cadets who had been on guard duty the night before were likewise told they might go.
CHAPTER VII
FUN ON THE CAMPUS
"It was Lew Flapp, just as I supposed," said Dick, when he heard the news from Captain Putnam. "What a rascal he is getting to be! Almost as bad as Dan Baxter."
"Oh, he would have to be a good deal worse than he is to be as bad as
Dan," returned Sam. "But I admit, he is bad enough."
"I'd give some money to lay my hands on him," put in Tom. "Oh, but wouldn't I punch his head good and hand him over to the police afterwards!"
Word was sent to Josiah Cotton and other officers of the law to look for Flapp, but for the time being nothing was seen or heard of that individual.
The Rover boys were to start for home the next day and that night a large number of the cadets held a special jollification on the parade ground in front of the Hall. A bonfire was lit, and the lads danced around and sang to their hearts' content.
In the midst of the excitement somebody saw Peleg Snuggers, the general-utility man of the school, hurrying across the backyard.
"Hullo, there goes Peleg!" was the shout.
"Let's give him a rousing farewell, boys," came from Tom Rover. "Hi, there, Peleg, come here."
"Can't, I'm in a hurry," responded the man-of-all-work, who had had the cadets plague him before.
"Oh, you must come," was the cry, and in a moment more Peleg Snuggers was surrounded.
"Let us march him around on our shoulders," went on Tom. "Peleg loves that, I know he does."
"Don't, neither!" cried the general-utility man. "Now, Tom Rover, you just let me alone."
"We'll carry you around for your rheumatism, Peleg. You've got rheumatism, haven't you?"
"No, I haven't."
"It's good for the lumbago, too."
"Ain't got no lumba—Oh, crickey! Let me down, boys. I don't want a ride!"
"Behold, the conquering hero comes!" announced Sam, as six of the boys hoisted poor Snuggers up into the air. "Now, sit up straight, Peleg. Don't you want a sword?"
"Here's a broom," put in Fred Garrison, and handed over an article which was worn to a stump. "Present arms! Forward, march! General Washtub will lead the funeral procession."
"If you let me tumble I'll break my neck!" gasped Peleg Snuggers. "Oh, creation! How can I carry that broom and hold on, too! This is awful! Shall I call the captain? Let up, I say!"
"Send for Mrs. Green to give him some soothing syrup, he's got the fits," came from a cadet in the crowd.
"I'll get her," cried Tom, struck with a new idea.
Off ran the fun-loving youth to the kitchen of the academy, where the matron was superintending the work of several of the hired girls.
"Oh, Mrs. Green, come quick!" he gasped, as he caught the lady by the arm.
"What is it, Tom?"
"It's poor Peleg! They say he's got a fit! He wants some soothing syrup, or something!"
"Well, I never!" ejaculated Mrs. Green. "A fit! Poor man! Shall I ring for the doctor?"
"Perhaps you had better ring for two doctors, or else come and see if you can help him."
"I'll do what I can," answered the matron, and ran to get some medicine from a chest. "I know what it is," she added. "It's indigestion. He ate four ears of green corn for dinner and four for supper,—and it was very green at that."
"Then he will surely want Mrs. Green to help him," murmured Tom.
Off hurried the matron with some medicine and Tom at her heels.
In the meantime the boys had marched poor Peleg close to the fire.
"Now, steady," cried Sam. "Don't let him fall into the flames and singe his hair."
"Let us warm his feet for him," cried a cadet. "Take off his shoes and stockings!"
"Hi, don't you do nuthin' of the kind," cried Peleg Snuggers, in new alarm. "My feet are warm enough!"
But there was no help for it, and in a twinkling off came his shoes and his socks followed.
"I ain't a-goin' to have my feet warmed!" groaned the utility man. "You are worse nor heathens! Lemme go!"
He struggled violently, but the cadets placed him on the grass and sat on him. Then one, who had run down to the ice-house for a piece of ice, came up.
"Here's a red-hot poker," he said. "Peleg, don't you want your initials branded on your feet?"
"No! no! Oh, help! somebody, help!" yelled the utility man.
"Be careful, or he may get a spasm," whispered Dick, who was looking on without taking part.
"Oh, he's all right," returned the cadet with the ice. "Wait till I brand a P on one foot and an S on the other!" And he drew the ice across the sole of one foot as he spoke.
The poor utility man thought it was a red-hot poker and gave a yell which would have done credit to a South Sea savage. He squirmed and fought, and in the midst of the melee Mrs. Green and Tom arrived.
"There he is," said Tom. "He certainly must have a fit."
"Poor Peleg!" cried Mrs. Green. "Here, my dear, take this. It will do you good." And she held out the bottle of medicine she had brought. "Take about a big spoonful."
"Hurrah, Mrs. Green to the rescue!" shouted Sam. "Come, Peleg, don't be backward about coming forward."
"What is this, Mrs. Green?" asked the astonished man-of-all-work, as he suddenly sat up.
"It's for your cramps, or fits, or whatever you've got, Peleg."
"Cramps, or fits? I ain't got no cramps or fits! Are you crazy, Mrs.
Green?"
"Oh, Peleg, don't act so! You certainly have cramps, or indigestion.
Come, take the medicine!"
"That fer your medicine!" roared the angry man-of-all-work, and flung the bottle into the bonfire.
"Oh, that medicine!" shrieked the matron. "And I made it myself, too!"
"It's them pesky boys, Mrs. Green! They be a-tormenting the life out of me."
"The boys?" The matron stopped short in wonder.
"Yes, mum. They've stolen my shoes and socks, and they started to brand me with a red-hot poker. I ain't got no fits, nur cramps, nur nuthin', I ain't!"
"Well, I declare!" burst out the thoroughly angry matron. "Tom Rover, come here!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Green, I'll come day after to-morrow!" murmured Tom, as he kept at a safe distance.
"Well, I guess you are all in this together," went on Mrs. Green, looking at the crowd of cadets. "It's your last night and I suppose you will tear the academy down over our ears."
"Why, Mrs. Green, we never do anything wrong," said Sam, reproachfully.
"Oh, no, of course not," was the sarcastic answer. "I'll be thankful to find myself alive after you are all gone." And with this reply the matron bounced off into the kitchen, where she slammed the door after her.
"Here are your shoes, Peleg," said George Granbury, as he handed them over.
"I want my socks first."
"Here you are," came from Larry Colby. As Larry's term as major was now over he was inclined to be as full of fun as anybody.
Peleg took his socks and his shoes and started to put on the former.
"Hullo, what's this!" he cried, and shook one foot violently. "What's in that sock! A grasshopper, I declare! Larry Colby, did you do that?"
"Why, Peleg, you know I never play any jokes," answered the ex-major, innocently.
"Don't I, though! But never mind." The general-utility man started to put on the other sock. "If you think—Great snakes, what's this? Oh, my foot! A hop-toad! Beastly!" And Peleg flung the toad at Larry. The ex-major dodged and the animal struck William Philander Tubbs full in the face.
"Oh, ah—what do you—ah—mean by such actions!" stormed the aristocratic cadet. "I shall report this."
"Hurrah, Tubby has gone into the frog-raising business," shouted Tom, merrily.
"I shan't put nuthin' on here," went on Peleg Snuggers, and watching his chance, he ran off at top speed, with his shoes in one hand and his socks in the other.
CHAPTER VIII
GOOD-BYE TO PUTNAM HALL
"Now, Songbird, give us one of your best poetical effusions," came from Dick Rover, after the excitement had died down a little. "We haven't heard a word out of you for fourteen minutes and a quarter."
"Yes, Songbird, turn on the poetry spigot and let her flow," put in
Tom.
"Give us something on old schooldays," came from another cadet.
"Put in a touch of last farewells," added another.
"Don't forget to speak of the moon and fond memories."
"Or, shall we ever forget?"
"Or, camping on the old camp-ground, Songbird."
"And of all things, mention the soup we had last Thursday. No piece of poetry would be complete without that soup."
"Who's making up poetry about soup?" roared Songbird Powell. But then he grew calmer. "All right, fellows, here goes." And he started:
"Of all the days to mem'ry dear,
The dearest days are those spent here,
When we—"
"That's a libel!" interrupted Tom. "Captain Putnam's rates are no higher than the rates of other first-class academies. I move we cut that verse out, Songbird."
"I didn't mean the cost of the days spent here."
"You can't spend anything here," put in George Granbury. "You have to go to Cedarville to do your shopping."
"I'll make a fresh start," came from Powell, and he warbled:
"Old Putnam Hall I do adore,
And love the place as ne'er before,
The campus, boathouse, fishing pier—
The roads that run from far and near—
Each classroom is a hallowed spot,
Though many lessons are forgot!
The dormitories, bright and clean—
No better rooms were ever seen!
The mess-room, where we gathered oft—"
"To eat our eggs both hard and soft!"
finished up Tom, and then went on:
"The prison wherein I was cast,
And thought that day would be my last,
The teachers sweet and the teachers sour,
And the feasts we held at the midnight hour,
The games of ball we lost and won,
And the jubilees! What lots of fun!
And then the skating on the ice—"
"When we broke in, 'twas not so nice:"
interrupted George Granbury, referring to a calamity the particulars of which have already been related in "The Rover Boys in the Mountains." And then Songbird Powell took up the strain once more:
"I love each corner and each nook,
I love the lake and love the brook,
I love the cedars waving high—"
"And love the dinners with mince pie,"
interrupted Tom once more, and continued:
"In fact, I love it one and all,
There is no spot like Putnam Hall!"
And then, with one accord, all standing around joined in the academy cheer:
"Zip, boom, bang! Ding, dong! Ding, dong! Bang! Hurrah for Putnam Hall!" Then the fire was stirred up, more boxes and barrels piled on top, and the cadets danced around more wildly than ever. They were allowed to keep up the fun until midnight, when all were so tired that further sport was out of the question, and all went sound asleep.
Bright and early the next morning the cadets assembled for their last breakfast in the mess-room. The parade was dispensed with, for some had to leave by the early boat on the lake in order to make the proper connections. Many were the handshakings and the kind words of farewell. Some of the students had graduated and were not to come back. Of these a few were bound for college, while others were going into various lines of business.
"We shall never forget our days at Putnam .Hall!" said more than one.
"And I shall never forget you, boys," answered Captain Putnam. "I wish all of you the best of success in life."
It was not until ten o'clock that the three Rover boys left for Cedarville in the big school stage. As was usual, Peleg Snuggers drove the turnout, which was filled to overflowing with cadets. Behind the stage came a big wagon, heavily loaded with trunks and boxes.
"Now, young gents, no cutting up," pleaded the general-utility man.
"The hosses won't stand it, nowhow!"
"That's an old scare, Peleg," replied Tom. He had a tin horn and gave a loud blast. "That will let folks know we are coming." And then a dozen other horns sounded out, while some of the cadets began to sing.
A few minutes after reaching the steamboat dock at the village, which, as my old readers know, was located on the shore of Cayuga Lake, the Golden Star came along and made her usual landing. The boat looked familiar to them and they gave the captain a rousing greeting.
Over a dozen pupils were to make the trip to Ithaca at the foot of the lake. There the Rovers would get aboard a train which would take them to Oak Run, the nearest railroad station to their home.
"The Golden Star looks like an old friend," remarked Dick, when they were seated on the front, upper deck, enjoying the refreshing breeze that was blowing.'
"I am never on this boat but what I think of our first meeting with Dan
Baxter and with Dora Stanhope and Nellie and Grace Laning," came from
Tom. "What an enemy Dan Baxter has been from that time on!"
"And what a pile of things have happened since that time!" was Sam's comment. "By the way, it is strange that none of us have heard from any of those girls lately. They ought to be coming east from California by this time."
"I wish they were home," went on Tom. "I'd like to propose something."
"Maybe you'd like to propose to Nellie," put in his younger brother, slyly.
"No sooner than you'd propose to Grace," was Tom's prompt answer, which made Sam blush. "Dick," he went on, "wouldn't it be great if we could get the girls and Mrs. Stanhope to take that trip with us on the houseboat?"
"That would certainly be immense," cried the eldest Rover, enthusiastically. "Why didn't we think of it before? We might have written to them about it."
"Is it too late to write now?" asked Sam. "Or, maybe we can telegraph."
"Perhaps Mrs. Laning wants her girls at home now," said Dick, slowly.
"They have been away a long time, remember."
"Perhaps Mrs. Laning might go along. We could have a jolly time of it with six or seven boys and perhaps the same number of girls and ladies."
The idea of having the girls along interested the three Rovers greatly and they talked of practically nothing else during the trip on Cayuga Lake.
Ithaca reached, they bid farewell to the last of their school chums, who were to depart in various directions, and then made their way to one of the hotels for dinner.
"There they are, mamma!" they heard a well-known voice exclaim. "Oh,
how glad I am that we didn't miss them!" And the next moment Dora
Stanhope rushed up, followed by Nellie and Grace Laning and Mrs.
Stanhope.
"Well, of all things!" ejaculated Dick, as he shook hands warmly.
"Where did you drop from?"
"We were talking about you during the trip from Cedarville," said Tom, as he too shook hands all around, followed by Sam.
"We were wondering why you hadn't written," added Sam.
"We were going to surprise you," answered Grace. "We expected to get home yesterday and visit the academy. But there was a breakdown on the line and our train was delayed and that made us miss a connection."
"We thought sure we'd miss you," said Nellie. "It made us feel awfully."
"Have you dined yet?" asked Dick.
"No."
"Then you must all come and take dinner with us. We want to hear all you've got to tell."
"And we want to hear what you've got to tell too," said Dora, with a merry laugh. She was looking straight into Dick's eyes. "Have you had a good time at the Hall?"
"Yes, but we had a better time at the encampment."
"I heard you met some very nice young ladies up there," went on Dora.
"Who wrote to you about that, Dora?"
"Oh, never mind; I heard it, and that's enough."
"Well, we did meet some nice young ladies."
"Oh!" And Dora turned away for a moment. They were on their way to the dining room and the others were temporarily out of hearing.
"But I didn't meet anybody half as nice as you!" went on Dick, in a low tone of voice, and caught her hand.
"Oh, Dick!" She said this with a toss of her head, but smiled, nevertheless.
"It's true, Dora. I wished you were there more than once. I would have written more, only we had a whole lot of trouble with our enemies."
"And you really did think of me?"
"I did—nearly every day. I suppose you forgot all about me, and that's why you didn't write."
"Dick Rover, you know better than that!"
"I suppose you met some stunning Californian that owns a gold mine and he claimed all of your attention."
"I did meet one rich young man, and—and he proposed to me," faltered
Dora.
"Oh, Dora!" And now Dick's heart seemed to stop beating. "And you—you didn't accept him, did you?"
"Would you care if I did?" she whispered. "Dora!" he answered, half fiercely.
"Well, I told him I didn't want him, so there," said Dora, hurriedly. "I told him that I wanted to marry somebody that lived in the East, and that I—I—"
"And that you had the young man picked out? Why didn't you tell him that, Dora? You know—"
"Hi, you folks!" came in a cry from Tom. "What are you steering for the smoking room for? We are bound for the dining room."
"Well, I never!" murmured Dora. "Dick, we had better watch out where we are going."
"That's right." They turned toward the dining room. "Dora, you know, as
I was saying, that—"
"Dick Rover, I thought we were going to dinner! Just see the folks!
What a crowd! You musn't talk like that here."
"Yes, that's true, but—"
"You really must mind, Dick." She gave him a bright smile. "I—I—guess I understand you!"
And then all went in to dinner.
CHAPTER IX
THE ROVER BOYS AT HOME
There was a great deal to tell on all sides, and the dinner lasted over an hour. The Stanhopes and the Lanings had had a grand time while at Santa Barbara and the widow was much improved in health, so much so, in fact, that she was now practically a well woman. Those who had been in the Far West listened with interest to the boys' doings at the Hall and during the encampment, and were amazed to think that Dan Baxter and his father had turned up once more, and that Arnold Baxter was trying to turn over a new leaf.
"I do not believe Dan will ever turn over a new leaf," said Dora. "He is a thoroughly bad young man."
"Let us hope that he does," said her mother. "I do not wish to see anybody throw himself away as that young man is doing."
"After this you will have to watch out for this Lew Flapp as well as for Dan Baxter," said Nellie. "Both appear to be painted with the same brush."
During the dinner the houseboat project was broached, and the boys spoke of what a fine time they expected to have on the Ohio, and perhaps on the Mississippi.
"And we would like all of you to go with us," said Dick.
"With you!" exclaimed Mrs. Stanhope.
"Oh, mamma, what a delightful trip it would be!" exclaimed Dora.
"And we would like your mother to go too," went on Tom, to Nellie and
Grace.
"Oh, if mamma would only go!" cried Grace. "I am sure it would do her a great deal of good. She goes away from home so little."
The matter was talked over until it was time for the two parties to separate, and the Rovers promised to write more particulars in a few days,—as soon as they knew more about the houseboat and how it was to be run, and what sort of sleeping accommodations it afforded.
The boys saw the Stanhopes and the Lanings on the boat bound up the lake and then almost ran to the depot to catch their train. It came in directly, and in half a minute more they were being whirled away in the direction of Oak Run.
"There is no use of talking, those girls are just all right," said Sam, bluntly. "I never met a nicer lot in my life."
"I guess Dick thinks one of them is all right," said Tom, with a grin. "Although I don't see why you were steering her into the smoking room," he added, to his big brother. "Were you going to teach her to smoke cigarettes?"
"Oh, say, Tom, let up," grumbled Dick. "You paid about as much attention to Nellie as I did to Dora."
"Anyway, I didn't steer her to the smoking room."
"No, but while you were talking to her I saw you put five spoonfuls of sugar in her coffee for her," returned Dick. "Maybe you didn't think she was sweet enough for you, eh?"
At this Tom reddened, while Sam set up a roar.
"He's got you, Tom!" cried the youngest Rover. "Better cry quits and talk about something else. We all like those girls amazingly, and that's the end of it;" and then the subject was changed.
It was almost dark when Oak Run was reached. Here a carriage, driven by
Jack Ness, the Rovers' hired man, was in waiting for them.
"Hullo, Jack!" cried Tom. "All well at home?"
"Very well, Master Tom," was the answer. "And how are you, and how is
Master Dick and Master Sam?"
"All O. K. and top side up, Jack," said Sam.
They were soon in the carriage, and then the hired man whipped up the team and away they sped across Swift River, through the village of Dexter's Corners, and then along the highway leading to the farm.
"I see the lights of home!" sang out Sam, as they made the last turn.
"I can tell you, it makes a fellow feel good, doesn't it?"
"It's a true saying that there is no place like home," returned Dick.
"Here we are!"
The carriage made a turn around a clump of trees and then dashed up to the piazza. From the house rushed several people.
"Here we are, father!" sang out Dick. "How are you, Uncle Randolph, and how are you, Aunt Martha?"
"Dick!" cried Mr. Anderson Rover, and embraced his oldest son. "And Tom and Sam! I am glad to see you looking so well!"
"My boys!" murmured their aunt, as of old, and gave each a sounding kiss.
"Getting to be big young men," was their uncle's comment. "They won't be boys much longer."
"I'm going to stay a boy all my life, Uncle Randolph," answered Tom, promptly. "By the way," he went on, with a merry twinkle in his eye, "how is scientific farming getting on?"
"Splendidly, Thomas, splendidly."
"Not losing money any more, then?"
"Well—er—I have lost a little, just a little, this summer. But next summer I expect grand results."
"Going to grow a new kind of turnip?"
"No I—"
"Or maybe it's a squash this time, uncle."
"No, I am trying—"
"Or a parsnip. I have heard there is a great call for parsnips in New
Zealand. The natives use them for dyeing—"
"Thomas!" interrupted his father, sternly. "Please don't start to joke so early. To-morrow will do."
"All right, I'll subside," answered Tom. "But really, do you know, I'm bubbling all over, like an uncorked soda-water bottle."
"Don't you feel hungry?"
"Hungry! Just you try me and see."
"I made a big cherry pie for you, Tom," said his aunt. "I know you like it."
"Oh, Aunt Martha, that's worth an extra hug." He gave it to her. "Your pie can't be beat!"
"And I've got some fried chicken. Dick likes that."
"And I like it, too," said Sam.
"Yes, I know it, Sam. But I made some spice cakes too—"
"Oh, aunt, just my weakness!" cried the youngest Rover. "There's another kiss for you, and another! You're the best aunt a boy ever had!"
They were soon washed up and sitting down to the table. Scarcely had they seated themselves than Alexander Pop came in, acting as waiter, something he always did when the boys came home. Alexander, usually called Aleck for short, was a good-natured colored man who had once been employed at Putnam Hall. He had gone to Africa with the Rover boys, as already related in "The Rover Boys in the Jungle," and had been with them on numerous other trips. He was now employed steadily in the Rover household.
"Howde do, gen'men?" he said, with a broad grin on his coal-black face.
"Aleck!" all three cried together; "how are you?"
"Fust-rate, thank yo'. Yo' am looking right smart, too," went on the colored man. And then he began to serve them with the best the place afforded. He loved dearly to talk, but thought the present no time for so doing.
It was a happy family gathering, and all remained at the table a long
time, the boys telling their different tales from beginning to end. Mr.
Anderson Rover was much interested in what they had to say about the
Baxters and Lew Flapp.
"You must be careful," said he. "Arnold Baxter can do you no more harm, but the others will be worse than snakes in the grass."
"We'll watch out," answered Dick, and then he and the others asked about the houseboat which had been taken for debt and how soon they could use the craft.
"You may use the houseboat as soon as you please," said Randolph Rover. "But you must promise your father and Aunt Martha and me not to get into mischief."
"How could we get into mischief with a houseboat?" questioned Tom.
"Why, we just intend to knock around and take it easy all summer."
"The rest ought to do all of you a power of good," came from his father. "I declare, it seems to me you have been on the jump ever since you first went to Putnam Hall."
"Where is the houseboat now?"
"Tied up at the village of Steelville, not very far from Pittsburg. As
I wrote to you, she is under the command of Captain Starr. He knows the
Ohio and the Mississippi thoroughly and will take you wherever you wish
to go."
"Well, we want to stay home a few days first, and make all of our arrangements," said Dick; and so it was decided.
CHAPTER X
A SCENE IN A CEMETERY
"Hurrah, Fred Garrison says he will go with us!" cried Sam, two days later. "I have just received a telegram from him. He says he will come on to-morrow."
"And here is word from Songbird Powell," put in Dick. "He will go, too. He is to meet us at Pittsburg, any time I say."
"And Hans Mueller will go," said Tom. "That makes three of our friends to start with. I hope the Lanings and the Stanhopes go."
"So do I," answered Dick, who could not get that talk with Dora in the hallway of the hotel out of his head.
Sam was anxious to meet Fred Garrison, and on the following afternoon drove down to the railroad station at Oak Run to greet his chum.
The train was late, and after finding this out Sam took a walk around the village to see what changes had been made during the past few months. But Oak Run was a slow place and he look in vain for improvements.
"Guess I'll have my hair cut while I am here," he said to himself, and started to enter the only barber shop of which the railroad village boasted.
As he pushed open the door a young fellow got out of one of the chairs and paid the barber what was coming to him. Then he reached for his hat and started to leave.
"Lew Flapp!" ejaculated Sam. "Is it possible?"
The bully of Putnam Hall whirled around and gave a start. He had not dreamed of meeting one of the Rovers.
"What—er—what do you want?" he stammered, not knowing what to say.
"Where did you come from, Flapp?"
"That's my business."
"It was a fine trick you played on us while we were on the march back to Putnam Hall."
"Trick? I haven't played any trick on you," answered Lew Flapp, loftily, as he began to regain his self-possession.
"You know well enough that you robbed that jewelry shop and then tried to lay the blame on me and my brothers."
"Rover, you are talking in riddles."
"No, I'm not; I'm telling the strict truth."
"Bah!" Lew Flapp shoved forward. "Let me pass."
"Not just yet." Sam placed himself in front of the barber shop door.
"What's the row?" put in the barber, who happened to be the only other person in the shop.
"This fellow is a thief, Mr. Gregg."
"You don't say!" cried Lemuel Gregg. "Who did he rob?"
"He robbed a jewelry shop up near Putnam Hall and then he laid the blame on my brothers and me."
"That was a mean thing to do."
"It is false!" roared Lew Flapp. "Get out of my way, or it will be the worse for you!"
"I'm not afraid of you, Flapp," responded Sam, sturdily. "Mr. Gregg, will you help me to make him a prisoner?"
"Are you certain of what you are doing?" questioned the barber, nervously. "I don't want to get into trouble over this. I once cut off a man's beard by mistake and had to pay twenty-two dollars damages."
"I know exactly what I am doing. Help me to make him a prisoner and you shall be well rewarded."
At the promise of a reward Lemuel Gregg became interested. He knew that the Rovers were well-to-do and could readily pay him handsomely for his services.
"You—you had better stay here, young man," he said, to Lew Flapp. "If you are innocent it won't hurt you. We'll have the squire look into this case."
"I won't stay!" roared the bully, and making a sudden leap at Sam he hurled the youngest Rover to one side and tried to bolt through the door.
"No, you don't!" came from the barber, and leaping to the front he caught Lew Flapp by the end of the coat and held him.
"Let go!"
"I won't!"
"Then take that!" And the next instant Lew Flapp hit the barber a telling blow in the nose which made the blood spurt from that member. Then Flapp dove for the door, pulled it open, and sped up the street with all speed.
"Oh, my nose! He has smashed it to jelly!" groaned the barber, as he rushed to the sink for some water.
Sam had been thrown against a barber chair so forcibly that for the moment the wind was knocked completely out of him. By the time he was able to stand up, Flapp was out of the building.
"We must catch him!" he cried. "Come on!"
"Catch him yourself," growled Lemuel Gregg, "I ain't going to stand the risk of being killed. He's a reg'lar tiger, he is!" And he began to bathe his nose at the sink.
Lew Flapp was running towards the railroad, but as soon as he saw that Sam was on his track he made several turns, finally taking to a side road which led to the Oak Run Cemetery. Here he saw there were numerous bushes and cedar trees, and thought he could hide or double on his trail without discovery.
But he forgot one thing—that Sam was a splendid runner and good of wind as well as limb. Try his best, he could not shake the youngest Rover off.
"The fool!" muttered the bully to himself. "Why don't he give it up?"
Flapp looked about him for a club, but none was at hand. Then he picked up a stone and taking aim, hurled it at Sam. The missile struck the youngest Rover in the shoulder, causing considerable pain.
"I reckon two can play at that game," murmured Sam, and he too caught up a stone and launched it forth. It landed in the middle of Lew Flapp's back and caused the bully to utter a loud cry of anguish.
"Stop, Flapp! I am bound to catch you sooner or later!" cried Sam.
"You come closer and I'll fix you!" growled the bully. "I'll hammer the life out of you!"
"You've got to spell able first," answered Sam.
The cemetery gained, Lew Flapp ran along one of the paths leading to the rear. Along this path were a number of good-sized sticks. He picked up one of these, and a few seconds later Sam did likewise.
Near the rear of the cemetery was a new receiving vault, which had just been donated to the cemetery association by the widow of a rich stockholder who had died the year before. The vault was of stone, with a heavy iron door that shut with a catch and a lock.
Making a turn that hid him from Sam's view for the moment, Lew Flapp espied the vault, standing with the door partly open.
"He won't look for me in there," reasoned the bully, and slipped into the place with all possible alacrity. Once inside, he crouched in a dark corner behind the door and waited.
Sam, making the turn at just the right instant, saw Flapp disappearing into the vault. Without stopping he ran forward and closed the iron door, allowing the heavy catch to slip into place.
"Now, Lew Flapp, I guess I've got you!" he called out, after he was certain the door was secure.
To this the bully made no answer, but it is more than likely his heart sank within him.
"Do you hear me, Flapp? You needn't pretend you are not in there, for
I saw you go in."
Still Lew Flapp made no answer.
"Do you want me to go away and leave you locked in the vault?" continued Sam. "It would be a beautiful place in which to die of starvation."
"Let me out!" came from the bully, and now he got up and showed his face at the small grating near the top of the door. "Let me out, Rover, that's a good fellow."
"Then you don't want to die of starvation just yet?"
"You wouldn't dare to leave me here, you know you wouldn't!"
"Why not? Don't you deserve it, after the trick you played on Dick and
Tom and me?"
"I tell you it's all a mistake. Let me out and I will explain everything," went on Flapp, who was now thoroughly alarmed.
"I'll let you out—after I have summoned the town constable."
"Don't have me locked up, I beg of you, Sam. Give me a chance," pleaded the bully.
"You don't deserve any chance. You tried to send me and my brothers to prison, and you have got to suffer for it."
"Then you won't let me out?"
"No."
"I'll pay you well for it."
"You haven't got money enough to pay me, Flapp, and you know it."
"If you have me locked up I'll say you helped me in that robbery."
"Ah, so you admit you did it," cried Sam, triumphantly.
"No, I admit nothing," growled the bully.
"Good-bye, then."
"Where are you going?"
"I am going after the cemetery keeper and the constable," answered Sam, and walked off without another word.
CHAPTER XI
ATTACKED FROM BEHIND
Lew Flapp watched Sam's departure with much anxiety. As my old readers know, he was a coward at heart, and the thought of being put under arrest for the robbery of Aaron Fairchild's shop made him quake in every limb.
"I must get out of here, I really must," he told himself, over and over again.
He shook the door violently, but it refused to budge. Then he tried to reach the catch by putting his hand through the grating, but found it was out of his reach.
"It's a regular prison cell!" he groaned. "What a fool I was to come in here!"
He tried to reach the catch by using his stick, but that was also a failure.
"Wonder if I can't find a bit of wire, or something?" he mused, and struck a match he had in his pocket.
Now it chanced that the widow who had given the new vault to the cemetery association had a horror of allowing supposed dead folks to be buried alive. As a consequence she had had the vault furnished with an electric button which opened the door from the inside. It had been stipulated that a light should be placed close to the button, but as yet this was not in place.
By the light of the match Lew Flapp saw the button, and these words over it:
To Open the Door and Ring the Bell Push This Button.
"Good! that just suits me," he chuckled to himself, but immediately had something of a chill, thinking that the button might not yet be fixed to work.
With nervous fingers he pushed upon the object. There was a slight click, and he saw the big iron door of the vault spring ajar.
"The trick is done, and I am free!" he murmured, and sprang to the door. But here he paused again, to gaze through the grating. Sam was out of sight and not another soul could be seen. The coast was clear.
"Now good-bye to Oak Run," he muttered to himself. "I was a fool to come here in the first place, even to meet that Dan Baxter!"
In a moment more he was out of the vault and running to the rear of the cemetery as fast as his legs would carry him.
In the meantime Sam made his way as quickly as possible to a house situated at the front corner of the cemetery, where the keeper of the place resided.
A knock on the door brought the keeper's daughter. She knew Sam and smiled.
"What can I do for you, Sam?" she asked.
"Where is your father, Jennie?"
"He just went down to the village to buy a new spade."
"Oh, pshaw! that's too bad."
"What is the matter? I hope you're not going to have a funeral in your family."
"No funeral in this, Jennie. I met a thief in Oak Run and tried to have him arrested. He ran into the cemetery and hid in the new vault and I locked the door on him. Now I want your father or somebody else to help me take him to the lock-up."
"A thief! What did he steal?"
"Some jewelry. It's a long story. Do you know where I can find somebody else?"
"Jack Sooker is working over to the other end of the cemetery—cutting down an old tree. You might get him."
"Where?"
"I'll show you."
Jennie ran to get her hat. She was just putting it on when a bell began to ring in the hall of the cottage.
"Gracious me!" gasped the girl.
"What's the matter now?"
"That's the bell to the new vault."
"I don't understand."
"There is an electric button in the vault. When you push it, it unlocks the door and rings this bell. It was put there in case somebody was in the vault in a trance and came to life again."
"What!" ejaculated Sam. "Then that rascal must have pushed the button and opened the door from the inside."
"Yes."
"I'm off. He is not going to escape if I can help it." And so speaking, the youngest Rover dashed off the porch of the cottage and in the direction from whence he had come.
It did not take him long to reach the new vault and a glance through the open doorway showed him that his bird had flown.
"What a dunce I was not to think of that electric button!" he mused. "I knew Mrs. Singleton had stipulated it should be put in. She has a perfect horror of being buried alive."
Sam looked around in all directions, but could see nothing of Lew
Flapp.
But not far away was a pile of loose dirt and in this he saw some fresh tracks, pointing to the rear of the cemetery.
"That's his course," he thought, and set off in that direction. He still carried the stick he had picked up and vowed that Lew Flapp should not get away so easily again.
The end of the cemetery bordered on the Swift River, a stream which has already figured in these stories of the Rover boys. It was a rocky, swift-flowing watercourse, and the bank at the end of the burying ground was fully ten feet high.
"Perhaps he crossed the river," thought the youngest Rover. "But he couldn't do that very well unless he had a boat and then he would run the risk of being dashed on the rocks."
The edge of the river reached, Sam looked around on all sides of him.
Lew Flapp was still nowhere to be seen.
"I've missed him," thought Sam. "What next?"
As the youngest Rover stood meditating, a figure stole from behind some bushes which were close at hand. The figure was that of Lew Flapp, who had been on the point of turning back when he had seen Sam coming.
"He will raise an alarm as soon as he sees me," reasoned the bully.
"Oh, if only I could get him out of my way!"
He gazed at the youngest Rover and when he saw how close to the water's edge Sam was standing, a sudden thought came into his mind. As silently as a wild beast stealing on its prey, he crept up to Sam.
"There! how do like that, Sam Rover!" he cried, triumphantly, and gave the youngest Rover a shove which sent him over the bank and into the rocky stream below.
Sam gave out one yell and then, with a loud splash, sank beneath the surface.
Lew Flapp gazed for a second in the direction, wondering when Sam would reappear. But then a new fear took possession of him and off he ran, this time harder than ever.
His course was along the river bank for a distance of a hundred yards, and then he came out on a road leading to a small place called Hacknack.
"To Hacknack!" he muttered, after reading a signboard. "That's the place I'm looking for. One mile, eh? Well, I had better lose no time in getting there."
The bully was a fair walker and now fear lent speed to his limbs, and in less than fifteen minutes he reached the hamlet named. He gazed around and presently located a small cottage standing near the edge of a sandpit.
"That must be the cottage," he told himself, and walking to it he rapped on the door four times in succession and then four times again.
There was a stir within and then an old woman, bent with age and with a wicked look in her sharp, yellowish eyes, came to answer his summons.
"Is this Mother Matterson's place?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm Mother Matterson," squeaked the old woman. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"My name is Lew Flapp. I'm looking for a fellow called Si Silvers," he added, for that was the name Dan Baxter had assumed for the time being.
"It's all right, old woman; tell him to come in," said a voice from inside the cottage, and Lew Flapp entered the house. Immediately the old woman closed the door after him and barred it.