“Your Uncle Sam and I have volunteered for the army. We have both received commissions. Tell Fred of this and break the news gently to Mary and Martha. Uncle Tom will manage business and remain head of Liberty Loan Committee. Colonel Colby will tell you more.“Richard Rover.”
“Your Uncle Sam and I have volunteered for the army. We have both received commissions. Tell Fred of this and break the news gently to Mary and Martha. Uncle Tom will manage business and remain head of Liberty Loan Committee. Colonel Colby will tell you more.
“Richard Rover.”
“What is it?” queried Fred.
“It’s great news, Fred; especially for you and for me,” answered Jack, whose eyes had traveled swiftly over the telegram.
Then he read the message aloud. Bob Nixon had retired, and Randy had closed the door after him.
“Well, what do you know about that!” ejaculated Fred. “My father in the army! Good for him!”
“And to think my father is going, too!” remarked the oldest of the Rover boys. “And he also has a commission.” He looked at Andy and Randy and wanted to go on, but somehow could not.
“And they are going to make our father remain at home and take care of the business,” remarked Randy soberly. “That’s what I call tough luck!”
“It sure is!” declared his twin emphatically. “I’ll wager he wanted to go to the front just as much as anybody.”
“Why, of course he did,” answered Jack readily.
“Uncle Tom is just as brave as anybody! We all know that!” burst out Fred. “It was only that somebody had to stay in New York and take care of The Rover Company.”
“Of course our dad was never as much of a soldier as your fathers,” continued Randy. “He never became an officer at Putnam Hall. Just the same, I’ll wager he’d like to have a chance to put one over on the Huns.”
By this time the other cadets had come from their various hiding places and were listening with much interest to what was being said.
“It certainly is great news!” declared Gif Garrison. “I wonder if my dad will want to go, too?” He knew that his parent and the older Rovers had been great chums.
“They leave us to break the news to Mary and Martha,” said Fred. “That isn’t going to be a very nice job. I’m afraid the poor girls will be all broke up.”
“I can’t see it that way,” answered Jack. “They ought to feel proud to think our fathers are brave enough to volunteer.”
“The telegram says that Colonel Colby will tell you more about this,” said Randy. “Why don’t you go over and interview him?”
“Maybe he has gone to bed,” suggested Spouter.
“I don’t think so—not if he was up to receive that telegram Nixon mentioned,” said Jack. “Anyhow, I’m going down and find out. Do you want to come along, Fred?”
“Sure!” was the instant response.
“Find out if the colonel knows anything about my father,” said Randy. And then he added to his brother: “We can stay here and get rid of the remains of this feast.”
“All right,” was Andy’s answer. And then he added in a low tone. “Just the same, I can’t understand why dad didn’t volunteer along with Uncle Dick and Uncle Sam,” and his face wore anything but a pleasant expression.
Leaving the others to dispose of what remained of the feast as they saw fit, Jack and Fred brushed up a bit, and then lost no time in hurrying downstairs and to the main entrance of Colby Hall. Here they found a night watchman on guard.
“You can’t go out this time of night,” said the watchman, following orders.
“We have just received this telegram,” answered Jack, showing the yellow slip; “and we must confer with Colonel Colby at once. The telegram states that he can give us some information we want.”
“Oh, all right, if that’s the case,” said the watchman, and allowed them to pass.
As stated before, the colonel and his family, along with a number of the professors, lived in a building some distance away from the Hall proper. Crossing the campus, the boys noted a light in the colonel’s library, and presented themselves at the door of this place, and knocked.
“Come in,” called out Colonel Colby.
They found the head of Colby Hall seated at his desk, looking over a number of private papers and accounts. He looked up questioningly, and then smiled as he recognized his visitors.
“Got your news from home, I suppose,” he said, after motioning them to seats. “I knew it was coming.”
“It’s great news, Colonel Colby!” cried Jack, his eyes shining. “Here is the telegram. You see it says you will give us more information. Of course, both Fred and I are curious to know all the particulars.”
“I’ll be glad to tell you all I can, boys,” answered Colonel Colby. “And first of all let me say that I have also volunteered, and I, too, have been commissioned.”
“Isn’t that fine!” exclaimed Fred. “Are you going with our fathers?”
“Yes. And I may as well tell you a little secret. Quite a crowd of us, all former pupils of Putnam Hall, have volunteered, and we hope to go into the war together.”
“May I ask what sort of commission my father obtained?” questioned Jack.
“He has been made a captain and your Uncle Sam has been made a lieutenant.”
“A lieutenant!” said Fred. “Well, that’s something anyhow!”
“And what about you, if I may ask?” continued Jack.
“I, too, have been made a captain.”
“Who of the others of the Old Guard are going?” asked Fred.
“Oh, there are quite a number, including Harry Blossom, Bart Conners, Dave Kearney, and Hans Mueller.”
“For gracious sake! you don’t mean that Hans Mueller is going?” queried Jack. He had often heard of this German-American who had been a school chum of his father. Mueller had neverlearned to use the English language correctly, and had been intensely German in many of his ways.
“Yes, Hans Mueller has volunteered,” answered Colonel Colby. “But he is going into the heavy artillery, so I’m afraid your fathers and I won’t see very much of him. In spite of his German blood, Hans Mueller is very patriotic, and that counts for a good deal.”
“I should say it did!” said Fred.
“And what about Mr. Powell and Mr. Garrison?” questioned Jack.
“We have been corresponding with those two gentlemen, but up to to-day have not heard what they have decided to do. We are hoping that they will go with us if they can leave their business. And that puts me in mind. You will probably want to know about your Uncle Tom, and I presume the twins would like to know, too.”
“Yes, indeed!”
“Well, when the question of going to the front came up, your Uncle Tom was just as eager to go as anybody, even though he was never an officer during his days at Putnam Hall Military Academy. But it was realized that some one must remain behind to take charge of The Rover Company. More than this, your Uncle Tom is at the head of one of the most important committees connected with the sale of Liberty Bonds, and heis also at the head of one of the Red Cross committees, and doing splendid work in both positions. The matter was talked over a number of times, and finally, much, however, against his will, he consented to withdraw in favor of your fathers. It is understood that he is not only to look after the business, but that he will likewise look after all of you young folks, including your sisters.”
“And how soon do all of you expect to leave, if I may ask?” questioned Jack.
“That will depend somewhat on circumstances. As soon as I receive any word, I’ll let you know. In the meanwhile, however, you may get some word from home.”
The two cadets continued to talk the matter over with Colonel Colby for several minutes longer, and then, realizing that he was a very busy man, they withdrew and hurried back to their own rooms.
“Now tell us all about it,” said Andy. All of the outsiders except Spouter and Gif had gone to their own quarters.
“Tell it straight,” said Randy.
Sitting down, Jack and Fred did so, the others listening closely to every word that was said. As they proceeded the twins showed their satisfaction over the news.
“I knew dad would want to go just as much as anybody,” declared Randy.
“So did I,” added his twin. “As it is, I guess he’ll have as much to do as anybody.”
“He’ll certainly have his hands full, running The Rover Company and being on those two committees, as well as looking after all of us young folks.”
“Just as if we couldn’t look after ourselves!” exclaimed Fred.
“Oh, well, you know what I mean!”
“This gets me!” said Spouter. “I’d like to know what my father is going to do. If he is going into the army, I’d like to know it.”
“And I’d like to know what my father is going to do, too,” said Gif. “I don’t believe he cares much for military matters, but just the same, he is intensely patriotic, and I know he would like to get a chance at those Boches.”
“I suppose we’ll get more news in a day or two,” said Jack. “This telegram was sent more to break the ice than anything else. It puts it up to us to let Mary and Martha know,” and he looked at Fred as he spoke.
“We’ll go over to-morrow and see them,” was Fred’s reply. “I don’t think I care to telephone news like this. No, we’ll take them off by themselves and let them know.”
A little later Spouter and Gif retired. The four Rover boys sat up for fully an hour longer, discussing the subject from every possible point of view. To Jack and Fred the entrance of their fathers into the army of the United States meant a great deal. The great war was on in all its fury, and they knew that sooner or later their fathers would be sent to France to face the enemy.
“It’s all well enough to talk about going to the front and covering oneself with glory,” was the way Fred expressed himself. “But some of those who go to the front never come back.”
“That is true, Fred,” answered Jack soberly. “But a good citizen has got to be ready to do his duty, no matter what the cost.”
“Oh, I know that! Just the same, this going to the front is a serious business. Even if a person isn’t killed, he may come back minus an arm or a leg, or something like that.”
“Well, don’t you go to talking like that to Mary and Martha.”
“I don’t intend to. Just the same, what I said is true.”
“I know it.”
Back to contents
“Oh, Jack, you don’t mean it! Father and Uncle Sam have really volunteered for the war!”
It was Martha Rover who spoke. She and her brother were seated in a small summerhouse attached to Clearwater Hall. Not far away sat Mary and Fred.
“It’s the truth, Martha,” answered Jack; “and here is the telegram that was sent. We at once went to Colonel Colby and got some particulars.”
“But he may be shot down and killed!” and Martha’s face grew white as she spoke.
“That’s a chance every soldier takes when he goes to the front, Martha. But let us hope that dad will escape—and let us hope that Uncle Sam will escape, too.”
Jack and Fred had come over early in the morning and had asked permission of Miss Garwood to see the girls on an important errand. They had left the school building under the curious eyes of Ruth and a number of their other chums.
“Well, in one way, I’m glad of this,” declared Mary, her pride showing in her face. “It’s exactly what I thought dad would do the minute we got into the war. I knew he wouldn’t want to be thought a slacker.”
“But, Mary! suppose they got killed—or even wounded?” murmured Martha.
“Martha Rover! do you want your father to hang back when he thinks it’s his duty to go to the front?” demanded Mary, her eyes snapping questioningly.
“No, no!” answered her cousin quickly. “I know it’s the right thing to do. Just the same, it worries me a great deal; and I know it will worry mamma, too.”
“You mustn’t say anything about being a slacker,” admonished Jack. “If it should get to the ears of Uncle Tom, it might make him feel very bad.”
“Oh, I don’t put Uncle Tom down as a slacker,” returned Mary quickly. “I think he is making a great sacrifice, by staying behind to keep the business together, and to serve on that Loan Committee and the Red Cross Committee.”
The young folks talked it over for some time, and decided to wait until they got further word from home. Then the two girls went back into the school to tell Miss Garwood and their chumsthe news, while the boys hurried to Colby Hall, arriving there during the morning recess.
“Say, but we’ve had some fun since you went away!” cried Andy gaily, when they appeared. “Pud Hicks, the janitor’s assistant, got the surprise of his life.”
“How is that?” questioned Fred.
“Why, Pud was using a vacuum cleaner in the upper hall when he saw something in a dark corner that he couldn’t quite make out. The thing got stuck in the cleaner, and he put down his hand to see what it was. The next minute he let out a yell like a wild Indian and came flying down the corridor, scared stiff.”
“What was it—the snapping turtle?” asked Jack.
“You’ve struck it. The turtle must have crawled into the corner, and when he felt Pud’s hand on him he took a good solid hold on Pud’s little finger.
“I had just gone upstairs to get a book when I saw Pud tearing around. Half a dozen fellows were there, and the way Pud cut up was like a circus. Shout Plunger came tearing upstairs to find out what it was all about, and Pud gave the snapping turtle a sling, and it hit Shout right in the face and then fell down inside his coat. Shout put his hand inside to find out what itwas, he being too deaf to hear the talk about a snapping turtle, and then the turtle got busy and got Shout by the hand. Then there was more fun!”
“What did they do with the turtle at last?” questioned Jack.
“Oh, Shout wouldn’t take any chances,” answered Andy. “He put the turtle down on the floor and smashed it with his heel; and then, of course, the fun was all over.”
“Did they find out how the turtle came to be there?” questioned Fred.
“No, they didn’t. Codfish came along, and he started to say something, but I put up my fist and motioned to him, and then he shut up like a clam.”
“He’ll give you away sooner or later, Andy,” remarked Jack.
“If he does, he’ll pay for it,” retorted the fun-loving Rover.
Several days went by, and during that time the boys learned not a little concerning the catastrophe at the Hasley Shell-Loading plant, the local papers giving a full account of the affair. Fortunately the report that several had been killed was untrue, but about sixteen men had been injured, and several of them quite seriously.
There were many speculations concerning what had started the explosions. It was proved thatthe first had occurred in one of the cars which was standing loaded on the railroad track, while the second explosion had come less than a minute later from what was known as Storehouse No. 3. Then had followed an explosion at Storehouse No. 2, and after that the explosions had come so rapidly and there had been so much excitement that no one could tell exactly what had happened next. But fortunately the explosions had been confined to the storehouses and the loaded cars on the track. The main building of the shell-loading plant had suffered considerably, but a portion was still standing, and some underground vaults, filled with high explosives, had not been reached. Had these explosives gone up, it is more than likely Haven Point, as well as Clearwater Hall and possibly Colby Hall, would have been shaken to their foundations and with great loss of life.
A rigid investigation had been started by three different parties—the owners of the plant, the local authorities, and the Secret Service of the national government. The Secret Service men, of course, made no public report, but the others in authority came to the conclusion that the explosions had been started either by some spies working for the shell-loading plant or by two suspicious-looking men who had been seen several times around the place—the same fellows described by Jed Kessler.
“Maybe those two fellows on the outside had confederates on the inside,” remarked Jack, in talking the affair over with his cousins.
“More than likely that’s the truth of it,” said Randy. “Those fellows often work in gangs.”
During the days following the victory over Hixley High, a number of the cadets had gone down to Haven Point at various times, and several brought back the report that they had met Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell driving through the town in their runabout. Slugger and Nappy had put on a lordly air, bowing very condescendingly to those they knew, but refusing to stop for any conversation.
“Those fellows make me weary in the bones,” was the way Dan Soppinger expressed himself. “What ever brought ’em to Haven Point? If I had been fired out of the school the way they were, I wouldn’t want to show my face around here again.”
“Yes, Dan; but you aren’t the sort they are,” declared Jack. “I don’t believe either Slugger Brown or Nappy Martell has a particle of real pride. They think just because they have a little more spending money than most fellows, they can lord it over anybody.”
It worried all of the Rovers to think that Brown and Martell were hanging around Haven Point, and Jack telephoned to Clearwater Hall several times, calling up Ruth and also his sister Martha, asking if they had been annoyed in any way by the pair.
“We saw them again down near our boathouse,” said Ruth over the telephone. “They acted as if they wanted to talk to us, but we did not give them any chance to do it.”
“If they dare to say a word to any of you, just let us know and we’ll take care of them,” declared the oldest Rover boy.
On the third day came a long letter to Jack and an equally lengthy communication for Fred. The letters were from their fathers, and in them Dick and Sam Rover gave the particulars of how they had volunteered for service in France and how Dick had been commissioned a captain and Sam a lieutenant. They mentioned the fact that they were soon to leave New York City, along with a number of other volunteers, to go to Camp Huxwell, a beautiful site selected by the government and located on the Atlantic coast.
“Why, say, that isn’t very far from here!” exclaimed Jack. “I’ve often heard them talk about that place.”
Jack’s father also mentioned the fact that Colonel Colby had obtained a commission as a captain and that a great many others of his old school chums from Putnam Hall, and likewise two of his comrades from Brill College, were going. He added that if Jack wanted to come home to see him off, he could do so.
“And that’s just what my dad says, too,” said Fred, after both boys had finished reading the letters. “Of course we’ll go!”
“Ten horses couldn’t hold me back,” answered Jack.
“Well, if you fellows go, we’re going, too,” declared Randy, when the matter was talked over.
“Bet your life!” added Andy slangily. “I want to know what dad has got to say about all this.”
Jack and Fred communicated at once with their sisters, and learned that they, too, had received letters from home and were going to depart for New York City at the earliest possible moment. It was then arranged that the young folks should all leave together on the following morning.
“Remember me to your fathers,” said Colonel Colby, after they had asked for and received permission to go. “Tell them they will hear from me very shortly.”
The two girls met the four boys at Haven Point, and Ruth, May, Gif, and Spouter came to see them off.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” said Spouter, who had come to the railroad station at Haven Point earlier than the others, in order to obtain parlor-car seats for the party.
“What is that?” questioned Fred.
“When I came in for the seats, who do you think was just ahead of me at the ticket window?”
“You don’t mean Slugger and Nappy?” questioned Randy quickly.
“You’ve struck it!”
“What were they doing there?” asked Jack with interest.
“They were getting tickets for New York.”
“Oh, dear! do you mean to say we’ve got to put up with those fellows on this trip?” sighed Martha.
“You won’t have to notice them, Martha,” declared her brother.
“Don’t worry but what we’ll make them keep their distance,” added Fred.
The whole crowd looked around the depot, and presently made out Slugger and Nappy at the far end of the platform. They were smoking cigarettes and talking in low, earnest tones.
“I hope they didn’t get seats in the parlor car,” said Mary.
“I don’t think they did,” answered Spouter.“They’re such smokers, I guess they’d just as lief hang out in the smoking car.”
In a few minutes the train came along, and, bidding their friends good-bye, the Rovers got aboard and had a porter show them to their seats. From the window Jack waved Ruth a good-bye, and then the long train pulled out of Haven Point and began its trip to the metropolis.
It was rather a long journey, and it was necessary that they obtain a meal on the train.
“Let me go into the dining car and have a look around first,” remarked Fred, when it came time to eat.
“What’s the matter—afraid we won’t be able to get seats?” inquired Randy.
“I want to see if Slugger and Nappy are around. I don’t want to eat when they do.”
“Right you are!” answered Jack.
He and Fred hurried through the train and into the diner. Neither Brown nor Martell were present, for which they were thankful. They found a table for four on one side of the car, with a table for two directly opposite, and at once engaged both. Then, while Jack held the tables, Fred hurried back and brought the girls and the twins.
“I never eat in a dining car but what I think of that fun we had with Asa Lemm when we firstcame to the Hall,” remarked Andy, as they sat down. “My, what a pickle we did get that professor in!” he chuckled, referring to a series of incidents, the particulars of which were related in “The Rover Boys at Colby Hall.”
“I wonder if we’ll ever meet old Asa Lemm again?” remarked Fred.
“Sure!” returned Randy. “He’s like a bad penny—bound to turn up some time.”
The young folks ordered soup for a first course, and this was quickly served. Mary and Martha sat at the larger table with Andy and Randy opposite, while Fred and Jack occupied the smaller table on the other side of the car.
The soup was finished and the young folks were waiting to be served with the more substantial portion of the meal, when suddenly Fred, who was looking toward the far end of the dining car, pressed his foot down on that of his cousin.
“What is it?” questioned Jack quickly.
“Here come Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell,” was the low reply.
Back to contents
Andyand Randy were facing the same way as Fred, and they, too, noticed the approach of Brown and Martell. Randy whispered something in a low tone of voice to Martha and Mary, and the two girls pursed up their lips, but said nothing, nor did they look around.
The dining car was almost full, and the only table vacant was a small one directly behind where Fred was sitting. Slugger and Nappy were conducted to this by the head waiter, thus passing the Rovers. They did not, however, notice our friends until they had seated themselves and given their order.
“Humph! what do you know about that?” murmured Nappy Martell to his crony. He was seated where he could stare directly at the two girls.
“What’s the matter?” returned Slugger Brown, and then turned around to follow his crony’s gaze. “What do you know about that? I didn’t knowthey were in such a hurry to get to the diner, did you?”
“I knew they would most likely want to eat,” answered Nappy.
The newcomers winked at each other, and then, while they were waiting to be served, Nappy began to stare boldly at Martha. But she refused to look at him, confining her attention to her plate and to Mary and the twins.
Fred could no longer see the unworthy pair, as they were behind him. But Jack, looking over his cousin’s shoulder, got a good view of how Martell was staring at his sister, and he also saw how uncomfortable this was making Martha. He waited a minute or two longer, hoping that Nappy would desist. But then, as the dudish young man continued to gaze at the girl, trying his best to catch her eye, he whispered something to Fred, and then rose to his feet.
“All right, Jack, I’m with you if you want any help,” returned Fred promptly.
Without hesitation, Jack approached the table at which Brown and Martell sat eating their soup, and placed himself close to the latter’s side.
“Now listen to me, Nappy Martell,” he said in a low but distinct voice, meant only for the dudish youth. “You keep your eyes to yourself and leave my sister and my cousin alone. If youdon’t, I’ll smash you one in the face that will put you in the hospital. Now remember—I won’t give you another warning!” And having thus spoken, Jack turned on his heel and went back to his own table.
Nappy Martell flushed up and an angry retort arose to his lips. Then, however, he became pale and not a word escaped him.
“What was that he said, Nappy?” demanded Slugger in a whisper.
“I—I’ll tell you afterwards,” stammered Martell. “He’s mighty fresh—that fellow!”
“Did he threaten you?”
“I guess he wants to start a row,” grumbled Nappy. “But I don’t want any fight in front of those girls.”
“Those Rovers are getting too fresh to live,” was Slugger’s comment. “Some day we’ll have to get after ’em and polish ’em off.”
“We can’t get after ’em any too quick to suit me,” answered his crony.
After that Nappy confined his gaze to his chum and to the lunch set before him. Never once did he allow his eyes to rove over to the table opposite. Jack had spoken with an intensity that showed his earnestness, and for once Nappy Martell was completely subdued.
“Those Rovers are getting to be a regularbunch of rough-necks,” he growled, after he and his crony had finished a somewhat hurried meal and gone back to the smoking car.
“Did he want to fight you?” queried Slugger.
“That’s what he had in mind to do—as if I would want to fight before that crowd of people! Why, we would all have been arrested!”
Jack’s meal had been spoiled for him, but he did not let the others know this. He, however, kept his eyes on Brown and Martell until they left the dining car. Then he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Gee! I’m glad they’re gone,” was Fred’s comment.
“You’re no more glad than I am,” answered his cousin. “I’ll teach him to stare at my sister! For two pins I’d have wiped up the floor with him!”
“I wish I’d have gotten the chance,” put in Andy, from across the aisle. “Wouldn’t I like to have peppered up their food good for them!”
In due course of time the young Rovers reached the Grand Central Terminal at Forty-Second Street, in New York City. They had sent a telegram, announcing their coming, and found Mrs. Dick Rover and Mrs. Sam Rover awaiting them, each with a touring car.
“Well, I see you got in on time,” said Mrs. Dick Rover, after the greetings were over. “I thought on account of so many soldiers being sent to the various camps, the train might be late.”
“We saw some soldiers on the way,” answered her daughter.
“And we also saw some freight cars carrying cannon,” put in Mary.
“This war is going to make a great change all around,” declared Mrs. Sam Rover. And then she added to her daughter: “What do you think about your father going to the front?”
“It’s just what I expected,” answered Mary promptly. “He’s a real patriot—dad is!”
“You are right. But I hate awfully to see him go away,” sighed the mother.
The young folks were soon seated in the two automobiles, and their handbags were disposed of in the tonneau. Then the cars were started up, and they were soon whirling away over to Broadway and Riverside Drive, and then to the comfortable mansions occupied by the three Rover families.
It was still rather early in the afternoon, but Sam Rover had already come uptown from his office and was there to greet his son and daughter and the others.
“It’s great news, Dad!” cried Fred, shakinghim warmly by the hand, while Mary clung around his neck and kissed him.
“Oh, I’m going to be real proud of you!” said the daughter.
A little later Dick Rover arrived, and Jack shook hands with a warmth that was most unusual. When Martha kissed her father a curious lump arose in her throat, and her eyes grew misty.
“I suppose it’s all right, Dad,” she whispered in his ear. “But, oh! I do hope you’ll come back all right.” And she clung to him in a way that spoke volumes.
“Of course I’ll come back all right, Martha,” said Dick Rover confidently. “And for all you know, your dad will come back a major or a colonel, or maybe a brigadier general.”
“Oh, I don’t care about that! All I want is for you to come back safe and sound!”
“Your father will be up in a little while,” announced Dick Rover to the twins. “He had a meeting to attend in reference to the next Liberty Loan. He’s a tremendously busy man these days.”
“But Uncle Dick! he wanted to go to the front just as well as you did, didn’t he?” questioned Randy eagerly.
“Of course he wanted to go,” was the readyresponse. “But we couldn’t all go, you know. Somebody had to stay behind to look after our business interests in Wall Street.”
“But—but couldn’t you hire somebody else to run the business for you?” questioned Andy. Now that he and his brother were face to face with the fact that their Uncle Dick and their Uncle Sam were going into the army, it did not look right at all to them to have their father left behind.
“We thought something of that, but we really couldn’t see how it could be done. You see, we have a great many important deals under way, and if those transactions are not looked after carefully, we might stand to lose a great deal of money.”
“I don’t care—if dad wanted to go to the front, he should have had the chance to go!” burst out Randy.
“I declare, Randy, you’ll be as hard to manage in this affair as your father was,” said Dick Rover, with a faint smile.
“Was he really hard to manage?” queried Andy eagerly.
“He sure was! We had to talk to him for several days before he would agree to remain behind. He told us once that the whole business could go to pot.”
“Hurrah for dad! That’s the way I knew he’d act!” burst out the boy.
“If I was him I’d let the business go to pot!” declared Randy. “What good will your old business be if those Germans win this war and start in to rule everything? For all you know, they’ll come right over to New York and take your whole business away from you.”
“Well, that might possibly happen,” put in Sam Rover seriously. “Although I don’t think it is very probable.”
Knowing that the young folks were usually very hungry when they got home and that they always enjoyed home cooking, their mothers had prepared quite a spread for them. Mrs. Tom Rover had gone downtown to meet her husband, and now she came back in a flutter of excitement.
“Hello, Ma! Where is Dad?” questioned Randy, as he ran up and gave her a hug and a kiss, followed by his twin.
“He’s downtown, up to his ears in that Liberty Loan business,” answered Mrs. Tom Rover. “Oh, dear! I never saw such a busy man! Half a dozen men are coming in and going out all the time, wanting to know what to do next and asking him if he won’t make another speech here, there, or somewhere else. They want him to talkat two Liberty Loan meetings to-night and one Liberty Loan meeting and a Red Cross meeting to-morrow afternoon.”
“Isn’t he coming home at all?” questioned both of the twins in a breath.
“Oh, yes. He’ll be here in a little while. But he won’t be able to stay long,” returned the mother.
When Tom Rover arrived he looked rather tired out, but he greeted all the boys with a smile and gave each of the girls the kiss he knew they were expecting.
“Oh, I’m in it neck deep,” he answered, in reply to his sons’ questions. “They must think I can talk just like a coffee-grinder grinds out coffee. And the nerve of some of them!” he continued. “Here they have asked me to go somewhere uptown and meet a lot of bankers and tell them how some of the work on the Liberty Loan is to be done! As if those bankers don’t know as much about it as I do, and maybe more!”
“You’ve bought some of the bonds yourself, haven’t you, Dad?” questioned Randy.
“Yes, Son—twenty thousand dollars’ worth, and The Rover Company, as a company, has taken twice that amount.”
“And my father has taken twenty thousand dollars’ worth, too,” said Mary.
“And so has mine,” added Martha.
“All told, I think we’re doing pretty well by Uncle Sam!” cried Jack. “Just the same, Uncle Tom, I think it’s a shame that they are going to make you stay behind to run the business.”
“I won’t stay behind if things get much warmer!” burst out Tom Rover suddenly. “I’ll put somebody in my place and grab a gun and go after those Huns.”
“Hurrah! that’s the way to talk,” cried Andy enthusiastically.
“Would you really, Dad?” burst out Randy, his eyes shining.
“Do you want me to go, Son?” demanded the father, catching him by the shoulder.
“Of course I do! I don’t think you ought to stay behind with Uncle Dick and Uncle Sam going.”
“It doesn’t seem right,” added his twin.
“And it isn’t right! But what am I going to do?” asked their father somewhat helplessly. “We’ve all our money locked up in our various business deals. Those deals have got to be looked after. Who is going to do it if we all go away?”
“Oh, you can get somebody!”
“This getting somebody that you can trust absolutely is not so easy,” answered Tom Rover. “I did think of getting one gentleman we knowvery well—a Mr. Allen Charter, who graduated from Brill College a year after your uncles and I were admitted to the institution. Mr. Charter is a very fine business man, and understands the deals we are in perfectly.”
“Well, then, why didn’t you get Mr. Allen Charter to take hold?” questioned Randy.
“He was going to take hold, but at the last minute he declined, stating that he had made up his mind to volunteer for the army.”
“Well, there must be somebody else.”
“There was another student at that college, named Stanley Browne. He is a cousin of Colonel Colby. We were very good friends, and I thought sure that we could get him to take charge. But Browne has also gone into the United States service.”
“Oh, if that isn’t a shame—every one of them going in and you left behind!” grumbled Randy. “I don’t think it’s fair at all!”
“Well, I suppose I’ve got to make the best of it,” answered Tom Rover. But as he spoke he heaved a mountainous sigh. This being left behind while his brothers and his best friends went to the front was going to almost break his heart.
Back to contents
“Well, we’re off at last! Good-bye to everybody!”
The words came from Dick Rover as the last call was given for the volunteers who were going to Camp Huxton to entrain.
“Don’t forget to write regularly!” came from Sam Rover.
“Oh, we’ll do that—don’t fear!” answered his wife Grace. “And don’t you forget to answer every letter.”
“And please, please, both of you be careful, and don’t get hurt!” murmured Martha.
“Oh, say, Martha! don’t put a wet blanket on things that way,” whispered her brother. “Don’t you know you have to send them away with a smile?”
“And I’m going to,” she answered quickly, and then began to smile, even though the tears were forming in her pretty eyes.
“I know you will take good care of thingswhile we are away, Tom,” said Dick Rover to his brother.
“You can rest assured of that,” answered Tom Rover. “Just the same, I wish I were going along.”
“So do I, now that the time has come.”
“We may never have to go to France,” put in Sam Rover. “The war may be over before that time.” Yet, as he spoke, he knew in his heart that such was not likely to be the case. But he wanted to say something to ease the minds of his wife and the other womenfolks.
There were quite a number of volunteers to entrain, and friends and relatives were hurrying this way and that to see them off. Among the Rovers there was much handshaking and not a few kisses, and then Dick Rover and Sam entered the train, which, a few seconds later, glided from the station.
It was a sober crowd that returned to the Rover homes, even Andy and Randy being subdued. No one felt like talking. Poor Martha seemed to be the most affected, and had she attempted to speak she would certainly have broken out crying.
“Well, I suppose we’ve got to get back to Colby Hall to finish out the term,” remarked Jack, after Tom Rover had departed for the offices in Wall Street.
“Gee! I wish I could volunteer and go to that camp,” sighed Fred.
“Well, we’ll get a touch of camp life soon,” returned Jack.
He referred to the annual encampment of the Colby Hall students. Every year the cadets of the school were marched away to some place either in the mountains or on the seashore, there to erect their tents and live under canvas for several weeks. During this encampment the cadets were given a taste of real military life, with strenuous drills and marches, target and bayonet practice, and usually ending with a thrilling sham battle.
“Well, we can’t get under canvas any too quick to suit me,” announced Randy. “I’d rather be out in the open air than in the Hall.”
It was arranged that the young folks should return to Haven Point on the following morning. Andy and Randy wanted to see as much of their father as possible, and so decided to run down to Wall Street late in the afternoon and come home with him.
“And you fellows can come along, if you want to,” said Randy to his cousins.
“That suits me,” answered Jack. “I’d like to see how things look at the offices. I haven’t been down there in a long time.”
“I’d like to go, too,” came from Fred. “Maybe we can cheer Uncle Tom up a bit. He certainly deserves it—having all this business thrust on his shoulders!”
It did not take the four boys long to reach Wall Street, and then they hurried down to one of the small but better-class office buildings in that vicinity.
The Rover Company occupied the entire fourth floor of this building. There was a large general office and a counting room and three private offices, one for each of the brothers. The office help numbered about twenty, and the place during business hours was usually a busy one.
They found Tom Rover in his private office at a large desk piled high with sheets and documents. He was hard at work signing his name to a number of sheets, but smiled pleasantly when he saw who his visitors were. The boys, of course, were well known to most of the employees, and so had passed in without being questioned.
“Come to help me out, I suppose,” said the father of the twins, with a grin. “All right. Take off your coats, roll up your sleeves and pitch in. There is plenty to do.”
“If that is the case, Uncle Tom, I guess you don’t want us to disturb you,” said Jack quickly.
“I’ll be through here in less than half an hour,” announced Tom Rover. “Just make yourselves at home for that length of time, and then I’ll be with you.”
This was a gentle hint that he must get through with his work, and the boys lost no time in backing out of his office. They went into the offices usually occupied by Dick Rover and Sam Rover, looking over a number of books, magazines and pamphlets.
“Let’s go down in the street for a while and take a look around,” suggested Andy, who always liked to be on the go.
As there was nothing particular for them to do in the offices, the others agreed to this, and so, telling the twins’ father that they would come back at the end of the half hour, they walked out into the corridor opening upon the elevators and the stairway.
As they waited at one of the elevators for a chance to go down, the elevator came up and stopped to let out a messenger boy. Then it continued on its way upward.
“Say, did you notice who was in that elevator?” cried Randy quickly.
“I thought I saw Mr. Martell,” answered Fred.
“Yes, it was Martell, and Nappy was with him.”
“Well, there is nothing strange about that,” came from Andy. “Probably he wants to see his father now he is in New York again.”
“I’d like to know what Nappy has told his father about us,” went on Fred. “You can wager it’s nothing good.”
“I don’t care what he says, so long as he leaves us alone,” said Jack.
Another elevator appeared, and the four boys descended to the ground floor of the office building. Here half a dozen people were waiting to go up, while several others were at the rear of the corridor, talking earnestly.
“Hello! there are Slugger Brown and his father,” exclaimed Fred, pointing down the corridor. “Now, what do you know about that!”
“They must be in this building to visit the Martells,” returned Jack.
“They are talking to two men,” put in Randy. “I wonder who they can be?”
“Oh, some friends or business acquaintances, I suppose,” answered the oldest of the Rover boys.
Ordinarily none of the Rover boys considered eavesdropping honorable, but they thought it a different thing when dealing with their enemies, and Andy, being naturally inquisitive anyway, sauntered down the corridor and passed the groupthat was talking so earnestly. The backs of both Mr. Brown and Slugger were toward him, so neither noticed the lad.
“And if you will do that, Mr. Brown, you will make very good money by it,” Andy heard one of the strange men say. He spoke with a strong German accent.
“You will make far more money that way than you ever did in your business,” added the other stranger.
“Yes, but I’ll be running a big risk,” Mr. Brown replied. “Those things are getting more dangerous every day.”
“Say, Pop, why don’t you go up and see Mr. Martell about this?” put in the son.
“Yes, I think we ought to go up and see Nelson Martell,” answered Mr. Brown.
“I have already seen him,” said one of the strangers.
“Well, it won’t do any harm to talk it over again,” returned Slogwell Brown. “Come on; his offices are up on the fifth floor.”
The party of four turned, and as they did so Andy raised his hand and made a quick motion to the other boys to get out of sight. Then, as Slugger Brown and the men passed him, he turned quickly and, bending down, pretended to fix the lace of his shoe. Thus he was passed without being recognized. A few seconds later the four were in the elevator, going up.
“Why did you motion for us to get out of the way?” demanded Jack, as soon as Andy rejoined the others.
“Because I didn’t want Slugger and his father and those other men to see you,” was the quick reply. “Do you know what I think?”
“What?” came in a chorus from the others.
“I think that whole crowd is up to no good. Both of those men look like Germans, and each of them talked with a strong German accent, even though they are both evidently very well educated.”
“What did they say?” demanded Jack; and when told, he looked grave.
“There may be something in this,” he said slowly. “Suppose we go up to the fifth floor and try to find out a little more.”
“We might get caught,” said Fred.
“I don’t see how,” went on the oldest Rover boy. “Martell doesn’t occupy the whole floor. He has the front offices only. There are several other firms in the rear. We might be calling on them, you know,” and he winked.
The boys talked the matter over for a minute or so, and then, as an elevator came down, they entered and got out at the fifth floor. The littlecorridor here was empty, for which they were thankful.
“Of course there may not be a thing in this,” announced Jack. “It may be some ordinary business deal which is perfectly legitimate.”
“Not by the way those two German-looking fellows talked,” said Andy. “I didn’t like their looks at all. Unless I miss my guess, they are a slick pair.”
The two strangers had looked to be about forty years of age. Each was tall and rather stout, with a clean-shaven, florid face and close-cut, sandy hair. Their eyes had had a shifty snake-like look, and this it was, as much as anything, which set Andy against them.
The doors to the Martell offices were two in number, one marked “Private” and the other, “Entrance.” The boys waited for a few seconds, and then walked softly over to the latter door. They heard a murmur of voices, but could not make out what was being said.
“Perhaps they are in the office marked ‘Private,’” whispered Jack, and tiptoed his way in that direction, followed by his cousins.
In front of the door to this office they could hear slightly better. The murmur of voices was at times quite distinct, and they caught the words: “Supplies,” “Canned goods,” “Immediatedelivery,” “Motor trucks,” “Machinery,” “Cash payment,” “Night work,” and a number of others. Then the murmur of voices grew a little more animated, and finally they heard Nelson Martell exclaim: “I think we ought to have a thousand dollars at least in advance!”
“Better make it two thousand,” came from Slogwell Brown.
There was an exclamation from the strange men, and then the voices sounded lower so that the Rovers could not hear what was being said. Suddenly, however, one of the strangers cried out:
“Oh, I forgot! I have an important engagement in less than half an hour. I must go at once.”
“I guess it’s time we got out of here!” exclaimed Jack, and started to retreat, as did the others.
The Rover boys had just reached a place in front of the elevators when the door to one of the back offices opened and much to their surprise Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown came out. Evidently they had been sent off by their fathers while their parents had been doing business with the two strange men.
“Hello! what are you fellows doing here?” grumbled Nappy, gazing at them suspiciously.
“Did my father come up here?” questioned Randy, before the others could speak. “We want to see him,” continued the quick-witted Rover. “Maybe he’s in Mr. Benson’s office, fellows,” he added. “Come on.”
There was a Mr. Benson on that floor with an office in the rear. Without saying another word to Nappy or Slugger, the Rover boys marched to the door of the Benson place, knocked, and went in.
“Say, that was a neat trick, all right enough,” whispered Jack to Randy. “But now you’ve got us into it, you’ll have to get us out.”
“Humph! that’s easy enough,” was the ready reply. “Just leave it to me.”
A clerk came up, looking inquiringly at the boys.
“Excuse me, but did my father come up here?” questioned Randy innocently. And then, as the clerk looked puzzled, he added: “I am Randy Rover. My father is Thomas Rover of The Rover Company.”
“Oh, I see!” and the clerk smiled. “No, I don’t think your father came up here, but I’ll ask Mr. Benson.” The clerk disappeared into an inner office, to reappear a moment later. “Sorry, but your father hasn’t been up here to-day.”
“Thank you,” returned Randy; and then he and the others backed themselves out.
The stairway was close at hand, and a few seconds later the four Rover boys were on the fourth floor. Here they waited for the elevator, and soon found themselves on the ground floor, and from that walked to the street.
“Let’s hang around and see if that fellow really goes away,” advised Fred.
This they did, and in a few minutes saw the two German-looking men come from the building. They seemed to be in a great hurry, and lost no time in disappearing up Wall Street in the direction of Broadway.
“I wonder if we hadn’t better follow them?” said Fred.
“It might be rather a long-winded job, and we haven’t time,” answered Jack.
“Let us stay around until my father is at leisure,” said Randy. “Then we can tell him what we have heard and see what he thinks of it.” And so it was decided.
Back to contents
“Theremay be a good deal in this, and there may be nothing at all,” were Tom Rover’s words, after he had listened to the story the boys had to tell. “This may be a perfectly legitimate business transaction, although, as I have said before, Nelson Martell has been known to go into more than one shady transaction here in Wall Street. Generally, however, he just manages to escape falling into the clutches of the law.”
“Yes, but Dad! you must remember how Mr. Brown tried to treat old Barney Stevenson,” broke in Randy.
“Yes, I remember that,” answered his father. “And I have heard that Brown is no more reliable than is Martell. But to know a fact is one thing, to prove it in a court of law is another.”
“And those two strangers were certainly Germans,” said Andy.
“I’ll look into this a little further as soon as I get time,” said Tom Rover, after a moment ofthought. “And perhaps I’ll speak to one of the Secret Service men about it. It certainly will do no harm to have these men watched for a few days.”
A little later Tom Rover was through with his labors at his office, and then he and the boys returned to the homes on Riverside Drive. The father of the twins had to go out in the evening, and the boys spent the time at home with their mothers and the girls.
“We can’t go straight through to Haven Point this morning,” announced Jack, on the following day, when they had arrived at the railroad terminal. “They are shipping some soldiers and some naval supplies, and the road is somewhat balled up. The gateman told me we should have to make two changes.”
All of the mothers had come down to see the young folks off. Jack and Fred, as well as their sisters, felt particularly sorry for their parents, now left entirely alone so far as their own families were concerned.
“But never mind, Ma,” said Martha. “The term at Clearwater Hall will soon be at an end, and then we’ll be home again.”
“And don’t forget that we are to pay a visit to Camp Huxwell if the authorities will permit it and dad is still there,” added Mary to her parent.
“Sure! we’ll all go,” cried Fred.
Owing to war conditions, there was no parlor car on the train, but the boys and girls managed to get seats together, for which they were thankful. They made themselves as comfortable as possible, and then settled down to read their newspapers and magazines, or gaze out of the window at the scenes which were flashing by.
There was no dining car on this train, but from the conductor the young folks learned that they would have to change at a place called Raymonton, and they would there have half an hour in which to get lunch.
“I can get all I want in less time than that, provided it’s to be had,” said Fred. “We can go to the lunch room just as soon as the train gets in.”
Raymonton was nothing but an overgrown village containing but a handful of stores, a church, a garage, and a canning factory, with the houses occupying half a dozen straggly-looking streets. There was only a small and not an altogether inviting-looking lunch room, and here the bill-of-fare was decidedly meagre.
A tall, angular Irish girl waited on them. She was pleasant enough, and smiled broadly at the twins’ jokes. She served them with sandwiches, cake, pie, and hot chocolate, and they also purchased from her a bag of grapes and pears.
“I told you we’d have plenty of time,” remarked Fred, looking at a clock on the wall. “We have still ten minutes to spare.”
“I think I’ll get a shoe-shine,” said Jack. “I saw a bootblack outside roaming around doing nothing. If I give him work it may keep him out of mischief.”
At the end of the railroad platform was a stand devoted to the sale of newspapers and periodicals, chewing gum and candy. There was also a rack with postcards, and the girls busied themselves at this, picking out such cards as they desired. Not far from where the stand was located stood a long auto-stage, marked “Raymonton to Clappville. Fare 10 Cents.” On the seat of the stage sat an elderly driver, smoking, and the bus contained one or two men and several women and children, evidently waiting for the stage to start on its journey.
Jack had just finished having his shoes polished when he and the other boys noticed a man at the newsstand talking to the proprietor. Both men appeared to be out of sorts.
“Sorry, Sir, but you can’t have that magazine!” they heard the stand keeper exclaim.
“I’d like to know why not!” demanded the would-be customer. “I am ready to pay for it.”
“That’s all right—but you can’t have it! Iget only two copies of that magazine, and one is for the hotel and the other for Doctor Johnson’s daughter. They both take it regular.”
“Humph! I guess you don’t want any customers,” growled the other man savagely. “Well, if you don’t want to sell me any of your old magazines you can keep them! I guess I can get all the magazines I want elsewhere.” And the man stalked off in haughty anger.
The boys had watched this scene and listened to the talk with much interest. They had recognized in the would-be customer Asa Lemm, the professor who previous to his discharge from that institution had made life so miserable for them at Colby Hall.
“I’m glad the fellow didn’t let him have the magazine,” said Fred.
“Gee, I wish we could put one over on old Lemm!” whispered Andy.
“I wonder what he is doing in this town?” queried Randy.
“I think I can answer that,” replied Jack. “I once heard that he had some relative—a brother I think—living at Clappville. Maybe he came from there, or is going over to that town in the stage.”
Without allowing themselves to be noticed, Andy and Randy kept their eyes on Asa Lemmand saw him hurry over to one of the stores on the main street of the town, where a number of magazines were displayed in the window. He came out of the place, however, empty-handed, and looking more sour than ever. In the meantime Jack sauntered up to the keeper of the stand at the railroad station.
“Not a very pleasant sort of a fellow, that,” he remarked.
“Say, that fellow makes me tired!” growled the newsstand man. “I have a run-in with him nearly every time he comes here. The last time it was over a plugged ten-cent piece he tried to pass on me. When I handed it back to him and told him I wanted a good one, he was as peppery as sin.”
A minute or two later the driver of the auto-stage tooted his horn to show that he was about ready to start on the trip. At once several men and women came running from various directions and began to enter the stage. The last man to arrive was Asa Lemm. He had picked up a valise and a bundle from somewhere, and he had to stand in the rear, waiting for those ahead to enter the stage.
“I suppose there won’t be any seat for me by the time I get aboard,” he grumbled to the driver.
“Ain’t my fault,” answered the stage driver calmly. “If you don’t want to stand, you can wait until the next trip.”
“I haven’t time to wait. I’ll crowd in somehow,” grumbled Asa Lemm.
While this was going on, Andy and Randy had come up close behind the professor. Both were wondering if they could not play some sort of trick on him before he departed.
The newsstand was similar to many of that kind, and on two sides of it were long rows of periodicals, fastened by clips to a wire held in place by small hooks. Watching his chance, Andy unfastened the end of one of these wires, and motioned to his twin to unhook the other end.
“Now I guess we’ll fix Mr. Asa Lemm!” muttered Andy, and with a quick move he came up behind the former teacher of Colby Hall and twisted one end of the wire around a back button of Asa Lemm’s cutaway coat.
By this time all of the others had gotten into the stage, and, being somewhat in a hurry, the driver made a move as if to start away.
“Hi there! Wait till I get in!” shouted Asa Lemm and threw his bags and his bundle into the stage. Then he got on to the stage step and the driver started off.
“Hello, look at that!”
“Say, what is that fellow dragging behind him?”
“Hi, Mr. Gasaway! That fellow is running away with your magazines!”
“Talk about the tail of a kite—this beats any kite tail I ever saw!”