"Back to dear old Putnam Hall!Back to the days of yore!Back to the good old times we had!May we have many more!Back to our lessons and our books,And to the teachers, too,Back to the drills and hours off——""And to the mutton stew!"
"Back to dear old Putnam Hall!Back to the days of yore!Back to the good old times we had!May we have many more!Back to our lessons and our books,And to the teachers, too,Back to the drills and hours off——"
"And to the mutton stew!"
finished Tom. "Don't forget to put in Mrs. Green's wonderful mutton stews."
"No mutton stews in this!" snorted Songbird. "The last line was, 'When days were bright and blue,'" and then he continued:
"We love to gather here again,And talk of times to come,And plot and plan, and plan and plot——And plan and plot——and plot and plot——And plan——and plan——and plan——"
"We love to gather here again,And talk of times to come,And plot and plan, and plan and plot——And plan and plot——and plot and plot——And plan——and plan——and plan——"
"Songbird, you've plotted and planned too much," interrupted Dick, as the would-be poet hesitated. "Let's sing a song."
"That's the talk!" cried Fred Garrison, and started up the song well known to all of them:
"Putnam Hall's the place for me!Tra la lee! Tra la lee!Putnam Hall's the place for me!The best old school I know!"
"Putnam Hall's the place for me!Tra la lee! Tra la lee!Putnam Hall's the place for me!The best old school I know!"
And then, as the carryall swung up to the campus, they set up the school yell, which brought out a score of students to witness the arrival of the Rover boys.
As my old readers know, Putnam Hall was a handsome structure of brick and stone standing in the center of a large plot of ground, bounded on two sides by cedar woods. To the front was the campus and the wagon road and beyond this a slope leading to the lake. To the rear were rich farm lands, cultivated solely for the benefit of the institution. Besides the school, there were a building fitted up as a gymnasium, and also several barns and carriage houses. The Hall was built in the form of the letter E, and was three stories high. It contained numerous classrooms, a private office, a large mess hall, or dining room, and both large and small dormitories.
The master of the school was Captain Victor Putnam, who was a bachelor, and as kind as he was strict. Captain Putnam was a West Point graduate, and had modeled his school somewhat after that famous government institution. When the school was first organized the Rover boys did not go there, but a number of other bright and lively lads did, and what these cadets accomplished has already been related in a line of stories called "The Putnam Hall Series," starting with "The Putnam Hall Cadets." These lads had some awful quarrels with the head assistant, Josiah Crabtree, and they were glad when the Rovers appeared and made it so hot for Crabtree that he had to leave. George Strong was now first assistant in place of Crabtree, and the cadets found him a teacher after their own heart.
"Hurrah! here are the Rovers!" was the cry from the campus. "Welcome back!"
"Boys, I am glad to see you again," came from Captain Putnam, as he appeared at the front door and shook hands. "From what I have heard you have had rather strenuous times during the past vacation."
"That is true, Captain," answered Dick. "I am glad to get back here."
"So am I glad," came from Tom and Sam, and all shook hands. Then the boys were told to go to the mess hall, where a hot supper awaited them. Here Mrs. Green met them with her round, ruddy and smiling face.
"It's wonderful stories I've heard of you," said the matron. "I declare, you'll have to go into a museum!"
"Not until after supper anyhow," answered Tom, dryly. And then everybody present laughed.
The supper over, the boys went up to their dormitory, and here as many of the cadets as could crowded in, to talk over the doings of the past vacation. Larry Colby had spent the time on the coast of Maine, and George Granbury had been to the Thousand Islands and to Montreal.
"Yes, Crabtree is in Canada," said George. "I met him in Montreal, and I can tell you, he looked seedy enough."
"Well, he deserves to be seedy," was Dick's comment. He could not forget how the former teacher had endeavored to hypnotize the widow Stanhope into marrying him, so that he could gain possession of the money she was holding in trust for Dora.
Of course all the boys wanted to know about Dan Baxter, for he had been a leading character at the Hall for many years. Some shook their heads at the idea of the former bully reforming.
"It will be the greatest surprise I ever heard of," was Larry's comment.
"He'll do it—mark my words," said Dick.
"Let us hope so," said George.
"Well, it would seem that Putnam Hall is not to suffer for the want of a bully," came from Fred. "We've got a new one here who is as bad as Dan Baxter ever was."
"Who is he?" questioned Dick, with interest.
"A chap named Tad Sobber. He is a big, overbearing fellow with hardly any education, and he wants to rule everybody. I can't understand how Captain Putnam took him as a pupil."
"He came well recommended, that's why," answered Songbird. "But I guess the captain has found out that the recommendation was false."
"He shan't rule me," said Tom, decidedly.
"We want no bullies here," put in Dick. "The day for all such is past."
"So say we all of us!" cried several cadets.
At that moment came a knock on the door, and a tall youth, wearing an unusually high collar and very large cuffs, came in.
"Well, if it isn't our old chum, William Philander Tubbs!" cried Dick, running forward and grasping the hand of the dude student.
"Hullo, Tubbsey, old man!" said Tom, gaily. "What's the price of the best cologne now?"
"Very—ah—glad to meet you again," drawled Tubbs. "But—er—please don't call me Tubbsey, because it isn't my name, don't you know."
"To be sure, Buttertub—I mean Washtub," answered Tom. "Had your hair crimped lately?"
"Now, Tom, I never crimp my hair—it hurts the color, don't you know," explained William Philander. "I use——"
"Glue with an egg beater," finished Tom with a wink at his friends. "By the way, Tubblets, do you know what I heard some girls say last week? They said they thought you were a regular fashion plate."
"Now did they really?" gushed the dude, much pleased. "Who—er—said it?"
"Two girls living not many miles from here."
"You—ah—don't happen to know their names?"
"No. But I can tell you all about them."
"Ah! Then please do, Tom," said the dude eagerly. To have any young ladies think of him pleased him immensely.
"Well, these are a couple of young ladies who work in a laundry. Maybe they wash your shirts. They are colored, and——"
"Colored!" gasped the dude, and then a shout of laughter went up, in the midst of which William Philander started to leave the room.
"Don't go away mad, Billy," cried Tom. "Isn't it nice even to have two dusky damsels think of you?"
"No, it is not—it is—is horrid!" answered William Philander. "I think you are—er—poking fun at me."
"Never did such a thing in my life, my dear fellow—it's against my internal regulations. But how have you been since the week before next month?"
"I had a delightful vacation."
"Took the girls out to ice-cream sociables and yellow teas every day you wasn't playing golf or hop-scotch, I suppose."
"I—er—took the young ladies out some—we had glorious times, don't you know. One moonlight night on Lake George I shall never forget, don't you know. We were out in a tiny rowboat and the moon was sparkling over the water, and Geraldine and I——"
"Lucky Geraldine!" sighed Tom. "And thrice lucky Philander Willander—I mean William Philander!"
"Can't you make up a poem about Geraldine, Songbird?" asked Sam.
"And don't forget to put in the moonlight," came from Dick.
"And the silvery waves, and murmuring breeze," added Fred.
"How much older than you is Geraldine, any how?" quizzed Tom.
"Geraldine is——"
"You haven't got to tell her age if she is over thirty, Billy," said Larry. "Her age is sacred after that, you know."
"And don't tell us even if she has false teeth," came from Sam.
"And it doesn't make any real difference whether her hair is her own or not."
"It's hers if it is paid for," said Tom. "You don't suppose a girl that Billy would fall in love with would wear tresses that were stolen?"
"And to think she may be fat!" sighed Sam. "I hope she doesn't weigh over two hundred, Willy."
"Oh dear me!" cried the dude, in desperation. "I want you to remember——"
"That she is yours and yours only," finished Tom. "Yes, nobody shall walk in your corn patch, Bill—not over my dead body. But tell us—secretly if you must—does she wear a number eight shoe or a twelve?"
"If you don't stop your fooling——" gasped the dude.
"He is going to keep his dreadful secrets to himself," cried Tom, mournfully. "Alack! and too bad! But never mind, we'll all come to the wedding, Tubblets, and bring lemons if you say so?"
"Who said I was going to get married?"
"Is it to be a church affair or just a little private home gathering?" went on Tom, seriously. "If it's to be in a church, and you want us all for rushers—I mean ushers, why——"
"We'll all be on the job," finished Dick. "Wouldn't miss the chance for a farm with a blind mule thrown in."
"Vots der madder mid me peing a flower girl?" asked Hans, grinning broadly.
"No, Hansy, you'll have to carry Billy's coat-tails for him," said Fred. "The latest style from London, don't you know, is to have them trailing on behind like——"
"Oh, stop! stop!" screamed William Philander, putting his hands to his ears. "You are all perfectly horrid, don't you know! I'll not remain another minute!" and he fled from the dormitory, the laughter of the crowd ringing in his ears as he departed.
In a few days the Rover boys felt perfectly at home once more—indeed it was as if they had never been away, so Sam said. The majority of the students were old friends, although there was a fair sprinkling of new boys.
It was not until the end of the week that Dick Rover came into contact with Tad Sobber, a stocky youth, with a shock of black hair and eyes which were cold and penetrating. Sobber was with a chum named Nick Pell, and both eyed Dick in a calculating manner which was highly offensive.
"He's the fellow who does the hero act," whispered Sobber to Pell, in a manner meant to reach Dick's ears. "Wants to make a regular grand-stand play all the time."
Without hesitation Dick wheeled about.
"Was that remark intended for me?" he demanded, sharply.
His suddenness took Tad Sobber off his guard.
"What if it was?" he demanded in return.
"I don't like it, that's all."
"Humph! I don't care whether you like it or not," grunted Sobber.
"See here, Tad Sobber, let us have an understanding," said Dick, calmly. "I understand that you are trying to bully everybody in this school. Now, this cannot be. We have had several bullies here and we have gotten rid of them all. We want no more."
"Humph! Trying to be the bully yourself, eh?" sneered Sobber.
"No, I am only giving you warning. The other boys have told me about you."
"Tad has a right to act as he pleases," put in Nick Pell.
"No, he has not. Captain Putnam expects every student here to be a gentleman."
"Oh, don't preach, Rover," cried Tad Sobber. "I can take care of myself without your advice."
"Well, I warn you to keep your distance so far as I am concerned and keep a civil tongue in your head," said Dick.
What this war of words might have led to there is no telling. Just at that moment the school bell rang, and all of the students had to hurry to their respective classes.
It may be mentioned here that Sam, Tom and Dick were now in the same grade. This may be wondered at, but the fact of the matter was that Sam, by hard work the term previous, had caught up to Tom, while Dick, because of being away on some business for his father at various times, had dropped a little behind.
"Had a little run-in with Sobber," said Dick to his brothers, when he got the chance, and related the particulars.
"He said something about me behind my back," said Sam. "I don't know what it was, but I am certain it was nothing complimentary."
"We must watch him," said Tom. "If we do not, he may try to play us foul."
As this was to be their last term at Putnam Hall, all of the Rovers determined to do their best in their studies, so they spent no time in fooling while at their classes. Once or twice Tom found it hard to resist playing a joke, but a look from Dick usually made him turn to his books again.
It was now the season for football, and several school teams had been organized. Tom and Dick were on one team, headed by Larry Colby. There was another team headed by Tad Sobber, and on this Nick Pell was a quarterback. How Sobber had ever gotten the captaincy of this team was a mystery.
"They want to play us next Saturday," said Larry, one afternoon. "What do you fellows say?" He put the question to his fellow members of the eleven.
"I don't care much to play Sobber and Pell," said Tom, promptly.
"Exactly the way I feel about it," added Dick. "But I'll play if the rest want to."
Some demurred, but in the end the match was arranged, and it started on the school grounds at two o'clock the following Saturday afternoon.
"I think it will be useless to try any mass playing," said Larry. "Sobber and Pell and some of the others are too heavy for us. We'll have to trust to some swift passes and quick runs."
In the first half of the game Sobber's eleven got ten points, while Larry's team got nothing.
"Sobber is too brutal for me," said Tom. "He deliberately kicked me in the shins."
"If he does it again, knock him down," advised Dick, promptly.
Larry's eleven went into the second half with vigor. They soon got a goal and followed it up by two more. Then Sobber claimed a foul, but it was not granted.
"If anybody is fouling it is you," said Dick. "You fouled Tom twice. If you do it again——"
"Never mind, Dick," interrupted Larry. "Go on and play, or give up," he added to Tad Sobber.
"I want Dick Rover to understand that he——" began Sobber, when another player pulled him back. Some hot words followed, and then the game proceeded. Larry's eleven made another touchdown and kicked the goal,—and thus won a substantial victory, much to Sobber's disgust and that of his crony, Nick Pell.
"No use of talking, those Rover boys make me sick," said Sobber, when he and Nick Pell were alone. "Everybody in this school seems to toady to them."
"If I had been you I'd have pitched into Dick Rover on the gridiron," answered Pell.
"Well, I wanted to, but the others wouldn't have it. But I'll polish him off some day—and polish off Tom, too," added Sobber, uglily.
Two of the small boys of the school had been taken sick, and in order to keep them quiet they were removed to the top floor of the institution, and one of the colored waiters was ordered to carry their meals up to them. Dick knew both of the lads, and he frequently went up to pay them a visit and cheer them up a bit.
One day he was just returning from a visit to the sick students when he heard a noise in the hallway on the second floor. He looked down the stairs and saw Tom and Tad Sobber near a landing, having a wordy quarrel. Nick Pell was approaching and so were Fred and Hans.
"For two pins I'd give you a good thrashing, Rover," the bully was saying. "You can't lord it over me, understand that."
"Well, I want you to keep your distance, Tad Sobber," returned Tom. "And I stick to it that you kicked me on purpose during the football game."
Both boys were walking to the stairs landing, and Dick and the others who heard the words followed. Then of a sudden the crowd that was gathered saw Sobber catch Tom by the throat.
"Le—let go!" gasped Tom.
"Take that!" retorted the bully, and banged Tom's head against the wall.
There was a scuffle near the stairs, and both boys fell up against the railing.
"Look out, Tom!" cried Dick. "He'll throw you down the stairs!" And he tried to go to his brother's assistance. But before he could reach the spot the two contestants had separated.
"That for you!" roared Sobber, and aimed a blow for Tom's eye. Tom dodged, and then let out with his right fist. The blow landed on the bully's chin. He tottered backward, lost his balance, and pitched down the stairs.
Just as the bully went backwards, a side door of the mess hall opened and the colored waiter who carried the food to the sick lads upstairs came out. He held a trayful of dainties in his hands. Crash! came Sobber into the tray, and he and the dishes and the waiter went to the floor in a confused heap.
"Fo' de lan' sake!" gasped the waiter. "What fo' you dun dat to me?"
"Oh!" groaned the bully, and tried to get up. On one cheek he had a dab of jelly and his hand and shirt front were covered with broth. The sight was such a comical one that the boys on the landing could not help but laugh.
"Yo' dun bust de whole dinnah up!" was the waiter's comment, as he arose and surveyed the wreck. The food had been scattered in all directions and half of the dishes were broken.
"It wasn't my fault!" growled Tad Sobber. "Tom Rover knocked me down the stairs."
"It was your own fault," cried Tom. "You started the fight, I didn't."
"Somebody's got to pay fo' dis smash," said the waiter. "I ain't gwine to do it. Why, I ought to sue yo' fo' damages, dat's wot!" he added, glaring wrathfully at Sobber.
"I'll fix Tom Rover for this!" exclaimed the bully, and looked up the stairs at the laughing students. "I'll make him laugh on the other side of his face!"
And he ran up the stairs with the intention of attacking Tom again.
That Tad Sobber was in a thorough rage was easily to be seen. His eyes were full of hate and he looked ready to fly at Tom and tear him to pieces.
All of the boys expected to see a great fight, and some backed away from the landing, to give the contestants more room.
But before anything could be done Dick leaped to the front and barred the bully's further progress.
"Stop it, Sobber," he said quietly but firmly.
"Get out of my way, Dick Rover!" roared the bully. "This is none of your affair."
"Then I'll make it my affair," answered the eldest Rover boy. "You shall not attack my brother here."
"Don't worry, Dick—I can take care of him," put in Tom, undauntedly, and doubled up his fists. "Maybe he'd like to go down stairs again and smash some more dishes."
"Not when John Fly am carryin' dem," put in the colored waiter, who stood looking at the wreckage with a sober face. "I don't want no moah such knockovers, I don't!" And he shook his woolly head decidedly.
The noise had summoned numerous cadets to the scene, and now George Strong, the head teacher, appeared.
"What is the trouble here?" he demanded.
For the moment nobody answered him, and he gazed in wonderment at the broken dishes and the scattered food.
"Been a accident, sah," said John Fly. "Dat young gen'man dun fall down de stairs an' knock me ober, tray an' all, sah."
"Did you fall down stairs, Sobber?"
"No, sir, I was thrown down by Tom Rover," replied the bully.
"Thrown down?" repeated the head teacher in surprise.
"He attacked me and I hit back," explained Tom. "It was his own fault that he fell down stairs. Had he let me alone there would have been no trouble."
"It is false—he hit me first," said the bully.
"That is not so," cried Fred. "Sobber struck the first blow."
"Yah, dot is der fact alretty," put in Hans. "He vos caught Dom py der throat und knock his head py der vall chust so hard like nefer vos!"
"He hit me first, didn't he, Nick?" said the bully, turning to his crony.
"I—I think he did," stammered Nick Pell. He did not dare to tell an outright falsehood. "I think it was all Tom Rover's fault," he added, after a surly look from Sobber.
"All of you know it is against the rules to fight in this school," said Mr. Strong, sternly.
"Well, I only fought after I was attacked," answered Tom, doggedly.
"Mr. Strong, whether you believe it or not, my brother speaks the plain truth," came from Dick. "I was coming from Larmore's room and saw it all. Had you been in Tom's place you would have done as he did."
These plain words from Dick made George Strong hesitate. He knew the Rover boys well, and knew that they were generally in the right. More than this, he had caught Tad Sobber in a falsehood only the day before.
"You may all go to your rooms and I will see about this later," he said. "Sobber, as you broke the dishes, you will have to pay for them."
"Can't Rover pay half the bill?" growled the bully.
"No, for I cannot see how he is to blame for that."
After this some sharp words followed. Tad Sobber was impudent, and as a consequence was marched off to a storeroom which was occasionally used as a "guardhouse" by the teachers and Captain Putnam. Here he had to stay in solitary confinement for twenty-four hours and on the plainest kind of a diet. This imprisonment made Sobber furious, and he vowed he would get square with Tom and Dick for it if it cost him his life.
"They may have been able to down other fellows in this school, but they shan't down me," was what he told Nick Pell.
"Well, you want to go slow in what you do," answered Pell. "I've been talking to some of the others and I've learned that they got the best of several fellows who were here at different times—Dan Baxter, Lew Flapp and some others."
"Humph! I am not afraid of them," growled Tad Sobber. "I suppose they think, because they are rich and have traveled some, they can lord it over everybody. Well, I'll show them a trick or two before I'm done with them."
After Tad Sobber came out of confinement the Rover boys thought he might try to play some underhand trick on Tom, and consequently kept their eyes open. But nothing developed for some days, and then it came in a most unexpected way.
The boys settled down to their studies, but it was not in their nature to go in for all work and no play. On the following Saturday they asked for permission to visit Cedarville, to buy some things Sam and Tom needed. They took with them Songbird and Hans, and went on foot, the weather being ideal for walking. Just before leaving they saw Sobber and Pell hurry away, also in the direction of the town.
"I wonder where they are going?" mused Dick.
"Sobber is going to take a run by steamboat to Ithaca," answered Songbird. "I heard him speak to Captain Putnam about it."
"Is Pell going along?"
"I don't think so."
The three Rover boys and their friends were soon on the way. They felt in the best of spirits, and Powell could not resist the temptation to break out into his usual doggerel:
"I love to roam o'er hill and dale,In calm or storm or windy gale,I love the valley and the hill,The brooklet and the running rill,I love the broad and placid lake——""Where we can swim or take a skate,"
"I love to roam o'er hill and dale,In calm or storm or windy gale,I love the valley and the hill,The brooklet and the running rill,I love the broad and placid lake——"
"Where we can swim or take a skate,"
finished Tom, and then went on:
"And just remember, of the rest,I love old Putnam Hall the best!"
"And just remember, of the rest,I love old Putnam Hall the best!"
"That last sentiment hits me," said Fred. "Tell you what, fellows, no place like our school."
"I dink I make me some boetry alretty," said Hans, solemnly, and began:
"I lof to hear der insects hum,I lof to chew on chewing gum!I lof to see der moon shine owit——""And love to eat my sauerkraut,"
"I lof to hear der insects hum,I lof to chew on chewing gum!I lof to see der moon shine owit——"
"And love to eat my sauerkraut,"
added Tom gaily. "Songbird, can't you get up some real nice bit of verse about sauerkraut and Limburger cheese for Hans' benefit?"
"The idea of poetry about sauerkraut and Limburger cheese!" snorted the verse maker in disgust.
"Well, anyway, the lines about the cheese would be good and strong," was Dick's comment.
"A poem about sauerkraut wouldn't do for this automobile age," said Sam, dryly.
"Why not?" asked Tom.
"Because sauerkraut belongs to the cabbage," answered the youngest Rover, and then dodged a blow Tom playfully aimed at him.
"I shan't try to make up any more verses," said Songbird. "Every time I try——"
"Hullo, here comes a carriage with three young ladies in it," called out Dick.
"They look familiar to me," announced Tom. "Yes, they are Dora Stanhope and Grace and Nellie Laning!" he cried.
"Well, this is a pleasure," said Songbird, and forgot all about what he was going to say concerning his verse making.
The carriage was soon up to them. It was a two-seated affair, and on the front seat were Dora and Nellie and in the rear Grace and Mrs. Stanhope.
"We were going to stop at Putnam Hall for a few minutes," said Dora, after the greetings were over. "It was such a lovely day we couldn't resist the temptation to go out for a long drive."
"Sorry we won't be at the Hall to receive you," answered Dick, and he gave Dora such an earnest look that the pretty girl blushed.
"The girls have something up their sleeve," said Mrs. Stanhope. "And they wanted to see you and Captain Putnam about it."
"We are getting up a little party," announced Nellie. "It is to come off at Dora's home some time this fall. We wanted to find out if Captain Putnam would let you and a few of your friends come over."
"Oh, he'll have to let us come!" cried Tom. "Why, I wouldn't miss a party for anything!" And he said this so comically that all of the girls laughed.
"We haven't set any date yet," said Grace. "But you'll speak to Captain Putnam about it, won't you? We thought you might make up a party of say eight or ten boys, and come over in the carryall."
"It's as good as done," announced Sam, with a profound bow. "Please put me down on your card for the first two-step."
"Und put me town for a dree-steps," added Hans, and at this there was another laugh.
"I don't know whether we'll have dancing or not," said Mrs. Stanhope. "But we'll try to have a good time."
"Who do you want us to invite—if we can come?" questioned Dick.
"Oh, Dick, we'll leave that to you. Of course we want all who were on the houseboat," and Dora looked at the Rovers and Songbird and Hans.
"With Fred that will make six. Shall I ask Larry Colby and George Granbury?"
"If you want to—and two more. But please don't ask those boys we just met," went on Dora, hastily.
"You mean Tad Sobber and Nick Pell?" questioned Tom, quickly.
"One called the other Nick. He was a very large lad," said Mrs. Stanhope.
"Sobber and Pell sure," murmured Tom. "What did they do?"
"Stood right in the middle of the road and would not get out of the way," explained Grace. "I think they were perfectly horrid!"
"They made us drive around to one side and we nearly went into a ditch," added Dora.
"And then, after we had passed, they burst out laughing at us," continued Nellie. "They certainly weren't a bit nice."
"We'll have to settle with Sobber and Pell for this," said Dick, and his face took on a serious look that bode no good for the cadets who had played so ungallant a part towards his lady friends.
The Lanings and the Stanhopes had been in the best of health since returning from the south. Mrs. Stanhope was no more the pale and delicate person she had been, and her former nervous manner was entirely gone. The cheeks of the three girls were like roses, and it was no wonder that the Rovers thought them the nicest young ladies in the whole world.
"Wish we were in a carriage," observed Tom, after the turnout had gone on. "Then we might have gone for a drive together."
"I know what Tom would like," said Sam. "A nice buggy and a slow horse, and Nellie beside him——"
"Humph, please change the names to Sam and Grace and you'll hit it closer," answered Tom, his face growing red.
"I'm going to make up a poem about them some day," said Songbird. "I shall call it—let me see—ah, yes—The Three Fair Maidens of Cedarville."
"Don't!" cried Dick. "Songbird, if you dare to do anything like that——"
"You'll have to leave Dora out anyway," said Tom. "If you don't, Dick will get in your wool sure. He——"
"Say, what about Sobber and Pell?" broke in the eldest Rover, his face quite red. "I feel like punishing them for making the ladies drive into the ditch."
"We'll remember it," answered Sam. "If we catch them in Cedarville let's speak of it and see what they have to say for themselves."
"Speaking about a party," observed Songbird, as they approached the village, "do you realize that we haven't had any sort of a feast at the Hall since we got back to the grind?"
"Fred was saying the same thing only a few days ago," answered Tom. "We certainly ought to have some sort of a blow-out."
"Vot you vos going to plow owid?" asked Hans innocently.
"Blow out the stuffings from a mince pie, Hansy."
"Vere you vos plow dem to, Dom?"
"Blow them into your stomach. Have a spread—a feast—a fill-up, so to speak—something to eat, cheese, sandwiches, cake, pie, pudding, jam, oranges, bananas, lard, salt, plum pudding, toothpicks, ice-cream, turnips, and other delicacies," went on the fun-loving Rover, rapidly.
"Ach, yah, I understand now, ain't it! I like dem feasts. Ve haf him in von of der pedrooms alretty yet, hey?"
"If the crowd is willing," said Sam. "For one, I vote in favor of it."
"Second the nomination," put in Tom, promptly. "It is elected by a unanimous vote we have a feast at the school, some night in the near future, at eleven o'clock, G. M."
The idea of a feast pleased all the boys. They always got enough to eat during regular meal hours at the Hall, but there was something enticing in the idea of having a feast on the sly some night in one of the dormitories. They had had a number of such in the past and these had been productive of a good deal of sport.
"Let us go down to the steamboat landing and see if we can see anything of Pell and Sobber," suggested Dick. "If Sobber is going to Ithaca he'll most likely go by theGolden Star."
They were walking along the main street of Cedarville when they chanced to look into the principal candy store. There, in front of the soda fountain, were the bully of the Hall and his crony. They were drinking soda and talking to a young girl who had served them.
"Hullo, here they are!" cried Sam, and came to a halt.
As they looked into the place they saw Tad Sobber reach over the counter and catch the girl clerk by her curls. He held fast, grinning into her face, while she tried to pull away from him.
"The mean wretch!" cried Dick. "He tries to make himself as obnoxious as he can to everybody he meets."
"Oh, please let go!" came in the girl's voice through the open doorway. "You hurt me!"
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," replied Sobber, still grinning.
"But I—I don't want my curls pulled," pleaded the frightened girl. "Oh, please let go, won't you?"
"I want you——" began the bully, but did not finish, for at that moment he felt Dick's hand on his ear. Then he received a yank that pained him exceedingly.
"Ouch!" he yelled, and dropped his hold of the girl. "Oh, my ear! Dick Rover, what did you do that for?"
"I did it to make you behave yourself," answered Dick, sternly. "Sobber, I didn't really think you could be so mean," he went on.
"I—I wasn't hurting the girl," grumbled the bully. "And it's none of your business anyway," he added, suddenly, in a blaze of passion.
"After this, you leave her alone."
Tad Sobber glared at Dick for an instant. Then he raised his glass of soda and attempted to dash it into Dick's face. But Sam saw the movement, knocked up the bully's arm, and the soda went into Nick Pell's ear.
"Hi, stop!" roared Nick Pell, as the soda trickled down his neck. "What did you do that for?"
"It was Sam Rover's fault," answered Sobber.
"My brand new collar is spoilt!"
"Charge it to your crony," said Tom.
"I'll fix you fellows!" roared the bully, and raised the empty soda glass over Dick's head. But now Tom rushed in and wrenched the glass from Sobber's hand. In the meantime the girl behind the counter had become more frightened than ever and she ran to the back of the store to summon assistance.
It looked as if there might be a regular fight, but in a few seconds the proprietor of the store appeared, armed with a mop stick he had picked up. He happened to be the father of the girl, and she told him how Tad Sobber had caught her by the hair.
"See here," began the candy store keeper, and flourished his mop stick at the bully. Then Sobber retreated from the establishment and Nick Pell did likewise, and both started on a run up the street.
"What do you cadets mean by coming in here and annoying my daughter?" demanded the storekeeper hotly. "If you can't behave yourselves, you had better keep away."
"We didn't hurt your daughter," said Sam.
"My brother here did what he could to save her from annoyance," said Tom.
"Oh, I know you cadets! You are all tarred with the same brush!" muttered the storekeeper. "I want you to get out—and stay out!"
"Yes, but——" began Dick.
"No 'buts' about it, young man. I want you to get out."
"Father, he made the other boy let go of my curls," explained the girl. "He caught the other boy by the ear."
"That may be, Fanny, but these young bloods are all alike. I don't want their trade. They must clear out, and stay away."
"Come on, fellows," said Dick. "We'll not stay if we are not wanted." He turned again to the storekeeper. "But I want you to remember one thing: We had nothing to do with annoying your daughter."
"Did they pay for the soda?" asked the man suddenly.
"No," replied the girl.
"Then this crowd has got to pay," went on the storekeeper, unreasonably. "How much was it?"
"Ten cents."
"We haven't bought anything and we'll not pay for anything," said Sam.
"Not a cent shall I pay," put in Songbird.
"Did vos a outrages!" burst out Hans. "Of you insult us some more I vos call a bolicemans alretty!" And he puffed up his chest indignantly.
"Well, you get out, and be quick about it!" cried the man, and raised his stick. "Don't let me catch any of you in here again either!"
"Don't worry,—we can spend our money elsewhere," said Tom.
"Where we are treated decently," added Dick, and walked from the candy store.
Once outside, the boys talked the situation over for all of ten minutes, but without satisfaction. All were indignant over the way the storekeeper had treated them, and Tom wanted to go back on the sly and play a trick on him, but Dick demurred.
"Let it go, Tom. He is a mean man, that's all."
"Well, I am going to show folks how generous he is," answered Tom, with a sudden grin. "Wait here a few minutes," and he darted into a nearby store where they sold stationery. When he came out he had a good-sized sheet of paper in his hand and also several big red seals.
"What's that?" asked Sam.
"It's a sign for the candy storekeeper's front window."
With caution Tom went back to the store. He saw that the proprietor was in the rear parlor, dishing out ice-cream to several customers who had come in. The girl was also at the back. Swiftly Tom stuck the sheet of paper up under the show window, fastening it with the gummy seals. The paper read as follows:
FREE BOUQUETS OF ROSES TO ALL YOUNG LADIES BUYING ICE-CREAM HERE TO-DAY. COME IN!
"Now let us watch for some fun," said Tom.
They had not long to wait. The steamboat had come in and a number of passengers were walking up the street. Soon a party of three girls and a young man espied the sign.
"Oh, Clara," cried one of the girls. "Free roses this time of year, just think of it!"
"Come on right in," said the young man, and led the way into the store. Then another young man came along with a girl and they also read the sign and entered. Soon two old maids stopped and read the announcement.
"I do love ice-cream, Angelina," said one. "Let us go in and get chocolate and get the bouquets, too." And they followed the crowd inside.
The store had two side windows to it, which were opened a few inches from the bottom for ventilation, and the cadets stole up to these windows to listen to the talk. Everybody ordered cream and began to eat, and then asked for the bouquets.
"Bouquets?" asked the storekeeper, mystified.
"Why, yes," said the young man who had brought in the three girls.
"If you don't mind, I'd like Jack roses," said one of the maidens.
"And I like American Beauties," said another.
"I don't care what kind I get so long as it is a big bunch," added the third girl.
"What are you talking about?" demanded the storekeeper.
"We are talking about the bouquets you are giving away," said the young man. He had eaten nearly all of his cream and the girls had almost finished.
"I am giving away no bouquets."
"Why, yes you are!" cried the girls.
"Of course!" put in one of the old maids, suspiciously. "And I want just as good a bunch of roses as anybody."
"So do I," added the second old maid.
"Are you folks all crazy?" demanded the storekeeper. "I am not giving away anything."
"What!" demanded the young man who had come in with one girl. "Your sign don't read that way. It says 'free bouquets of roses to all young ladies buying ice-cream here to-day.' You've got to give this young lady her bouquet or I won't pay for this cream!"
"Where is that sign?" demanded the storekeeper, and when told rushed out and tore the announcement down and into shreds. "This is a—an outrage! I didn't put the sign up!"
After this there was a wordy war lasting several minutes. Nobody wanted to pay for the cream eaten, and as he could not furnish the bouquets the storekeeper could not collect. In a rage he chased the would-be customers out and then started to look for the person who had played him such a trick. But the cadets of Putnam Hall had withdrawn from that vicinity and they took good care to keep out of sight.
The steamboat had to take on considerable freight at Cedarville, so she remained at the little dock for the best part of half an hour. During that time the Rovers and their friends saw Tad Sobber and Nick Pell walking around the village, but did not speak to them.
"Hullo, here is something new," said Songbird, as they walked past the stores. "A dime museum!"
"Such a thing as that will never pay here," was Dick's comment. "Not enough people."
"It is to remain only one week," said Sam, after reading the sign over the door.
"Wonder if they really have one hundred snakes in the collection?" mused Tom, also reading the sign. "If so, there would be some fun if the bunch broke loose."
"Want to go in and look at the snakes?" asked Songbird.
"I ton't," answered Hans. "Of I look at so many of dem nasty dings I couldn't sleep for a month or sefen days, ain't it!" And he shuddered.
While the boys were walking away they chanced to look back and saw Tad Sobber and Nick Pell come from the "museum," so called. The bully was talking to a man connected with the show, a fellow who usually stood outside, "barking" as it is called,—that is, asking folks to come up and walk in and see the wonders inside.
"Sobber must know that fellow," was Dick's comment, but thought no more of this until long afterwards. A little later they saw the bully embark on the steamboat, and Nick Pell started back for Putnam Hall alone.
The boys purchased the things they wanted and returned to the school. They did not see Nick Pell until the following day, and then the latter paid no attention to them. Sobber did not return to Putnam Hall for the best part of a week. Then he appeared very thoughtful and he eyed all of the Rover boys in a crafty, speculative way.
"He has got it in for us," said Tom, but how much Tad Sobber "had it in" for the Rovers was still to be learned.
The boys had not forgotten about the proposed feast, and it was arranged that it should come off in the dormitory occupied by the Rovers and some others on the following Tuesday night as soon as all the lights were out. Word was passed around quietly, and the Rover boys thought that only their intimate friends knew of what was going on, but they were mistaken.
By pure accident Nick Pell overheard Larry Colby and Fred Garrison speaking of the feast. It had been arranged that Larry and Fred should contribute a big raisin cake and the two boys were wondering how they could get it from the bake shop in Cedarville and up to the dormitory without being seen.
"Never mind, we'll manage it somehow, if we have to use a rope," said Larry.
"They are going to have a spread," said Nick Pell, running up to Tad Sobber with the story. "We ought to tell Captain Putnam and spoil things for them."
"That won't do us any good, Nick," answered the bully. "The captain thinks too much of the Rovers—he wouldn't punish them much, especially as this is their last term here. I'll think up something else. I want to do something to 'em that they will remember as long as they live."
"You seem to be extra bitter against the Rovers since you got back from Ithaca," said Pell, curiously.
"Am I? Well, I have good cause to be bitter," growled Tad Sobber. "Just let me put on my thinking cap, and I'll fix 'em, and don't you forget it!"
That night the bully asked for permission to go to Cedarville on important business. He went alone, and once in the town hurried directly to the museum already mentioned. The proprietor had done little or no business in the village and was about to move to another place.
When Tad Sobber returned to Putnam Hall he carried under his arm a heavy pasteboard box which he carried with great care. This box he hid away in a corner of the barn, among some loose hay.
"I'm ready to fix the Rovers now," he told Nick Pell. "Keep your mouth shut but your eyes wide open."
"What are you going to do?"
"Just wait and see."
At the appointed time the Rovers and their chums assembled in the dormitory for the feast. A large quantity of good things had been procured, including chicken sandwiches, cake, oranges and lemonade. Tom had even had a dealer in Cedarville pack him up several bricks of ice-cream, and these now rested in some cracked ice in a washbowl.
"Say, but this is a touch of old times," said Sam. "Do you remember the first feast we had here, when Mumps got scared to death?"
"Indeed I do!" cried one of the other students. "Here's to the good old times!" and he raised his glass of lemonade to his lips.
In a short while the feast was in full swing. There was a hall monitor supposed to be on guard, but Tom had bought him off with a slice of cake, some candy and an orange, and he was keeping himself in a front hallway, where he could not hear what was going on.
"If it wasn't for the noise, we might have a song," said Sam. "As it is, I move Songbird recite 'Mary Had a Little Cow,' or something equally elevating."
"I can give you an original bit of verse which I have entitled, 'When the Blossoms Fill the Orchard, Molly Dear,'" answered the doggerel maker.
"Gracious, that sounds like a new nine-cent piece of sheet music," murmured Dick.
"Can't you whistle it?" suggested Tom. "It may sound better."
"Play it out on a fine-tooth comb," suggested Larry.
"Who is ready for ice-cream?" asked Tom, after a general laugh had ensued. "This isn't going to keep hard forever."
All were ready, and the bricks were cut, the pieces laid on tiny wooden plates which had been provided, and passed around. Then came more cake and fruit.
In the midst of the jollification there came a sudden and unexpected knock on the door.
"Who can that be?" whispered several in alarm.
"Put out the lights!" said Tom. "Those who don't belong here get under the beds." And he began to get the evidences of the feast out of sight, Dick and Sam assisting him.
With quaking hearts the merry-makers waited for the knock to be repeated, and waited to hear the sound of Captain Putnam's voice or that of the first assistant teacher.
"Bartlett might have warned us," whispered Fred. Bartlett was the monitor who had been bribed.
No other knock came on the door, nor did anybody demand admittance. The boys waited for several seconds, each holding his breath in anxiety.
"Who can it be?" asked Sam of his oldest brother.
"I suppose I might as well go and see," said Dick. "Maybe some of the other fellows are up to some tricks."
With caution he approached the hall door and opened it. Only a dim light was burning, and for the instant he could see nothing. Then he caught sight of a white object on the floor and picked it up. It was a pasteboard box, tied with a strong string.
"This must be some kind of a joke," he said, and came back into the dormitory with the box in his hands. "Light up and let me see what this is."
The lights were lit and several of the boys began to eat the stuff that had been swept out of sight. They all gazed curiously at the pasteboard box.
"Here's a card on the top," said Dick, and commenced to read it. The inscription was as follows: