"If he is, you want to beware of him," responded Randolph Rover
gravely.  "He is your father's deadliest enemy."

"I'll remember that," said Dick, and his brothers nodded.  The
matter was talked over for several hours, but brought little
satisfaction.

On New Year's Day came another fall of snow, and the lads spent
the afternoon in a regular snowballing match among themselves and
with the hired man.  Poor Jack caught it on all sides, and after
quarter of an hour's bombardment was glad enough to run to the
barn, for shelter.  "But it's great sport," he grinned, as he
almost stood on his head trying to get from the back of his neck a
soft snowball which Tom had planted there.

The following day they started back for Putnam Hall, and on the
way met Larry, Frank, Fred, and a number of others.  When Ithaca
was reached a surprise awaited the crowd.  The weather was so cold
that the ice impeded transportation, and the Golden Star was not
making her usual trips to Cedarville and other points.

"Here's a state of things!" cried, Tom.  "What's to do--walk to
Putnam Hall?"

"Well, hardly, seeing that it is a good number of miles and the
weather is bitterly cold."

"Well, if we can't walk and can't ride, how are we to get there?"
came from Sam.

"That's the conundrum, Brudder Bones," laughed Larry, imitating a
negro minstrel.  "I'se gib it up, sah!"

"It's no laughing matter," said Dick.  "We might stay in Ithaca
over night, but traveling may be no better in the morning."

"Let us send a telegram to Captain Putnam for instructions,"
suggested Fred, and soon the following message was prepared and
sent to the Hall by way of Cedarville:

"Six of us are held up at Ithaca by the cold.  How shall we come
on?"

This message was forwarded without delay, and while awaiting an
answer Dick and his brothers took a walk through the town.

They were passing down the main street when Sam uttered a short
cry.

"Hullo, there is Josiah Crabtree!"

"Where?" questioned Dick with deep interest.

"Across the way.  He has just entered the jewelry store on the
corner."

"Say, perhaps he's buying a wedding ring," blurted out Tom before
he stopped to think.

"Tom, that matter is no joke," came from Dick, as his face grew
red.  "I sincerely hope, for Dora Stanhope's sake, that he never
marries, Dora's mother."

"Oh, so do I," answered Tom readily.

"Why, he isn't fit to be stepfather to a dog!"

"Let us look into the window and see what he is doing," suggested
Dick uneasily, for he could not get it out of his head but that
his brother's guess might be correct.

The window was broad and clear, and they looked through it into
the shop with ease.  Josiah Crabtree stood at the counter, talking
to a clerk, who presently brought forth a tray of plain rings.

"It is a wedding ring, as sure as you are born!" cried Tom.

"I'm going in," said Dick in a low tone.  "Wait for me here," and
he entered the establishment.  There were counters an both sides,
and he walked to a position directly opposite to that occupied by
the ex-schoolmaster.

"I wish to see some cheap scarf pins," he said to the clerk who
came to wait on him, and the man hurried off to bring on the
articles mentioned.

"And is this the latest style of wedding ring?" Dick heard Josiah
Crabtree say in a low voice.

"Yes, sir, the very latest--and very tasty," answered the clerk
who was waiting on him.

"I wish two, one for the lady and one for--ahem--myself."

"Yes, sir--quite the style now for a gentleman to have a ring.
Want them engraved, of course."

"Yes.  Here is a paper with the sizes and what is to be engraved
upon each.  How much will they be with the engraving?"

"Six dollars each, sir."

"Six dollars!  Don't you make a reduction on taking two?" asked
Crabtree, who was a good deal of a miser.

"We can throw off a dollar on the pair," answered the clerk, after
consulting the proprietor of the shop.

"I didn't expect to pay over ten dollars."

"We can give you this style for ten dollars."

"No, I want the latest--to please the lady."

"Humph!" muttered Dick.  "You'll never please Mrs. Stanhope with
any ring."

"Eleven dollars is the lowest we can take."

"And when will the rings be ready for me?"

"Day after tomorrow.  We might do them quicker, but we have a
great deal of engraving ahead."

"Day after tomorrow will do, for I do not wish them until next
week," answered Josiah.  "Here is my card.  I am stopping at the
American House in this city."

"Yes, sir.  Do you want the rings sent?"

"No, I will call for them," concluded the ex-teacher, and hurried
from the place.  Sam and Tom saw him coming, and dodged out of
sight around the corner.

Dick had taken in all that was said and had in the meantime picked
out a cheap scarf pin which cost but ten cents.  As soon as
Crabtree was gone he paid for the pin, shoved it into his pocket,
and rejoined his brothers, to whom he told the particulars of what
had occurred.

"He intends to marry Mrs. Stanhope next week," he declared
bitterly.  "I would give almost all I'm worth to stop that
wedding."

"Gracious, but you do think a heap of Dora!" said Tom slyly.
"Well, I don't blame you.  She is a splendid girl--eh, Sam?"

"That's right," answered Sam.

"But, Dick, why not put up a job on old Crabtree?"

"What kind of a job?"

"Find out just when he wants to get married and then send him a
letter from Yale or some other college, requesting him to come on
at once if he wants a certain position.  That will cause another
delay, and maybe Mrs. Stanhope will get sick of him."

"Oh, if only we could do something like that!" cried his elder
brother quickly. "I wish I could send him away out West."

"We'll manage it somehow--" put in Tom.

"Sam, what wonderful ideas you have for your years!"

"Oh; I take after my big brothers," answered the youngest Rover
modestly.

Late in the evening a telegram was received from Captain Putnam:

"Remain in Ithaca over night, at the American House.  Will send
word how to get here in the morning."

"The American House!" ejaculated Dick.  "That is where old
Crabtree is stopping."

"If only we can have some fun with the old chap!" sighed Tom.

The six boys marched to the hotel in a body, told their story, and
showed the telegram to the clerk.

"All right," said the clerk.  "We've had cadets stop here before.
I have a big room on the second floor, with two large beds in it.
Will that do?"

"That suits me," said Larry.

"Is Mr. Josiah Crabtree stopping here?" questioned Tom.

"Yes.  He has the room next to the one I mentioned--his is No.
13, and yours will be No. 14."

"All right; thanks," answered Tom dryly, and immediately began to
lay plans for playing a joke on the old teacher.

"We don't want to let Mr. Crabtree know we are stopping here," he
said to the clerk later on.  "He is no longer a teacher at the
Hall, and we would rather not meet."

"Shall I put you in another room?"

"Oh, no; only don't tell him we are here."

"I'll remember that, sir."

As soon as the boys had been shown to the big room, Tom turned to
his fellows.  "I want each of you to chip in ten cents," he said.

"What for?" came in a chorus.

"For the purpose of getting square with old Crabby."

"I don't see the connection," said Larry.  "Kindly be a little
more definite."

"You'll see, or hear, the connection a little later on," answered
Tom.  "Quick, shell out and I'll promise you your money's worth,
or return the amount with legal interest."

The fifty cents was quickly collected, and, adding ten cents of
his own, Tom ran from the hotel.  "No fish market open at this
time of night," he said to himself.

"I'll have to try a restaurant," and hurried into the first place
which came into sight.

"Have you any crabs?" he asked, of the waiter who came to him.

"Yes, sah; very fine, sah.  Want some soft-shell, sah?"

"I don't care whether they are soft-shell or as hard as rocks.  I
want live crabs, the most active kind you have in stock."

The waiter stared in amazement, then called the owner of the
restaurant.

"You want live crabs?"

"I do--strong, active, go-ahead crabs, and I want them in a
box."

"Is this a joke?"

"It will be--when the crabs get to work," answered Tom with a
wink.

"Oh, I understand," laughed the restaurant keeper.  "How many?"

"What are they worth?"

"Good nippers are worth ten cents apiece."

"Give me six, and mind you put them in a strong box for me."

Five minutes later Tom left the restaurant with the live crabs
tucked safely away in a shoe box under his overcoat.




CHAPTER XXII

FUN AT THE HOTEL


It was no easy matter for Tom to get into the room Josiah Crabtree
was occupying, but after trying a good number of keys, fished up
here, there, and everywhere, one was at last found that fitted the
lock.

Striking a match, Tom entered the room quickly, drew back the
sheet of the bed, dumped in the crabs, and then pulled the sheet
up to its original place.

"He's coming!" whispered Sam, who stood guard at the door.  "Hide,
Tom," and then he ran back to the big room adjoining.

Finding he could not escape, Tom threw the box under the bed and
rushed to a closet in the corner.  Here he crouched down behind a
large trunk left in the place on storage.  He had scarcely
secreted himself when Josiah Crabtree came in.  He had shoved his
key in the lock, but had failed to notice that the lock-bolt was
already turned back.

"Oh, what a cold night," muttered the ex-school teacher as he lit
the gas.  "A warm bed will feel fine."

"I reckon it will be warm enough," thought Tom.

As the room was scantily heated, Crabtree lost no time in
disrobing.  Having donned a long night robe, he turned off the
gas, flung the sheets back, and leaped into bed.

Exactly ten seconds of silence followed.  Then came a yell
calculated to raise the dead.

"Whow!  What's this?  Oh!  What's got me by the legs?  Oh, oh! oh!
I'm being eaten up alive!  Let go there!  Oh, dear!"

And with additional yells, Josiah Crabtree leaped straight out of
bed, one crab hanging to his left knee, several on his feet, and
one, which he had caught hold of clinging to the back of his hand.
At once he began to do an Indian war-dance around the apartment,
knocking the furniture right and left.

"Let go there! What on earth can they be? Oh, my toe is half off--I
know it is! Let go!" And then he struggled toward the gas jet, but
before he could light it Tom had slipped out of the apartment, closing
the door behind him. The banging of furniture continued, and then came
a crash, as the washstand went over, carrying with it a bowl, a soap
tray, and a large, pitcher filled with water. The icy water gushed
over Crabtree's feet, making him shiver with the cold, but the crabs
were undaunted and only clung the closer.

The noise soon aroused the entire hotel, and the clerk, several
bell-boys, and finally the proprietor, rushed to the scene.  The
door was flung wide open.

"Have you been drinking, sir?  How dare you disturb the hotel in
this fashion?" demanded the proprietor.

"The crabs!  Take them off!" yelled Crabtree, continuing to dance
around.

"Crabs?  What made you bring crabs up here?"

"I--I--oh, my toes!  Take them off!" shrieked Josiah Crabtree,
and kicked out right and left.  One of the crabs was flung off, to
land in the hotel proprietor's face and to catch the man by the
nose.

"My nose!  He will bite it off!" cried the hotel man.  "Kill the
thing, Gillett--smash it with a-a-anything!"

And Gillett, the clerk, tried to do so, while the hotel man and
Crabtree continued to dance around in the wildest kind of fury.
Safe in their own room, the boys laughed until they cried.  All
had gone to bed, and Tom lost no time in getting under the covers.

"Somebody has played a trick," began Crabtree when an extra nip on
his knee cut him short.  "Oh, my, I shall die!" he moaned.  "I
know I shall die!"

By this time the proprietor of the hotel had freed himself from
the crab that had nipped him on the nose.  "You won't die, but
you'll get out of this hotel," he snarled.  "Throw the crabs out
of the window," he continued to his employees, and after a good
deal of trouble one crab after another was hurled forth, the
window being kept open in the meantime and the icy draught causing
Crabtree to shiver as with the ague.  As there seemed no help for
it the ex-teacher began to dress again with all possible speed.

"If I find out who did this I'll--I'll kill him," moaned Josiah
Crabtree. "I've been nipped is a hundred places!"

"You'll leave this hotel!" said the proprietor.  "I've had enough
of you.  First the room didn't suit, then the price was too high,
and at dinner and supper you found all manner of fault with the
menu.  You'll go, and the quicker, the better."

"But look here--" began Crabtree.

"I won't argue with you.  Either get out or I'll have you arrested
as a disorderly character."

"Yes, but--"

"Not a word.  Will you go quietly, or shall I have you put out?"

"I'll--I'll go!" gasped Josiah Crabtree, and five minutes later
he was on the cold street, satchel in hand, and saying all manner
of unpleasant things under his breath.

"Oh, Tom!" laughed Sam, and could go no further.  Each of the boys
had felt like exploding a dozen times.  It was not until an hour
after that any of them managed to get to sleep.

When they came down in the morning the hotel clerk winked at them.
"I'm not saying a word," he whispered.  "But it served the old
crank right.  Even the boss is doing a little smiling, although he
got quite a nip himself."

"Really, I don't know what you are talking about," answered Tom.
Then he shut up one eye, stuck his tongue into his cheek, and
strolled into the dining room.

"He's an out-and-out boy, he is," murmured the clerk, gazing after
him.

Breakfast was finished, and the cadets were strolling around the
hotel awaiting further instructions from Captain Putnam, when a
man drove up to the door in a big livery-stable sleigh.

"I am after some boys bound for Putnam Hall," he said.  "Captain
Putnam telegraphed to the boss to bring 'em up to the Hall in
this sleigh."

"Hurrah!" shouted Sam.  "Such a long ride will just suit me!"

"If it doesn't prove too cold," was Dick's comment.

There was but one seat in the turnout, the back being filled with
straw and robes.  "Take your lunch with you," said the driver.
"For it's a long trip we have before us, and I reckon a part of
the road ain't none too good."

The clerk of the hotel was consulted, and soon a big lunch-box was
packed, containing sandwiches, cake, and a stone jug of hot
coffee.  This was stowed away in the straw, and the lads piled in,
laughing merrily over the prospect before them.

"Off we go!" shouted Larry, and with a crack of the whip the
sleigh started.  It was drawn by a heavy pair of horses, who
looked well able to get through any snowdrift that might present
itself.

Ithaca was soon left behind, and they sped swiftly along a road
running northward, a half mile more from the west shore of the
lake.  The road was level, and somewhat worn by travel, and for
the first three miles good time was made.

"If we can continue this gait we'll reach Putnam Hall by three or
four o'clock this afternoon, allowing an hour's rest at noon,"
said the driver in reply to a question put by Frank.  "But we have
still a number of small hills to climb, and it's not going to stay
as clear as it was early this morning."

The latter remark was caused by the sun disappearing under heavy
clouds.  Soon it began to snow, at first lightly, and then heavier
and heavier.

"We're going to catch it!" said Tom, after the noon stop had been
taken at a wayside hotel, where they had taken dinner, keeping the
boxed lunch for later on.  "The snow is four inches deeper than it
was."

On they went again, the snow becoming so thick at last that they
could scarcely see a yard before them.  It was very cold, and the
cadets were glad enough to huddle in the straw, with the robes
over them, leaving the driver to pick his way as best he could.

An hour had gone by, and they were wondering if they were anywhere
near Cedarville, when a wild shout rang out, and the next instant
came a crash, as their sleigh collided with another coming from
the opposite direction.  A runner of each turnout was smashed, and
the occupants of the other sleigh came tumbling in upon the lads
in great confusion.

"Great Caesar! what's this?" groaned Tom as he shifted a weight
from his shoulders, and then he stared in amazement as he found
himself confronted by Nellie Laning!

"Tom Rover!" burst from the girl's lips soon as she could recover
her breath. "Did you ever!"

"Well, hardly!" murmured Tom, as he helped her to, a sitting
position.  "You're coming in on us fast.  What's the trouble?  Oh,
and there is Grace and your father!"

"The sleighs ran into each other," answered Nellie.  "Can you stop
the horses, father?" she called out.

"Yes, but the sleigh is a goner," answered Mr. Laning, and then
some sharp words passed between himself and the livery-stable
driver.  There was no doubt, however, but that the blinding storm
was largely responsible for the accident.

An examination proved that both sleighs would have to be abandoned,
and then the two parties sought shelter at a near-by farmhouse, while
Mr. Laning went off on one horse, and the livery-stable driver on
another, each to borrow a sleigh elsewhere.

This left the boys in the company of the girls for over an hour,
and during that time Dick, Tom and Sam asked a great many
questions, especially about Mrs. Stanhope and Dora.

"Yes, the marriage is to come off next week, Thursday, unless
something prevents it," said Nellie.  "Dora is fairly sick over
the prospect.  What Aunt Lucy can see in Mr. Crabtree is more than
any of us can understand."

"He must have hypnotized her," observed, Dick.  "It's a shame!  I
wish old Crabtree was in Jericho!"

"So do all of us!" laughed Grace, and then Sam took her off for a
quiet chat, while Tom, monopolized Nellie.

"Those Rover boys think a great deal of the Lanings and
Stanhopes," observed Larry to Fred.  "Well, it's all right--they
are awfully nice girls, every one of 'em!"




CHAPTER XXIII

BALLOTING FOR A SECOND LIEUTENANT


"Back to Putnam Hall at last!  How home-like the place looks!" Sam
uttered the words as he leaped from the sleigh and ran for the
main entrance, where Captain Putnam stood to receive them.  He had
heard of the accident, and was fearful that one or another of his
pupils might have been hurt.

"Thank Providence that no one was killed or seriously injured!" he
observed, as he wrung each by the hand.  "Welcome, lads, and I
trust you have all had happy holidays."

"The same to you, Captain Putnam!" cried one after another, and
then they passed in to be greeted by George Strong and the new
assistant.

Cadets kept coming back for three days, on the following Monday
the regular school opened, to end in July. Soon the were as deep
in their studies as ever before.

In the meantime Dick had concocted a scheme for sending Josiah
Crabtree on a goose chase to Chicago.  Tom had a friend in that
city, and he was requested to mail without delay a certain letter
which Tom enclosed with his own.

This letter was composed by Dick. It was written on a large
letter-head upon which Dick printed the advertisement of the "Mid-West
National College, Incorporated," doing the work on a small printing
press used by some of the boys in getting out a school monthly. To
make the letter even more imposing, Dick printed the body of it on a
typewriter which was used by one of the classes taking a business
course. The letter ran as follows:

"JOSIAH CRABTREE, A. M., Cedarville, N., Y.

"CHICAOO, January 1, 189-.

"Dear Sir: You have been recommended to us by a New York
scholastic employment agency as a first-class teacher in
mathematics, history, and other branches.  We are in immediate
need at the opening of this term of such a teacher, and will pay
two thousand dollars per year.  Will you come on at once, at our
expense, with a view to closing with us?  Our institution is a new
one, but we already have eighty pupils, of the best families of
the Middle West, and are certain to have fifty more before the end
of the year.  We understand that you are a bachelor, which state
just suits our wants.  Kindly wire us and come on before Thursday
the 10th, if possible.  The two thousand per year is, of course,
exclusive of board and suite of rooms, which, we provide for all
of our instructors.

"Yours truly,

"ANDREW N. BLUFF, LL.D., President."

"If that doesn't make old Crabtree hustle then I miss my guess,"
said Tom after reading the communication.  "He loves money too
well to let that two thousand slide--marriage or no marriage.
Even if he wants to wed, he'll go West to try and fix it up to
hold the position anyway."

The letter was posted to the friend in Chicago that very night.
On the letter to Josiah Crabtree was placed an address in
Cedarville which was certain to catch him.

On the following day Captain Putnam, announced an election for
second lieutenant of Company A.  "Lieutenant Darman will not be
here any longer, as his family have moved to England," he said.
"I trust you elect the best cadet possible to the office.  The
election takes place next Wednesday at noon."

At once a lively discussion took place. There were half a dozen
pupils who wanted the position, and among them were Dick, Fred,
and Mumps.

"I ought to have that place," said Mumps, and on the quiet he
started to buy up votes where he could not influence them in any
other way.  This move succeeded among the smaller lads, but the
big boys turned from him with scorn.

It must be confessed that Dick was exceedingly anxious when the
time for balloting arrived.  Would he succeed or fail?

Just before dinner Captain Putnam brought out a square box into
which ballots might be cast.

"The cadets will stand up in a row to be counted," he said.
"Major Conners, will you will kindly count your command."

"Eighty-seven, including myself," announced the youthful major,
after he had gone down the line and back with care.

"Are any cadets absent?"

"No, sir."

"Very well then, we will proceed to vote by having each cadet come
up and cast a slip of paper with his favorite's name on it in the
box.  The line will march in single file, one pace from man to
man.  Forward!"

The captain stood by the ballot box, and up came the file, Major
Conners first and Captain Blossom following.  In a few minutes all
of the eighty-seven ballots were in the box, and then began the
sorting out.

"I will now read the result of the first ballot," announced
Captain Putnam, holding up a paper with the figures, and amid a
dead silence he began:

Whole number of votes cast  87
Necessary to a choice       44
Fred Garrison has           32
Richard Rover has            8
George Granbury has         15
John Fenwick has            12

"Consequently, nobody is elected.  Another vote will be taken
immediately after dinner," and then the companies were re-formed
and marched into the mess hall.

"Fred Garrison is ahead!" came in a whisper from every side.
"Good for you, Fred!"

"Mumps only got a dozen votes," came from one of the little boys.
"He won't get my vote next time."

"Nor mine," chimed in his chum.

"Don't worry, Dick," whispered Tom.  "The final result isn't
reached yet. Somebody has got to drop out first."

The dinner finished, the boys gathered in knots to talk the
question over.  Soon the line was re-formed for a second ballot.

At that moment Fred Garrison stepped forward.

"Fellow students!" he cried.  "One word before you vote.  I wish
to withdraw from the contest, doing so in favor of two of my
friends, Dick Rover and George Granbury.  I thank those who voted
for me before from the bottom of my heart."

"Hurrah for Fred!" came from a score of throats, and a cheer rent
the air.  "We won't forget you next time, old man!"

Soon the second ballot was cast, and amid another silence Captain
Putnam read it off:

Number of votes cast   87
Necessary to a choice  44
John Fenwick has        7
George Granbury has    23
Richard Rover has      57

"Richard Rover is declared elected second lieutenant of Company A
for the balance of this term."

A cheer broke forth, and many of the cadets came up to shake Dick
by the hand.  Among the number were Fred and George Granbury.
"You beat me fairly, Rover," said Granbury, a whole-souled fellow.
"I am satisfied--so long--as such a cad as Mumps doesn't get
an office."

"Mumps was badly left," put in Tom.  "See, he is sneaking off to
his room.  I rather guess he wishes he hadn't run."

"I thank you all very much," said Dick, his face glowing.  "I
shall try to do my best as second lieutenant.  Three cheers for
all of the cadets of Putnam Hall!"

And the cheers broke forth with renewed vigor.

"Dick, you must do the square thing tonight," said Frank some time
later.

"What do you mean?" asked the elder Rover.

"When a fellow is elected to an office he is supposed to treat his
friends.  All of the cadets will be sneaking up to your dormitory
some time between ten and twelve o'clock tonight."

"Indeed!" Dick mused for a moment.

"All right--I'll be ready for them, Frank; but mum is the word."

"You will treat?"

"I'll treat every cadet who shows himself and doesn't make any
noise."

"Good for you!  Then I can spread the word that it is all right?"

"Yes--but, Frank..."

"Well?"

"Beware of Mumps.  If he heard of what is going on I think he
would try to spoil our game."

"I'll be careful," answered Frank, and hurried off in one
direction, while Dick hurried off in another.

Both had scarcely disappeared than Mumps came forth from behind a
hall rack which stood close at hand.

"How lucky to overhear their talk," said the sneak.  "Will I spoil
their game?  Well, just wait and see, that's all!"




CHAPTER XXIV

PREPARING FOR A MID-NIGHT FEAST


Dick was in a quandary as to how he was to treat all of his
friends, and called Sam and Tom to him for consultation.

"I've got a dollar and a quarter," said Sam, "you can use that,
and welcome."

"And here is a dollar and ten," added Tom, passing over the amount
in ten cent pieces and nickels.  "Haven't you any money of your
Own?"

"I have two dollars and thirty cents," answered Dick.

"That makes four dollars and sixty-five cents," said Tom, summing
up.  "That's enough for a pretty fair blow-out."

"So it is, Tom, but where is the stuff to come from?  Mrs. Green
won't sell it to me."

"That's true."

"And she has her pantries all locked up."

"Oh, pshaw!  You don't want to treat the boys on school stuff,"
said Sam.  "Get 'em something from Cedarville--some bottled
soda, candies, nuts, and things like that."

"That's the talk, Dick.  Let us sneak out after dark and go to
Cedarville!" cried Tom.  "That would just suit me."

"I'll think it over," answered his big brother slowly.

After supper found most of the cadets indoors, for the night
promised to be cold.  About half of the boys remained in the
library, while the others betook themselves to their rooms.

"Well?" queried Tom, as he approached Dick on the stairs.

"I'm ready, Tom," answered his brother.

"But be careful, or we'll be spotted."

Like a pair of ghosts they glided up the front stairs, along the
broad hallway, and down the stairs in the rear.  The door was
unlocked, and they passed into the yard.

"Let us take Peleg Snuggers into our confidence," whispered Tom.
"For a quarter I am certain he'll let us have one of the captain's
nags."

"You can test him if you wish," answered Dick, who was doubtful.

Peleg Snuggers was found in the harness room shining up some
buckles by the aid of a stable lantern.

"Hullo, Peleg--working rather late," was Tom's greeting.

"Yes, sir--got behind," answered the utility man.  "What brought
you here?"

"I want a horse, Peleg.  Which one can I have?"

"A horse!  Did the captain send you?"

Instead of replying Tom held out a silver quarter.  "Don't ask
questions, Peleg, but just let me take a horse for an hour or two,
that's a good man."

"Can't do it, Master Rover--against orders, sir."

"Oh, yes, you can.  We won't hurt the beast.  We are bound to get
to Cedarville and back before ten o'clock.  Do you want us to drop
on the road from exhaustion and be frozen to death?" and Tom put
the question in all seriousness.

"No, no, certainly not!"

"Then bring out a horse.  That black will do.  Here, take the
quarter, Peleg, and much obliged to you.  Hurry up."

"Was there ever such a boy!" grumbled the man; but, nevertheless,
he arose and got the black horse ready for them, hooking the
animal to a small cutter.

"Remember, if the captain learns of this, I don't know nothing
about it...," he called out, as the two boys drove off by a back
way, out of sight of the main building of the institution.

"Peleg is all right, if you know how to handle him," said Tom, as
he took the reins from Dick.

"I'll let him out a bit, and we'll drive to Cedarville in a
jiffy."

"Tom, you're getting more cheeky every day," was Dick's comment,
yet he was far from displeased over what his brother had
accomplished.

Away went the cutter, the roads being now in an excellent
condition.  Soon Putnam Hall was left far behind, and they came
within sight of the Stanhope homestead.

"I'd like to stop for just a minute," said Dick, but Tom shook his
head.

"We want to get to Cedarville before the shops close," said the
younger brother.
 "We can stop on the way back--if we have time," and they
continued on their way.

Both knew Cedarville "like a book," as Tom expressed it, having
been there so many times before.  They drove straight to the
largest confectionery in the village.

"A pound of chocolates, a pound of marshmallows, a pound of iced
fruits, and five pounds of best mixed candies," said Dick, and the
articles were quickly put up for him.

"How much?"

"A dollar and thirty cents, please."

The bill was paid, and they hurried to another store, where they
purchased two dozen bottles of soda water, a dozen bottles of root
beer, and five pounds of mixed nuts.  Tom wanted to buy some
cigarettes for such of the cadets as might wish to smoke, but Dick
shook his head at this.

"No, that's going too far," he said.  "We'll have a respectable
spread, and that's enough."

Inside of half an hour they had started on the return, the various
articles purchased stowed safely away in the back of the cutter.

"We'll have at least fifteen minutes to spare," said Dick, and
waited as patiently as possible until the Stanhope homestead again
appeared.  As soon as they gained the entrance to the garden, Dick
hopped out, ran up the path to the porch, and rang the bell.  Dora
Stanhope answered his summons.

"Oh, Dick, is that you?" she cried.  "Come in."

"I can't stay but a few minutes, Dora," he answered as he entered
the hall.  "I must get back to the academy.  I thought I would
just stop to see how you are getting on."

"Oh, everything is the same, Dick."

"I heard the marriage was to take place this week."

"Yes."

"Let me tell you something," went on the boy, and told her of the
letter to be sent from Chicago to Josiah Crabtree.

"Oh, I hope he gets it and goes!" exclaimed Dora quickly, and her
face brightened a bit.

"Send me word if he does," said Dick.

He remained for ten minutes longer, but what was said and done
need not be mentioned here.  When he left his heart was all aglow,
while Dora was blushing deeply.  "Best girl in the world," he
murmured.  "What an awfully nice young fellow," was Dora's
thought.

"Hurry up!" cried Tom from the sleigh, when his big brother put in
an appearance again.  "I'm most frozen stiff!"  And on went the
cutter, the horse feeling quite fresh after his rest.

"I'll go ahead and see if the coast is clear," said Dick, when
they reached the vicinity of the stable, and he leaped into the
snow.  It did not take long to walk to the barn.  He was gone but
a few minutes, and came back on a run.

"We are in for it!" he cried.  "Mr. Strong is down at the stable
talking to Peleg Snuggers."

"Great Caesar!  What's to do?"

"Get the stuff out of the sleigh first and hide it near the Hall
in the snow," answered Dick.  "Be quick!"

His advice was followed, Tom carrying the soda water and root beer and
Dick the other things. All were hidden in a snow bank--directly under
the dormitory window.

This accomplished, Dick led the horse up to the back of the stable
and unhitched him.  He could hear George Strong and the utility
man talking less than twenty feet away.

"Very well, Snuggers, I'll be back shortly," he heard, coming from
the head assistant, and Strong walked from the stable toward the
Hall.

In a twinkle Dick ran around the stable corner.  "Quick, Peleg,
here is the horse, all unhooked.  Put him in his stall.  The
cutter is back there, out of sight," and as the hired man took
possession of the animal, the youth ran off, to join his brother
at the entrance to Putnam Hall.

"The door is locked!" groaned Tom.

"Something is wrong."

Without replying, Dick ran around to a spot under the dormitory
window.  Making a soft snowball, he threw it against the glass,
and followed this by several others.  Presently the window was
thrown up, and Sam, Fred, and Larry showed their heads.

"Say, you fellows, help us up!" cried Dick softly.  "There is a
wash line in the closet--the one my Aunt Martha insisted on
tying around my trunk when we came here last summer."

There was a scramble in the room, and presently the end of the
line was thrown out.  It was new and strong, and quite capable of
supporting either of the lads' weight.

"You go first, Tom but be quick!" said Dick softly, and his
brother caught hold and went up with ease, bracing one foot after
another against the rough stonework and projecting bricks.  Then
the rope came down a second time and Dick ascended.

Hardly were the boys in the room than there came a loud knocking
on the door.

"It's Mr. Strong!" gasped Sam.  "What shall we do now?  It looks
as if we were a caught!"




CHAPTER XXV

MUMPS IS TAUGHT A LESSON


The cadets stared blankly at each other.  Only two of them were
undressed; the others had all of their clothing on.

It was time for the head assistant to go the rounds, to see that
all was right for the night.  Should he be allowed to enter the
dormitory he would certainly "smell a mouse," and perhaps knock
all of their plans for a feast in the head.

"Off with your clothing, all of you!" whispered Tom.  "I'll manage
this affair.  Pretend to be asleep."

"But, Tom, it's my fault--" began Dick, when his younger brother
cut him short.

"Into the bed--I'll be all right, Dick."

Satisfied that Tom had some plan in his head for smoothing matters
over, the other boys disrobed with marvelous rapidity and crept
into their beds.  While this was going on the knocking an the door
continued.

"Boys, open the door!" said George Strong.  "Open the door, do you
hear?"

"Answer him!" whispered Tom to Larry, whose bed was nearest him.
"Pretend you have just awoke," and he flung himself on the floor,
with one of a pair of big rubber boots in each hand.

"Oh--er--Mr. Strong, is that you?"

"Yes, open the door."

"Why--er--is it locked?

"Yes."

At once Larry tumbled from his bed, unlocked the door and stood
there rubbing his eyes.  "Excuse me, Sir, for not hearing you
before."

"I want to know what the meaning is of the noise in here?" said
George Strong severely, as he gazed around the dimly lit
apartment, for the lamp was turned low.  "You boys are--gracious
me!  What's this?"

The teacher started back in genuine surprise, and his words
aroused all of the boys in the beds, who followed his gaze in
equal wonder.

For in the center of the floor sat Tom, his eyes tightly closed, a
rubber boot in each hand, and rocking backward and forward with
great rapidity, as if rowing.

"Two lengths ahead!" muttered Tom. "I'll beat you yet, Larry!
Three lengths!  Oh, but this is a dandy race!  Pull away, you
can't beat me!  Oh!  There goes an oar," and, bang! went one of
the rubber boots against the base board, and Tom made a leap as if
diving into the water after it, sprawling and spluttering as he
pretended to swim.

"He's got the nightmare again!" shouted out Sam, quick to
understand Tom's dodge.  "Tom, wake up there!"

"The nightmare!" echoed Mr. Strong.  "Is it possible?  Poor boy!
Wake up, Thomas!" and he caught Tom by the shoulder and shook him
and finally set him on his feet.

"The oar--I will have the-- Oh!" Tom opened his eyes and stared
around him blankly.  "Why--er--what's up?"

"My boy, you've had the nightmare," answered the teacher kindly.

"Nightmare!"

"I told you not to eat that pie tonight," put in Sam. "He saved his
pie from dinner, and ate it just before we came up here,"--which was
true.

"Er--I thought I was on the lake racing Larry Colby," murmured
Tom and hid his face as if in embarrassment.  "What did I do?" he
faltered.

"You almost raised the roof, that's what you did," answered Dick.
"You had better send home for some of those digestion tablets you
used to take," and then he hid his face in the blankets to keep
from laughing out loud.

"I will."  Tom turned to George Strong.  "Excuse me, Mr. Strong, I
am sorry I have caused you so much trouble."

"How do you feel now?" questioned the assistant anxiously.

"Oh, I'm all right now."

"Well, then, go to bed; and I trust you sleep more soundly for the
balance of the night," said the teacher; and he remained in the
room until Tom was tucked in, when he went off, taking the key of
the door with him.

"Tom, you're a brick!" came from Frank, when the teacher was out
of hearing.  "What a head you have on your shoulders!"

"Strong took the key of the door," said Fred.

"I don't like that."

"Shove a chair-back up under the knob," suggested Dick, and this
was done, the chair thus making an excellent brace.

"Now to get that stuff in," said Dick, donning his clothing with
all possible speed.  "I shouldn't wonder if the soda and root beer
are frozen as hard as a rock."

He was soon ready to descend, and the others lowered him by aid of
the wash line.  Then the boxes and packages were hoisted up, and
Dick came after.

A few minutes later came a slight tapping on the door, repeated
three times.  It was a signal, and Sam opened the door, admitting
George Granbury and seven other cadets from dormitory No. 2.  The
occupants of several other dormitories followed.

"Are we to have Mumps and his crowd in here?" asked one of the
newcomers.

"I don't want Mumps," answered Dick.  "Not because he ran against
me, but because he was Baxter's toady and is a regular sneak."

"Little Luke Walton and Mark Gross voted for you, Dick," said
Harry Blossom.  "They ought to be invited."

"All right, tell them to come in, and anybody else who wishes,
outside of Mumps," answered Dick.

The young captain went off, and soon returned with six boys of
Sam's age or younger.

"Mumps is awfully mad," he announced.  "My idea is, he is going to
cause us trouble if he can."

"We'll wax him good if he does!" cried Tom. "Say, Sam, let us
watch him," and he hurried into the hallway, while the others
attacked the several good things Dick had provided for them.

Tom and Sam had been in the dark hallway but two minutes when the
door of Mumps' dormitory opened and the sneak came out, wearing
his slippers and his long overcoat.  He glided swiftly toward the
side stairs leading to Captain Putnam's private apartments.

"He's going to peach!" whispered Tom,  "Come on, Sam, let us
capture the enemy!" and he hurried after Mumps and caught him by
the arm.

"Hi! who is this?" demanded the sneak, turning in fear.  Then, as
Tom and Sam confronted him, his face grew white.

"Come with us, Mumps, we want to treat you," answered Tom readily,
into whose head another trick had entered.

"I don't want any of your treat," growled the sneak.  "Let me go."

"Oh, you must come," urged Tom.  "We have a fine bottle of root
beer and a lot of candied fruit for you."

If there was one thing that Mumps liked, it was root beer, while
he knew candied fruit was very rich eating.  Accordingly he
hesitated.

"I'll get all I can first and tell on them afterward," he thought,
and allowed Tom, and Sam to conduct him into the dormitory
occupied by the Metropolitan Sextet.

"Here is Mumps come to join us!" cried Tom, as he introduced the
sneak into the room and he winked at Dick.  "Now, Mumps, sit down
and make yourself at home, and I'll get something for you," and he
motioned the sneak to a position at the head of his bed.

He hurried off, and presently came back to Mumps with a fine slice
of candied orange.  The sneak was greedy, and instantly
transferred the entire slice to his mouth and began to chew it
vigorously.

"Oh!" he cried presently, and drew down his face in disgust.

"What's the matter, Mumps?" asked Sam.

"This orange tastes like kerosene!" spluttered Mumps, and rushed
to the window. As he put out his head, Tom pointed to the sneak
and then to the lamp at which he had "flavored" the candied fruit.
"We'll get square just wait," he whispered.  "You gave me that
piece on purpose," howled the sneak, as soon as he had cleared
his mouth.  "Oh, what an awful dose!  Somebody give me a drink of
water."

"The water is all gone, Mumps," answered Tom.  "Awfully sorry.
Have a glass of root beer," and he poured out a tumbler full.

Willing to drink anything to take that taste out of his mouth, the
sneak took the tumbler and gulped down about half of the root
beer.

The remainder was about to follow, when suddenly he stopped short.
"Oh, my!"

"Awfully good, isn't it?" put in Dick.

"Good?  It tastes like salt water!" snorted Mumps.  And he was not
far wrong, for Tom had taken the pains to put a lot of salt in to
the glass before filling it up.

"Why, that is the best root beer I ever tasted," put in Larry.
"It's as sweet as sugar.  Let me taste your glass, Mumps."

"Do so with pleasure," and the sneak passed it over.  Larry
pretended to take a gulp.  "Fine!  Couldn't be better.  Isn't that
so, Frank?" and he passed the glass to Hairrington.  "It's
certainly as good as mine, and that's O. K.," answered Frank; and
then George Granbury took the tumbler and declared the root beer
was even better than what he had had previously.

"It's certainly your stomach, Mumps, my boy," said Tom.  "You look
kind of funny--just like a fellow I knew who got the smallpox."

"He does look like a fellow getting the smallpox," put in Dick.
"Mumps, does your tongue feel dry-like?"

"Dry, of course it is dry--and salty," growled Mumps, but he
began to grow uneasy.

"Let me see your tongue," put in Sam, who happened to have a blue
pencil in his pocket.  As he spoke he broke off some of the blue
point and crumbled it in his fingers.

"My tongue is all right," answered Mumps.  Nevertheless, he held
it out; and Sam slyly dropped the bluing on it.

"It's as blue as indigo!" he exclaimed, "Look into the glass for
yourself."

Somewhat against his will, Mumps strode over to the looking glass.
As he noted the condition of his tongue, he grew very pale and
began to tremble.

"It is blue," he whined, "and--and--I feel sick all over.  Oh,
say, do you think I really am getting the smallpox?"

For an instant there was a dead silence.  Then the boys could hold
in no longer, and a long but smothered laugh showed the sneak how
completely he had been sold.




CHAPTER XXVI

A LIVELY GAME OF BASEBALL


If ever a boy was mad clear through that boy was the sneak of
Putnam Hall.  As the laugh ended, Mumps shook his fist at one and
another of his tormentors.

"Think you are smart, don't you?" he spluttered in his rage.
"I'll fix you all!  I'll go and tell Captain Putnam all about this
spread, and then maybe you won't catch it!"

"Mumps, keep quiet," said Dick, placing himself between the
enraged one and the door.  "Make too much noise, and I'll promise
you the worst drubbing you ever received."

"If you peach on me, I'll give you a second whipping," added Tom.

"This is a gentlemanly affair," put in Larry.

"The boy who gives us away gets a thrashing from me."

"Ditto myself," said Frank; and several others said the same.  All
looked so determined that Mumps fell back in alarm.

"You let me go," he whined.  "I don't want to stay here any
longer."

"You can't go until you promise to keep quiet," said Dick.

"And you'll promise right now," cried Tom, seizing a pitcher of
ice water that had been hidden under one of the stands.  Leaping
on a bed he held the pitcher over Mumps' head.

"Promise, quick, or I'll let her go!" he went on.

"Oh, don't!" yelled Mumps, as a few drops of the water landed on
his head and ran down his neck.

"Do you promise to keep silent?" demanded Dick.

"Yes, yes!"

"All right.  Now mind, if you break that promise you are in for at
least ten good whippings."

"Somebody else may give you away," said Mumps craftily.

"No one will.  If Captain Putnam hears about this it will be only
through you.  So beware, Mumps, if you value your hide!"  And then
the sneak was allowed to go.  Five minutes later the spread came
to an end, the muss was cleared away, and every cadet sought his
couch, to rest if not to sleep.

It is possible that Captain Putnam and George Strong suspected
something, yet as the cadets seemed none the worse for the
festivities the next day, nothing was said on the subject.  "Boys
will be boys," smiled the captain to his head assistant; and there
the whole matter dropped.

Several days later, while some of the cadets were down at the cove
clearing off a portion of the ice for skating, Mrs. Stanhope's
man-of-all-work came over with a note for Dick from Dora.  The
Rover boys all read the note with deep interest.

"I have good news [so ran the communication].  Mr. Crabtree has
gone to Chicago, and the marriage has been postponed until next
summer.  You do not know how glad I am.  Of course there will be
trouble when Mr. Crabtree learns how he has been fooled, but
mother has promised me to remain single until August or September,
and I know she will keep that promise.  I thank all of you very
much for what you have done.  Yesterday I saw Dan Baxter, who
seems to be hanging around this neighborhood a good deal.  He
wanted to speak to me, but I did not give him the chance.  I wish
he would go away, for he looks to me like a very evil-minded
person.  It is strange, but Mr. Crabtree thinks a good deal of
him, and has told my mother so.  He says it is nonsense to put Mr.
Baxter down as a criminal."

"Baxter stopping around here..." mused Dick.  "What can he be up
to?"

"He had better clear out," said Sam. The matter was discussed for
some time, but nothing came of it.

Skating lasted for nearly a month, and then both the ice and the
snow melted away as if by magic.  Soon spring was at hand, and the
early flowers began to show themselves in Mrs. Green's little
garden, which was the housekeeper's one pride.

Dick had seen Dora once in that time.  The girl had told him about
how Josiah Crabtree had searched in vain for the college mentioned
in the bogus letter.

"He said I played the trick," were Dora's words.  "He wants mother
to send me to some strict boarding school."

"And are you going?" had been Dick's question.

"No, I shall remain with mother.  After she is married again I do
not know what will become of me," and as Dora's eyes filled with
tears Dick caught her hand.

"Don't worry, Dora," had been his words.  "I will help you, and it
is bound to come up right in the end."

As soon as summer was at hand, the Putnam Hall baseball club
received a challenge from the Pornell club to play them a game at
either school grounds.

"They want to square accounts for the football defeat," said Fred.
"Well, the only thing to do is to accept the challenge," and the
acceptance was sent without delay, the game to be played on the
Putnam Hall grounds, Captain Putnam having promised the cadets his
aid in building a grandstand.  The lumber came out of a boathouse
that had been torn down to make place for a new structure, and as
many of the cadets took to carpentering naturally, the grandstand
was quite a creditable affair.

Frank Harrington was captain and catcher for the Putnam Hall team.
Tom was pitcher, while Larry played first base, Dick second, and
Sam was down in center, to use those nimble legs of his should
occasion require.  Fred was shortstop, and the balance of the club
was made up of the best players the school afforded.

The Saturday chosen for the game was an ideal one, clear and not
too warm.  The students from Pornell arrived early, and so did the
other visitors, and by two o'clock the grounds were crowded.

As before a parade was had.  Then the umpire came out and gave
each team fifteen minutes for practice.

"We're in luck," said Dick, when Putnam Hall won the toss and took
last innings. In a moment more they were in the field, and the Ump
called out: "Play!"

As was natural, Pornell had put its heaviest batters at the head
of their list, and it is possible Tom was a bit nervous as he
twirled the ball and sent it in toward the home plate.

"Ball one!" came the decision, and again the sphere came in.
"Ball two!" said the umpire.

"Take it easy, Tom!" called out Dick.  "Lots of time, remember."

The next was a strike.  Then came a foul, and then a hard drive to
left field, and amid a wild, cheering the Pornell batsman gained
second base in safety.

"That's the way to do it, Cornwall!  Keep it up, Snader!"

The second player now came up, and again the ball came in.  Tom
was as nervous as before, and another hit was made, and the player
covered first, while the man on second went to third.

"Tom, do be careful," whispered Frank, walking down to him.
"Don't let that fellow in," and he nodded in the direction of the
first runner.

The third player was now at the bat.  Two balls and two strikes
were counted against him and then came a foul, high up in the air,
which Frank caught with ease.

"One out, and two on base!  That's not so bad."