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diff --git a/old/53407-8.txt b/old/53407-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 564b3bb..0000000 --- a/old/53407-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9242 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Dave Porter's Return to School, by Edward Stratemeyer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Dave Porter's Return to School - Winning the Medal of Honor - -Author: Edward Stratemeyer - -Illustrator: Charles Nuttall - -Release Date: October 30, 2016 [EBook #53407] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Brian Wilsden and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - -[Illustration: The _Snowbird_ continued to forge ahead.--_Page 265_.] - - - - - Dave Porter Series - - DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL - - OR - - WINNING THE MEDAL OF HONOR - - BY - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "Dave Porter in the South - Seas," "Old Glory Series," "Pan-American Series," - "Colonial Series," "American Boys' Life of - Theodore Roosevelt," etc. - - _ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES NUTTALL_ - - [Illustration] - - BOSTON - LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. - - - - - Published, March, 1907 - - - COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. - - _All rights reserved_ - - DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL - - - Norwood Press - BERWICK & SMITH CO. - Norwood, Mass. - U. S. A. - - - - -PREFACE - - -"DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL" is a complete story in -itself, but forms the third volume in a line issued under the general -title of "Dave Porter Series." - -In the initial volume of this series, entitled "Dave Porter at Oak -Hall," I took pleasure in introducing to my readers a typical American -lad, of strong moral qualities, and told of many of the things which -happened to him during a term at an American boarding school of to-day. -Such a school is a little world in itself, and Dave made both friends -and enemies, and aided one weak and misguided youth to a realization of -his better self. - -The great cloud over Dave's life was the question of his parentage. His -enemies called him "a poorhouse nobody," which hurt him to the quick. -At length he made a discovery which led him to begin a search for his -missing relatives, and in the second volume of this series, entitled -"Dave Porter in the South Seas," we followed the lad on a most unusual -voyage, in a quarter of our globe but little known. Here Dave met his -uncle, and learned something of himself and his father and sister, -which pleased him immensely. - -In the present volume the scene is shifted back to Oak Hall, where Dave -goes to finish his preparation for college. His friends are still with -him, and likewise his enemies, and what the various students do I leave -for the pages that follow to relate. In all his trials Dave stands up -for what is honest and true, and in this his example is well worth -following. - -Again I thank the many young people who have taken an interest in my -efforts to amuse and instruct them. I hope this volume may prove to -their liking and do them good. - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER. - - _Washington's Birthday, 1907._ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. AT THE RAILROAD STATION 1 - - II. SOMETHING OF THE PAST 11 - - III. DAVE'S RETURN TO OAK HALL 20 - - IV. IN THE DORMITORY 29 - - V. SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY 38 - - VI. JOB HASKERS'S BAD NIGHT 47 - - VII. A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 57 - - VIII. THE RIVALS OF OAK HALL 66 - - IX. THE END OF THE GAME 76 - - X. ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A KITE 86 - - XI. AT THE WIDOW FAIRCHILD'S HOUSE 95 - - XII. AT WORK IN THE DARK 105 - - XIII. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY 115 - - XIV. CARRIED OFF 125 - - XV. OFF FOR THE GAME 134 - - XVI. THE GREAT FOOTBALL GAME 143 - - XVII. HOW THE GAME ENDED 153 - - XVIII. A FUNNY INITIATION 163 - - XIX. ALMOST SCARED TO DEATH 173 - - XX. A STUDENT'S STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE 182 - - XXI. THE CAVERN IN THE WOODS 191 - - XXII. A BOY AND A MOTOR CYCLE 201 - - XXIII. WHAT A RUNAWAY LED TO 211 - - XXIV. MORE PLANS THAN ONE 220 - - XXV. THE FIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM 229 - - XXVI. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NICK JASNIFF 239 - - XXVII. WHAT HAPPENED AT ROCKVILLE 249 - - XXVIII. AN ICE-BOAT RACE 259 - - XXIX. THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND 269 - - XXX. DAVE'S HEROISM 279 - - XXXI. GUS PLUM'S CONFESSION 289 - - XXXII. THE MEDAL OF HONOR--CONCLUSION 297 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - PAGE - - The Snowbird continued to forge ahead. Frontispiece - - Dave began to mount the improvised rope. 50 - - Carl was made to bow until his nose touched the floor. 166 - - He made one wild leap forward. 288 - - - - -DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL - - - - -CHAPTER I - -AT THE RAILROAD STATION - - -"Here comes the train, fellows!" - -"I hope Dave Porter is on board." - -"He will be, and Ben Basswood too. Ben wrote to me that they were -coming to-day." - -"I wonder if Dave will be glad to get back to Oak Hall, Lazy?" - -"Why not?" returned Sam Day, a big, round-faced youth, with a shock of -curly hair hanging over his forehead. "Didn't we have fine times when -he was here last term?" - -"Yes, but----" Maurice Hamilton paused to glance at the train that had -rolled into the Oakdale station. "There they are, sure enough! Hurrah!" - -The train had come to a stop and a dozen or more passengers alighted. -In the crowd were two boys, each carrying a dress-suit case. Both were -tall, well-built, and manly-looking. The one in the lead had a face -full of merriment and earnest eyes that were rather out of the ordinary. - -"Dave!" cried Maurice Hamilton, rushing up and catching the youth -addressed by the hand. "You don't know how glad I am to see you!" - -"Same here, Shadow," responded Dave Porter, and gave the other boy's -hand a squeeze that made the lad wince. - -"Whoa, Dave! I want to use that hand again!" cried Shadow, as he was -familiarly called. "Not so hard." - -"And how are you, Lazy?" went on Dave Porter, turning to the other boy -on the platform. "Active as ever?" And he smiled brightly. - -"No, it has been dead slow since you and Roger and Phil went away," -answered Sam Day. "How are you, Ben?" he added, to the second youth -from the train. "I hope you've come back to stir things up." - -"Oh, Dave will stir 'em up, don't you worry," replied Ben Basswood. "He -feels like a two-year-old colt since--well, you know," he added, in a -lower voice. - -"Any one would," responded Sam Day, heartily. "My, but what a trip you -must have had to the South Seas!" he added, to Dave. "Wish I had been -along!" - -"Every one of our crowd has been wishing that," said Shadow Hamilton. -"When you're settled down, and have time, you must tell us all about -it, Dave." - -"I certainly will. Have you seen anything of Phil and Roger yet?" - -"They are coming to-morrow." - -"Good. All the others here?" - -"All but Polly Vane and Luke Watson. Polly had to go to his aunt's -wedding, and Luke had to go around by way of Albany, on business for -his father. But the whole crowd will be on hand by the end of the week." - -"And what of Gus Plum and Nat Poole and that crowd?" asked Ben -Basswood, with a shade of anxiety in his voice. - -"Oh, they are around, as lordly as ever. But say, wasn't Plum taken -down when he heard that Dave had found some relatives and was rich! He -wouldn't believe it at first; said it was a fake." - -"But it is true," cried Ben Basswood, his face glowing. "Dave's folks -are rich. I don't know but that Dave is the richest boy at Oak Hall -now." - -"Oh, come, let us talk about something else," said Dave, blushing in -spite of himself. "Where's the carryall?" - -"Here you are, gents!" cried a voice from the end of the platform, and -Jackson Lemond, the driver from Oak Hall, appeared. He got down on -one knee and made a profound bow to Dave. "Hope I see you well, Lord -Porter," he went on, humbly. - -"Lord Porter?" queried Dave, in bewilderment. - -"Hush!" whispered Sam Day, quickly. "Some of the fellows told Horsehair -you were a real, live lord now, and he believes it." - -"But I am not," cried Dave, and burst out laughing. "Up with you, -Horsehair, or you'll get your knee dirty." - -"Yes, sir, yes, sir," answered the driver, nervously. "Will--er--will -Lord Porter sit on the front seat, or----" - -"A lord always drives himself," answered Shadow Hamilton, with a grin. -"Horsehair, you'll have to sit on the back spring." - -"Yes, sir, but--er----" The driver of the carryall paused. "Any more -boys?" - -"Look here, fellows," interrupted Dave, throwing his dress-suit case on -the top of the carryall. "I like fun as well as anybody, but making out -I'm a lord is--well, it's something I don't like. Even though my folks -may have a little money I want to be just as I used to be." - -"Ain't you no lord?" gasped the carryall driver. - -"Of course not--I'm a plain, everyday American boy." - -"Well, I'll be switched! Them young gents told me as how you was a real -lord, an' was coming to the school with four colored servants, an' a -whole lot more." - -"And now Dave has spoiled it all," said Shadow Hamilton, with a -ponderous sigh. "Puts me in mind of a story I once heard about a----" - -"Yarn No. 1," interrupted Ben. "I thought you'd begin to tell 'em as -soon as we arrived. You have 'em bottled up, and unless you pulled the -cork now and then I suppose you'd explode." - -"Which puts me in mind of another story, about a----" - -"Wait till we are on our way to the Hall," cried Sam Day. "All in!" -And one after another the schoolboys piled into the big carryall which -was to take them to Oak Hall. The turnout was just about to start when -there came a cry from the other end of the station, and two youths -appeared, each loudly dressed, one somewhat after the manner of a dude -and the other in the style of a sport. Each carried a small parcel, -showing he had come down to the town to do some shopping. - -"Gus Plum and Nat Poole!" whispered Ben, and his face fell. "I hope -they don't want to ride with us." - -"That is what they are going to do," answered Dave. "I am sorry myself, -but it can't be helped." - -"Jump in if you are going along," cried the Hall driver. - -"Who have you got?" sang out Gus Plum, rather roughly. He came closer -with his companion and stared at those in the carryall. "Humph!" - -"How do you do, Plum?" said Dave, politely. He knew Gus Plum to be the -bully of the school, but he had determined to be perfectly fair to all. - -"Humph!" murmured the bully again. "Got back, eh?" - -"I have." - -"Humph!" - -"Going to cut a fearful swath, I presume," said Nat Poole, who was the -bully's close crony. - -Dave's face flushed. He had anticipated trouble, but had not expected -it to come so soon. A sharp answer came to his lips, but he suppressed -it and remained silent. - -"Don't start in now, Plum!" cried Ben. "If you are going to the Hall -say so and get in." - -"I'll go to the Hall when I feel like it," growled the bully. It was -plain to see that he was in an unusually bad humor. - -"Well, we are not going to wait for you to make up your mind," said -Shadow Hamilton. As we shall learn later, he had good reasons for -counting Gus Plum his enemy. "Are you going, or are you not?" - -"See here, Hamilton, you can't boss me!" roared the bully. "I'll get in -when I please." - -"The carryall has got to wait for us," added Nat Poole, maliciously. -"Dr. Clay said we could come back in it." - -"Then come on," said Sam Day. - -"We are not through with our errands yet," answered Gus Plum, and -winked in secret at his crony. - -"That's it--and the carryall has got to wait till we are through," -added Nat Poole, quickly. - -"How long?" asked Dave, looking sharply at Plum and Poole. - -"Oh, about half an hour," answered the bully, carelessly. - -"This is a shame," muttered Sam Day. "Horsehair, can't you come back -for them?" - -"Certainly," answered the driver. - -"Then off we go!" cried Shadow Hamilton. "I'd rather ride without them -anyway," he whispered. - -"Hi! stop!" roared Gus Plum. "If you drive to the Hall you won't be -back for an hour and a half or more. You've got to wait for us." - -At this bold announcement there was silence all around. The students in -the carryall looked at Dave, as he was their natural leader. - -"There are four of us who want to get to the Hall without unnecessary -delay," said Dave, steadily. "Either you can go along now, or wait till -Horsehair comes back." - -"That's the talk," came promptly from Dave's chums. - -"So you are going to play the master, are you?" blustered Gus Plum. -"Going to rule the roost, eh? and make everybody bow low to you, eh?" - -"Nothing of the kind, Plum. I merely wish----" - -"Oh, I know! You've talked soft to me before, and soft to Nat, too! I -suppose you think now you have money you can do anything here. Well, it -don't go--not with me anyway, and I want to give you fair warning right -now, at the very start. I want you to understand----" - -"Plum, don't talk so loud, you are drawing a crowd," whispered Ben. -"Dave is all right, and you know it." - -"Humph! I want him to understand----" - -"Plum, listen to me," said Dave, leaning out of the carryall and facing -the bully squarely. "I intended to have a talk with you later, but -since you are so insistent we may as well have it out right now. When -it was decided that I should come back to Oak Hall I made up my mind to -do my best to keep out of trouble and stick closely to my lessons. I -also made up my mind to steer clear of you, and Nat Poole, and all the -others of your crowd, and I was going to ask you to leave me alone. I -want absolutely nothing to do with any of you, and I don't want any of -you to go around talking behind my back, as you have been doing in the -past. You know I could do some talking on my own account if I wanted -to, but I prefer to keep silent. Now then, are you willing to meet me -on those terms or not?" - -"Humph!" - -"That is no answer." - -"You can't bully me." - -"You are the bully and always have been, and you know it." - -"That's the truth," said Sam Day. - -"Plum, you've got to take a back seat, and the sooner you do it the -better off you'll be," added Shadow. - -"Exactly what I say," was Ben's comment. - -"All against me, just as you always were!" cried Gus Plum, savagely. -"But never mind! Just you wait, that's all!" And he shook his fist as -he backed away. - -"You're a set of sneaks!" murmured Nat Poole, as he too retreated. But -he was careful to speak in such a low tone that nobody in the carryall -understood him. - -"I don't want to ride with you; I'd rather walk," went on the bully. - -"I'll come back for you two," said the driver, as he took up the -reins again. "Git up there!" he cried to his team and snapped his -whip. "Looks to me like there was trouble in the air," he continued, -glancing first at the students left behind and then at those in the -carryall. - -"I am afraid you are right," answered Dave, soberly. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -SOMETHING OF THE PAST - - -Once again Dave Porter was brought face to face with the troubles which -he had hoped had been put behind him forever. He had expected to have -the best kind of a time on returning to Oak Hall, and here were his old -enemies, Gus Plum and Nat Poole, ready to do all in their power to make -his schooldays miserable. - -To those who have read "Dave Porter at Oak Hall" Dave needs no special -introduction. In that volume was related how the boy was found when a -little child wandering along the railroad tracks just outside of the -village of Crumville, and turned over to the poorhouse authorities. -Every effort to establish his identity failed, and when he grew up he -was taken in by a broken-down college professor, Caspar Potts, who had -turned farmer. - -The old professor did what he could for the youth, but his farm was -mortgaged to a hard-hearted money lender, Aaron Poole, the father of -Nat Poole, just introduced. Aaron Poole would have sold the old man out -had not aid come from an unexpected quarter. There was an automobile -accident, and Dave succeeded in saving the life of a little girl, -Jessie Wadsworth. For this the Wadsworth family were very grateful, and -when it was learned that Caspar Potts was one of Mr. Oliver Wadsworth's -former college professors, the rich manufacturer took the old professor -to live with him, and also took care of the mortgage. Then, for his -bravery, and because Dave reminded him of a dead son, Mr. Wadsworth -resolved to send the youth to a boarding school and give him a thorough -education. - -Oak Hall was the institution selected, an ideal place of learning, -located not a great distance from the town of Oakdale, in one of our -New England States. The buildings were substantial and surrounded by -beautiful grounds sloping down to the Leming River. Stately oaks grew -on the grounds and in that vicinity, giving the school its name. - -Dave had but one boy friend in Crumville, Ben Basswood, who also went -to Oak Hall, but the lad was not slow to make other acquaintances, some -of whom became his closest chums. Among the number were Roger Morr, -the son of a United States senator; Phil Lawrence, whose father was a -ship-owner; Joseph Beggs, usually called Buster because he was so fat; -and Sam Day and "Shadow" Hamilton, already introduced. - -For a time all went well and the poorhouse boy was happy. But then -came trouble with Gus Plum the bully, and with Nat Poole, who also -became a student at the Hall. Poole told everybody that Dave was a -"poorhouse nobody," and Plum taunted him, with the result that there -was a fight, in which Dave came off the victor. But this only angered -the bully the more, and he vowed to "get square" sooner or later. - -"I'll take it out of the poorhouse whelp," he said to Chip Macklin, a -small youth who was his toady, and laid his plot with care. But the -plan miscarried, and when Dave learned the truth he gave Chip Macklin -such a talking to that the small boy resolved to have nothing more to -do with the bully. Macklin turned over a new leaf, and was now hailed -as "a pretty decent sort of chap" by those who had formerly despised -him. Then Plum did something which got Shadow Hamilton into serious -trouble, stealing a collection of valuable postage stamps belonging -to the master of the school, which poor Shadow had hidden when he was -sleep-walking. This base action was also brought to light, and the -bully came near being expelled from the Hall. - -The question of his parentage was ever in Dave's mind, and when he -gained what he thought was a clew he followed it up as promptly as -possible. An old sailor named Billy Dill declared that he knew Dave -or somebody that looked exactly like him, only older. This unknown -individual was on an island in the South Seas, and the youth arranged -to visit that portion of the globe in one of the ships belonging to -Phil Lawrence's father. Phil, and Roger Morr, went with him, and also -Billy Dill, the necessary funds for the trip being furnished by Oliver -Wadsworth. - -As related in the second volume of this series, "Dave Porter in the -South Seas," the voyage of the _Stormy Petrel_ proved to be a decidedly -strange one. Fearful storms were encountered, and a portion of the -crew, led by a dishonest supercargo and a mate, tried to run off with -the vessel, leaving Dave, his chums, the captain, and some others, on -an uninhabited island. But in the end the vessel was retaken, and Dave -reached the place for which he was bound. - -A great and happy surprise awaited the youth. He came face to face with -a Mr. Dunston Porter, who proved to be the boy's uncle. Mr. Porter was -rich and was wandering around the islands of the Pacific looking for -a treasure said to have been buried by the natives years before. The -uncle told Dave that he was the son of a twin brother, David Breslow -Porter. Dave's mother was dead, but there was a sister Laura, one year -younger than Dave. Mr. David Porter and his daughter Laura were now in -Europe, traveling for the former's health. Dave had been stolen from -his parents by a crazy nurse, and because of this Mr. Porter never -went anywhere without taking Laura with him. There was a good deal of -money in the family, a fair share of which would rightfully fall to -Dave when he became of age. - -As was but natural, Dave was impatient to meet his father and his -sister. He and the others journeyed back to the United States, and -various messages were sent, to Mr. David Porter and to friends at -Crumville. Then Dave and his uncle journeyed to the Wadsworth home, -where they were warmly received. - -At first the message forwarded to Dave's father in Europe brought no -reply, but at last came back an answer from the keeper of a hotel in -Paris where Mr. Porter and Laura had been stopping. This said that the -Porters had departed some weeks before for an extended trip to Norway, -after which they expected to sail for New York, to which place all mail -was to be addressed. Where the two travelers were at the present time -there was no telling. - -"Dave, this is hard luck," said the boy's uncle, on receiving the news. -"I don't know what to do except to wait." - -"Can't we send letters to different cities in Norway?" returned the -youth. "I want to meet my father and my sister so much!" - -"Yes, we can try that," answered Dunston Porter, and the letters were -sent without delay; but so far no answers had been received. - -Oak Hall had opened for the fall term, and after some discussion it -was decided that Dave should return to that school until some word was -received from his father. In the meanwhile Mr. Dunston Porter became -the guest of Mr. Wadsworth. - -Outside of the fact that he was impatient to meet his father and his -sister face to face, Dave was very light-hearted when he and Ben -Basswood left Crumville on their journey to Oakdale. Being a "poorhouse -nobody" was now a thing of the past, and he felt relieved to think that -no one could again taunt him regarding his parentage. More than this, -he was now in the care of an uncle who was kind and loving to the last -degree, and he was provided with all the money he needed, and it was -"his own money," as he told himself with great satisfaction. - -He had already met some of his chums since returning from the South -Seas--boys who had stopped off at Crumville while on their railroad -journey to Oakdale. All had congratulated him on his luck and wished -him well. - -But Nat Poole had not been happy over Dave's good fortune. They had met -at the local post-office, and Poole had made some undertoned remarks -that did not please Dave in the least. As a matter of fact Nat Poole, -even though fairly well-to-do himself, envied Dave because of his -riches. - -"Wait and see how he tries to lord it over us when he comes back," said -Nat Poole to Gus Plum, when the two met at Oak Hall. "I suppose he will -put on such airs there will be no living with him. And he will do what -he can to buy all the other fellows over to him." - -"He shan't lord it over me, or buy me over either," answered the bully. -His tone was very bitter, because of the fact that his own position in -life seemed to be going down. His father had lost money steadily during -the past year, and it was now almost a question whether Gus should -continue at school or leave and go to work. - -"It made me sick to see how Crumville folks bowed and smiled to him," -went on Nat Poole. "When he was nobody they wouldn't notice him--now -they tumble over each other to shake him by the hand." - -"But has he really got so much money?" - -"They say so--but I don't believe it." - -"Does he dress any better than he used to?" - -"Hardly a bit better. If that uncle of his has the rocks I guess he is -miserly about using any." - -"Then maybe Dave won't have so very much spending money," said Gus -Plum, his face brightening a bit. - -"I don't know anything about that. But I do know it makes me sick to -think he is coming here to show off in front of all of us." - -Gus Plum looked around cautiously. The pair were in their dormitory and -nobody else was within hearing. - -"Nat, we hung together last term and we had better hang together this -term too," he whispered. - -"What do you mean--against Porter and his crowd?" - -"Yes." - -"I'll do that quick enough." - -"We must find some way to throw him off his high horse." - -"Well, we don't want to get pinched doing it." - -"We won't get pinched--if we do the thing right." - -"I'm willing to do anything that can be done to make him eat humble -pie." - -"I owe him a whole lot--and so do you," continued the bully of Oak -Hall, bitterly. "Don't you remember how he treated us at the athletic -contests, and down at the boathouse? It makes me boil every time I -think of it!" - -"Yes, and the tricks he and his cronies played on us," returned Nat -Poole. "Gus, I'll do anything--so long as we are not caught at it." - -"I'd like to fix him so he'd be disgraced before the whole school." Gus -Plum's voice sank to a hoarse whisper. - -"Can we do it?" - -"Maybe we can," was the answer. - -And there and then, two days before Dave got back to Oak Hall, these -two unworthies plotted to disgrace him and leave a smirch upon his fair -name. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -DAVE'S RETURN TO OAK HALL - - -The carryall containing Dave and his friends soon left Oakdale behind -and was bowling swiftly along over the smooth highway leading to Oak -Hall. The boys were all inside, leaving the driver to manage his team -in any way that suited him. Usually they loved to torment Horsehair, as -they called him, but now they had other matters on their minds. - -"The same old Plum," said Ben, with a sigh. "Doesn't it make one weary -to listen to him?" - -"Better try to forget him, and Nat Poole too," answered Dave. - -"That is easier said than done," said Shadow Hamilton. "Which puts me -in mind of a story. There was once----" - -"He is bound to tell 'em," came, with a groan, from Sam Day. - -"Never mind; go ahead, Shadow," said Dave. "Sam said you could start in -after we were on board, and I'd rather hear a story than discuss Plum -and Poole." - -"You were talking about forgetting Plum. One day a boy got into his -mother's pantry and stole some preserved plums. When the plums were -found missing the boy's mother caught him and cuffed his ears in good -style. Then the boy went outside and his chum told him to stop crying. -'Forget that your mother cuffed you,' said the other boy. 'I ain't -thinkin' of that,' answered the boy who had stolen the plums. 'Then -stop crying.' 'I can't.' 'Why not?' asks the other boy. 'Because the -plums was hot an' I kin feel 'em all along my throat yit.'" And at this -anecdote a smile passed around. - -"I suppose football is being talked about," observed Ben, after a brief -pause. - -"Yes, some of the boys are playing already," answered Sam Day. "I have -been waiting for Roger to get back. He was captain of our eleven last -season, you'll remember." - -"Yes, and you were right tackle." - -"Do you suppose we'll get another challenge from the Rockville Military -Academy?" - -"Sure we will," burst out Shadow. "They'll want to wipe out the defeat -of last year." - -"Gus Plum has organized a football team of his own," observed Sam. "He -has got Poole and a lot of new students in it. They call themselves the -Arrows, and one boy told me they were going to have suits with arrows -embroidered on them." - -"By the way, what of Chip Macklin?" asked Dave. - -"He is around and as bright as a button," answered Sam. "It is simply -wonderful what a change there is in that chap since he cut away from -Plum." - -"Oh, look at the apples!" cried out Ben, as the carryall made a turn in -the road. He pointed to a tree in a field loaded with the fruit. "Wish -I had one." - -"You won't get any there," declared Shadow. "That's Mike Marcy's field -and he keeps any number of dogs." - -"Well, I never!" burst out Sam, feeling down under the seat. "If you -hadn't spoken I should have forgotten them entirely." He brought out -a bag containing a dozen big red apples. "I bought them while we were -waiting for the train. Here, boys, help yourselves." And he passed them -around. - -"Thank you, Sam," said Dave, as he bit into one of the apples. "This is -fine." And the others said the same. - -Each had his story to tell, and Sam and Shadow listened with eager -interest while Dave told of his long trip across the Pacific, and his -many adventures since he had left the academy. - -"Sounds almost like a fairy tale," declared Sam. "I'd like to see -something of the world myself." - -The carryall made another turn and came in sight of the river, dotted -here and there with small craft. Along the shore grew some bushes and a -few trees. - -"I see some of the fellows are out rowing," observed Dave. "I'd like to -go out myself some day, before it gets too cold." - -The carryall was passing a point where the road was considerably higher -than the surface of the stream. Dave had bitten into a second apple, -that proved to be wormy. Now he leaned out of the carryall and sent the -fruit spinning down through the bushes toward the river. - -"Hi! hi!" came back a voice from the shore below. "Who hit me?" - -"Gracious, I must have hit somebody!" exclaimed Dave. "I didn't mean to -do it." - -"What's the matter?" demanded the driver, pulling his team in. - -"You needn't stop," answered Ben. "Dave threw an apple away, that's -all." - -"I've got to fix the harness--there's a strap loose," went on Lemond, -and leaped to the ground. He was at work when a man appeared, climbing -up the river bank through the bushes. It was Job Haskers, one of the -assistant teachers at the Hall, the only instructor the students did -not like. - -"Ha! so some of you played a trick on me, eh?" fumed Job Haskers, as -he emerged upon the road and strode toward the carryall. "Nice doings, -I must say!" - -"Did the apple hit you, Mr. Haskers?" asked Dave, mildly. - -"Did it hit me? I should say it did, right on top of the head." - -"I am sorry, sir." - -"So you threw it, Porter. I am amazed that you would dare do such a -thing." - -"I didn't know you were down there--in fact, I didn't know anybody was -there." - -"A likely story," sneered the teacher, who was very often hot-headed -and unreasonable. - -"I am telling the truth, sir," and Dave's face flushed. - -"I cannot go out for a quiet stroll by the river side but somebody must -hit me in the head with a hard apple," growled the instructor. "Have -you just arrived?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"You ought to be more careful of what you are doing." - -"As I said before, I didn't know anybody was down there." - -"I presume you didn't want to see me." The teacher turned to all of the -boys. "Where did you get those apples?" he asked, suspiciously. - -"I bought them in Oakdale," answered Sam. - -"Haven't been stopping at some orchard on the way?" - -"You may ask Mr. Cassello, the fruit man, if you don't believe me," and -Sam drew himself up. - -"Well, be more careful after this, or you'll hear from me!" answered -Job Haskers, and strode off down the road in a thoroughly bad humor. - -"Phew! but we are catching it all along the line," was Ben's comment. -"First Plum and Poole, and now Haskers. Wonder what we'll strike next?" - -"I didn't mean to hit anybody," said Dave. "How peppery he is!" - -"And he thinks we took the apples from some orchard," added Sam. - -"Well, such things have happened," observed Ben, with a grin. - -"Which puts me in mind of another story," said Shadow. "There was a -little boy, and his mother had been away nearly all day. 'Mamma,' said -he when she came home, 'can I have two apples?' 'Won't one do?' she -asked. 'No, I want two.' 'Very well,' said his mother. Then she saw him -go to the basket and get one apple. 'I thought you wanted two,' she -remarked. 'Oh,' he answered, 'I had the other one this morning!'" - -Sam burst out laughing and so did the others. "I see the drift of -that," said Sam. "You haven't forgotten when we went to Japlet's -orchard after apples----" - -"And the bull cornered Sam," said Ben. "Don't forget that, Sam." - -"Nevertheless, Haskers is hard on us, and he had no business to call -Dave down as he did, just for throwing the apple into the bushes." - -"Perhaps he has found out something about that ram and how he got up -in his room," whispered Ben, and then a laugh went up, in the midst of -which the driver started up the carryall and the journey to Oak Hall -was resumed. - -Dave was on the watch, to catch his first sight of the school. They -were passing through a bit of woodland. Now they made a turn, and -rolled out in front of a broad campus lined on either side with a -boxwood hedge. At each corner of the campus were clumps of monstrous -oaks, the leaves of which had just begun to turn, and at the entrance -were more of the same kind of trees. - -The school itself was a thoroughly up-to-date structure, of brick and -stone, laid out in the shape of a broad cross. The classrooms, the -office, and the dining hall and kitchen were on the ground floor and -the dormitories and private bedrooms and the bathrooms were above. Off -to one side of the campus was the gymnasium, and down by the river were -a boathouse and a row of bathing houses. - -"Hurrah! Here we are at last!" cried Dave, and his heart gave a bound. - -"Let us give 'em the old song, boys!" cried Sam Day, who was a good -singer, and he at once started up the following, to the tune of "Auld -Lang Syne": - - "Oak Hall we never shall forget, - No matter where we roam; - It is the very best of schools, - To us it's just like home. - Then give three cheers, and let them ring - Throughout this world so wide, - To let the people know that we - Elect to here abide!" - -They sang with a will, and when they had finished they added the old -academy cry: - - "Baseball! - Football! - Oak Hall - Has the call! - Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!" - -"Hello! hello!" sang out a dozen voices from the campus. "Here come -some more of the old students!" - -"There's Dave Porter and Ben Basswood!" - -"Hello, Dave, how do you feel after traveling across the Pacific?" - -"Bring any of those South Sea Islanders with you?" - -"Mighty glad to see you back, old man!" - -So the cries rang on, as Dave and the others left the carryall. Dave -was surrounded, and half a dozen tried to shake hands at once. - -"We want you on the football team, Dave," said one. - -"I'm glad to know you found your folks," added another. - -"You've come back to stay now, haven't you?" asked a third. - -Dave shook hands all around. As the school song had it, the place felt -just like home. For the time being his heart was lighter than ever, and -his return to Oak Hall filled him with more pleasure than words can -express. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -IN THE DORMITORY - - -It took Dave several days to settle down and during that time he heard -but little from Gus Plum and Nat Poole, who prudently kept their -distance, awaiting the time when they might do Dave some injury. - -During those days Roger Morr and Phil Lawrence arrived, both hale and -hearty from their trip with Dave across the Pacific. The senator's son -had spent two days in Washington with his father, while Phil had been -settling up some affairs with his parent regarding the cargo of the -_Stormy Petrel_. - -"This is certainly like old times," remarked Roger, as the crowd sat in -their dormitory. "I hope we have as much sport as we did last season." - -"We will have, don't worry," answered Phil. - -"Provided Job Haskers doesn't stop us," said Buster Beggs, who was -lying across one of the beds. "Tell you what, boys, he is sharp on -this term. Yesterday he caught me writing on the boathouse wall and he -made me write 'chirography' five hundred times." - -"Well, that's a good way to improve your handwriting," answered Dave, -with a smile. "I've done a little of that sort of thing myself." - -"He kept me in two hours yesterday, when I wanted to play football," -growled Shadow Hamilton. "It was a burning shame." - -"But what did you do?" questioned Roger. - -"Oh, nothing much. Nat Poole was coming down the aisle and he made a -face at me. I happened to stretch out my leg and Poole tripped and went -flat. Then old Haskers said it was all my fault." - -"And what did Poole say?" asked Sam, with interest. - -"Oh, he threatened to punch me good--but he didn't do it. He started to -quarrel after school, but Gus Plum called him off." - -"Well, that was queer," observed Dave. "Generally Gus is out for a -fight." - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "A little----" - -"Narrative No. 206," broke in Sam. - -"You shan't keep me from telling it," went on Shadow, calmly. "A little -man----" - -"How small?" asked Roger, with a wink at the others. - -"Oh, that hasn't anything to do with it. A little man once met another -man----" - -"Was the other man small, too?" questioned Phil, seriously. - -"Never mind if he was or not. A little man once met another man who had -a big bulldog with him----" - -"What was the color of the bulldog?" asked Dave. - -"What color? See here, I----" - -"When you tell a story, Shadow, give us the details, by all means. -Was he white or black, red or yellow? Or maybe he was cream-color, or -sky-pink, or----" - -"He was--er--he was a regular bulldog color. Well, this man----" - -"Sort of a brownish blue, with a dash of crimson and violet," suggested -Phil. - -"He was a regular common, everyday bulldog, only he was very big and -very savage." - -"Muzzled, of course," came from Roger. "Bulldogs always are." - -"I saw one once that wasn't," added Buster Beggs. - -"Some of 'em wear silver-plated muzzles," observed Sam. - -"Do you mean to say this bulldog had a silver-plated muzzle?" demanded -Dave, turning to Shadow. - -"Who in creation said he had a muzzle?" cried the would-be -story-teller. "I said----" - -"I know you did, Shadow dear," said Luke Watson, who sat on a low stool -with his banjo in his lap, tuning up. "Don't let them sidetrack you, or -the bulldog either." - -"What I want to know is this," said Phil, impressively. "Were those men -white or black? That may have a very important bearing on the moral of -the tale." - -"See here, if you don't want to hear the story----" began Shadow, half -angrily. - -"We do! we do!" came from several at once. - -"We are dying for you to finish," said Roger. "Now start up again. A -small bulldog once came along, leading a big, fierce man----" - -"That's not right," broke in Buster. "A small bulldog once met another -bulldog leading a bulldog-colored man who----" - -"Great Cæsar! That's as bad as the story of the canner," broke in Sam. -"The canner can eat what he can and what he can't he can can, can't -he?" And a laugh went up. - -"I am going to tell this story if I die for it," cried Shadow. "A -small man--remember that--met another man--remember that--with a big, -fierce bulldog--remember that. The small man was afraid, but he didn't -want to show it, so he said to the man with the bulldog: 'Is that dog -a valuable animal?' 'Yes,' says the other man. 'Well, don't let him -loose, then.' 'Why not?' 'Because I don't like dogs and I might hurt -him.' Now there's the story, and you've got to swallow it whether you -want to or not." - -"Which puts me in mind of a song," said Luke Watson. "Sam, you know it, -and can join in," and he began, accompanying himself on the banjo: - - "I love him, I love him, - He's down at the gate; - He's waiting to meet me - No matter how late. - He loves me so truly, - It fills me with joy - To hug him and kiss him-- - My poodle dog, Floy!" - -The song rang out clearly and sweetly, and when the verse was repeated -the others joined in. But then came a knock at the door, and Jim -Murphy, the big-hearted monitor, appeared. - -"Hush! not so loud," he whispered, warningly. "Haskers is coming -upstairs." And then the monitor disappeared again. - -"I know what that means," said Luke, and rising he put his banjo away -in a closet. "He stopped me before--he shan't have the chance to do it -again." - -The boys had scarcely settled themselves when Job Haskers appeared -and gazed sharply around the dormitory. He found all the boys either -writing or studying. - -"Who is making that noise up here?" he demanded. - -To this there was no reply. - -"If I hear any more of it I shall punish everybody in this room," -added the assistant teacher, and went out again, closing the door -sharply after him. - -"He's in an elegant humor to-night," was Phil's comment. "Must have -swallowed some tacks, or a cup of vinegar." - -"He ought to be taken down a peg," said Shadow, who had not forgotten -how he had been kept in. "I wish we could do something like last term -when we got Farmer Cadmore's ram up in his room and----" - -"That's it," cried Buster. "Only it won't do to try the same joke -twice. We'll have to think up something new. Polly, give us an idea." - -He turned to Bertram Vane, who sat at a table, trying to write a -composition. Bertram was very girlish in appearance, hence the nickname. - -"Please don't bother me now," pleaded Polly. "I want to finish this -composition." - -"We want some idea to work off on Haskers. Open up your knowledge box, -Polly," came from Phil. - -"Really I can't," returned the girlish student. "I am writing a -composition on Bats, and I want----" - -"Baseball bats?" questioned Roger. - -"No, no, living bats. Their habits are very interesting, and----" - -"Polly has solved the question for us!" exclaimed Dave, and began to -grin. "Just the thing! Polly, have you written much yet?" - -"No, I hadn't the chance, with so much talking going on." - -"Then you had better change your subject, for I don't think Mr. Haskers -will want to read a composition on Bats to-morrow--not if the plan goes -through." - -"What is the plan?" came eagerly from several of the others. - -"I just happened to remember that one of the boys over at Lapham's farm -has a cage full of bats that he caught last week. He said he would sell -them for fifty cents. Perhaps Mr. Haskers would be pleased to have them -presented to him." - -"Whoop! We'll get those bats!" shouted Phil. - -"And put them in his room," added Shadow. - -"And as we are modest we won't say where the gift came from," remarked -Sam. - -The plan was approved by everybody, even Polly Vane smiling faintly. - -"Bats are very curious creatures," he observed. "They fly in people's -hair, and they can make one very uncomfortable." - -The crowd talked the matter over, and it was decided to get the bats at -once, if it could be done. As Dave knew the boy who had the creatures -he was commissioned to go after them, taking Shadow and Roger along. - -It was still early, so the three lads had no difficulty in getting -out of the academy building. They did not, however, dare to ask for -permission to leave the grounds, and so stole across the campus to the -gymnasium building, back of which they vaulted the boxwood hedge. Close -at hand was a road leading through a patch of woods to the Lapham farm, -whither they were bound. - -"We have got to watch out, when we are coming back," said the senator's -son, as they trudged along. "We don't want to get caught by Haskers, or -Dr. Clay either." - -"When we return one of us can go ahead and see if the coast is clear," -answered Dave. "It will be all right unless somebody has been playing -the spy on us." - -"I didn't see anybody." - -"Neither did I, but I believe they are going to enforce the rules more -strictly than ever this season." - -It was a cool, clear night, with hundreds of stars twinkling in the -sky. They knew the road well, having traveled it many times before. -They left the woods behind, and then came out on a small hill, below -which was the farm for which they were bound. - -"Perhaps the Laphams are in bed," said Shadow. "Some farmers go to bed -mighty early." - -"I know it, especially when the days are short," answered Dave. "Well, -if the boy's asleep we'll have to wake him up. I guess he'll be glad -enough to sell the bats. He said his mother didn't want him to have -them around." - -"I see a light in the house," said Roger, as they drew closer. "Have -they a dog?" - -"No." - -"Then we can go right up to the door and knock." - -The three students entered the lane leading up to the farmhouse. They -saw a light flash up in one lower room and then appear in the next. -While they were gazing it suddenly disappeared, leaving the farmhouse -in total darkness. - -"Evidently they are just going to bed," said Dave. "Hurry up, before -they get upstairs." - -He broke into a swift walk and the others did the same. They were close -to the front porch of the house when they heard a shrill cry from -within: - -"John! John! Wake up! There is somebody in the house!" - - - - -CHAPTER V - -SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY - - -"Did you hear that?" asked the senator's son, as he and his companions -came to a halt on the porch of the farmhouse. - -"I did, and there must be something wrong," answered Dave. - -"Perhaps there are burglars around," said Shadow. "I must say, I don't -like this," he continued, nervously. - -"There was a burglary in Oakdale night before last," said Dave. "I -heard Swingly the janitor telling about it." - -All three now heard a commotion in the farmhouse. There was the -slamming of a back door, and then somebody came leaping down the inside -stairs. - -"Where is he, Jane?" they heard in a man's voice. - -"I don't know, but I heard the back door shut," answered a woman's -voice. "And I saw a light." - -"I don't see anybody," went on the man of the house, and lit a match. -Soon he had a lamp in his hand, with which he went to the back door. - -"Did you leave the wash-shed window open?" he called out. - -"No," returned Mrs. Lapham. "I shut it tight." - -"It's open wide,--and the back door is unlocked," went on her husband. - -"Any thieves around, pop?" came in a boyish voice. - -"Better git the gun," advised another boy, Bob Lapham, who had the bats -for sale. - -The man went out in the yard, lamp in hand. As he did this, the three -students walked around to meet him. - -"Hello, what do you want?" demanded John Lapham, halting and staring -at his unexpected visitors. "Were you in my house?" he continued, -suspiciously. - -"No, sir, we just came up," answered Dave. "We want to buy those bats -your son has for sale." - -"Did you see anybody around here--I mean going out just now?" - -"No." - -"We saw a light, in the parlor and the sitting room," said Roger. "It -went out just as we came up." - -"Then my wife must be right. Somebody has been in the house. I must -take a look around." - -The two Lapham boys now came out, and the whole crowd looked around the -farmhouse and the stable near by. Not a soul was in sight anywhere. - -"Whoever he was, he has gotten away," said the farmer, soberly. "I hope -he didn't steal anything." - -He and his sons were but partly dressed and they went in the house -again, followed by the students, who were curious to learn if anything -had been taken. - -"I brought home a lot of stuff from my aunt's house yesterday," -explained John Lapham. "She is breaking up housekeeping and gave us her -silverware and such. I had it all in the box yonder." - -He set down the lamp and threw aside the cover of the box he had -pointed out. One look inside and he gave a groan. - -"The silverware is gone!" - -"All of it?" queried one of his sons. - -"Yes, and the cut glass fruit dish is gone too!" - -By this time Mrs. Lapham had dressed and now she came down. At the news -she burst into tears. - -"Oh, John, you must get after those burglars!" - -"Can there have been more than one?" asked Dave. - -"I think I heard two men moving around, but I am not sure," said the -woman. - -Another search was made by the students, while the farmer and his sons -hastily donned the rest of their clothing. Then John Lapham brought -forth a shotgun. - -"I'm going to get that stuff back," said he, determinedly. "You say the -burglars didn't go out by the front road?" - -"We didn't see anybody," answered Roger. - -"Then they must have taken to the lane that leads down to the river." - -"Let us go down and see, pop," said Bob Lapham, eagerly. - -So it was agreed, and after a few words Dave and his chums went along. -For the time being the bats were forgotten. - -"This may get us into a mess at the Hall," whispered Shadow, as they -hurried along. "In telling the news Mr. Lapham will be sure to mention -us." - -"Well, that can't be helped, and we'll have to get out of it the best -we can," answered Dave. "It's our duty to help capture those burglars, -if it can be done." - -The whole party walked down the lane leading to the river, which, at -this point, overflowed a portion of the Lapham meadow. The farmer had -brought along his barn lantern. - -"I see something!" cried Dave, as a bright object caught his eye. But -it was only a battered tin can, which caused everybody to utter a short -laugh. - -It did not take long to reach the water's edge. Here they saw where a -rowboat had been hauled up on the bank. In the mud and grass they made -out the footsteps of two men, but that was all. - -"Have you had a boat up here in the last few days?" asked Dave of the -farmer. - -"Ain't had a boat here in a month." - -"Then this must have been the burglars' boat." - -"I think so." John Lapham gave something of a sigh. "They got a good -start." - -"Yes, and we don't know which way they went," added one of his sons. - -"Have you any idea what the stuff that was stolen was worth?" asked the -senator's son. - -"Fifty or sixty dollars, maybe more." - -"I shouldn't think any professional burglars would bother to take -such a small amount," was Shadow's comment. "Maybe they are worthless -characters from around here." - -"Like as not," answered the farmer. "Maybe the same rascals that robbed -Jerry Logan's house at Oakdale. They got about fifty dollars' worth -there too." - -They looked out upon the river as best they could, but not a craft of -any kind was in sight, nor could they hear any sound of rowing. The -farmer drew a long sigh. - -"I'm stumped," he declared. - -"You'd better notify the authorities," suggested Roger. - -"Won't do a bit o' good. The constable ain't worth his salt, and the -justice ain't no good either. If I want to find those burglars I've got -to do it myself." - -"Have you a boat?" - -"No, but I can get one in the morning, and I'll get some of the -neighbors to help me." - -There seemed nothing more to do just then, and the whole party returned -to the farmhouse. Then Dave explained what he had come for to Bob -Lapham. - -"All right, you can have the bats," said the farm boy. "They are in the -barn. But what do you want of them?" - -"Oh, we were going to use them for something--but perhaps we won't -now," said Dave, and handed over the amount to be paid. Soon the bats -were brought forth, in a battered mocking-bird cage. They were a round -dozen in number. - -"See here, Bob, don't say anything to anybody about our coming here," -whispered Roger, slipping an extra quarter into the farm boy's hand. -"We are not supposed to be away from the Hall, you know." - -"All right, I won't say anything." - -"And keep your brother and your father quiet too,--if you can." - -"I'll do my best. I don't know your names anyway." - -"None of them?" - -"No." - -"Good enough. Now we are off. Good-night." - -The boys were about to turn from the farmhouse when John Lapham called -them back. - -"What do you want?" asked Dave, and a sudden strange sensation took -possession of him. - -"I've been thinking that things look rather queer," went on the farmer, -pointedly. - -"In what way?" demanded Shadow. - -"How was it that you didn't knock on the front door when you first came -here?" - -"We heard a noise and we listened to find out what it meant," answered -the senator's son. - -"It seems mighty queer to me," said the farmer, doggedly. - -"What do you mean, Mr. Lapham?" demanded Dave, his face beginning to -burn. - -"It's queer you should come here this time of night just to get some -bats that ain't any good to nobody." - -"Well, that is what we came for and nothing else." - -"You're sure you don't know anything about that robbery?" - -"Mr. Lapham, do you take us for thieves?" cried the senator's son, -hotly. - -"I didn't say that; I said it was queer." - -"You know we haven't the stolen stuff." - -"And you are sure you don't know anything about those other chaps?" -mused the farmer. - -"Not a thing," answered Dave. "All we saw was the light just before it -went out, and heard the noise." - -"It is preposterous to think we would come here to take your -silverware," went on Roger, warmly. - -"Oh, pop, they are all right," said Bob Lapham. "All the students at -Oak Hall are honest fellows." - -"I don't know about that," was the grim answer. "They don't seem to be -honest when it comes to getting in our orchards." - -"I have never been in your orchard," said Dave. - -"Nor I," added Shadow. - -"Nor I," affirmed the senator's son. - -"Last season I had about half of my fruit stolen." - -"Well, some of it was taken by the boys from the military academy, you -must remember," said Bob Lapham, who evidently wanted to help the Oak -Hall students all he could. - -"Yes, I know that." - -"We are totally innocent," asserted Shadow. "I don't see how you can -suspect us." - -"What is your name?" demanded the farmer. - -Shadow hesitated and then straightened up. - -"I am not ashamed to tell you. It is Maurice Hamilton." - -"And what is yours, young man?" went on John Lapham, turning to Dave. - -"David Porter." - -"And yours?" - -"Roger Morr." - -"Morr, eh? Do you belong around here?" - -"No, sir, I come from near Hemson." - -"Oh! Then you ain't related to Mr. Samuel Morr, of Bainridge?" - -"I am. He is my uncle." - -"Are you Senator Morr's son?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Oh!" The farmer's face changed slightly. "Well, that makes a -difference. I know Mr. Samuel Morr quite well," he continued, but did -not add that Roger's uncle held his note for two hundred dollars, and -he wished the same renewed for three months. "Of course, if you are -Senator Morr's son it is all right, and I am sure you didn't have -anything to do with the robbery." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -JOB HASKERS'S BAD NIGHT - - -After that the farmer questioned the boys further concerning their -visit to his home and at last drew from the students their whole story. -When they acknowledged that they wanted to play a joke on Job Haskers -he smiled broadly. - -"I know that man," he said. "He wanted to buy some apples and potatoes -here once, to ship to some of his folks, and he was so close and mean -about it, I wouldn't sell him anything. Go ahead and play your joke on -him, and I won't say anything about it." - -"And you won't say anything about our visit here?" questioned Roger, -eagerly. - -"Not a thing--unless, of course, it becomes absolutely necessary to do -so." - -"You're a brick, Mr. Lapham," cried Dave, much relieved. "We'll do all -we can to help you catch those burglars." - -"That we will," added Shadow. - -"I am afraid we'll never catch them, boys. The constable here is no -good, and I don't know where to look for them," responded the farmer. - -A few minutes later found the students on the return to Oak Hall, Dave -carrying the cage full of bats. - -"That was a narrow escape," was Shadow's comment, as they hurried along -to make up for lost time. "I thought sure he'd report the matter to Dr. -Clay." - -"To think we should run into a burglary!" declared the senator's son. - -"I wonder if the same fellows robbed Mr. Lapham who committed the -robbery at Oakdale?" - -"It is more than likely. I hope they catch the fellows." - -It did not take the three youths long to reach the academy grounds. -Roger slipped in ahead and was gone five minutes. - -"Hurry up--the coast is clear!" he whispered, on coming back. "The side -door is open and nobody on the stairs, so far as I could see." - -They ran across the campus, Dave with the cage full of bats still in -his hand. They had almost reached the door when they heard it slam -shut. Then the key was turned and the bolt shot into place. - -"We're locked out!" whispered Shadow, in consternation. - -"Let us try the other doors," suggested Dave. - -They did this, making the entire round of the school building. Every -door was shut and locked, even that to the kitchen addition being tight. - -"Now we are in a pickle and no mistake," groaned the senator's son. - -"I suppose the other fellows have gotten tired of waiting for us and -gone to bed," said Shadow. "We've been away an hour and a half longer -than we expected." - -"One thing is certain, we must get into the Hall somehow," said Dave. -"We can't stay out here all night." - -"Let us go around under one of our windows," said Roger. - -They were soon under a window of Dormitory No. 12. It was open from the -top to admit the fresh air. All was dark in the school building and -they had only the starlight to guide them. - -Gathering up a handful of pebbles, Dave threw them at the window and -Roger and Shadow followed suit. At first nobody paid attention to -this. Then the window was raised from the bottom and the head of Phil -appeared. - -"Hello you!" he called softly. "Thought you were going to make a night -of it." - -"We were delayed," answered Dave. "All the doors are locked. Can't you -open one for us?" - -"I'll see." - -Phil's head disappeared, and then Sam Day and Buster Beggs showed -themselves. - -"Got the bats?" asked Sam. - -"Yes." - -"Where are they?" - -"Here, in this cage." - -"Good enough!" - -The boys below waited fully five minutes after that. Then Phil appeared -once more. - -"It's pretty risky to open a door," he announced. "Mr. Dale is below, -and so are Pop Swingly and one or two others. I think they are watching -for somebody." - -"I hope they are not watching for us," returned Shadow, with a shiver. - -"No, I think they are looking for some other fellows who went out." - -"Here's a fishing line," said Sam. "You can send up the bats on that, -if you like. Then if you are caught, they won't find out what you were -after." - -"A good idea," answered Dave, and tied the cage to the end of the line. -Soon the bats were hauled up to the dormitory and stowed away in a safe -place. - -"I wish we could go up on the line too," said Shadow, wistfully. - -"We can get a ladder from the barn and go up, if you say so," suggested -Roger. "Only, what will we do with the ladder afterwards?" - -[Illustration: Dave began to mount the improvised rope.--_Page 51._] - -"The ladder would expose us," said Dave. "I've got a plan. Take the bed -sheets and make a rope of them, and we'll haul ourselves up somehow." - -The charm of this idea took instantly, and those in the dormitory set -to work to knot together five or six sheets without delay. Then one end -was held fast while the other was dropped to the ground. - -"Will it hold?" questioned Roger. "We don't want to break our necks." - -"I'll try it," said Dave, and began to mount the improvised rope hand -over hand, bracing his feet against the brick and stone building as he -did so. As the youth was a pretty good athlete he had small trouble in -gaining the top and hopping into the dormitory. Then Shadow came up, -followed by the senator's son, and the bed sheets were hauled back and -separated. The sheets were somewhat mussed from the strange usage, but -that was all. - -The other boys wanted to know what had kept Dave and his companions so -long, but it was too late to relate the whole story. - -"We can tell it in the morning," said the senator's son. "Just now let -us see how the land lies for getting the bats into old Haskers's room." - -He and Dave tiptoed their way out into the hallway, which was dark -saving for a faint light near a bathroom door. Not a person was in -sight, but a faint murmur of voices came from a room below. - -"I am afraid he will have his door locked," said Dave. "He learned his -lesson when he had the trouble with the ram." - -But to their satisfaction they found the door to the assistant -teacher's bedroom unlocked. They listened and heard Job Haskers -breathing heavily. - -"He is sound asleep," whispered Roger. - -"Let us put the key on the outside first," answered Dave. - -This was done, and then the two boys went back for the cage of bats. -The other students in the dormitory wanted to see the fun, and half a -dozen went out into the hallway. In order that they might not be seen -and recognized, the light was extinguished. - -"I am going to loosen the bottom of the cage and then throw the whole -thing on Haskers's bed," said Dave. "Stand ready, somebody, to lock the -door." - -"I'll do that," answered Phil. - -With caution the door was opened for a little over a foot. Then -Dave loosened the bottom of the cage and shook the bats up. As they -fluttered around he threw cage and all directly on the teacher's bed. -Then the door was quickly closed and locked and the key thrown down -into the lower hallway. - -For a moment there was silence. Then from Job Haskers's room there -arose a frightful shriek. - -"Help! Get away! What is this? Oh, my eye! Get away, I say! Oh! oh! -Save me! I shall be killed! Get away!" And there followed a series of -yells and thumps and the overturning of a chair and a table. - -"He is enjoying himself--I don't think!" cried Roger, with a chuckle. -"Oh, say, listen to that!" - -"Back to the room, or we'll be discovered," warned Phil, and back they -ran with all speed. - -But the strange commotion had aroused the whole Hall, and dormitory -doors were opened on all sides and students rushed out to see what was -the matter. Then Dr. Clay appeared, garbed in a dressing gown. Andrew -Dale, the first assistant teacher, ran up from below. - -"What is the meaning of this unseemly noise?" thundered the good -doctor. "Make a light, somebody." - -Several lights were lit. In the meantime the noise in Job Haskers's -room continued. The second assistant was having a hot fight with the -bats. The creatures banged him in the face, whizzed past his ears, -caught in his rather long hair, and practically scared him out of his -wits. He made wild passes at them with his hands, dancing around in -the meanwhile, and in his bewilderment brought down a steel engraving -covered with glass with a tremendous crash. - -"Mr. Haskers must be going crazy!" - -"Perhaps there is a burglar in his room!" - -"Look out that you don't get shot!" - -"I know what's the matter!" cried one fun-loving student. "He must have -the hydrophobia. He said a dog tried to bite him a couple of days ago." - -"Oh, if he has gone mad I don't want him to bite me!" shrieked one of -the younger students. - -"Better chain him up and pour water on him!" - -"Mr. Haskers!" thundered the doctor, rattling the doorknob. "Mr. -Haskers! What is the matter? Open the door." - -But the noise was so fearful that no attention was paid to the request. -Then came another crash, as the assistant teacher picked up a book, let -it fly at the bats, and sent a big pane of glass in the window into a -hundred pieces. - -This was too much for Dr. Clay. Satisfied that something dreadful was -going on, he put his shoulder to the door and burst it open. As he did -this, something whizzed past his ear and made him dodge. - -"Stop! Don't throw anything at me!" he called. "What in the world does -this mean?" - -"I don't know what it means!" roared Job Haskers, who was so bewildered -he scarcely knew what he was saying. "Get out of here! Oh, my eye! -That's the third time I've been hit!" And he made another sweep at his -invisible enemy. Then, as Dr. Clay backed into the hallway, the teacher -followed him and ran down the corridor like one gone crazy. - -By this time somebody was bringing a lantern, and Andrew Dale had -armed himself with a club. The doorway to Job Haskers's room had been -left wide open and the sounds within had suddenly ceased. With caution -Andrew Dale peered inside. - -"I do not see anything out of the ordinary," he announced, looking -around with caution. - -"Maybe the bats have cleared out!" whispered Roger to Dave. - -"I hope they have. See, the window is open from the top, and the bottom -glass is broken out." - -One after another, teachers and students crowded into the room. Phil -spied the battered bird cage resting near the foot of the bed, and, in -secret, passed it to Dave, who handed it to Sam. The latter was close -to the window, and threw the object out as far as he could. In the -meantime the excitement continued. - -"I don't see anything." - -"Better look for robbers!" - -"Maybe somebody is in the closet." - -The closet was searched, but nothing out of the ordinary was -discovered. The students in the secret looked for bats, but every one -of the creatures had taken its departure for parts unknown. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED - - -"Mr. Haskers, I would like to have you explain this affair," said Dr. -Clay, after the excitement had died down. - -"Have you--have you got them?" faltered the assistant teacher, who was -still much bewildered. - -"Got what?" - -"Why,--er--the--the things that were in my room." - -"I can find nothing in your room, and neither can Mr. Dale." - -"No--nothing? absolutely nothing, sir?" - -"Not a thing out of the ordinary. Did you have a nightmare?" And the -worthy master of the Hall looked sternly at his assistant. - -"I--er--I don't think I did. I woke up suddenly, sir, and something -flew by my head. Then something hit me in the face and got caught in my -hair, and after that I--er--I was hit half a dozen times." - -"Ahem! This is certainly extraordinary. You are sure you weren't -dreaming?" - -"I don't think I was, sir." - -"Was your window open when you went to bed?" - -"Yes, from the top." - -"Perhaps a night bird flew in." - -"There must have been half a dozen of them." - -"Well, whatever it was, it is gone now. You had better go back to bed. -You can push the chiffonier against the broken-out window if you wish, -to keep out the cold air. Boys, I want you all to retire. We'll have -the window and the broken lock mended in the morning." - -The doctor turned and waved the students away, and one after another -they departed for their dormitories. Then he followed Job Haskers into -the latter's bedroom. The door was closed and what was said was not -heard by the others. - -"Well, that was certainly one on Job Haskers," chuckled Roger, as he -followed Dave to bed. - -"And I doubt if he ever learns what was the real trouble," answered -Dave. - -"By the way, I didn't see Gus Plum and Nat Poole," said Phil. "It is -queer they didn't come out of their room." - -"Maybe they weren't in the building!" cried Sam. "Mr. Dale was watching -downstairs for somebody." - -"I am not going to bother my head about it," announced the senator's -son, as he began to get ready to jump into bed, having disrobed in part -before playing the joke on the teacher. "The walk made me tired." - -"I am tired, too, and sleepy," said Shadow. - -"Ditto here," announced Dave. - -All of the students had gone to their dormitories, and once more quiet -settled over the Hall. The light that had been lit was extinguished, -and one after another the boys hopped into bed and tucked the covers in -around them. - -"Great hambones! What's this!" came, an instant later, from Phil, and -he began to wiggle from head to foot. - -"Adam's tombstone, but this is fierce!" cried the senator's son and sat -bolt upright. - -"I should say it was!" declared Dave, as he also thrashed around. "I -can't stand this. Who put something in my bed?" - -"I didn't!" declared Buster. - -"Nor I!" declared one after another of the occupants of the dormitory. - -Once more the boys got up, and the light was again lit. It was soon -discovered that a mass of burdock burs had been placed in the beds of -Phil, Roger, and Dave. None of the other beds had been touched. - -"This is an itchy joke and no mistake," said Dave, with a sickly grin. - -"Puts me in mind of a story," began Shadow. "At a school----" - -"No stories just now!" cried Dave. "I want to know who did this?" - -"I saw some burdock burs yesterday," said Polly Vane. "Little Sammy -Bilderman had them." - -"Yes, and he gave them to Nat Poole," declared Chip Macklin. "I saw him -do it." - -"That explains it!" cried Dave. - -"Explains what?" asked several of the others. - -"Why Poole and Plum didn't show themselves while the racket was going -on in Haskers's room. They came in here and fixed us up." - -"It must be so," said Phil, "for I know my bed was all right before." - -Dave leaped noiselessly to the door and threw it open. Nobody was -outside, but he heard a door at a distance close softly. - -"Somebody was out there. He just ran off," he declared. - -"Come on," said Roger, and tiptoed his way into the semi-dark hall, -followed by Dave and Phil. They made their way to the door of the -dormitory in which Poole and Plum belonged. They heard a rustle and the -faint creaking of two beds. - -"We've found them all right," whispered the senator's son. "The -question is, what shall we do in return?" - -"Wait," advised Dave. "We've had enough for one night. Let us get to -bed." - -The others were willing, and so they returned to their own room. The -burs were cleared away, and in a few minutes more all of the lads were -in the land of dreams. - -In the morning, on entering the classroom, the students found Job -Haskers heavy-eyed and in anything but a pleasant humor. He called one -class after another to order in a sharp, jerky voice, and gave the -pupils demerit marks upon the slightest provocation. As a result Dave, -Phil, and eight other students suffered in their general average. - -"How I wish Dr. Clay would get rid of him," sighed Phil. - -"And get another teacher like Mr. Dale to take his place," said Dave. -All the boys loved Andrew Dale, who was as pleasant as he was capable. - -It was not until two days later that Roger met Bob Lapham. The farm boy -said his father had heard nothing more of the burglars and the stolen -silverware, and had come to the conclusion that little could be done in -the matter. - -"It is too bad," said the senator's son. "I do hope he gets his stuff -back some day." - -Although Dave was out for fun and sport, it must not be thought that he -neglected his studies. As my old readers know, he was a youth who put -his whole heart and soul into whatever he was doing, and this applied -to his lessons as well as to everything else. In the past he had kept -close to the top of his class, and he was resolved to retain that -position or do still better. - -"I came to learn something," he said, more than once. "I am not going -to neglect my lessons, no matter what is in the air." - -"But you'll join our football team, won't you?" asked the senator's -son, who was looked upon as the leader in that sport by nearly all the -old football players. - -"I will if you want me to, Roger. But you know I am not an extra good -player. Baseball is my game, not football." - -"But we want you to play the position you took last year, when you made -that victorious run." - -"Very well. What of the other fellows?" - -"Ben will be quarter-back as before, and Phil a half-back, and Sam -right tackle. I haven't made up my mind about the others yet, although -I think I'll try Shadow for center and Buster for guard." - -"What do you think of the team Gus Plum has organized?" - -"Well, to tell the truth, Dave, I think some of his fellows play pretty -good football," answered Roger, in a low voice, so that no outsider -might hear him. - -"Just what I think. Henshaw is a dandy quarter-back, and Babcock makes -a good, heavy tackle. We ought to have them on our team--if we are to -play Rockville." - -"Well, I would ask them to join us, only if I do that, Plum will say I -am trying to steal his men from him." - -The next morning came a surprise. Roger received a challenge from the -Arrows to play a game of football the very next Saturday afternoon. Nat -Poole delivered the paper, and his face had a superior smile on it as -he did so. - -"Why, Poole, we are not in trim to play yet," said Roger. "We need more -practice." - -"Afraid to play us, eh?" sneered the aristocratic youth. "I thought so." - -"I am not afraid. Make it three weeks from now and I'll accept." - -"No, you must play this week or not at all. If you won't play we'll -challenge the Rockville fellows." - -With this declaration Nat Poole hurried away, leaving the senator's son -much worried. As Roger had said, his team needed practice. They were -all good players individually, but team work is what counts in a modern -game of football. He went to consult his friends. - -"We can't do it," said Sam, shaking his head. "Why, some of us scarcely -know the new rules yet, much less our signals." - -"We need at least two weeks of good, snappy practice," put in another -of the players. "None of us are hard enough yet." - -"This is a plan to get us into a hole," declared Dave. "If we back out -Plum will challenge the Rockville boys and make out that his eleven -is the representative one from this school. It's just like one of his -dirty tricks." - -The boys talked the matter over a good hour, and finally a vote was -taken. - -"I say play," declared Dave. "Let us practise all we possibly can. If -we are beaten we can immediately send a challenge for another game on -the Saturday following." - -So it was at last decided, although Roger, Phil, and Sam were still -doubtful. They declared it was taking a big risk and that if they lost -they would never hear the end of it. - -In the meantime Gus Plum was laughing in his sleeve, as the popular -saying goes, feeling certain that Roger's eleven would not accept the -challenge. Three of the players who had formerly played on the team of -the senator's son had left Oak Hall, and that meant the substitution of -green hands from whom it was not known what to expect. - -"They'll crawl out of it," declared Nat Poole, as he and the bully of -the Hall and a student named Jasniff talked it over. Jasniff was a -newcomer at Oak Hall, a fellow with a squint in one eye and a manner -that few of the boys cared to tolerate, although, strange to say, it -pleased Plum and Poole. Jasniff smoked, and played pool when he got the -chance, and so did they, and, in addition, the new student was fond of -drinking and horse races,--a poor sort of a companion for any youth who -wanted to make a man of himself. - -"You've got them dead to rights," said Nick Jasniff. "They'll crawl, -see if they don't." - -"I'll give them until Thursday to accept," said Gus Plum. "If they -don't, I'll send a challenge to Rockville on Friday." - -"Will Rockville play us?" asked Poole. "They may put up some sort of a -kick." - -"I'll let them know how matters stand," answered the bully of the Hall, -with a suggestive wink. "If Morr's crowd won't play us, then we are the -representative team of the Hall, aren't we?" - -As the bully ceased speaking, Dave and Roger walked up to the three -other boys. - -"Here's our answer to that challenge, Plum," said the senator's son, -and held out a paper. - -"I presume you decline to play us," sneered the bully, as he took the -note. - -"On the contrary we take pleasure in accepting the challenge," said -Dave. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE RIVALS OF OAK HALL - - -For the moment after Dave made his announcement there was a dead -silence. The faces of Gus Plum and his associates showed their -disappointment. - -"Going to play us, eh?" said the bully, slowly. - -"You'll be beaten out of your boots," said Nat Poole, with a sneer. - -"That remains to be seen," answered Roger. "We accept the challenge and -we are here to arrange all the details of the game." - -A talk lasting nearly a quarter of an hour followed, in which they went -over such details as seemed necessary. Plainly Plum was ill at ease. He -wanted to chose an umpire, referee, and linesmen from outside of Oak -Hall, but the senator's son would not consent to this. - -"I am satisfied to have Mr. Dale for umpire," he said. "And three of -our head students can act as referee and linesmen." And so at last it -was decided, but not without a great deal of grumbling. - -"You won't win this time, Porter," remarked Nick Jasniff, as Dave and -Roger were leaving. "After this game you'll never be heard of again in -this school." - -"'He laughs best who laughs last,'" quoted Dave, and walked away, arm -in arm with Roger. Jasniff stared after him and so did Plum and Poole. - -"They really mean to play after all," muttered Poole. "I was dead sure -they'd decline." - -"You never can tell what Porter will do," growled Gus Plum. "I'll wager -he got Morr to accept." - -"Well, we've got to wax 'em good and hard," remarked Nick Jasniff. "And -we ought to be able to do that easily enough--with Henshaw and Babcock -on our side. Those two fellows play as if they belonged to some college -eleven." - -"Yes, I hope great things from Henshaw and Babcock," answered the bully -of Oak Hall. - -When Roger and Dave returned to the members of their own eleven they -were asked how Plum and his crowd had taken the acceptance of the -challenge. Then the coming game was discussed from every possible point -of view. - -"Do you know, I'd almost rather beat Plum than some outside team," -remarked Phil. "He deserves to be taken down." - -"I don't like Nick Jasniff at all," said Dave, slowly. "In one way I -think he is a worse fellow than either Plum or Poole." - -"He has a bad eye," said Sam. "It's an eye I don't trust." - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," added Shadow. "Now don't stop me, -for this is brand-new----" - -"Warranted?" queried Dave. - -"Yes, warranted. Two Irishmen and a Dutchman got into an argument -and when they separated all three were in bad humor. The next day -one of the Irishmen met the other Irishman. 'Sure, Pat,' says he. 'I -don't loike that Dootchmon at all, at all.' 'Nayther do I,' answered -the other Irishman. 'He has a bad eye, so he has,' went on the first -Irishman. 'That's roight, he has--an' I gave him that same this very -marnin'!' says the other Irishman." - -"Three cheers for the new joke!" cried Roger, and a general laugh arose. - -"Well, I suppose all we can do is to start practice and keep it up -until the day for the match comes," said Dave, after the laughter had -subsided. - -"That's it," answered the senator's son. "We'll do what we can this -very afternoon." - -The boys went to their classroom with their heads full of the coming -football contest. Roger had already made up his eleven, largely from -the material of the season previous. But the boys who had gone from -Oak Hall left weak spots in the line which it was next to impossible to -fill. - -Then came another set-back, which made Dave and the others gloomy -enough, and caused Gus Plum and his associates to smile grimly to -themselves. Instead of remaining clear, a cold, dismal rain set in that -very afternoon and kept up for two days. To practise on the football -field was out of the question, and all Roger's eleven could do was to -exercise in the gymnasium. Here there was always some one of Plum's -crowd to look on and see whatever was being tried in the way of a trick -or a new movement. - -"I hope it rains Saturday, too," grumbled Phil. "We won't be able to -make any kind of a showing at this rate." - -"It will be just our luck to have good weather Saturday," sighed Shadow. - -Even Dave was disheartened, but he did not show it. Instead he did all -the practising he could in the gymnasium and helped Roger whip the -eleven into shape. As he had said, he did not care for football as much -as baseball, but he was resolved to do his best. - -On Saturday morning all the boys were up early, to see what sort of -weather they were going to have. The sun was under a cloud, but by nine -o'clock it cleared up and a fine, warm wind from the south sprang up. - -"That settles it, we have got to play," said Buster Beggs. - -"Let us go out and practise as soon as we can," said the senator's son, -and called the eleven without delay. - -Of course the match had been talked over throughout the school and even -outside. As a consequence, when the time came to play, a goodly crowd -had assembled on the football field. There was cheering for both sides -and the waving of a good many Oak Hall banners. In the small stand that -had been put up sat Dr. Clay and about twenty visitors. - -"I don't see anything of Henshaw and Babcock," said Dave, looking over -the field. "They must be going to play." - -"There they are, over in the corner, talking to Plum and Poole," -answered Roger, pointing with his hand. - -"They must be planning some new move," said Phil. "We'll have to watch -out for them." - -Presently Babcock, a fine, sturdy player, came forward, followed by -Henshaw. Both were frowning, and when Babcock said something to his -companion Henshaw nodded vigorously. Plum and Poole came behind, and -neither appeared particularly happy. - -The game was to be played under the rules of that year, with two -halves of thirty minutes each. When it came to the practice Roger's -team did what it could. The players were full of energy, but the team -work was not at all what it might have been. - -"Want to tune up!" sang out one looker-on, to Roger. "Get together!" - -"We are trying to," answered the senator's son. - -Plum's eleven did much better in practice, working in perfect harmony. -Only Poole made fumbles, for which the bully of the Hall upbraided him -roundly. - -"Oh, don't howl at me," growled Poole. "I am doing as well as you are." - -At length the game was called and the two elevens lined up. They were -pretty well matched, although Henshaw and Babcock stood out above the -others. - -"Wish that pair were on our side," sighed Roger. "Each of them has -weight, wind, and cleverness--just the things a good football player -ought to possess." - -There was no time to say more. The toss-up gave Plum's eleven the ball -and a few minutes later it was put into play and sent twenty yards into -our friends' territory. Then came a scrimmage and the leather went back -and forth rapidly. The play was ragged, for neither side had as yet -settled down to hard work. There was no brilliant play, and when the -ball was carried over the line by Henshaw the applause was rather tame. - -"An easy touchdown!" - -"Now make it a goal." - -This was not so easy, for the wind had freshened. The ball sailed -outside of the posts, so that the Arrows received but five points. - -Again the ball was put into play and now the work on both sides became -more earnest. Several of Gus Plum's players became rough and Plum -himself tried to "spike" Dave with his shoe. Dave gave the bully a -shove that sent him headlong. - -"A foul! Time!" was the cry. - -"He tried to spike me!" cried Dave, hotly. - -"I didn't!" roared the bully. - -"He did--I saw it!" put in Roger. - -"Have you spikes in your shoes?" demanded the umpire. - -"No," muttered Gus Plum, but his face grew red. - -The umpire made him show the bottoms of his shoes. Each had a small -spike in it--something quite contrary to the rules, as all football -players know. - -"Change your shoes at once, or get out of the game," was the decision -rendered, and Gus Plum ran off the field with a redder face than ever. - -The first half of the game closed with the score 12 to 0 in favor of -Gus Plum's eleven. A safety for Roger's team had been made by Dave, -who saw it was the only thing to do when crowded by Babcock, Henshaw, -and two others. The second touchdown made by the Arrows came through -Babcock aided by several others. - -"We could whip them if it wasn't for Babcock and Henshaw," said Luke -Watson. "Those two chaps are dandy players and no mistake." - -During the intermission it was seen that Gus Plum was having another -lively interview with Babcock and Henshaw. But the two expert players -would not listen to the bully of Oak Hall. - -"Something is wrong in their camp, that's certain," was Phil's comment. - -"Look here, if you say anything, I'll put you off the team!" cried Gus -Plum, to Babcock and Henshaw, so loudly that many standing around could -hear him. - -"All right, put me off if you wish," answered Babcock sharply. - -"I'll never play with you again anyway!" added Henshaw. "I've done my -best to-day, but this ends it, if I never play again as long as I stay -at Oak Hall." - -"You're out of it, both of you!" roared Gus Plum, in a sudden rage. -"Dawson, take Henshaw's place, and Potter, you take Babcock's place. -I'll show you that I can run a team to suit myself." - -"Very well," said Babcock, and turning on his heel he left the field. -Henshaw, without saying a word, followed his friend. - -All who witnessed the scene were curious to know what it meant, but -none of the other Arrow players would explain. Soon it was time for the -second half of the game. Two of Roger's players had been slightly hurt, -and their places were filled by two substitutes, which weakened the -eleven still more. - -"Henshaw and Babcock are out of it!" cried Phil, to Roger and Dave. - -"That gives us a better chance to win," said the senator's son. - -"If it isn't too late," returned Sam Day; "12 to 0 is a pretty hard -lead to overcome." - -"We'll do our best," said Dave. "Let every man go in for all he is -worth!" - -The play was fast and furious from the very start, and inside of two -minutes Roger's players had the leather close to the Arrows' goal -line. But then Nick Jasniff with extreme roughness hurled Sam Day to -the ground. Jasniff was off-side at the time and his movements were -consequently contrary to the rules. - -"You may retire from the field," said the referee, after he and the -umpire had talked the matter over. - -Poor Sam was in bad shape when picked up and carried from the field, -but fortunately he recovered inside of an hour. In the meantime another -player was put in his place and another in the place of Jasniff and the -game went on. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE END OF THE GAME - - -"A touchdown for the Morr team!" - -"That's the way to do it!" - -"Now make it a goal!" - -The leather had been carried over the line after hard work. Without -delay it was placed in position for the kick and went sailing directly -between the two posts. - -"That's the talk!" - -"Now go and make another!" - -There were still eighteen minutes in which to play. The goal made -Roger, Dave, and the others enthusiastic, and they "sailed in" as never -before. On the other hand, the loss of Babcock, Henshaw, and Jasniff -cast a gloom over Gus Plum's eleven and the bully could do little to -rally them. - -"It was a mistake to fire Babcock and Henshaw," said one of the -tackles. "They were our best players." - -"That's right," added the center rush. - -"Do you mean to say they can play better than I and Nat?" demanded Gus -Plum. - -"They can play just as well," grumbled the tackle. - -"Rot! Come on ahead and wax 'em!" - -But the call to "wax" Roger's team was of small avail. With Babcock -and Henshaw gone the Arrows could do little or nothing, and soon Dave -kicked a goal from the field. Then came another touchdown, another -goal from the field, and two more touchdowns. Each of the touchdowns -resulted in goal kicks. The Arrows were in despair and could do -absolutely nothing. - -"Pile it on!" cried Roger, enthusiastically. "Pile it on, boys!" And -they did pile it on, until the whistle blew and the game was over. - -Final score--Plum's eleven 12, Roger Morr's eleven 45! - -It was a terrible defeat for the bully of Oak Hall and he could -scarcely wait for the game to come to an end. He fairly ran for the -gymnasium when it was over and did his best to keep out of sight for -the rest of the day and all day Sunday, and Nat Poole went with him. - -The cheering for Roger and his eleven was great, and all the players -came in for their full share of glory. Dave had done some remarkably -clever work, for which his friends shook his hand and congratulated him. - -"Well, you gave Gus Plum's crowd all that was coming to them," said one -of the students to Dave. "I don't think he'll ever organize another -football eleven in this academy." - -What this student said was practically true. During the following -week the Arrows held several stormy sessions and the upshot was that -the eleven disbanded. Nearly all the players were angry because Gus -Plum had put Henshaw and Babcock out of the game, for to this they -attributed their defeat. It leaked out that Plum had wanted the two -players to play some rough trick on Roger's eleven, and both Babcock -and Henshaw had declined, stating that it was against the rules and -unsportsmanlike. This had angered the bully, and hence the quarrel and -separation. - -"I want to play fairly and squarely or not at all," said Babcock, and -Henshaw said practically the same thing. Gus Plum denied the report, -but nobody believed him. - -During the following week Dave was taking a walk along the river bank -when he heard loud talking close at hand. Looking through the bushes he -saw Sam Day and Nick Jasniff. - -"You had no business to jump on me as you did at the game," Sam was -saying. "It was outrageous." - -"Oh, stop your yowling," grumbled Jasniff. "It wasn't done on purpose." - -"It was done on purpose, Nick Jasniff, and I think you were a brute to -do it." - -Sam had scarcely uttered the latter words when Nick Jasniff, who -carried a heavy stick in his hand, leaped forward and struck out. The -stick landed on Sam's head and he went down in a heap. - -"Don't!" he groaned. "Don't hit me again!" - -"Won't I, though!" cried Nick Jasniff, in a passion. "I'd like to know -what's to hinder me?" And he raised the stick again. - -"Stop, Jasniff!" came from Dave, and leaping through the bushes he came -up behind the student and caught the stick in his hand. "What do you -mean by attacking Sam in this fashion?" - -"Let go of that stick!" ejaculated Jasniff, and tried to pull it away. -Then a tussle ensued which came to an end as Dave twisted the stick -from the other youth's grasp and flung it into the river. - -"What do you mean by throwing my cane away?" cried Jasniff. - -"I want you to leave Sam alone." - -"I've a good mind to give you a drubbing." - -"Better not try it, Jasniff," answered Dave, as calmly as he could. He -stood on guard against any treachery. - -"Think you're the king of the school, don't you?" - -"No, but I am always ready to stand up for a friend." - -By this time Sam was staggering to his feet. He rushed at Nick Jasniff -and sent him backward into the bushes. - -"You will hit me with your stick!" he exclaimed. "Thank you, Dave, for -what you did, but I can take my own part." And he stood over Jasniff -with clenched fists. - -"Two to one, eh?" sneered Jasniff, as he got up slowly. "That's -fighting fair, ain't it?" - -"It is fairer than hitting a fellow with a stick," retorted Sam. "But I -can fight you alone, if you want to fight." - -"I'll not soil my hands on you further," grumbled Nick Jasniff, and -backing away, he walked off towards the school at a rapid pace. - -"The coward!" murmured Sam, as he and Dave watched the departure. - -"Do you know, Sam, I don't like that fellow at all," said Dave. "I've -said so before. He's a bad egg if ever there was one." - -"I believe you. Cadfield told me that there was a report in the town -Jasniff came from that he had once set fire to a farmer's barn because -the farmer caught him stealing peaches, but the whole matter was hushed -up." - -"He doesn't appear to be any too good to set fire to a barn. We'll have -to keep our eyes open for him after this." - -"I certainly shall. I don't want to be struck down with a stick again," -answered Sam. - -With the brisk autumn winds blowing, kite-flying was in favor with many -of the students of Oak Hall and numerous were the big and little kites -that were sent up. Some were curiously painted, some were of the box -variety, while others were in the shape of eagles and other big birds. -Most of the kites were raised from a meadow near the river, and every -afternoon a crowd of students would go down to watch the sport. - -Roger made for himself an immense eagle kite, while Phil tried his hand -at a plain affair, shaped like a diamond and eight feet high and five -feet across. - -"That ought to be strong enough to pull a wagon," was Dave's comment, -as he surveyed Phil's creation. "You'll have to get a pretty strong -cord to hold it, otherwise it may drag you into the river--if the wind -happens to be blowing that way." - -One afternoon a number of the boys brought out their flat kites and -started to see who could make his fly the highest. Among the crowd was -Nat Poole, who had a gorgeous affair painted yellow and red. - -"Wait till you see this soar upward," he said, boastfully. "I'll bet it -will go up a hundred feet higher than any other." - -Half a dozen kites were already in the air and soon more were raised. -Then Poole ran his new kite up. It arose a distance of a hundred feet -and then began to dart from side to side. - -"You want more tail, Nat!" cried a friend. - -"That kite isn't balanced right," said Ben. - -"Oh, it's all right, only it isn't high enough," answered Nat Poole. He -was not one to take advice, and so he did his best to get the kite to -ascend without altering it. - -Among those in the meadow at the time was Job Haskers. He was going on -a visit to some ladies who lived not far from the Hall and was taking -a short cut instead of journeying around by the regular road. He did -not care for sports of any kind and so paid small attention to what was -taking place. He was arrayed in his best, and on his head rested a new -high hat, the silk nap polished to the best degree. - -Dave was aiding Phil to manage his big kite and so did not notice the -assistant teacher until Job Haskers passed close by. - -"My! but he is dressed up!" Dave remarked to his chum. - -"Must be going to see his best lady friend," was Phil's comment. "Oh, -look at Nat Poole's kite!" he added, suddenly. - -Dave looked and saw the kite in question far up in the sky and swooping -wildly from side to side. Then the kite made a downward plunge, -skimming over the meadow like a wild bird. - -"Look out, or somebody will get hit!" cried Dave, and fell down as the -kite passed within a foot of his head. Then the kite went up again, -only to take another plunge. - -As this was occurring, Job Haskers was starting to leap over a small -brook that flowed across the meadow into the river. Another wild -plunge, and down came Poole's kite on the teacher's head, smashing the -silk hat flat and sending Job Haskers face first into the stream of -muddy water! - -The score of boys who witnessed the mishap could not help but laugh, -and a roar went up. The teacher floundered around wildly and it was -several seconds before he could pull himself from the brook. His face -and the front of his clothing were covered with mud, and he was more -angry than words can describe. - -"You--you----Who did that?" he spluttered, after ejecting some of the -dirty water from his mouth. "I demand to know who did it!" And he shook -his fist at the students. - -"The kite did it," answered one boy, who stood behind some others. - -"Whose kite was it?" - -At this there was a silence, no one caring to tell upon Nat Poole, who -stood with the kite string still in his hand and his mouth wide open in -amazement and terror. - -"I say, whose kite was it?" bawled the irate teacher, and then, as he -rubbed the water from his eyes, he caught sight of the kite and the -string. "Ha! so it was yours, Master Poole!" - -"I--er--I didn't mean to do it," stammered Nat Poole. "The--the kite -came down all of a sudden." - -"Infamous! Look at me! Look at my hat!" Job Haskers caught up the -battered tile. "This is an outrage!" - -"Really, I didn't mean to do it, Mr. Haskers," pleaded Poole. He was -fairly shaking in his shoes. "The--the kite got the best of me!" - -"A likely story! You boys are forever trying to play your tricks on me! -I know you! You'll pay for this silk hat!" - -"Yes, sir, I'll do that," answered Nat, eagerly. - -"And you'll pay for having this suit of clothes cleaned." - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you'll pay all other damages, too." - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you'll go to your classroom and stay there until supper time," -went on Job Haskers, in high anger. "Stay there every day this week, -too. Do you hear?" - -"Yes, sir, but----" - -"I will not listen to a word, young man. Go,--go at once! If I had my -way I'd dismiss you from the school!" roared the assistant teacher. - -And then and there he made Nat Poole take up his kite and march off to -the academy, there to stay in after school every day for a full week. -More than this, he brought in a bill for fifteen dollars' worth of -damage, to the silk hat and the suit of clothing, and this bill Aaron -Poole had to pay, even though the miserly money-lender did his best to -evade it. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A KITE - - -"That's the time Poole caught it," remarked Phil, after the excitement -had come to an end. - -"That's right," answered Dave. "I am glad it was not your kite, Phil." - -"So am I." - -"In one way, it was Nat's own fault," said Roger, who was near. "Half a -dozen told him to balance the kite better, but he wouldn't listen." - -Down on the river some of the students had attached their kites to -boats and were having races. But soon the wind changed and the kites -veered around to another point of the compass and the races had to be -abandoned. - -Phil's kite was well up and it was all he and Dave could do to manage -it. Roger and Ben grew somewhat tired of the sport presently and -brought down their kite and wound up the string. Then Phil and Dave -began to lower the big kite. - -"The wind is freshening," observed Dave. "Gracious! how this big kite -does tug!" - -He could scarcely hold it as Phil wound up the cord. Then came another -blast of air and Dave fell backward with the broken string in his -hand, while the big kite went soaring away in the direction of Oakdale. - -"There goes the kite!" - -"Stop it! stop it!" yelled Phil, forgetting himself in his excitement. - -"How?" asked Dave, dryly, as he arose from the grass. - -"I don't want to lose that fine kite," went on Phil, soberly. "Why, it -cost me over three dollars to make it. It was part silk!" - -"Let us go after it," said Dave. "I don't think it will sail so very -far." - -Roger's kite was placed in the care of Buster Beggs and Shadow -Hamilton, and off went the senator's son, Dave, and Phil after the -runaway kite. The course was almost straight for Oakdale and presently -they saw the silken affair settle in the direction of Mike Marcy's -orchard. - -"It is going down at Marcy's!" cried Roger. - -"I hope it doesn't get torn in the trees," returned Phil, who was -doubly proud of the kite because he had made it alone and by his own -plan. - -"Maybe Marcy won't give it to us," said Dave. "Remember, he doesn't -like us students." - -"Yes, and remember, too, that he keeps dogs," added Roger. - -Mike Marcy was an Irish-American farmer who had lived in that section -for many years. He was what is termed a "close-fisted man," and one -who had but little to do with the outside world. He was supposed to be -rich, although he usually put on an air of poverty whenever anybody -called upon him. His farm was of fair size, and contained a good stone -house, a barn, and several other out-buildings. He had a big orchard, -and to keep off thieves kept half a dozen dogs, all of them more or -less savage creatures. - -The three students approached the orchard from the rear and after -looking around located the silken kite in the limbs of an apple tree. -The tree was bare of fruit, but close at hand were other trees loaded -with golden russets. - -"Wonder if we can get that kite without being seen," mused Phil, as he -gazed longingly at his property, dangling downward by its gorgeous tail -of fancy ribbons. - -"I don't see anybody around," answered Dave. "And I don't hear any of -his dogs either." - -"You want to go slow," cautioned the senator's son. "He may be around, -watching us on the sly." - -"Perhaps we had better go around to the road and ask for the kite," -said Dave. - -"No, he won't give it to us," answered Phil. "He is too mean--I know -him. I'd rather try to get it on the sly." - -The wind was still blowing and it was growing dark. They took another -careful look around and then leaped the fence of the orchard. Soon -they were at the tree from which the kite dangled, and Phil climbed up. - -"Catch it!" he called, as he loosened the tail, but just then the wind -caught the kite and carried it to the other side of the orchard. - -"There it goes!" cried Dave, and made a run after the object. The -others followed, and presently they had the kite in their possession. -In running through the orchard Dave caught his foot on a tree root and -fell headlong but did not hurt himself. - -With the kite in their possession the three students left the orchard -as quickly as they had entered it. It was now so late that they were -afraid they could not get back to Oak Hall in time for supper and so -set off at a brisk pace. But suddenly Dave came to a stop. - -"I declare, my watch is gone!" he cried. - -"Your watch!" asked his chums, in concert. - -"Yes, I must have dropped it when I stumbled in the orchard." - -"Oh, Dave, that's too bad!" cried Roger. - -"I'll have to go back for it," went on Dave. "It's the new watch my -uncle gave me." - -"Shall we go back with you?" asked Phil. - -"No, there is no use of all three of us being late. You can tell Mr. -Dale I lost my watch and stopped to hunt for it." - -In another moment Dave had turned back and Phil and the senator's son -continued on their way to Oak Hall. Dave started on a run, and it did -not take him long to reach the orchard once more. Down under the trees -it was very dark and he had to feel around for the watch. But he had -dropped it just where he thought, and soon had it in his possession -again. - -"Now I had better hump myself and get back," he murmured, and started -for the fence once more. Scarcely had he gone four steps when a form -loomed up before him and he found himself in the strong clutch of Mike -Marcy. - -"Caught ye, have I?" said the farmer, in a cold, hard voice. - -"How do you do, Mr. Marcy," replied Dave, as coolly as he could. - -"How do ye do, is it?" roared the farmer. "I'll fix ye, ye villain!" -And he started to shake Dave with great violence. He was a strong man -and one given to sudden passion. - -"Stop!" cried the youth, trying to squirm away. "Stop! What are you -doing this for? I have done nothing wrong." - -"Then stealin' apples ain't wrong, eh? And stonin' my dogs ain't wrong, -eh? And stealin' a chicken, eh?" - -"I am not stealing apples, and the only time I stoned one of your -dogs was when he ran after me as I was passing on the road. I didn't -propose to be bitten." - -"Don't tell me, ye young vagabond! I know you boys--a pretty crowd ye -be, all o' ye! I'll have the law on ye!" And once again Mike Marcy -shook poor Dave. - -"What is it, Mike?" came from out of the gloom, and a woman appeared. -She was the farmer's wife and as hard-hearted as her husband. - -"I've got one o' them schoolboys," answered the man. "Caught him -prowlin' around the orchard." - -"See here, I have done no wrong, I tell you, and I want you to treat me -decently," said Dave. "We came over awhile ago for a kite, that sailed -into one of your trees. After we got the kite I discovered that I had -lost my watch and I came back for it." - -"A fine story indade," muttered Mike Marcy. "But it's not me that is -going to believe that same. I've caught ye and I am going to make an -example of ye!" - -"Yes, Mike, don't let him go," put in Mrs. Marcy. - -"You haven't any right to detain me," said Dave. "I have told you the -exact truth." - -"I don't believe it, and until ye can prove the tale ye'll stay here." - -With this Mike Marcy took a firmer hold of Dave's collar than ever and -began to drag him through the orchard towards the farmhouse. - -Dave struggled, but the strong farmer was too much for him and he was -compelled to go along. The farmer's wife came behind the pair, armed -with a mop she had picked up at the back door. - -"What are you going to do with me?" asked the youth, after a minute of -silence. - -"Ye'll soon see," answered the farmer. - -They soon reached the barnyard attached to the farm. Here, to one -side, was a smokehouse, built of stone, with a heavy door of wood and -sheet-iron. The small building was open and empty. - -"I'll put ye in there for a while and see how ye like it," said Mike -Marcy, and shoved Dave towards the smokehouse. - -"See here, Mr. Marcy, you are not treating me fairly. You have no right -to make me a prisoner." - -"Sure and I'll take the right. I have suffered enough and I'm going to -teach somebody a lesson," answered the farmer, grimly. - -"When Dr. Clay hears of this he'll make trouble for you." - -"Will he? Not much, I'm after thinkin'. Ye had no right to be -trespassin' on my land. The signs are up, and I take it ye can read." - -"I simply came over to get something that belonged to me." - -"Well, ye'll stay here for a while, an' that is all there is to it," -returned Mike Marcy, and without further ceremony he thrust Dave into -the smokehouse. The youth began to struggle but could not get away, and -once inside, the door was banged shut in his face. Then the bolt was -secured with a stout iron pin, and he found himself a prisoner in pitch -darkness. - -"I'll be back sooner or later," cried Mike Marcy, in a satisfied tone. -"So make yourself comfortable, me laddibuck!" And then he walked away, -followed by his wife, and Dave was left to himself. - -It was a galling position to be in and Dave resented it thoroughly. Yet -what to do he did not know. He could not see a thing and on all sides -of him were the thick stone walls of the building, the only break being -the iron-covered door, which was practically as solid as the walls -themselves. Under his feet the ground was as hard as stone. Everything -was covered with a thick soot, so that he scarcely dared to put out a -hand for fear of becoming like a negro. - -"Here's a fine mess truly!" he murmured to himself, after several -minutes had passed. - -He listened, but not a sound broke the stillness. He wondered how it -happened that Mike Marcy's dogs were not around, not knowing that the -farmer had lost one through a peculiar sickness and had taken the -others away to a dog doctor for special treatment. - -A quarter of an hour passed. The time was unusually long to Dave, -and now, at the risk of getting black, he began to feel around the -smokehouse, looking for some means of escaping from his prison. From -over his head dangled an iron chain, used for smoking purposes, and he -climbed this, reaching a crossbar above. From the crossbar he could -touch the roof, which proved to be of heavy planking, well joined -together. - -"If I could only knock off one of those planks I might get out," he -reasoned, and began to feel of one plank after another, trying to -determine which would offer the least resistance to his efforts. - -Dave had just discovered a plank which seemed to be a little looser -than the others when a sound outside broke upon his ears. Thinking -that Mike Marcy was coming back, he dropped to the flooring of the -smokehouse. - -The sounds came closer and presently he heard two persons come to a -halt close to the smokehouse door. By their voices they were evidently -men, but neither was the owner of the place. - -Wondering what this new arrival meant Dave remained quiet and listened -intently. For several seconds he could not make out what was being -said. Then he heard words which filled him with astonishment and alarm. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -AT THE WIDOW FAIRCHILD'S HOUSE - - -"Are you dead certain the money is in the house?" were the first words -that Dave heard distinctly. They came in rather a hoarse voice. - -"Yes, I saw Mrs. Fairchild draw the money from the bank. She put it in -a black bag and started straight for her home." The reply came in a -voice that was also hoarse, almost guttural. - -"It would certainly be a dandy haul." - -"Just what I've said all along." - -"But the risk. If that hired man sleeps in the house----" - -"I don't think he does. The widow don't like men folks around. I heard -that from one of the neighbors, the day I went to price some chickens." - -"Well, we might go over to her place and take a look around," came -after a pause, and then followed some conversation that Dave could not -catch. A few minutes later the two men walked away, and the youth heard -no more of them. - -Dave was amazed and with good reason. If he understood the situation -at all the two men intended to rob the house of a widow who lived about -half a mile up the road. They had seen her draw some money from a bank -somewhere and intended to take the amount from her. - -"They must be the very chaps who robbed Mr. Lapham and also the place -in Oakdale," he thought. "I must get out and do what I can to outwit -them!" - -In feverish haste he climbed the chain again and pushed on the plank of -the roof. By hard work he managed to loosen one end, but the other end -seemed to be tight and refused to budge. - -"If I only had something to pry it off with," he mused, but could find -nothing. Then, almost in desperation, he dropped to the ground again -and began to pound on the door, at the same time shouting at the top of -his lungs. - -For a good five minutes this brought forth no response, but presently -Mike Marcy came forth from the farmhouse, lantern in hand, and stalked -over to his barn. When he came out he carried a long rawhide whip in -his hand. - -"Say, boy, quit that noise, or I'll tan ye well!" he cried, wrathfully, -as he came up to the smokehouse and set the lantern on the ground. - -"Mr. Marcy, is that you?" queried Dave, quickly. - -"Yes, 'tis, and I want ye to stop that racket." - -"Let me out at once--it is very important," went on Dave. - -"Important, is it?" sneered the Irish-American farmer. "'Tis more -important ye stop that noise, so it is!" - -"Mr. Marcy, listen to me," said Dave. "I have something very important -to tell you. If you won't listen there will be big trouble. You must -let me out, and both of us must catch two burglars." - -"Sure, and what is the lad talkin' about?" exclaimed the farmer. - -"I am telling you the truth. Let me out instantly." - -"'Tis a trick, I'm after thinkin'----" - -"No, sir, I give you my word of honor it is not. Let me out and I will -explain. Please hurry up." - -Dave's earnestness at last impressed the farmer to the extent that he -opened the door cautiously for the space of a foot. As the youth came -forth the man caught him by the arm. - -"Now don't try to run, or 'twill be the worse for ye!" - -"Mr. Marcy, listen!" cried Dave. "Only a short while ago two men were -here. They stopped close to the smokehouse to talk. They spoke of the -Widow Fairchild having money in her house which she had just gotten -from the bank. They talked of robbing her, and they went off to do the -job." - -The farmer listened and his jaw dropped slightly. - -"Is it a fairy story ye are after tellin'?" - -"No, sir, it is the absolute truth. I think they were the same chaps -who robbed Mr. Lapham and robbed that house in Oakdale. They seem to be -doing their best to loot this whole neighborhood." - -"They were here?" faltered Mike Marcy. At last he began to believe Dave. - -"Yes, sir, not over quarter of an hour ago." - -"Did they speak of robbing my place?" went on the Irish-American farmer -suspiciously. - -"No, sir, I am sure they started directly for Mrs. Fairchild's place." - -"And ye want me to go with ye and catch them?" - -"Isn't it our duty to catch them if we can?" - -"Sure. But can we do it alone?" - -"We can call up somebody else on the way." - -"So we can. Well, I'll go--but first I'll take a look around my own -place," added Mike Marcy. - -He took his lantern and walked around the house and then told his wife -of Dave's discovery. Mrs. Marcy began to tremble as she listened, and -she shook her head when her husband said he proposed to go after the -robbers. - -"It is not meself is going to stay here all alone, wid robbers floatin' -around in the dark," said Mrs. Marcy. "Let the boy call up the -constable, or somebody else." - -"It will take too long," said Dave, impatiently. "Even now it may be -too late." - -"Ye'll be safe enough with the doors and windows locked," said Mike -Marcy. "Ye can use the shotgun if they come back. I'll take the -pistol." - -He was a man used to having his own way, and soon he set off with his -pistol in his pocket and a good-sized club in his hand. Dave armed -himself with another club, and set a good stiff pace, once they were on -the road. - -"We can stop at Brown's house and call him up," said Mike Marcy. He -referred to Farmer Brown, who occupied a house directly on the road -they were traveling. Reaching the place they knocked loudly on the door -and presently the owner stuck his head out of an upper window. - -"What's wanted?" - -"Come down here," shouted Mike Marcy. "We want ye to help capture two -robbers." - -"Two robbers?" said Farmer Brown. - -"Mercy sakes alive!" burst out the farmer's wife. "Are robbers around? -We'll all be murdered in our beds!" - -"They ain't here--they be over to the Widow Fairchild's," answered -Mike Marcy. "Come on. Is Bill around?" - -"Yes, here I am," said the farmer's son, from another window. "I'll be -down in a minit, with my gun." - -There was a short argument after this, but in the end Farmer Brown and -his son Bill, a tall, wiry youth of nineteen, agreed to accompany Mike -Marcy and Dave. Mrs. Fairchild's home was less than a quarter of a mile -away, and to cut off a bend of the highway they took to an open field -which came to an end at the edge of the widow's orchard. - -"There is the house," whispered Mike Marcy, at last. "Better go slow -now." - -"Yes, we don't want them to get away," answered Dave. - -"Let us spread out around the house," advised Farmer Brown. "The first -one to spot the rascals can give the alarm." - -So it was agreed, and while Dave went to the rear of the dwelling the -others passed to the front and sides. The place was pitch dark on the -inside and lit up only by the light of the stars from without. - -Dave's heart was beating rather rapidly, for there was no telling -when he would find himself face to face with the two robbers, and he -realized that they must be desperate characters. He clutched the club -tightly, resolved to do his best, should it come to a hand-to-hand -encounter. - -Several minutes passed and slowly the four outside walked completely -around the building. Only one window was open, that to the dining room. - -"See anybody?" whispered Mike Marcy, coming up to Dave. - -"No." - -"Sure ye didn't make any mistake?" - -"I didn't see a soul. Maybe they haven't come up yet." - -"That is so." - -"We can wait a while and see," suggested Bill Brown. "If we wake the -widder we may scare 'em off." - -They waited after that for another spell, but nobody appeared, nor did -they hear any sound out of the ordinary. Then it was resolved to arouse -Mrs. Fairchild and wait in the house for the coming of the robbers. - -"That is, if they are coming," said Farmer Brown. "Maybe the boy made a -mistake." - -"I am certain I made no mistake," answered Dave, positively. "But they -may have changed their plans." - -"Humph!" muttered Mike Marcy. "If it's a trick--But we'll talk that -over later." - -The door had an old-fashioned knocker, and this Farmer Brown used -lightly at first and then with vigor. To the surprise of all in the -party nobody answered the summons. - -"The widder must be away!" cried Farmer Brown. "Funny,--she was home at -sundown. Where would she go after dark?" - -"Perhaps she's been murdered," suggested Bill. - -"Murdered!" exclaimed the others, and Dave's blood seemed to run cold. - -"A regular robber wouldn't stop at murder, if he was caught in the -act," said the farmer. - -"Maybe we ought to break in the door." - -"Or git in through the window," suggested Mike Marcy. - -While they were deliberating they heard the sounds of carriage wheels -on the road. The turnout was coming along at smart speed and all ran -towards the road to see who was driving. To their surprise they saw the -Widow Fairchild alight, followed by a farmer named Burr and a hired man -called Sandy. - -"How do ye do, widder!" called out Farmer Brown. "Been away long?" - -"Why, what does this mean?" stammered Mrs. Fairchild, who was a woman -of forty and weighed at least two hundred pounds. She often went out to -do nursing throughout the Oakdale district. - -"We came here lookin' fer robbers," explained Mike Marcy. "We thought -they was comin' to visit you." - -"By gum!" came from the farmer named Burr. "Reckon you are right, Mrs. -Fairchild." - -"Right? How?" asked Dave, quickly. - -"I'll tell you," answered the widow. "About an hour ago somebody -knocked on the door. I opened the window upstairs and asked what was -wanted. A man was there muffled up in an overcoat. Says he, 'Is that -you, Mrs. Fairchild?' 'Yes,' says I. 'Well,' says he, 'you're wanted -over to Mrs. Burr's house right away. The baby is dying. I've got to -go for a doctor,' says he, and runs away. I didn't hardly know what -to do, but I hurried into my clothes and locked up and almost run to -Mr. Burr's place. When I got there they was all to bed and the baby -as healthy as ever. Then I got suspicious, for I've got four hundred -dollars in the house that I got out of the bank at Rayfield to pay off -on that new house I'm building in Oakdale. Mr. Burr hitched up at once -and brought me over. So you know about the fellow, do you?" - -"I know two men started for this place to rob your house," said Dave. - -"Better go in and see if the money is safe," suggested Farmer Brown. -"Did you leave that window open?" he added. - -"Window open? No indeed!" shrieked Mrs. Fairchild, and without further -ceremony she brought forth her key and opened the front door. Then she -lit the lamp and began to make a search of the premises. - -"They have been in here!" she wailed. "See how everything is upset!" -She ran to a china closet. "Oh, dear, look at the dishes! Some of 'em -broken! Oh!" She gave a wild scream. "The money is gone! They have -robbed me of the four hundred dollars!" - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -AT WORK IN THE DARK - - -Dave had more than half expected the declaration the Widow Fairchild -made, so when it came he was not surprised. The others, however, stared -in bewilderment and dismay. - -"All gone?" queried Mike Marcy. - -"Every dollar!" groaned the widow. "Oh, the rascals, the heartless -villains! To rob a poor widow in this fashion! And I worked so hard -to save that money! Oh, where are they? I must catch them and get my -money back!" And she stalked around the room wringing her hands in her -despair. - -"What a pity that we got here too late," said Dave. "I wish you had -hurried more," he continued to the Irish-American farmer. "I told you -not to waste time." - -"Don't ye blame me for this!" replied Mike Marcy, half in alarm and -half in wrath. "I hurried all I could." - -"Let us make a search for the rascals," said Joel Burr. "They may not -be very far off." - -"It won't do any good," announced Farmer Brown. "We've been around here -too long a-looking for 'em." - -"Yes, they're a long way off by this time," said his son Bill. "With -four hundred dollars in their pockets they won't let no grass grow -under their feet." - -"This is the third robbery inside of six weeks," was Joel Burr's -comment. "Must say they be getting mighty free-handed." - -In spite of what had been said, all went outside and took a look around -the grounds and up and down the highway. But it was useless; not the -least trace of the burglars could be found anywhere about. - -While the others were outside, the widow inspected her house more -thoroughly. She said a dozen silver spoons were missing and likewise -an old gold watch and some old-fashioned gold and pearl jewelry. She -placed her total loss at nearly five hundred dollars. - -Dave had to tell his story in detail, to which all of the others but -Mike Marcy listened with interest. The widow blamed the Irish-American -farmer for not having come to the house sooner, declaring that had he -done so the robbers would have been caught red-handed; and quite a war -of words followed. - -"What am I to do, now my money is gone?" she wailed. "I cannot pay -that carpenter's bill and it must be paid by the end of this month." - -"You'll have to notify the constable, or the sheriff," answered Joel -Burr. - -"What good will that do? They haven't done anything for Lapham, nor for -Jerry Logan who was robbed in Oakdale." - -"Well, I don't know what you can do, widder." - -Mrs. Fairchild declared, when she had settled down a little, that the -man who had spoken to her about the sick baby had had a hoarse voice, -and all were satisfied that that individual was one of those Dave had -heard talk near the smokehouse. But she had not seen his face, so she -could not give any description of him excepting to say that he was -rather tall. - -It was now nearly eleven o'clock, and as Dave had had no supper he was -hungry. His tramping around had made him tired, and he said if he was -not wanted any more he would go home. - -"Go as far as I am concerned," said Mike Marcy. "But don't lay -the blame of this robbery on me. Remember, ye had no right to be -trespassin' on my property." - -"I simply told the truth," said Dave; and a little later he withdrew -and hurried forth into the night in the direction of Oak Hall. - -It was a lonely road and a less courageous boy might have been -frightened. It was cold and quiet and he walked a full mile without -meeting a soul. Then, as he was passing Mike Marcy's orchard, two -figures sprang out in the darkness. - -"Dave!" - -"Hello, so it is you, Phil, and Roger! What brought you out again?" - -"We came to find you. We were afraid you had gotten into trouble with -Mike Marcy," answered Phil. - -"Where in the world have you been?" asked the senator's son. "We -reported that you had lost your watch, but didn't expect you'd stay -away so long." - -"Well, I've had troubles enough," answered Dave, with a faint smile, -and as the three hurried for the academy he told his tale from -beginning to end. - -"Well, if this doesn't beat the Greeks!" exclaimed Phil. "Say, these -robberies are getting serious." - -"Are you going to tell Dr. Clay?" asked Roger. - -"Certainly. I haven't done anything wrong, so why shouldn't I tell him?" - -"I guess you are right. But I shouldn't disturb him to-night. It will -be time enough to go to him in the morning." - -Phil and Roger had gotten out of the Hall by a back way, leaving the -door unlocked behind them. The three boys, as a consequence, entered -easily, and then Dave took the chance of being discovered by going down -to the kitchen for something to eat. In the pantry he found a pumpkin -pie, some cold beans, and some milk, and on these made a hearty repast. -Then he went to bed and slept soundly until the bell awoke him at seven -o'clock. - -He felt that he should be reprimanded and he was not mistaken. Job -Haskers strode up to him as soon as he went below. - -"Master Porter, where were you last evening?" he demanded, in harsh -tones. - -"I lost my watch, Mr. Haskers, and went to look for it. Then something -very unusual happened, which I am going to report to Dr. Clay." - -"Something unusual, eh?" said the assistant teacher, curiously. - -"Yes, sir. But I prefer to report to Dr. Clay." - -"Hum! Very well--I will talk to the doctor myself later. We cannot -permit pupils of this institution to come and go at will." And with an -air of great importance Job Haskers passed on. - -As soon as breakfast was over Dave went to Dr. Clay's private study. -The worthy owner of Oak Hall was at his desk, looking over some letters -which had just come in. He gazed at Dave in mild curiosity. - -"Dr. Clay, may I speak to you for a few minutes?" asked the youth. - -"Certainly, Porter. Come in and sit down." - -Dave entered and closed the door after him, for he had caught sight of -Job Haskers close at hand, curious to learn what he might have to say -for himself. Sitting down he told his rather remarkable story, to which -the master of the Hall listened with close attention. - -"These robbers are certainly getting bold," said Dr. Clay. "It is a -pity you could not get out of that smokehouse sooner." - -"That is just what I told the others." - -"You are certain you went over to Marcy's only for the kite and later -for the watch?" and the doctor looked Dave squarely in the eyes. - -"That's it, sir. I did not touch his apples or anything else, and -neither did Phil nor Roger." - -"Then he certainly had no right to lock you up. Do you wish to make a -complaint against him?" - -"No, not that. Only I wanted to explain why I didn't get back to school -last evening." - -"I see." - -"Mr. Haskers approached me about it and acted as if he wanted to punish -me." - -"Ah! Well, you can tell him that I have taken the matter in hand and -that you have been excused. I have but one fault to find, and that -is----" The doctor paused and smiled. - -"That we didn't catch the robbers," finished Dave. - -"Exactly. The authorities must get after the rascals. Until they are -caught nobody in this district will be safe." - -After a few words more Dave left the office and went to his classroom. -As he did this Job Haskers entered the doctor's office. He must have -asked the master of Oak Hall about Dave, for after he came away he said -nothing more to the youth concerning his absence. - -The next few days went quietly by. From Lemond the boys learned that -Mrs. Fairchild had appealed to the authorities and two detectives were -at work searching for the robbers, but so far nothing had been learned -about the rascals. - -"They'll keep quiet for a while," said Ben, and such proved to be the -case. - -One afternoon a letter reached Oak Hall addressed to Roger Morr, -Captain Oak Hall Football Club. It proved to be the expected challenge -from Rockville Military Academy. The eleven of that institution -challenged the Oak Hall team to play a game of football two weeks from -that date, on some grounds to be mutually decided upon. Pinned to the -challenge was a note stating a certain rich gentleman named Richard -Mongrace had offered a fine gold cup to the winning team, providing -the match was played on the new grounds laid out in his private park, -located at Hilltop, six miles from the river. - -"Here is the challenge at last," said Roger, and he read it aloud. "I -suppose there is nothing to do but accept." - -"Yes, we've got to give them the chance to even up," said Phil. - -"They haven't forgotten that we beat them last season by a score of 11 -to 8," said another of the eleven. - -"I've heard something about their team this year," said Ben. "They -have dropped three old players and have three A No. 1 fellows in their -places. Two weeks ago, as you know, they beat the Hamilton eleven, 17 -to 5, and day before yesterday they played White College eleven and won -out by a score of 12 to 5." - -"Then they must be a heap stronger than they were last year," said -Buster Beggs. "For last year White College beat them badly." - -"Yes, and Hamilton beat them too," added Dave. "I shouldn't wonder but -that they've got a crackajack team this year." - -"Are we going to back out?" demanded the senator's son. - -"No!" came back in a chorus. - -"Oak Hall never backs out!" cried Ben. - -"Well, where are we to play? I suppose they would like to play at the -Mongrace field," said Roger. - -"It's a dandy spot--I was up there on my wheel last Saturday," said -Shadow Hamilton. "They've got a nice stand there, too." - -"And our field is all lumpy," said Phil. "The doctor is going to have -it leveled off next spring." - -"Then let us go in for that gold cup!" cried Sam Day. And several -others echoed the sentiment. - -A regular meeting of the football club was called that night, and -it was decided, after consulting Dr. Clay, to accept the Rockville -challenge to play on the Mongrace grounds. A letter was accordingly -written and forwarded the next Monday. - -"Now we have got to brace up and practise," said the captain of the -eleven. - -"I wish you could get rid of two of our poorest players and take -on Babcock and Henshaw," remarked Dave. "Those two would help us -wonderfully." - -"They both want to come in," answered the senator's son. "But I don't -see how I can drop any of our present members after the way they have -worked." - -"Yes, I know that wouldn't be fair." - -"I've already taken them on as substitutes. Maybe they'll get in the -game after all," went on Roger. - -Practice began in earnest during that week and all did their best to -follow the coaching they got from the first assistant teacher, Andrew -Dale, who had been both a college player and a coach. The play was a -trifle mixed at times, but the boys worked with a will and that counted -for a good deal. But then came a letter calling one of the players -home, to attend the funeral of an uncle. - -"I've got to leave the eleven," said Luke Watson. "You'll have to get -somebody to take my place." - -"I am sorry to see you go," said Roger, sympathetically. - -"Take Babcock," went on Luke. "You couldn't do better." - -"I will," answered the senator's son. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY - - -Paul Babcock was more than glad to get on the eleven actively, and that -afternoon he showed it in his practice. The work was snappy from start -to finish and gave Mr. Dale great satisfaction. - -"That is something like," declared the first assistant teacher. "Keep -it up and you will surely win." - -After the practice was over Babcock left the field in company with -Dave. As the two strolled across the campus they passed Gus Plum, who -scowled deeply at his former player. - -"Plum doesn't like it that you've come over to us," observed Dave. "He -looked like a regular thundercloud." - -"He has nobody to blame but himself," answered Paul Babcock. "Even if -his team were still in existence I'd never play with him again. I want -to act on the square, and that is more than he wants to do." - -"I've heard he wanted you to use foul play." - -"Yes, he was at both Henshaw and me to do some dirty work. But we -declined, and I told him I had a good mind to punch his nose for -suggesting it. That made him boiling mad." - -In due course of time came a letter from Mr. Richard Mongrace, stating -he was glad to learn the match was to come off on his new grounds, and -that he would do all in his power to make the two elevens and their -friends comfortable. The golden cup he proposed to put up cost exactly -one hundred dollars and was to belong to the school winning it twice in -two or three games, one game a year to be played for it. - -Dr. Clay knew Mr. Mongrace well and one day drove over to see the new -grounds. He came back in an enthusiastic mood. - -"Mr. Mongrace is certainly a fine man," said the master of Oak Hall. -"He has with him a sick brother who cannot leave the estate. This -brother used to be a famous football player on the Princeton team. For -his benefit Mr. Mongrace has laid out the field, and he is going to -have some of the best amateur teams in the country play there." - -"That will cost some money," said Roger. - -"Yes, but he is rich and can easily afford it. He has erected a fine -grand stand and will also put up a big tent, where refreshments will be -served to the visitors from both academies." - -After that the doctor spoke about the coming event before the whole -school. He said he trusted that they would all act like young gentlemen -while guests of Mr. Mongrace and thus do their institution credit. - -The only persons at Oak Hall who did not look forward to the match with -favor were Plum, Poole, and Jasniff. At first they thought to remain at -home during the contest, but afterwards changed their minds, the reason -being a plan which Nick Jasniff proposed. - -Jasniff was thoroughly unscrupulous, and a year before had been -dismissed from another boarding academy because of his dishonorable -actions. He was a lad who was willing to do almost anything to -accomplish his end. - -Jasniff's plan was nothing more or less than to play a trick on some -members of Roger's eleven, so that they could not take part in the -game. This would weaken the Oak Hall club to such an extent that they -would be likely to lose. - -"Can we do it?" asked Poole. - -"Certainly we can," answered Nick Jasniff. "Why, such things have been -done hundreds of times." - -"Well, what do you propose?" asked Gus Plum. - -"I'll tell you to-morrow. I've got to think it over." - -"I wish I was dead sure Oak Hall would lose," whispered the bully of -the school. "We might make some money by the operation." - -"So we could!" cried Nat Poole. "All the Rockville boys are betting -they will win." - -"And we could bet the same way," said Jasniff, with a leer. "Only we'll -have to put up our money through some outsider." - -"I can fix that," said Gus Plum. "I know a fellow in Oakdale who will -do it for us." - -The day set for the great football match dawned bright and clear. As -soon as they could get away from their school duties Roger's eleven -went out for a short practice and Henshaw and the other substitutes -with them. Henshaw was sorry he was not on the regular team, but said -little about it. - -While the practice was going on, Plum, Poole, and Jasniff watched all -the players closely, trying to gain the knowledge of some tricks and -signals, which they hoped later to divulge to the Rockville eleven. - -The practice at an end, Babcock announced that he wanted to go to a -place called Leeton on an errand. Leeton was a small railroad crossing -two miles from the school, where Babcock had a relative living. - -"Wouldn't you like to go with me?" he asked Dave. "We can go over on -our bicycles and be back inside of an hour." - -Dave was willing, thinking the short spin on a wheel would do him -good. They soon set off, and before long were well on the road. - -"There's our chance!" cried Nick Jasniff, as he and his cronies watched -the departure. "Just what I wanted!" - -"Shall we go after them?" asked Plum. - -"Sure!" - -The bully and the others had bicycles--indeed nearly every youth at -Oak Hall had one, for the craze was at its height. The three set off -without delay, following the same road Dave and Babcock had taken. - -Unconscious of the fact that they were being followed, Dave and his -companion spun along. There was a winding road, across a brook, then -up a hill, and over another small hill to the railroad crossing. At -several places pedaling was rather difficult, but they did not mind it, -being fresh and with good wind. - -Arriving at the railroad crossing, Babcock stopped at the house for -which he was bound and executed his errand. Then the two lads got a -drink of water at the well and started on the return. - -"I'll race you back!" cried Babcock. - -"Better not race to-day," cautioned Dave. "We want to save our strength -for the game." - -"All right, Dave, just as you say. But a little race wouldn't hurt me." - -Not far from Leeton the road made a sharp turn, coming up close to the -railroad tracks. Here there was a steep down grade for three hundred -feet. As the boys neared the turn they began to coast, thinking the way -perfectly clear. - -They were almost to the bottom of the hill when something happened that -filled them with alarm. Close to the side of the roadway stood a tall, -slim tree. As they came up the tree fell directly in their path. - -"Look out!" yelled Dave, who was in advance, and then his bicycle -struck the tree and he was pitched headlong over the handle-bars. -Babcock also took a tumble, and both lads came down violently at the -side of the road, where there was a gully filled with rocks and hard -dirt. Both slid along, turned over, and then lay still. - -A full minute passed and neither Dave nor Babcock offered to get up. -Then from out of the bushes near by Plum, Poole, and Jasniff emerged. - -"We caught 'em right enough," muttered Jasniff. "The tree came down -just in time." - -"Ar--are they hu--hurt much!" faltered Nat Poole. His face was as white -as death itself. - -"They are certainly knocked out," answered Nick Jasniff, coolly. - -"Oh, I hope they ain't dead!" gasped Poole, his knees beginning to -shake. - -"They are not dead," announced Gus Plum, who was bending over the -fallen youths. "They are stunned, that's all." And he breathed a short -sigh of relief, for he had been fearful of serious results. - -"We had better get away, before they come to their senses and recognize -us," went on Poole, who was the most timid-hearted of the unworthy trio. - -While they were deliberating they heard the whistle of a locomotive -on the railroad and soon a long train of empty freight cars came into -view. Then, when about half the train had gone by, the cars came to -a sudden halt, brought to a stop because of a danger signal at the -crossing. - -"What's the freight train stopping for?" asked Plum. - -"Don't ask me," answered Nick Jasniff. "But I say," he added suddenly. -"The very thing!" - -"What?" - -"Let us put 'em both in one of the empty cars!" - -"Oh, don't bother!" answered Nat Poole, who, had he had his choice, -would have wheeled away without delay. - -"They are only stunned--they'll soon come around," went on Jasniff. "If -we leave them here they may get in the game anyway. We may as well send -them off to parts unknown!" - -This plan appealed strongly to Gus Plum, and both he and Jasniff walked -to the train and looked up and down the long line of empty cars. Not a -soul was in sight. - -"The coast is clear," said Jasniff. "Come on, we can do it in a jiffy, -and nobody will be the wiser." - -They went over to Babcock, raised him up, and carried him to the -nearest of the cars. The sliding door was wide open, and they pushed -the unconscious form half across the car floor. Then they ran back and -picked up Dave. At that moment came the whistle of the locomotive. - -"Hurry up, they are going to start!" said Jasniff, and they lost no -time in pushing Dave into the car. Then Jasniff rolled the door shut. - -"Might as well lock 'em in," he suggested, but before he could -accomplish his purpose the train gave a jerk and went on its way. All -three of the students stared at it and watched it out of sight. - -"They are gone, that's sure," murmured Gus Plum. His heart was beating -violently. - -"Yes, and they won't come back in a hurry," chuckled Nick Jasniff. - -"Maybe they will be carried clear to New York," said Nat Poole. - -"If they are, so much the better." - -"You are sure they weren't seriously hurt?" - -"I guess not." - -"If they are, and we are found out----" - -"Who is going to tell on us?" demanded Nick Jasniff. "Don't you dare to -open your trap, Nat." - -"Oh, I shan't say a word." - -"Nobody saw us," said Gus Plum. "So, if we keep quiet, nobody will ever -know we had anything to do with it." - -"What about the wheels?" - -"Leave them right where they are. Somebody will pick them up sooner or -later. Both are marked Oak Hall and have the initials on them." - -"Well, what are we to do next?" asked Gus Plum, after an awkward pause. - -"Get out of here and wheel over to Oakdale," answered Nick Jasniff, who -had become the leader of the unworthies. "We can put our money in the -hands of Lancaster and he can put it up on Rockville for us. We are now -sure to win." - -"Morr will put Henshaw in Babcock's place," said Poole, as they rode -away. - -"Will he? Not after Henshaw has had his dinner," and Nick Jasniff -winked knowingly. - -"Do you mean to dose him?" asked Plum. - -"I guess I will. I sit close to him and I can drop a little powder in -his food which will make him feel weak and dizzy all the afternoon." - -"Have you got the powder?" - -"I can get it from Lancaster. He told me about it several days ago." - -"It isn't poison, is it?" asked Nat Poole. He was beginning to grow -afraid of Nick Jasniff's bold ways. - -"No, it won't hurt him a bit, only make him weak and light-headed for a -few hours." - -"Then give it to him by all means," urged Gus Plum. "With Porter, -Babcock, and Henshaw out of the game Rockville is bound to beat, and if -we make the right kind of bets we ought to win a pot of money!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -CARRIED OFF - - -When Dave came to his senses he found himself rolling around the floor -of the freight car. The door was three-quarters shut and the train was -winding its way around several uneven curves. - -He put his hand to his forehead. There was a big lump near his left eye -and his left hand was bleeding from several scratches. The car was full -of dust and he began to cough. - -"What a fearful tumble!" he muttered to himself, and then sat up and -stared around him. "Where in the world am I?" - -He had expected to find himself beside the highway; instead he was -boxed in and moving along at a speed of twenty or more miles an hour. -He glanced through the open doorway and saw the trees and rocks -flashing by. It took him all of a minute to collect his scattered -senses, and then he gazed around the dust-laden car. Only a few feet -away lay the form of Babcock. The youth was breathing heavily. - -"Paul!" he called out. "Paul! What does this mean? Did you bring me -here?" - -There was no answer, and on his hands and knees he bent over his -friend. Then he gave Babcock a shake, and the hurt one opened his eyes. - -"The tree--look out for the tree!" he murmured and struggled to a -sitting position. - -"Paul, did you bring me here?" went on Dave. - -"Me? Here? What do you mean? Where am I?" stammered Babcock, and then -he, too, stared out of the doorway of the freight car. "Well, I never!" - -It was not until several minutes later that the pair comprehended the -truth of the fact that they were in a freight car that was moving along -at a good rate of speed and that they had been put in the car by some -party or parties unknown. - -"This certainly beats the Dutch!" cried Dave. "Are you hurt much?" - -"I am pretty well shaken up, and my shoulder is a little lame, Dave. -How about you?" - -"I've got this lump and those scratches, that's all." - -"You went into that tree and so did I. Do you remember what happened -after that?" - -"No." - -"Neither do I. Somebody must have put us in here. Who was it?" - -"Don't ask me, and don't ask me where we are going either, for I -haven't the least idea." - -The two students talked the matter over for fully five minutes, but -could reach no conclusion. At first they fancied that they might have -been robbed, but nothing was missing but their wheels. - -"This is a mystery we must solve later," said Dave. "The present -question is, How are we to get off this train and get back to the Hall?" - -A moment later the freight train passed through a small lumber town. -They heard a mill whistle blowing. Dave pulled out his watch. - -"Why, Paul, it is twelve o'clock!" - -"Nonsense!" Babcock consulted his own time-piece. "You are right! And -we were going to be back to the Hall by dinner time!" - -"Don't forget that to-day is the day for the great football match." - -"Creation! Do you know it slipped my mind for the moment! Why, Dave, we -must get back!" - -"I agree with you." - -"Let us get off the train at once." - -"What, with the cars running at twenty-five or thirty miles an hour! -No, thank you! We've had one bad tumble, I don't want a second." - -Babcock looked out of the doorway. The lumber town had been left behind -and they were running through a dense woods. How far they were from -Leeton and Oak Hall they could not tell. - -"I wish we could signal the engineer, I'd soon stop the train," said -Dave. - -"Can't we crawl to the top of the car?" - -"We might if we were regular train hands, but as greenies we had better -not risk it." - -Another mile was passed, and the train began to go around another -curve. Then came a steep upgrade and the speed of the cars was -slackened. - -"We're slowing up!" cried Babcock. "Maybe we can jump for it now." - -The locomotive was puffing laboriously, and presently the train seemed -to do little but crawl along. The boys looked at each other. - -"Shall we go?" asked Dave. - -"Yes." - -"All right, here goes!" - -Dave swung himself down and made a jump in safety. Fifty feet further -on Paul Babcock did the same. Then the long freight train rolled by, a -brakeman on the caboose gazing at them curiously as it passed. - -"Well, where are we?" asked Babcock, gazing around with interest. - -"On the line of the D. S. & B. railroad," answered Dave, with a grim -smile. - -"I know that well enough, but where on the line?" - -"Some miles from Leeton. The question is, Shall we walk back on the -track?" - -"I don't know of anything else to do. We can find out where we are when -we reach that lumber town where we heard the whistle blowing." - -They walked along the track for all of a mile and a half and then came -in sight of the lumber town, which consisted of nothing but the mill, -one general store, and a dozen frame houses. It was now nearly one -o'clock and the men of the mill were preparing to resume their day's -labor. - -"What town is this?" asked Dave, of a boy they met. - -"This town is Mill Run," answered the youth. - -"How far is it to Leeton?" - -"About twelve miles." - -"Twelve miles!" ejaculated Babcock. - -"Yes, and maybe more." - -"Do you know when we can get back to Leeton?" - -"Not till seven-thirty to-night. There are only two passenger trains a -day on this line." - -"Well, we've got to get back before to-night," said Dave, decidedly. -"We've got to get back right now." - -"I don't see how you are going to do it," said the boy. "Ain't no -train, nor stage, nor nuthin." - -"Can't we hire some sort of a carriage?" queried Babcock. "We won't -mind the expense." He came from a well-to-do family and had ample -spending money. - -"Might git old Si Ross to drive you over." - -"Who is Si Ross?" - -"Used to run the stage from here to Leeton before the railroad went -through." - -"Will you show us his place?" - -"Of course," answered the boy and took them through the lumber town -and to a small shanty on the outskirts. Here they found Si Ross, a -bent-over old man who was rather hard of hearing. - -"Hi, Si!" called out the boy. "These fellers want you to drive 'em over -to Leeton." - -"They're arrivin' from Leeton?" queried the old man. - -"No, they want you to drive 'em over--_drive 'em over_!" shrieked the -boy. - -"Me drive 'em over?" - -"Yes," said Dave and Babcock at the top of their voices, and nodded -vigorously. - -"Cost ye two an' a half." - -"All right. Can you do it right away?" went on Dave. - -"O' course I know the way." - -"Can you do it _right away_!" screamed Dave. - -"Sure--soon as I kin hitch up." - -"_Hurry up!_" yelled Babcock. "We want to get there as soon as -possible." - -"I'll git ye there soon enough, don't ye fear," said Si Ross, and -hobbled off to his barn. He brought forth a bony horse and shoved out -a rickety road wagon and began to hook up. The boy helped him. - -"That doesn't look very promising," remarked Babcock. - -"Is this the best turnout in town?" asked Dave, of the boy. - -"It's the only one you can git," was the answer. - -At last Si Ross was ready to leave and the two students got up on -the rear seat of the wagon, Dave first giving the boy ten cents for -his trouble, which pleased the urchin immensely. Then Si Ross pulled -himself to the front seat, provided himself with a fresh chew of -tobacco, and took up the reins. - -"Gee dap!" he squeaked to the bony horse and the animal started off on -a walk. Then the driver cracked his whip and soon the steed was making -fairly good time over the lonely country road. - -Again the boys consulted their watches and found it was now half-past -one o'clock. The football game was scheduled to start at half-past -three. - -"Two hours to get there in," said Dave. "We'll never make it." - -"I think we ought to start for Mr. Mongrace's place direct," said -Babcock. - -"But we haven't our football togs." - -"Perhaps Roger will take them along, or we may be able to borrow some. -One thing is certain, we haven't time to return to Oak Hall for them." - -"Do you know where Mr. Mongrace's estate is?" asked Dave, in a loud -tone of the driver. - -"Yes--very fine place," was the answer. - -"Can you take us there?" - -"How?" - -"_Can you take us there?_" - -"Sure. But I thought you wanted to go to Leeton?" - -"We must get to Mr. Mongrace's by half-past three!" called out Dave. - -"I can make it--but we'll have to hurry." - -"Go ahead then." - -"Three dollars." - -"_All right!_" yelled Babcock, and felt in his pocket. "Oh, pshaw! I've -only got a dollar and a quarter with me!" - -"Never mind, I've got it," said Dave, and brought out the necessary -bank bills. - -The sight of the cash was inspiring to Si Ross, and he urged his bony -nag along at a faster gait than ever. They passed over one small hill -and then came out on a highway which was in excellent condition. - -"I'd like to know who put us in that freight car," said Dave, as they -rattled along. "Do you know, I've half an idea the whole thing was a -put-up job. That tree seemed to fall down right in front of us and I -don't see what should make it fall. There was hardly any wind blowing." - -"It was certainly a curious piece of business all the way through," -returned Paul Babcock. "We'll have to start an investigation after the -game. And we must try to recover our bicycles too." - -"Do you think any of the Rockville fellows would be mean enough to play -such a trick on us?" - -"I don't know. Whoever it was took big chances. Why, we might have been -killed!" - -"Well, it wasn't done by footpads, otherwise we should have been -robbed." - -"That is true. Well, the best thing we can----Whoa! What's the matter!" - -"The horse is running away!" - -"The back-strap is broken!" - -There was no time to say more, for the wagon was swaying from side to -side. Then came a turn, and a second later the vehicle ran off into a -gully. Crash! went one of the front wheels, and over went the body. The -horse came to a standstill and Si Ross slid into some bushes, followed -by the two students. - -"Smashed!" wailed the old driver, as he got up and surveyed the wreck. - -"And that ends our hope of getting to the football field in time," -added Babcock dolefully. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -OFF FOR THE GAME - - -"Where in the world can Dave and Paul be keeping themselves?" - -It was Roger who spoke. He and the others had had their dinner and were -out on the campus doing a last bit of practising before starting for -Mr. Mongrace's place. - -"They certainly should have been here long ago," returned Phil. "They -won't have time to get their dinner." - -"I wonder if Gus Plum and his crowd met them on the road," said Sam. -"They were out on their wheels." - -"I'll ask them," said Shadow, and ran off to do so. He met Nat Poole at -the doorway to the Hall. - -"Say, Nat, did you see anything of Dave Porter and Paul Babcock when -you were out on your wheel?" he asked. - -Nat Poole started at the direct question and his face changed color. -But he quickly recovered. - -"No, I didn't see them," he answered. "What makes you ask?" - -"They are missing and I know you were out on your wheel and they went -out too--over to Leeton." - -"We went to Oakdale," said Nat, and turned away, for fear of being -questioned further. He, Plum, and Jasniff had arranged it between them -to say they had been to Oakdale and nowhere else. - -Shadow Hamilton returned to his friends and related what Poole had -said. Some of the students had already departed for the football field, -going on their wheels and in one of the carriages belonging to the -place. The football club was to take the carryall, and turnouts had -been engaged for all who were to witness the game. - -Soon Andrew Dale came out to see if the team was ready. He was greatly -surprised when he learned that Dave and Paul were missing. - -"It may be they have been delayed," said he, "and if that is so, they -may have gone direct from Leeton to the Mongrace estate. I think there -is a fairly good road." - -"Perhaps that is so," answered the senator's son, brightening a little. -"But they ought to have come here--they knew I should be worried." - -"You had better take their suits along. We can leave word here about -the suits--in case they come after we are gone." - -Swiftly the minutes went by until the club could wait no longer. Then -into the carryall they piled, regulars and substitutes, taking the -outfits of the missing players with them. Jackson Lemond was to drive, -and with a crack of the whip they were off. Usually the boys would have -been noisy and full of fun, but now they were sober. - -"Paul told me he would surely be back," said Henshaw. "I am afraid -something has happened to him." - -"Maybe they got a tumble," suggested Buster Beggs. "But it would be -queer if they both got caught at the same time." - -The boys had brought their horns and rattles with them, yet they made -little noise as they rode along, much to the satisfaction of Jackson -Lemond, who had been afraid they would scare the horses and cause them -to bolt. Yet the Hall driver was sorry to see them so blue. - -"Ain't feelin' much like playin', I take it," he observed. - -"It is not that, Horsehair," answered Roger. "We are alarmed over the -absence of Dave Porter and Paul Babcock." - -"Got to have 'em to play, eh?" - -"Well, they belong on the regular eleven." - -"Maybe they went ahead," said the Hall driver, hopefully. - -The roads were in good condition, and soon they reached the broad -highway leading directly to the Mongrace estate. On this road they met -a score of turnouts all bound for the football field. - -"Hurrah! There are the Oak Hall fellows!" - -"Hope you win, boys!" - -"You've got to put up a stiff game if you want to come out ahead this -season. Rockville has got a dandy team." - -So the cries ran on, while horns were blown and rattles used. Then a -big stage lumbered up, carrying a number of students from Rockville in -their natty military uniforms. - -"This is the time we'll wax you!" - -"After this game Oak Hall won't be in it!" - -"Bet you two to one we beat you!" - -"Bet your small change on that, or you'll be a beggar!" cried one of -the Oak Hall boys in return. - -"We'll race you to the grounds!" said a Rockville student. "Get up -there!" he cried to the horses pulling the stage. The whip was used and -the turnout bounded ahead. - -"Here, this won't do, Horsehair!" cried Phil. "We can't let them beat -us on the road like this. Start up the team." - -Now, if there was one thing that Lemond took pride in, it was his -horses, and seldom was it that he allowed anybody to pass him on the -road. Dr. Clay kept good animals, and Horsehair saw to it that they -were always in the best of condition. Moreover, he and the driver for -Rockville were as bitter rivals as the students themselves. - -"Ain't goin' to pass us to-day!" said he, setting his teeth. "Git up!" -and he snapped his whip in a manner that meant business. - -The horses understood, and in a moment more a race was on in earnest. -Stage and carryall streaked down the broad road side by side, all of -the students shrieking themselves hoarse. - -"Go it, Horsehair! Don't let them beat us!" - -"Send 'em ahead, Jerry! We can't take the dust of Oak Hall!" - -Faster and faster went stage and carryall and now the two drivers -settled down to the race in earnest. Then came a turn and the Oak Hall -turnout shot ahead. - -"Good for you, Horsehair!" yelled Phil. "Keep it up!" - -"Catch him, Jerry, catch him!" came from behind. - -"You can't catch us to-day!" flung back Buster Beggs. "Good-by! We'll -tell 'em you are coming!" Then the carryall swept up to some private -carriages, passed them, and left the Rockville stage in the dust of the -road behind. - -The little brush served to brighten up Roger and his companions, and as -they drew close to the football field they blew their horns and sounded -their rattles. When they swept into the grounds they were greeted with -cheers, and Oak Hall flags were waved everywhere. - -It was certainly a fine football field, as level as a house floor and -well roped off. To one side was a neat grand stand, painted green and -white, and decorated with flags and bunting. At the far end of the -field was a big tent, where the refreshments were to be served, and -opposite the grand stand was a special inclosure for any outsiders who -cared to witness the contest. Each school was well represented by its -followers, and there were fully a thousand spectators in addition. - -"We couldn't have a nicer day nor a better crowd," remarked Phil, as he -gazed around. - -"Do you see anything of Dave and Paul?" questioned Roger, anxiously. - -All looked around quickly and then hurried to the dressing room under -the grand stand. Not a sign of the missing players was to be seen -anywhere. - -"We've got fifteen minutes yet," said Roger. "They may show up at any -minute." - -"Are all the Rockville players here?" asked Ben. - -"Yes, and they look as if they meant business, too," answered Buster -Beggs. - -The grand stand had been divided into three parts, the middle for the -owner of the estate and his special friends, and either end for the two -schools. In the best position on the stand was the sick brother of the -owner of the estate, propped up in an invalid's chair. His face wore a -smile, as if he enjoyed everything that was going on. - -In an extreme corner of the Oak Hall end of the stand sat Gus Plum, Nat -Poole, and Nick Jasniff. They were awaiting the outcome of the game -with deep interest, although sure that their school would lose. Through -a friend in Oakdale they had placed practically all their spending -money on bets in favor of Rockville,--in fact Gus Plum had gone -into debt twenty dollars, borrowing the amount from a student named -Chadworth. - -"Say, are you sure you fixed Henshaw?" whispered the bully of the Hall -to Jasniff. "He doesn't look to be very sick or dizzy-headed." - -"Oh, I fixed him right enough," returned Nick Jasniff. "Maybe the stuff -hasn't had time to work." - -"Or maybe you didn't give him enough," commented Nat Poole. - -"I gave him the dose called for. Of course I didn't dare to give him -too much." - -"I don't see anything of Porter or Babcock," went on Poole, with a side -wink at his cronies. - -"No, it's funny where they are," answered Gus Plum, in a loud voice. - -"Maybe they got afraid to play," added Jasniff, in an equally loud tone. - -It soon became noised around that Dave and Paul had failed to show -themselves, and Dr. Clay himself came from the grand stand to see about -it. But nobody could give him any information. - -"Something must have happened to detain them," said the owner of the -Hall. "They would certainly get here if they could." - -At last it was time to go out on the field for practice. Henshaw was -put in Babcock's place, as he was able to play the position almost as -well as anybody, and a lad named Farrell took the position reserved for -Dave. - -"There goes Henshaw out," said Nat Poole, in a low voice. "He seems to -be all right." - -"Why shouldn't he be all right?" demanded a student sitting behind the -speaker. - -"I wasn't talking to you, Dodd." - -"Well, why shouldn't Henshaw be all right?" insisted Dodd. - -"Why,--er--somebody said he wasn't feeling well, that's all," stammered -Nat Poole. - -"He told me he was feeling bang-up." - -"That so? Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Poole, weakly. - -As a matter of fact Henshaw was feeling just a bit faint and dizzy, the -drug not having had time to have its full effect. Luckily the lad was -strong and with a good heart action, so he was bound to suffer less -than had he been otherwise. - -There was a cheer for the Oak Hall players and another cheer when the -Rockville eleven appeared on the field. The practice of each team was -snappy and vigorous and brought forth applause. - -The umpire and the referee were college men, chosen by Mr. Dale and a -teacher from Rockville, and the linesmen were others acceptable all -around. The practice over, there was a five minutes' intermission. - -"Dave and Babcock are not here yet," sighed Phil, "I declare, it's -too bad! If we have many accidents on the field we'll be more than -short-handed." - -"They wouldn't stay away of their own accord," said Roger. "Something -is wrong--I'm dead sure of it." - -It had been decided that the two halves of the game should be of -thirty minutes each, with an intermission of ten minutes. Roger, Phil, -Ben, and Buster Beggs occupied the positions they had filled the -season previous, and the others of the eleven were placed to the best -advantage. The center and the right guard were a little weak, but this -could not be helped. On the other hand, the Rockville eleven appeared -to be exceptionally well balanced. - -"Time to play!" cried Phil, presently, and the eleven at once took -their positions. Then the Rockville men came on the field once more; -and a minute later the great game started. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE GREAT FOOTBALL GAME - - -At the best it is next to impossible to describe all the plays made in -a fast and snappy football game, and I shall not attempt to do so. From -the very outset Rockville Academy demonstrated the fact that they had -come to win or die trying, and they were alert to a degree that brought -forth admiration even from their enemies. - -The toss-up was won by Rockville, and the center kicked off amid a -breathless silence. The leather sailed in Sam Day's direction and he -caught it and brought it back twelve yards. Ben Basswood was called -to kick and sent it off to the forty-five-yard line. It was caught, -but lost to Phil Lawrence, who managed to tear around the end for five -yards. Then followed a mix-up, and the ball went back and forth four -times, when it went out of bounds and brought a loss to Rockville of -two yards. - -The whole crowd by this time was wild with excitement, and every -advance by one side or the other was hailed with cheers, the tooting of -horns, and the swinging of rattles. - -"Phew! but this is hard work, sure enough," whispered Phil to Roger. -"They are pushing things for all they are worth." - -"I believe they think they can wind us," answered the senator's son. - -The ball was put into play a few seconds later. "Twelve, twenty-six, -fifty!" was the signal, and it passed rapidly from one Rockville player -to another. Then came a sensational run of twenty yards, the tackle -with the ball rushing Oak Hall's left end. But the fullback was after -him and brought him down just as it looked as if Rockville might score -a touchdown. - -"Say, look at that run!" - -"I thought he was going to make it, sure!" - -"So did I!" - -"They'll get it anyway, see if they don't!" - -So the cries ran on as the two elevens lined up for the next scrimmage. -The first half was now eighteen minutes old, and exactly two minutes -later, despite the best efforts of Oak Hall, the leather was forced -over the line by the military academy boys. - -"Hurrah! A touchdown for Rockville!" - -"That's the way to do it!" - -And then the crowd cheered harder than ever--that is, those who -sympathized with the military academy. Oak Hall and its supporters sat -silent, and a few shook their heads and sighed. - -"Didn't I tell you?" whispered Nick Jasniff, to Plum and Poole. -"There's the first dose. That money is as good as won!" - -"It suits me right enough," answered the bully of Oak Hall. He did -not add that he was very low on cash and that his father had written, -stating that he could not supply Gus with any more spending money for a -long time to come. - -As soon as the touchdown was made the leather was hurried to the field -for a kick. It sailed directly between the goal posts, and at this -another yell went up. - -"Six points for Rockville! That's the way to do it!" - -"Now then for another, fellows! Show 'em that is only a starter!" - -With eight more minutes of the first half left the ball was put into -play and once more it was sent back and forth. Once Roger made a clever -run of fifteen yards and at another time, when a Rockville player made -a fumble, Phil snatched the ball, sent it to Ben, who turned it over to -Henshaw. With the leather in his arm Henshaw made a brave attempt for a -touchdown, but was stopped on the thirty-yard line. His run, however, -was loudly applauded, and for the time being it gave Jasniff, Plum, and -Poole a chill. - -"Phew!" muttered Plum. "I thought he was going straight over!" - -"He's the best player they've got," whispered Jasniff. "I can't -understand why that drug doesn't work." - -But the drug was working, and it was that which prevented Henshaw from -making the touchdown after covering twenty yards. He was growing more -dizzy each moment. - -"I must be getting the blind staggers," he said to Roger. "Everything -seems to be swimming in front of my eyes." - -"Maybe you ran too hard," suggested the senator's son. - -"No, I've been feeling that way for the past five minutes. I don't know -what's the matter with me." - -"Do you want to quit?" - -"Oh, I'll try to play the half out," answered Henshaw. - -With the ball on the thirty-yard line, Oak Hall fought as never before -to carry the leather on. It did go down to the twenty-yard line, but -only to be lost on a fumble, after which a succession of brilliant -rushes and end runs by Rockville brought it within striking distance of -Oak Hall's goal line, when a drop kick sent it once more between the -posts. - -"Will you look at that!" - -"A goal from the field! That gives Rockville 10 points!" - -The cheering and the general din were tremendous. Oak Hall had nothing -to say. Plum and his cronies chuckled to themselves. - -"Rockville is rubbing it in, eh?" chuckled Nick Jasniff. "I hope they -make it about 50 to 0!" - -"So do I," answered Nat Poole. - -Once more the ball went into play, and this time Oak Hall sent it into -the Rockville territory in a grim, stone-wall way that could not be -resisted. But when it lacked still ten yards of the goal line, the -whistle blew, telling that time was up and the first half of the game -had come to an end. - -"Hard luck to-day," said Phil, grimly. "They are certainly putting up a -great game." - -"They have more weight than we have," answered Shadow. "And I must say, -their tackling is first-class." - -"I think it is rough," said Buster Beggs. "I got a kick in the shin -that wasn't pleasant." - -"That Hausermann is rather rough," said Phil. "I'd hate to have him -come down on me." - -"Yes, and he plays off-side," said Roger. "I had to warn him twice, and -the referee warned him too." - -Poor Henshaw was now so dizzy he could scarcely stand and two of the -other players had to escort him off the field. Andrew Dale questioned -the youth closely. - -"You didn't eat or drink anything unusual?" - -"Not that I know of, sir." - -"Did you ever feel that way before when playing?" - -"No, sir, it never affected me in the least." - -"It is odd. I will call Dr. Blarcom, who is present." - -The doctor came up and made a close examination. He was much puzzled. -He also asked Henshaw about his eating and drinking. Then, when the lad -complained of feeling sick at the stomach, he gave him an emetic. - -"He has certainly swallowed something that hasn't agreed with him," -said the physician, and took Henshaw to the Mongrace mansion, where he -might give the sick student every attention. - -With Henshaw, Babcock, and Dave out of the game, Roger hardly knew -what to do for players. The lad who had taken Dave's place was only an -ordinary player, and to put another ordinary player in place of Henshaw -would be to weaken the eleven greatly. - -"It certainly looks like a walk-over for Rockville," said the senator's -son. "I can't understand what is keeping Dave and Paul away." - -But four minutes of the intermission had passed when there came a -sudden shout from outside of the grand-stand dressing rooms. Then with -a whirr a big red automobile dashed up and two dusty-looking youths -leaped out. - -"Dave and Paul!" ejaculated Phil, joyously. "Where in the world have -you been?" - -"Is the game over?" asked Dave, anxiously. - -"The first half is." - -"What's the score?" questioned Babcock, quickly. - -"10 to 0 against us." - -"Is that so!" - -"But where have you been?" demanded Roger, and added, almost in the -same breath: "Can you play?" - -"Certainly we can play--that is what we are here for," returned Dave. -"Will somebody lend me a football suit?" - -"We have your suits here," said Shadow, and brought them forth. "Climb -right in." - -Dave and Babcock did "climb in," and while doing so briefly related -their adventures. - -"When the old wagon went to smash we thought we were surely out of the -game," said Dave. "But a few minutes later a man came along in that -automobile, and we stopped him and got him to promise to bring us here. -We would have gotten here in time for the first half only something got -the matter with the auto's batteries." - -"Dave, some enemies played that trick," said Phil. - -"No doubt of it." - -"They wanted us to lose the game." - -"Of course," said Babcock. - -"Do you suspect any of the Rockville fellows?" - -"Not yet. I am going to investigate after this game is over." - -"And I am going to investigate, too," added Dave. "Why, we might have -been killed!" - -The youth who had taken Dave's place on the eleven was perfectly -willing to retire, feeling that Oak Hall was going to lose anyway. -Babcock took his old place. - -"I am sorry for Spud," he said, referring to Henshaw. "It appears to me -that something is wrong all around." - -With the appearance of Dave and Babcock the spirits of Roger, Phil, and -the others arose wonderfully. - -"Now, boys, play for all you are worth," said the senator's son. -"Make every scrimmage count, and if you get hold of the ball run like -all-possessed. We must get something this half, or we'll never hear the -end of it." - -"It will certainly make Gus Plum and his cronies crow," answered Dave, -grimly. "I suppose they are here?" - -"Yes, in a corner of the stand," answered Buster Beggs. - -"They were out on their wheels this morning," said Sam Day. "Did you -see anything of them?" - -"They were out?" repeated Dave, in surprise. "Did they follow us?" - -"They said they went to Oakdale." - -Dave looked at Paul Babcock, who pursed up his lips meditatively. - -"What do you think of that, Paul?" - -"I think it will stand investigation," answered Babcock. "Somebody -played us the trick, and it certainly wasn't a friend." - -"Last year Plum and Poole were against us." - -At that moment came a call from the doorway of the dressing room. - -"Time for the second half, boys. Come out on the field." - -It had become noised around that Dave and Babcock had arrived. A number -believed this, but others did not. - -"Do you think it is true?" demanded Plum of Jasniff. - -"I don't see how it can be," whispered Jasniff in return. "They must -have been carried miles and miles on that freight train." - -"Oh, it's only talk," grumbled Nat Poole. - -The eleven were now pouring into the field. Among the first to show -themselves were Dave and Paul, and a roar of welcome went up from the -Oak Hall supporters. - -"There are Porter and Babcock!" - -"Now for some real playing!" - -"Where in the world have they been?" - -"They are here, sure enough!" whispered Gus Plum, hoarsely. "Nick, what -can it mean?" - -"Don't ask me," growled Jasniff. "It beats anything I ever heard of!" - -As soon as they came on the field Dave and Babcock reported to the -referee, as substitutes for the two players that had dropped out. Then -the whistle blew, and the second half of the great game was on. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -HOW THE GAME ENDED - - -There was another spell of breathless silence as the ball went into -play on the second half of the great game. The kick-off was clean and -clever, and for several minutes the leather remained close to the -center of the field, each eleven struggling desperately to force the -line of the other. Rockville had had one man slightly hurt and another -player had taken his place, one who was light and very wiry. He took -the ball for a run around the left end, but was brought down. Then in -the scrimmage that followed the ball came to Dave and he made a gain of -ten yards, breaking through and dodging in a manner that brought forth -much favorable comment. - -"That's the way to do it," was the cry. "Carry it over the line!" - -But alas! for the hopes of Oak Hall. In the very next mix-up Buster -Beggs made a bad fumble and the wiry substitute on the Rockville -eleven secured the leather. Before anybody could stop him he made a -sensational run to the end of the field. - -"Another touchdown for Rockville!" - -How the supporters of the military academy did cheer and yell! Horns -tooted madly and the academy colors went waving in all directions. - -Gus Plum grinned silently, while Nick Jasniff winked at him. - -"Say, we're all right, after all, eh?" whispered Nat Poole. - -"Hush!" muttered the bully of the school. "If our fellows should hear -you they'd kill us! This defeat will make them ugly." - -The touchdown was turned into a goal, giving Rockville 16 points as -against 0 for Oak Hall. Things certainly did look blue. - -"Come, fellows, we've got to do something!" urged Roger. "Everybody -play for all he is worth. Don't let a single chance escape you!" - -"I am going to do something if I die for it," said Babcock, and went -in with a vigor that nothing could resist. Inside of two minutes -he secured the ball, dove to the left, turned, and started for the -right. Two Rockville players tackled him, but Dave and Buster Beggs -came between and Babcock went on. Then Roger took a hand, and in the -struggle the ball went over the Rockville line amid a yelling from Oak -Hall that could have been heard half a mile. - -"A touchdown for Oak Hall!" - -"Now wake up, boys, and show 'em what you can do!" - -Dave held the ball and Roger made the kick. The ball went through the -posts fairly, scoring 6 points for the Hall. Again came a cheer. - -"Well, it's only 6 to 16," whispered Nat Poole. - -"How much longer to play?" asked Plum. - -"Fourteen minutes." - -The six points gained put increased vigor into Oak Hall, and now -Roger gave the signal for a certain mass play which had as yet not -been tried. Like a living wedge Oak Hall struck against Rockville, -and although the academy eleven carried more weight they could not -withstand such an onslaught. They separated, and in a twinkling the -leather was carried up the field and across the line a second time, -within three minutes after the first touchdown was secured. - -"Whoop! Hurrah! Look at that!" - -"Another touchdown! Keep it up, fellows!" - -"Oak Hall has struck her gait at last!" - -And then the Oak Hall colors were waved wildly, while horns tooted and -rattles were swung on every side. It was now Rockville's turn to remain -silent. - -"Be careful, fellows, don't get excited," warned Roger. "Watch your -chances." - -The goal was kicked, making the score, Rockville 16, Oak Hall 12. -There were but eight minutes more in which to play. Once again the -leather came into the field. Rockville was now on guard against another -mass play and it was decided to try the left end. The ball went to -Ben, who passed it to Dave. Dave made a short run and doubled, as if -turning back. Then he plunged forward, hurdled (it was the old style of -playing), and tore up the field for twenty yards. Then he was brought -to earth with a thud that made his ears ring and caused him to see -stars. - -"Are you hurt, Dave?" he heard Roger ask, and sitting up he shook his -head. Time had been called, and he learned that for two minutes he had -been dead to the world. - -"I--I guess I am all right," he said, and with a mighty effort pulled -himself together. "Did--did I gain anything?" - -"Did you gain anything? Well, rather!" answered Phil. "It was a dandy -play!" - -Again the ball was put into play, and it went back and forth in a -manner that was heartbreaking, first for one side and then for the -other. Then came a warning cry: - -"Three minutes more to play!" - -It nerved all of the players up as never before and the struggle was -the most bitter yet. But with less than a minute and a half to play -Dave secured the ball and made a clever pass to Phil, who started up -the field. Babcock guarded him on one side and Roger on the other, and -in a trice another sensational run was on. - -"Down him! Down him!" was the frantic yell from Rockville, and just -as Phil, panting for breath, reached the goal-line he was caught and -thrown with tremendous violence, his head striking the ground with -great force. - -"Another touchdown!" - -"Oak Hall wins the game!" - -It was true, the touchdown had been made, fairly and squarely. With -drooping hearts Rockville came out of the mix-up. There was nothing -more to be done, for all but quarter of a minute of the time was up. -Phil lay on the ball motionless, his face buried in the grass. - -"He's hurt!" cried Dave, bending over his chum. "Phil!" - -There was no answer, and now Roger and some others came to the aid of -the fallen one. They turned Phil over. His face was pale and his eyes -closed. He made not the slightest sound. - -"Call the doctor!" said Dave, in as steady a voice as he could command. -"I--I hope he isn't hurt very much." - -Water was brought and Phil's face was bathed, but still he made no -sound nor did he open his eyes. Then the doctor came up and took charge. - -"He has received a severe shock," said the physician, after an -examination. "As yet I cannot tell how badly he is affected. His head -is bleeding, and it is possible he may have fractured his skull. We had -best remove him to the house." - -A barn door was procured and a blanket thrown over it, and on this the -hurt student was placed and six others carried him to the mansion. In -the meantime there had been a great cheering over Oak Hall's victory, -but this soon came to an end when it was known that Phil Lawrence had -been seriously hurt. - -"I hope his skull hasn't been fractured," said Dave. "He certainly came -down hard. I heard the thump plainly." - -"So did I," answered Babcock, and then he ran off to see how Henshaw -was faring. He found the latter sitting up in an easy-chair, as pale as -death itself. - -"Won out, eh?" said Henshaw, weakly. "Good enough!" - -"How do you feel now?" questioned Babcock. - -"Oh, my stomach is better and the dizziness is gone. But I am as weak -as a rag." - -Through an attendant Henshaw had heard of the arrival of Dave and -Babcock and of the progress of the great game. He was shocked to learn -that Phil had been seriously hurt. - -"This will put a damper on the celebration," said he, and he was right. -Only a few cared to celebrate with Phil, for all they knew, lying at -death's door. The sufferer was still unconscious, and a messenger had -been sent off for another physician who was also a surgeon. - -"This takes the edge off the victory," said Dave. "I'd rather lose than -have anybody seriously hurt." - -"Morr, we are mighty sorry for this," said the captain of the Rockville -eleven, coming up. "I am sure you know it wasn't done intentionally." - -"I know that," answered Roger. "But the play was pretty rough, -especially towards the end." - -"It was a fair tackle," said the Rockville captain, and moved off. - -Those from the military academy felt their defeat keenly. Just when -they had thought victory certain all their hopes had been dashed to the -ground. They had to admit that Oak Hall had played fairly from start to -finish. - -"Boys, you did splendidly," said Dr. Clay. "The one dark spot is the -fact that Lawrence has been hurt. I sincerely trust it does not prove -serious." - -While the doctor was doing what he could for Phil, the two schools were -entertained in royal style by Mr. Mongrace. But Dave and Roger could -eat little, their thoughts being constantly with Phil. Three others who -did not enjoy the feast were Plum, Poole, and Jasniff. - -"Hang the luck, anyway!" growled the bully, as he and his cronies -walked away from the table. "Jasniff, this is the worst yet." - -"Who would have thought that they could pull themselves together like -that," grumbled Jasniff. "Why, I never saw such work on any field. They -went at the play like demons--nothing could stand before them." - -"Yes, and Phil Lawrence got a broken head for his pains," said Poole, -in a tone more of satisfaction than regret. - -"I don't care a continental for Lawrence," pursued the bully of Oak -Hall. "What I am thinking of is the money I have lost." - -"And the money I've lost, too," added Poole. - -"Well, we'll have to pocket our losses, that's all," answered Jasniff. -"With Porter, Babcock, and Henshaw off the list I thought we'd make a -sure thing of it--but we didn't, and there you are." - -"I don't know what I am going to do about the money I put up," said Gus -Plum. - -"Write to your old man for some," suggested Jasniff. "Tell him you lost -your money, but don't say how." - -"He won't let me have any more just yet--said so in his last letter." - -"How about you, Nat?" - -"My old man won't give up a cent until next allowance day, and that's -two weeks off. I'll have to live on air till then." - -A little later Poole was called away by one of the students, and Gus -Plum and Nick Jasniff were left to themselves. Plum was in a quandary, -for he had borrowed from several parties and now did not know how to -pay the amounts back. Jasniff noticed his uneasiness. - -"Don't take the loss so hard, Gus," he said. "Let us go off and have a -smoke--it will settle your nerves. If we were in town we might get a -drink. But we can't get it around here." - -"Let's go back to the Hall, I am sick of it here," answered the bully -of the school; and a few minutes later he and Jasniff started off, -leaving Poole behind, in the company of several girls who had driven in -to witness the football match. Poole always dressed very fastidiously, -and sought the company of the girls whenever the opportunity offered. - -Halfway to Oak Hall, Plum and Jasniff determined to ride on their -wheels to Hampton, a small village south of Oakdale. Here they put up -at the tavern, and Jasniff spent his last twenty cents for some liquor. -Then they sat down in the back room, to smoke cigarettes and talk over -their future plans. - -"It don't feel nice to be dead-broke," said Jasniff. "Wouldn't you -like to earn a little pile, Gus?" - -"How?" questioned the bully eagerly. - -"Oh,--I don't know exactly," drawled Jasniff, looking up at the -ceiling. "But it might be done, you know." - -"Well, I've got to get money somehow," answered Plum, desperately. "I -am not going around without a cent in my pocket, and in debt, too." - -"Will you stand by me if I show you a way to get a little pile?" asked -Jasniff, lowering his voice. - -"Yes, I will," answered Plum, boldly. - -"All right, then; I'll let you know what I can do in a few days. I've -got to consult somebody else first, though." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -A FUNNY INITIATION - - -The celebration to follow the grand victory was a rather tame affair on -account of the accident to Phil Lawrence. The ship-owner's son was a -prime favorite with many of the Oak Hall students and they asked about -him constantly. - -"He cannot be moved at present," said the doctors. "He must remain -here." And after that the sufferer was made as comfortable as possible -in one of the spare chambers of the mansion. A telegram was at once -sent to his parents, and they came on the following morning. Poor Phil -was still unconscious but came to his senses that evening, and by the -following day seemed a trifle improved. - -"Oh, I do hope he gets over it entirely," said Dave to Roger. "It would -be awful to think of his suffering all his life." - -"That is true, Dave. I'd rather we hadn't played at all." - -"And to think it came at the very end of the game," broke in Buster -Beggs. - -"It will stop football for this season," announced Sam Day, and he was -right. Dr. Clay issued orders that very day that no more games should -be played until it was certain that Phil was out of danger. Even as -it was, a number of the students received word from their parents and -guardians forbidding their playing any more. - -Dave wrote to his uncle and to the others about the game, and received -several letters in return, including one from Jessie Wadsworth which he -kept to himself and prized very highly. In it the girl wrote that she -was glad they had won and was sure Dave had done his full share to gain -the victory, but she was sorry to learn Phil had been hurt and that -Dave must be sure to keep out of harm. - -"We cannot afford to have anything happen to you," wrote Jessie, "for -we all think so much of you." And this made Dave's cheeks flush and his -heart beat with keenest pleasure. - -The letter from Dunston Porter was also interesting, but one paragraph -made Dave's heart sink. In this Mr. Porter stated that as yet no word -of any kind had been received about Dave's father and sister. - -"It certainly is queer you don't hear from them," said Roger, when he -learned of this. "If they are in Europe or in America at least one of -your letters must have followed them up." - -"It's a mystery to me," answered Dave, and heaved a long sigh. He was -more than impatient to meet his father and sister, and who can blame -him? - -The two bicycles belonging to Dave and Babcock had been brought in by a -farmer of that vicinity, who had found them near the fallen tree. This -man was rewarded for his trouble, and Dave, Roger, and Babcock went to -the spot hoping to find some clew to the mystery. They saw that the -tree was decayed near the roots but that it had undoubtedly been broken -off by force. - -"It was surely the work of some enemies," said Dave. "The question is, -Who is guilty?" - -"Perhaps we'll learn some day," answered the senator's son; and there, -for the time being, the subject was dropped. - -As my old readers know there was a secret society at Oak Hall known as -the Gee Eyes, this mysterious appellation standing for the initials, -G. I., which in their turn stood for the words, Guess It. This society -had its officers and its secret password, and met "semi-occasionally or -oftener" as the by-laws had it. It was gotten up mostly for fun,--the -said fun being largely due to the initiation of new members. Dave had -joined and so had his chums, and they had aided in initiating a number -of others. - -For various reasons Plum, Poole, and Jasniff were out of this society. -When Jasniff had wanted to join--as a newcomer to the Hall--he had -been rejected with scant ceremony. This had angered him, and as a -consequence he and his cronies, along with several other students, -had organized a new society, called the D. D. A. Club, the initials -standing for Dare Do Anything. This was supposed to meet once a month, -and all sorts of inducements were offered to get the other students to -join. - -"I hear the Gee Eyes are going to meet soon," said Nat Poole, one day -to his cronies. "Ain't it about time the D. D. A. met too?" - -"Have you found a new member?" asked Jasniff. - -"Frank Bond wants to join." - -"Oh, he's only a little fellow," sneered Jasniff. - -"Never mind, we can get some fun out of him," said Gus Plum. "I'd like -something to do. Things are dead slow." - -The Gee Eyes met the very next night, and hearing of this the D. D. A. -Club did the same. A new student named Sultzer--a German boy--wanted -to join the Gee Eyes, and Dave and Ben Basswood were appointed as a -committee of two to make ready for the occasion. - -"We'll have to give 'em something brand-new," said Ben. - -"That will not be so easy--since we have tried nearly everything," -answered Dave. - -[Illustration: Carl was made to bow until his nose touched the floor. - -_Page 167._] - -"They are building a new house over near the Grislow place. Can't we do -something there?" - -"Maybe we can," said Dave. "Let us look over the ground." - -By the time the Gee Eyes met everything was in readiness, and Ben -Basswood brought Carl Sultzer to the meeting, which was held in an old -boathouse down the river. In the meantime the other members had attired -themselves in cotton robes of red, with black hoods over their heads -and a yellow tassel dangling over one ear. Some had wooden swords, one -a wooden hammer, and others stuffed clubs. - -As Carl Sultzer, a fat boy with a round, ruddy face, was thrust into -the room, he was surrounded and all present began to chant: - - "Hoopra! hoopra! Dilly duddy! - Here he comes so fat and ruddy! - Hoopra! hoopra! Dilly dee! - Stranger, stranger! Bend your knee! - Hoopra! hoopra! Dilly dud! - Do you want to join this club? - If you do, down to the ground, - Make to us a bow profound!" - -As the chant went on Carl Sultzer was forced to his knees and was made -to bow until his nose touched the floor. - -"Vot is dis ding, annahow?" he asked, in a trembling voice. "Is dis der -Chee Eyes Club, I ton't know?" - -"This is the renowned Gee Eyes Club," came in a solemn tone. - -"Wouldst thou join us, base stranger?" asked another voice. - -"Yah, sure, I choin," answered Carl. "Put vot I got to to alretty?" - -"Thou shalt soon see," was the answer. "Numbers Three and Six, -blindfold him." - -"Look here, I ton't like dis!" cried the German student, as a bag was -thrown over his head and fastened around his neck. The bag had a hole -in the back, so that he could get air. But he could not see a thing. - -"It must be done," was the answer. "For particulars see Section 45, -rule 917 of the by-laws. Are you ready to learn the by-laws?" - -"Der py-laws? Vot I got to puy py der py-laws?" asked the German -student, cautiously. - -"You haven't got to buy anything. You must learn them." - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," came in another voice. "A man -once----Oh, excuse me, I forgot!" And the story came to a sudden end, as -the speaker received a whack over the ear from a stuffed club. - -"I believe Shadow would want to tell a story if he was at a funeral," -whispered one hooded figure to another. - -"Lo! the march begins!" cried a loud voice, in Carl Sultzer's ear. -It made the German boy jump. Then he was caught by the arms and his -hands were tied behind him. In this fashion he was marched from the old -boathouse and in the direction of the new building previously mentioned. - -"Vere you been daking me?" asked Carl. - -"Wait, and thou shalt see." - -"How I vos going to see of I got mine eyes blindfolded alretty?" - -To this there was no answer, but several of the hooded figures -snickered. - -The new building reached, several of the boys caught up the German lad -in a blanket. - -"Vot is dis now?" he asked, in fresh alarm. - -"Be careful now while you carry him to the top of the building," -whispered one boy, but loud enough for the German lad to hear. - -"Hi! vot is dis, annahow?" yelled Carl. - -"A new house they are building. We are going to take you to the top," -answered a member of the secret society. - -"Maype I ton't vos vant to go py der dop alretty," pleaded Carl. - -"It won't hurt you. Come on, fellows!" - -In a twinkling the German youth was lifted up and carried along, over -some wooden horses and lumber piles. He thought he was going up--he -knew not where. - -"Hi! ton't you trop me town," he wailed. - -"No, Carl dear, we'll drop you up," came in a cheery voice, and this -brought forth another snicker. - -Presently the boys came to a halt, and the victim was placed on his -feet on a narrow board. - -"Don't lose your balance," said one boy, cautiously. - -"It's about thirty feet to the ground," added another. - -"Oh, my! I ton't vos vant to dumble, ain't it!" shrieked Carl, in -terror. - -"You won't if you are careful. Now you must walk over the beams from -one end of this building to the other." - -"I can't vos do dot! I vos dumble town sure!" wailed Carl. - -"You have got to do it if you want to join this society. Here, let me -place your foot on the next beam," and Carl's right foot was caught up -and put on a beam a foot and a half in front of that upon which he had -been standing. - -"Look out! I vos dumble me town!" he shrieked. - -"Steady now and you'll be all right," was the answer. "Forward you go!" - -But poor Carl did not go forward, instead he remained standing on the -two beams, his knees shaking visibly. - -"Forward!" was the cry again, and now he was tapped on the back with -the wooden swords and stuffed clubs. - -"I dumble me town! I dumble me town sure as I vas porn!" he shrieked. -"Ton't douch me!" - -"Then move on. We won't let you fall," said one student, and still -trembling the German lad started to walk across the beams to the other -end of the building, as he thought. He passed over seven beams when, of -a sudden, one fell over. Down he went, yelling wildly and clutching at -the beam he had just left. Then he struck the ground, which was just -under the beams, and rolled over. In another moment the sack was taken -from his head and his hands were unloosened. - -"Vell, I neffer!" he ejaculated, gazing around in a sheepish way. "I -dink me sure I vos der top of der puilding on alretty! Und I vos on -der groundt all der vile! Now ain't dot funny!" And all at once he set -up a roar of laughter. The other students joined in, and the general -merriment lasted for fully five minutes. - -"Now, Carl, you are a full-fledged member of the Gee Eyes," said Dave, -coming forward. "Let me congratulate you." And he gave Carl's hand a -tight squeeze. - -"Dank you," said the German lad. Then the others shook hands, each -giving Carl's hand the tightest squeeze possible. Soon the youth began -to dance around. - -"Hi! somepody stop dot!" he roared. "I ton't vont mine hand squashed -to a jelly alretty! Let go, I told you!" And after that he would do no -more handshaking. - -It was rather cold and soon one of the students suggested that they go -back to the Hall. But the others demurred. - -"Let us take a trolley ride," said one. "Just the thing in this -moonlight. We can get back in plenty of time." - -So it was agreed, and off the crowd set, in the direction of the -trolley line, upon which they had had so much sport the previous -summer. Nobody dreamed of the surprise in store for them. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -ALMOST SCARED TO DEATH - - -While the Gee Eyes were having their sport with Carl Sultzer quite -another scene was being enacted some distance away, in the vicinity of -the trolley tracks. - -Little Frank Bond, a pale and highly sensitive youth who had come to -Oak Hall two weeks before, was being initiated into the mysteries of -the D. D. A. Club by Plum, Poole, Jasniff, and several of their cronies. - -Frank did not care for clubs, being a lad of a retiring disposition. -But he had been "talked into it" by Plum, who thought he saw some keen -sport in scaring the little fellow half to death. - -"You must join by all means," said the bully of the school. "Why, life -at Oak Hall won't be worth living unless you're a member of the D. D. -A. Club." And very foolishly Frank agreed to submit to an initiation. - -"We'll scare him out of his seven senses," chuckled Plum. "It will be a -barrel of fun." - -"What will you do?" questioned the others of the club. - -When the bully of Oak Hall unfolded his plan several demurred, stating -it would be rather severe on a lad of Frank's temperament. But they -were overruled, and in the end the so-styled initiation was carried out -as the bully planned it. - -After a good deal of ceremony, which was great fun and rather enjoyed -by the small boy, Frank was blindfolded and marched out in the -direction of the trolley tracks. The club members took to a side road, -where there was a single track running to a town several miles distant. -On this track was a new turnout, which had been put down only a short -while before. - -"Where are we going?" asked Frank, timidly, as the others hurried him -along. - -"To the trolley tracks," was the answer. "We want to test your nerve." - -"How?" - -"Oh, we'll put you on the tracks and let the trolley run over you," -answered Plum, brutally. - -"Oh, please don't put me on the tracks!" cried Frank. "I--I know you -don't want to hurt me, but a trolley car might come along, and I might -get struck." - -"Oh, it's all right," said Jasniff. "If you're ground up we'll pick up -the pieces and give you a decent burial." - -This sort of talk was kept up until the trolley line was reached, and -the effect was to completely unnerve the young victim. He was allowed -to see the single track and then blindfolded once more, and his hands -were tied behind his back. - -"Now put him on the tracks," commanded Plum, roughly. - -"And don't forget to chain him fast," added Jasniff, rattling a dog -chain he had brought along. - -"Oh, we'll chain him good and hard," said Nat Poole. - -"No! no! Please don't!" cried Frank, and now he tried to break away -from his tormentors. A struggle ensued, but in the end he was subdued -and dragged along the track to where was located the turnout just -mentioned. Here he was thrown on his back, and his hands were fastened -down to one of the rails. - -"Don't! Let me go! Please let me go!" he shrieked. "I don't want to be -tied to the track! I don't want to join the club! If a trolley should -come along I'd surely be hurt! Let me go!" And he started to struggle -again. - -"See here, aren't we going a little too far?" whispered one of the -students. - -"He's too sensitive for this sort of sport," added another. - -"Oh, pshaw! it's all right," interrupted Plum. "The little beggar won't -be hurt in the least." - -"But he'll be scared to death." - -"Well, that's the fun of it," came from Jasniff. - -In the meantime Frank Bond continued to cry out to be released. He was -so frightened now that he know not what to do. He struggled madly to -break his bonds. - -"I'm going to let him go," began one boy, a lad named Messmer. - -"Don't you touch him," answered Plum, roughly. "It's only fun." - -"But, Gus----" - -"Here comes the trolley!" shouted Jasniff. "Now, Bond, take it easy -when they run over you!" - -"Don't throw the trolley off the track," added Plum, brutally. - -The trolley came along swiftly in the semi-darkness, and as it -approached Frank Bond let out a piercing scream for help. He was now -completely beside himself with fear. - -"Don't, don't! Help!" he screamed. "Save me! Save me!" And then he -began to foam at the mouth. - -With a rush and a roar the trolley car came on. The poor boy on the -turnout track thought sure it was going to run over him and struggled -madly to get free. Then, just as the trolley swept beside him, he broke -his bonds, leaped to his feet, and stepped blindly toward the car. His -arm struck the back platform and he was hurled backward. Then the -trolley, with its gleaming headlight, swept on its way, the motorman -taking no notice of what had happened. - -"He's hurt!" was the cry from Messmer. - -"It's the little beggar's own fault," said Gus Plum, but his voice -trembled as he spoke. - -"Oh, I am killed! I am killed!" cried Frank, struggling to his feet and -throwing the bandage from his eyes. He was foaming at the mouth, and -bleeding both at the head and on the hand. "Don't let the trolley go -over me again! Save me! Save me!" And then, with a bound, he turned and -disappeared into the bushes and trees which lined the trolley road at -this point. - -"He has gone mad!" whispered one of the boys, hoarsely. - -"As mad as a March hare," was the comment of another of the students. -"Come back, Frank! It's all right!" he called out. - -"The little fool!" muttered Jasniff. "He wouldn't have been hurt at all -if he had remained quiet." He raised his voice: "Come back here, Bond, -it's all over!" - -"I said he couldn't stand it," said Messmer. "It was a shame to go so -far." - -"Oh, don't preach to me," returned Jasniff. "Bond, are you coming -back?" he cried, in a louder tone. - -The only reply was a distant scream, so cold and uncanny it made all of -the students shiver. Then came other screams, gradually growing fainter -and fainter. - -"He is going deeper and deeper into the woods!" - -"Say, we'll have to get him out of that!" - -"He has gone crazy, just as sure as fate," said Messmer. "Come, we must -bring him back and do what we can for him." - -The wood was a long one and some distance from the trolley turnout was -another road, leading down to the main line. Dave and his chums were -coming along this road when Ben came to a sudden halt. - -"Listen!" - -"What did you hear, Ben?" - -Before Ben could answer Dave's question a blood-curdling scream rent -the air. It was followed by another and then another. - -"My gracious! is that a ghost?" queried Sam Day. - -"It's somebody in trouble perhaps," came from Roger. - -"Of dot peen a ghost I dink I go me pack to der Hall alretty now!" said -Carl Sultzer, in alarm. - -"There are no ghosts," said Dave. "All so-called ghosts are -make-believes--humbugs, in fact." - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow, as the crowd came -to a halt, listening to a repetition of the cries. "A lot of college -students wanted to play a joke on their professor, so they put together -the body of one bug, the wings of another, the legs of another, and the -horns of another. Then they went to the old professor and said: 'Here -is a wonderful new bug we have found. What family does it belong to?' -The old professor looked the thing over for a minute. 'A well-known -family,' he said. 'A very large family.' 'What?' asked the students, -all ready to laugh at the old fellow. 'The family of humbugs,' -answered the professor." - -"That's all right," said Roger, laughing, while the others joined in. - -"Say, vot has dot hum-pug to to mit dot ghost?" asked Carl, innocently. -He had been the only one unable to appreciate the joke. - -"Nothing, but--listen!" - -Buster Beggs broke off short, as another scream rent the air. Then the -members of the Gee Eyes saw a wild-looking youth rush across the road -and disappear among the trees beyond. - -"Did you see that?" - -"It was a boy!" - -"He acted as if he was crazy!" - -"Yes, and do you know who it was?" demanded Dave. "It was little Frank -Bond!" - -"So it was," added Roger. "Boys, what can this mean?" - -"He must be in trouble," said Buster Beggs. - -"Perhaps some wild animal scared him," was Ben's comment. "But what can -he be doing out here alone this time of night?" - -"Bond! Bond!" cried Roger. "Come back here! What's the matter?" - -But the only answer that came back was another scream, as the -half-crazed lad plunged deeper and deeper into the wood. Soon he was -completely out of hearing. - -"I don't like this," was Dave's comment. - -"Listen, I hear somebody else coming," said Ben, and soon they heard -Plum and his crowd approaching through the woods. They were hunting in -several directions for Frank Bond. - -"Hullo!" cried Roger to the other crowd, and soon the D. D. A. members -and the Gee Eyes confronted each other. - -"What brings you out here?" demanded Plum, suspiciously. - -"We might ask the same question of you?" returned Dave, coldly. - -"Oh, I say, Porter, have you seen anything of little Frank Bond?" asked -Messmer, stepping forward. - -"Yes, we saw him a minute ago. He ran across this road as if he was -crazy. What's the trouble?" - -"Don't say a word!" burst out Jasniff, confronting his fellow club -member. - -"Bond got scared and ran away from us," went on Messmer, ignoring Nick -Jasniff completely. "Did he--er--did he look hurt, or--er--crazy?" - -"He looked both," put in Roger. "What have you been doing, hazing him?" - -"That's our affair," broke in Plum, warningly. - -"Look here, Plum, and you too, Jasniff, I won't stand for any more of -your talk!" cried Messmer, wrathfully. "You went too far, and I said so -from the start." He turned again to Dave and Roger. "We were initiating -Bond into our club. We had him down to the trolley track and--well, he -got badly scared and bumped into a trolley that was passing. Then all -at once he seemed to go crazy and ran off into the woods. We don't know -how badly he is hurt or where he has gone to." - -"If that's the case, one thing is certain," said Dave. "We must find -him, and do it as soon as possible." - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -A STUDENT'S STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE - - -Much against the wishes of Plum, Poole, and Jasniff, Messmer told many -of the details of what had been done to poor Frank Bond. He did not -attempt to shield himself. His story was corroborated by a student -named Jardell, who was disgusted by the attitude taken by the bully of -Oak Hall and his intimates. - -"I like fun as well as the next one," said Jardell, "but I don't want -to see it carried too far." - -"Oh, you needn't blame us for everything," sneered Plum. "You're tarred -with the same brush." - -"There is no use in discussing the matter now," said Dave. "What we -want to do is to find poor Frank. Why, he may be seriously hurt!" - -"I trust not," answered Messmer, turning pale. - -The students walked into the wood and a search was begun that lasted -the best part of an hour. Nobody got on the trail of the missing boy -and no more cries were heard. It was so dark that but little could be -seen, and at last the whole crowd came out on the road again. - -The thoughts of a trolley ride had been abandoned by the members of the -Gee Eyes, and they decided to get back to the Hall as soon as possible. - -"But Dr. Clay ought to be told about Frank," said Dave, to Messmer and -Jardell. - -"I'll tell him," answered Messmer, promptly. "I'll tell him the truth, -even if I'm dismissed from the school for it." - -"So will I," added Jardell. - -"Going to get us into trouble, eh?" growled Gus Plum. "Better go slow." - -"I'll not mention any names," said Messmer. - -"Neither will I," added Jardell. "I am not that kind." - -Presently all of the students returned to Oak Hall by the shortest -possible route. The Gee Eyes went in a crowd by themselves, and because -of an open back door had small difficulty in entering without being -noticed. A little later Plum and his cronies came in, followed by -Messmer and Jardell. - -"Do you think Messmer and Jardell will really go to the doctor?" -questioned Sam Day. - -"I do," answered Dave. "They are good, honest fellows, both of them. -After this I reckon they'll give Plum and his crowd the go-by." And in -that surmise Dave was correct. - -The boys listened in the upper hallway, and soon heard Messmer and -Jardell enter the Hall. The two held a whispered talk for a minute and -then walked boldly to Dr. Clay's room and rapped on the door. - -"They are certainly going to face the music," whispered Roger. - -"I admire their grit," was Ben's comment. - -The knock on the doctor's door was answered by a voice from within, and -presently Dr. Clay appeared, clad in his dressing-gown. Then the owner -of the Hall and the two students went down to the office. - -Exactly all that passed between the doctor and Messmer and Jardell was -never known to the school at large. But it was known that the boys told -a straight story and utterly refused to mention any names but their own -and poor Frank Bond's. As soon as the meeting in the office was over -Dr. Clay summoned Jackson Lemond and Swingly the janitor, and all three -went out, taking Messmer and Jardell with them. - -"They have gone on a hunt," said Dave. "Oh, I do hope they find that -poor lad!" - -It goes without saying that some of the students did not sleep well -that night. Plum, Poole, and Jasniff were particularly restless, -fearing they would be called to the bar of justice. They were sure -Messmer and Jardell would "blab" on them, as the bully expressed it. - -"But if they do, I'll hammer the life out of them," said the bully. - -"And so will I," added Jasniff. - -In the morning it was easy to see that something was wrong. The -teachers and hired help went around whispering to themselves, and there -was a good deal of quiet talking among the boys. It was soon learned -that Frank Bond was still missing and nobody knew what had become of -him. - -As soon as the school was assembled Dr. Clay addressed the students. - -"Young gentlemen, a most deplorable thing occurred last night," he -began. "One of the younger students was taken out and 'initiated,' as -it is called, into one of your secret societies. The strain was too -great on his nerves, and after being hurt by a trolley car, he became -half-crazy and disappeared into the North End woods. Two students have -already told me about the affair. I want to know the names of the -others connected with this occurrence. Anybody who had anything to do -with it, stand up." - -There was a full minute of silence and the students looked keenly at -one another. - -"Does anybody in this assembly room know anything about this at all?" -went on the master of Oak Hall. "Remember, young gentlemen, it is a -serious matter, and I want to learn all there is to know of it." - -As the doctor ceased speaking Dave arose in his seat. He was promptly -followed by Roger, Ben, and half a dozen others of the Gee Eyes. The -other students looked at those who had arisen in astonishment, while -Plum, Poole, and Jasniff were dumfounded. - -"Is he going to blab too?" whispered Jasniff to Plum, indicating Dave. - -"Looks like it." - -"Porter, what have you to say?" questioned Dr. Clay. - -"Not a great deal, sir, but I am willing to tell what I can. I had -nothing to do with the hazing, or whatever you may call it. But I was -out near the woods last night and I saw Frank Bond run across the -road and plunge into the woods at the North End. A whole crowd of us -searched for him, but we could not find him." - -"And what have you to say, Morr?" - -"I was with Dave Porter, sir," answered the senator's son. - -"So was I," "And I," came from the others of the Gee Eyes. - -"You had nothing to do with Frank Bond previous to his becoming -frightened and running away?" demanded the master of the Hall, sharply. - -"No, sir, I was not near him, nor were any of my companions," answered -Dave, indicating his friends. - -"Then you were not with Messmer and Jardell?" - -"Not until after we met on the road and started to hunt for Bond, sir." - -"We were with an entirely different party, Dr. Clay," said Messmer, -rising in his seat. - -"The party that 'initiated' Bond, is that it?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Are those students in this room?" - -Messmer remained silent. - -"Messmer, answer me." - -"Dr. Clay, they are in this room, but I--I cannot tell you who they -are." - -"Porter, what have you to say?" - -There was a moment of breathless silence. - -"Dr. Clay, I would rather you would not ask me to mention any names," -said Dave, slowly but firmly. "I think every fellow ought to speak up -for himself. He will if he has any honor about him." - -"Then you decline to speak?" - -"I am very sorry to say that I do, sir." - -There was another pause, and then a rather stupid boy arose and began -to shuffle his feet uneasily. - -"What is it, Seabold?" asked the doctor. - -"I ain't going to hang back no longer, Dr. Clay," stammered Seabold. -"I was in that--er--that mix-up with Messmer and Jardell. Porter and -Morr and that crowd didn't have anything to do with it. I don't like -to be a sneak, but I can't stand up for such a sneak as Gus Plum, nor -Nat Poole, nor Nick Jasniff neither. We were all in it together, and as -Porter says, they ought to have honor enough to speak up and take their -share of the blame. We didn't mean to hurt Frank Bond, only to scare -him. When he ran away I got scared myself and so did the others. We -began to hunt for Frank, and then Porter and his crowd came along and -helped us. But it was no use, we couldn't find the boy. I ain't slept -all night thinking of Frank. I'd give all I'm worth to find him." - -"Who got up the plan to tie Bond to the trolley track?" - -"Gus Plum spoke of it first." - -"It ain't so!" yelled Gus Plum, leaping up, his face very red. "I -didn't have anything more to do with it than anybody else." - -"He spoke of it to me," added Seabold. - -"Poole, what have you to say?" - -"I--er--I didn't have hardly anything to do with it," said Nat, lamely, -his knees shaking beneath him. "I--er--looked on--mostly." - -"Jasniff, did you propose the plan?" - -"No, sir," answered Jasniff, boldly. "I reckon Messmer and Jardell and -Seabold hatched it up between them." - -"So they did," put in Plum, maliciously. - -"That is positively false," declared Messmer. "As a matter of fact -I said I didn't want to go so far, because Frank seemed to be so -frightened. If I had had my own way I should have released him long -before the trolley car came along. He was too nervous to stand such -fun." - -"If the truth is to come out, Gus Plum is the one who proposed tying -Bond to the trolley track," said Jardell. "I wasn't going to say a -word, but I am not going to stand here and let him throw the blame on -Messmer and me, or on Porter and his crowd, or anybody else. I have -told the exact truth so far as I am concerned, and I am ready to take -any punishment that is coming to me." - -After this a long talk followed, and in the end the master of the Hall -said he would take up the matter later, when it was learned what had -become of Frank Bond. In the meantime, so great was the excitement, the -school was dismissed for the day, and those who wished to do so were -told that they might go out until sundown in a search for the missing -pupil. - -"I am certainly going out," said Dave, to Roger and Ben. "I think we -ought to do our best to find him, or else find out about him." - -"Maybe he jumped into the river and drowned himself," suggested Ben. - -"Or fell over some cliff and got killed," added the senator's son. "A -fellow so scared as he was might do almost anything. But I agree with -Dave, we ought to go out." - -The matter was talked over, and in the end Dave, Ben, Roger, and Beggs -set off in a little party, taking a lunch with them. In the meantime -others went out too, so that the woods known as the North End were -alive with boys and men, all searching for the missing student. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE CAVERN IN THE WOODS - - -The four students remembered the part of the big woods which had been -gone over before and consequently they did not attempt to search for -Frank Bond in that direction. They struck out over a small hill and -then along somewhat of a hollow, though which ran a small creek that -flowed into the Leming River. - -The way was rough and uncertain, and several times they had fairly to -force their progress through the bushes. Once Buster Beggs got caught -so thoroughly that the others had to turn back to aid him. - -"Do you think Frank could have come in this direction?" questioned -Roger. "How could he get through?" - -"A fellow who is half crazy will do all sorts of queer things," -answered Dave. "And as we couldn't find him in the other part of the -woods, it appears to me as if he must have come this way." - -Over an hour was spent in searching along the creek, but without avail. -They called Frank's name a great number of times, but not a sound came -back save the call of the birds. - -"I shouldn't like to run across any snakes," said Buster Beggs. - -"I don't believe there are any very bad snakes in this woods," answered -Ben. - -They now made another turn and came up to the face of a rocky cliff. -Suddenly Dave leaped forward. - -"Look! look!" he cried, and held up a handkerchief covered with blood. -In one corner were the initials, F. A. B. - -"Frank A. Bond," said Roger. "We must be on the right track." - -"Oh, if only we don't find the poor fellow dead!" murmured Dave. - -Further on the rocks were very rough, and then came a cleft leading -into a small cavern. The entrance was dark and partly covered with -brush. - -"See, the bushes are torn and broken," was Ben's comment. "Somebody has -been walking in and out." - -They gazed into the cavern, but for a few seconds could see nothing. - -"Frank!" called out Dave. "Frank Bond!" - -"Help!" came back, in a faint voice. "Help me!" - -"He is here!" exclaimed Dave. "Has anybody a match so we can make a -light?" - -Buster Briggs had some matches, which he used for his bicycle lamp, and -with one of these the four boys set fire to some dry brushwood they -pulled up. The glare from the flames lit up the interior of the cavern, -and they gazed inside, to behold poor Frank Bond lying in a corner on -some leaves. The young student was utterly exhausted and lay with his -eyes closed. - -"Frank, are you hurt?" asked Dave, bending over him. "I mean, are you -hurt very badly?" - -At the sound of Dave's voice the youth on the leaves opened his eyes -for a moment. - -"Take me back to school!" he gasped. "Don't--don't let the trolley run -over me!" - -"Frank, you are safe now--nothing is going to hurt you," said the -senator's son. "Tell us where you are hurt." - -"I--I----" Frank Bond stared around him. "I thought it was the Plum -crowd after me! Whe--where did you come from?" - -"From the school. We came out to look for you." - -"Oh!" - -"What about your hurts?" asked Ben. - -"Oh, I got my arm hurt, and my leg, and I fell down and cut my face," -answered the sufferer. "I--I don't know how I got here, and I didn't -know the way home, and I got hungry and sleepy, and--and----" Frank -Bond could not go on, but burst into tears. - -"We'll fix you up," said Dave, kindly. "We've brought some lunch -with us and you shall have all you want. Start up that fire briskly, -fellows." - -The fire was built up in good shape, and two torches were brought into -the cavern. Then Frank Bond was propped up against a wall and given -something to eat and to drink. He was very hungry and ate up fully half -of what the four boys carried. Water was then brought in from the creek -and his several wounds were washed and dressed. Fortunately none of -them was serious, although they had been very painful. - -The small student was still in a highly nervous state and the others -did all they could to quiet him. He remembered being tied to the -trolley track and running away, but could not tell how he had reached -the cavern or how long he had remained there. - -"I guess I was plumb crazy," he declared. "I thought sure the trolley -car was going to run over me!" - -At last the others managed to get him to his feet. But he was too weak -to walk more than a few steps at a time. - -"I--I can't do it," he gasped. "Oh, how will I ever get back to the -Hall?" - -"Let us take turns at carrying him," suggested Dave. "Frank, you can -hold on to my back, can't you?" - -The small student said he would try, and putting out the fire the whole -party quitted the cavern, the hurt lad on Dave's back. It was quite a -load for Dave to master, but he managed it for several hundred yards, -when each of the others took a turn. Thus, after hard work, they got -Frank to the roadway. - -A loud yelling brought some other boys and Andrew Dale to the scene. -One of the boys had his wheel and, riding on this, he went back to the -academy and had Jackson Lemond come for Frank with a carriage. Then a -pistol was fired off three times,--this being the signal showing that -the missing one was found. Soon pupils and teachers came trooping back -to Oak Hall, all anxious to listen to Frank's story. - -As soon as he arrived at the Hall, the small student was taken to -a private bedroom and a doctor was sent for to attend him. In the -meantime he was given something hot to drink and rolled in blankets, -that he might not take cold. Not until that evening did Dr. Clay -attempt to get the details of his story from the sufferer. - -When the physician arrived he said that Frank's hurts were not of a -serious nature. "He has been more frightened than anything else," said -the doctor. "He must be kept very quiet for at least a week, and after -that, Dr. Clay, you had better let him go slowly with his studies for a -month or so." - -"I'll do it," answered the master of Oak Hall. - -"This lad is of a high-strung temperament and he has been under an -unusual mental strain." - -"You do not think he will suffer permanently?" asked the good doctor, -anxiously. - -"Oh, no, but he must be kept quiet." - -In an easy kind of way Dr. Clay drew from Frank Bond his whole story -of the initiation into the D. D. A. Club. From the lad he learned that -Plum and Jasniff had been the prime movers in the so-called fun, and -that Poole had backed them up. He at once sent for the three to come to -his private office. - -"I reckon we're in for it now," growled Plum, on receiving the summons. - -"Deny everything," advised Nick Jasniff. He thought nothing of telling -a falsehood whenever it suited him. - -When the three entered the office Dr. Clay faced them sternly. - -"I want to have a talk to you three young gentlemen," said the master -of Oak Hall. "I have learned the truth of the Frank Bond affair and I -want to know what you mean by such conduct." - -The three tried to excuse themselves, but it was to no purpose. The -doctor read them through and through, and then gave each a lecture -that was never forgotten. - -"Fun is fun, but this was not fun," said he. "Bond is a delicate and -highly nervous boy, and to do what you did was to make him suffer most -horribly. It is a wonder that you did not drive him insane. As it is, -he will suffer for a long time to come, and if his parents see fit -to prosecute you it will be your own fault if you are sent to jail. -More than that, you have disgraced this school, and for that I intend -to punish you myself. Each of you must remain inside of the academy -grounds for the next two weeks, and in addition I will give you some -extra lessons in history to learn, and I want them learned thoroughly. -And more than this, if you are ever concerned in such a disgraceful -proceeding again I shall dismiss you from Oak Hall." - -When the three students left the doctor's office Nat Poole was so cowed -that he trembled in every limb. Plum, too, was subdued, but Jasniff was -boiling with inward rage. - -"I didn't come here to be bulldozed," he declared. "If I want some fun -I am going to have it. If old Clay sends me away, I guess I'll find -some other school just as good." Jasniff was certainly a bad youth, but -the others were still to find out how really bad he was. - -After this a week slipped by rather quickly. During that time Dave got -word from the Lawrences that Phil was a trifle better physically, but -that his head hurt him a great deal. He was still in bed and there was -no telling when he would get around again. - -"I trust it doesn't hurt his head permanently," said Dave, for at least -the fiftieth time. He had heard of a boy who had had his head hurt by a -water-wheel and had become silly in consequence. - -"Let us hope for the best," answered Roger. "Poor Phil! It would -certainly be awful if he didn't get around all right again!" - -The injuries received by Phil and Frank Bond put something of a damper -on the school and for some time matters ran along very quietly. Plum -was troubled in more ways than one. He was afraid he was going to hear -from Frank Bond's father or the police, and he was also worrying over -his football wagers. He had lost all his spending money and he owed -about thirty dollars, and his friends were pressing him to pay up. He -had gone to Poole for a loan, but Nat had all he could do to pay his -own losses. Jasniff had promised to do something, but since the Bond -affair had said nothing more on the subject. - -"Say, Nick, I thought you were going to help me get some money," said -he one day to his crony, when he could keep silent no longer. - -"Haven't you got some money from home?" asked the other boy, with a -leer. - -"No, my dad can't spare any just now," answered the bully, bluntly. He -was growing desperate. His father had written that he must get along -without spending money for at least a month more. - -"Well, I'll let you know what I can do in a week or so," answered -Jasniff, slowly. - -"You said that before--right after the football game." - -"Well, I haven't been able to see those fellows yet." - -"What fellows?" - -"Those I want to talk to." - -"Can't you hurry it up, Nick? I want some money the worst way--ten or -fifteen dollars at least." - -The two were alone, down at the old boathouse, and Jasniff was smoking -a cigarette on the sly. He blew a cloud of smoke to the ceiling. - -"Wonder if I can trust you to keep mum?" he said, slowly and -deliberately. - -"About what?" - -"About a little plan I've got to make some money." - -"Haven't you always been able to trust me, Nick?" - -"Certainly, but--this is out of the ordinary." - -"I never went back on you yet." - -"Will you promise to keep silent if I tell you something?" - -"Yes." - -"I've got a scheme to get hold of several hundred dollars." - -"That's good." - -"It will take some--er--quiet work on the part of both of us to do the -trick." - -"Well, as I said before, I am with you." - -"Can I trust you absolutely?" demanded Jasniff, looking Plum closely in -the face. - -"You can." - -"Then take a walk and we'll talk the matter over. But remember, if you -say a word to anybody about it--well, you had better not, that's all!" - -They walked to a secluded spot and there, slowly and cautiously, -Nick Jasniff unfolded a plot to get money which filled Gus Plum with -curiosity, fear, wonder, and fascination. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -A BOY AND A MOTOR CYCLE - - -With all the excitement Dave had not forgotten his studies and each day -he spent all the time that was necessary in preparing his lessons. He -had a faculty of concentrating his mind upon what he was doing and this -made learning easy. - -"Going in for the medal of honor, I suppose," said Roger one day, as he -observed Dave grinding away at a Latin exercise. "Well, if you win it I -guess you'll deserve it." - -"I am going to do what I can, Roger. I didn't come to Oak Hall just to -cut up." - -The medal of honor had been promised by Dr. Clay to the pupil who -should stand highest in lessons and deportment at the end of the term. -It was a beautiful medal of solid gold, and many students secretly -hoped to win it. So far Polly Vane was in the lead, with Dave, Buster -Beggs, Sam Day, Roger, and a student named Langdale close behind. - -"Langdale says he is going to win or die in the attempt," went on -the senator's son. "He is studying day and night, and so far his -deportment has been about perfect." - -"Well, mine hasn't been--at least, not according to Job Haskers," -answered Dave. "He marks me down whenever he can." - -"He does that to all of us," said Sam Day, who was near. "I wish he'd -mark us up once." - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow Hamilton, who was -resting on the end of a bed. "A clothing dealer was going to have a -fire sale. So he lit some damp paper in his stove and turned off the -draught, so that his stock got all smoked up. Then he called his son -Moses up. 'Make out new brice tickets,' says he to Moses. 'All right, -fader,' says Moses, and goes to work, and the next day he put out suits -of clothing labeled like this: 'Great Fire Sale! Suits marked down from -$9.00 to $7.98.' Soon a man came along to buy a suit. 'Why,' says he, -'that suit was only $5.50 two days ago.' 'Yes,' says Moses. 'Vos it? -Vell, ve haf der fire since, and now der suits vos all moth-broof!'" - -"Phew! that's enough to drive all the lessons from a fellow's head!" -cried Dave, after a short laugh. "Where did you get it, Shadow?" - -"Maybe he picked it out of the Old Farmers' Almanack," said Buster -Beggs. - -"Which puts me in mind," began Shadow calmly. "A boy----" - -"Not to-day!" interrupted Roger. "That's the fiftieth you've told this -week. I'm going out for a spin, boys." - -"Going to try that new motor cycle?" queried Dave, looking up. - -"Yes." - -"Well, don't let it run away with you," and Dave smiled broadly. - -"No fear," said Roger, with a laugh, and left the dormitory. - -The senator's son had received a new motor cycle the day before. It was -a beautiful nickel-plated affair and Roger was very proud of it. He -knew a little about motor cycles, so it did not take him long to get -the machine in trim for use. He took a spin up and down the road, and -let Dave and some others try it, and all pronounced it a beauty. - -Roger was soon on the motor cycle and speeding in the direction of -Oakdale. In the town he made a few small purchases, and then came away -for a spin in the direction of Rockville, taking a side road which he -thought in better condition than the main road. - -The senator's son had covered a mile when he saw two boys on bicycles -approaching him. He reduced his speed, and as the pair came closer he -recognized Plum and Jasniff. - -"Got your motor out, eh?" said the bully of Oak Hall, rather sourly. - -"Yes," returned Roger, briefly. - -"Can you get it to work?" - -"The machine works perfectly." - -"I'd rather have my bicycle," sneered Jasniff. "That thing makes too -much noise for me." - -"So would I," added Gus Plum. "Too much noise and too much smell." - -"I'd rather have the motor cycle, so there you are," answered the -senator's son, and moved on again, while the others did the same. "I -guess it's a case of sour grapes," he told himself. - -Roger had just passed a bend of the road when something happened to -the battery which supplied the electric spark to ignite the gasoline. -He set the motor cycle against a rock, and it was a full quarter of an -hour before he could make the battery work. During that time somebody -came through the bushes near him and looked at the youth, but Roger -took no notice. - -The motor cycle ready for use once more, the senator's son hopped -on the saddle and turned on the power. All seemed to go well and -presently, to make up for lost time, he put on all speed. - -"It won't do to be late for supper," he reasoned. "Haskers will catch -me sure." - -He passed another turn, between some high bushes. The way was now -downhill, leading over a small stream flowing into the Leming River. -The motor cycle took the down-grade at a rapid rate of speed, and -fearing an accident, Roger attempted to turn off the power and put on -the brake. - -To his horror he could not move the power lever, which had become -caught in some manner. The motor cycle was now bounding down the road -at a terrific rate of speed. Just ahead was the little bridge. Roger -gave a vain tug or two. Then the machine struck the rough boards of the -bridge, made a turn against the stone wall, and heels over head the -senator's son went sailing over the stone wall to the rocks and water -below! - -It was a terrible fall, much worse than that experienced by Dave and -Babcock when they had run into the fallen tree, and no sooner did Roger -land than his senses forsook him. His legs and part of his body went -into the water, while his head and arms rested on some sand. - -The short autumn day drew to a close and Roger did not appear at Oak -Hall. The other students went to supper and then for the first Dave -learned that the senator's son had not gotten back. - -"Where is Master Morr?" demanded Job Haskers, severely. - -"He went out on his new motor cycle," answered Dave. "Perhaps he had a -breakdown." - -"If he was not sure he could get back in time he should not have gone -out," snapped the disagreeable teacher. - -Supper over, some of the students retired to their dormitories while -others sought the library and the gymnasium. Dave and Ben looked -around for Roger, but as he did not put in an appearance they obtained -permission from Andrew Dale to go out on their bicycles and make a hunt -for the missing one. - -"He must be somewhere in this vicinity," said Dave. - -"He said he was going to Oakdale and would then come back by the Cass -Brook road," returned Ben. - -"Let us take to the Cass Brook road then, Ben. Maybe we'll meet him." - -With their bicycle lamps lit and turned up brightly, the pair set -off, and were soon out of sight of Oak Hall. The road was smooth and -they made rapid progress. Ben took to one side of the road while Dave -pursued the other. All was dark and quiet, not a breath of air stirring -the almost leafless trees. - -A mile covered, they slowed down, to peer into the bushes beside the -road. They were now within half a mile of the bridge where Roger had -taken the tumble. - -"Hello! here comes somebody!" cried Dave, presently, and looked ahead. -The rays of the bicycle lamp fell on a figure covered with dirt and -dripping wet. "I declare, it's Roger!" - -Dave had scarcely uttered the words when the figure tottered and fell. -Riding up, the two boys dismounted and rushed forward. Roger lay in the -middle of the road, his face resting on one arm. - -"Roger what is it?" asked Dave. "Are you badly hurt?" - -"I--I took a header--over the bridge!" gasped the senator's son, when -he could speak. "I--fell in th--the water!" His teeth began to chatter. -"My, but it was co--co--cold!" - -"Any bones broken?" - -"I--I reckon no--not. But I am awfully we--weak!" - -"Where is the motor cycle?" asked Ben. - -"I--I do--don't know." - -"Here, put on my sweater," said Dave, and hastened to take off that -which was wet. "We must get him to the Hall somehow," he added. - -"If he isn't hurt he had better walk," returned Ben. "It will help to -get his blood in circulation." - -"Maybe I can walk if you'll help me," answered Roger. - -The two bicycles were hidden in the bushes and Dave got on one side of -the senator's son and Ben on the other. Thus supported, the sufferer -started again for Oak Hall. He was hurried along as fast as possible, -and arrived there feeling somewhat warmer than when discovered by Dave -and Ben. Under Dr. Clay's directions he was put to bed and given some -hot tea to drink. Only his left hand was bruised and this was washed -and plastered up. - -Having gotten Roger to Oak Hall, Dave and Ben received permission to go -back to the brook road for their wheels. They found the bicycles where -they had left them, and then went on a hunt for Roger's motor cycle. - -"It certainly ought to be at the bridge," said Ben. - -"If it didn't blow up," answered Dave, "or run off of its own accord. -Roger said he couldn't shut off the power." - -"If it ran off alone I don't think it would go very far, Dave." - -The bridge reached, they looked around in all directions but could see -nothing of the motor cycle. They went down to where Roger had landed -and saw the impression of his body and feet in the wet sand. - -"He can thank his stars that he didn't break his neck," said Dave. -"This beats the fall Paul and I took." - -"It's queer you never got to the bottom of that accident, Dave." - -"Maybe I will, some day. I am certain that tree didn't fall of itself." - -Having spent fully a quarter of an hour in looking for the motor cycle -without success, there seemed to be nothing to do but to return to Oak -Hall. This they did, and stored their wheels in the room set apart at -the gymnasium for that purpose. - -"Didn't find the motor cycle, eh?" said Sam Day, who was practising on -the rings. "That is certainly queer." - -"Maybe the motor cycle was stolen," suggested Shadow. - -"Who would steal such a machine?" asked Ben. "Very few know how to run -them." - -"They might have taken it away in a wagon. Some people are mean enough -to steal anything they lay hands on." - -Dave and Ben spent some time in cleaning their bicycles and in oiling -them. Then they left the gymnasium in company with Sam Day and several -others. As they approached the Hall, Macklin came running out. - -"Did you hear the news?" cried the younger student. - -"News?" queried Dave. "What news?" - -"About Roger Morr?" - -"We know he had a bad tumble, and we know we can't find his motor -cycle," said Ben. - -"Oh, so the machine is gone too," went on Chip Macklin. "Well, that -certainly beats all!" - -"What beats all?" asked Dave. - -"This whole affair about Roger. When they put him to bed they didn't -give his clothing much attention. Now they have just found out that he -either lost everything he had or else he was robbed." - -"Lost? Robbed?" cried Dave. "Are you sure of this?" - -"Yes. You can go up yourself if you wish." - -"I will," said Dave, and ran up to the dormitory. Several boys were -present and also Dr. Clay and Andrew Dale. - -"This is remarkable and must be investigated," Dr. Clay was saying. -"Ah, here is Master Porter now. Did you find the motor cycle?" - -"No, sir, it wasn't in sight anywhere. Ben and I looked high and low -for it." - -"Then that must have been stolen too," said Andrew Dale. - -"They tell me Roger was robbed," said Ben. "What did he lose?" - -"Lost a whole lot of things," replied Roger himself. "My watch and -my diamond stickpin, and a gold ring, some loose change, and forty -dollars that father sent me for some new books I've been ordering! -Somebody cleaned me out for fair!" And the senator's son spoke very -disconsolately. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -WHAT A RUNAWAY LED TO - - -The news that Roger had been robbed while unconscious spread rapidly, -and many were the speculations as to who had done the wicked deed. - -"I suppose it was somebody who just happened to come along," said Dave. -"But what a mean thing to do! That person did not know but that Roger -was dying, and made no effort to assist him!" - -Roger's story was a brief one. How long he had remained unconscious -he did not know. He came to his senses with a shiver, to find himself -lying on some rocks under one end of the stone bridge. The lower -portion of his body was wet and the chill had aided in reviving him. -When he felt strong enough he had crawled up to the road and looked for -his motor cycle. Not finding the machine, he had started for Oak Hall -on foot. He felt himself growing weaker every step and fell prostrate, -as already described, just as Dave and Ben discovered him. - -"I am awfully glad you came along," said the senator's son to his two -chums. "I don't know what I should have done if you hadn't." - -"And you didn't know a thing about being robbed, then?" queried Ben. - -"No, all I knew was that I was cold and as weak as a sick cat," was the -answer. - -A hunt was made for the robber, and the students spent several hours in -searching around the spot. Nothing was found, and the local authorities -were notified. - -This robbery, coupled with those that had gone before, aroused the -whole community. Many felt that they were no longer safe in their -homes, and a meeting was held in Oakdale and a reward of two hundred -dollars put up by the citizens for the capture and conviction of the -offenders. - -"I will get a private detective to look into this," said Dr. Clay -and did so. The detective, a quiet-looking individual named Merivel, -arrived the next day and went to work immediately. But the task proved -too much for him, and inside of a week he gave it up. - -"I reckon I am out my machine and my valuables," said Roger, who was -around once more and as well as ever. "But I do wish I could lay hands -on the rascal who went through me!" - -The days slipped by, and again Dave and his chums devoted themselves to -their studies. It was now growing colder and there was a suggestion of -snow in the air. - -"It won't be long before we have snow and ice," said Sam. "Hurrah for -some fine skating!" - -"And snowballing," added Buster. "Don't forget the fun we had last -year." - -"How we did pelt Pop Swingly!" - -"And old Haskers!" - -"You've got to be careful what you do to Haskers," said Shadow. "He is -just watching for a chance to get somebody into trouble." - -"Do you remember how Dave beat Plum in that race on the ice?" said -Roger. "That was great!" - -"By the way, Plum is cutting quite a dash again," said Buster. "His -father must have sent him a lot of spending money." - -"Then he can pay up those bets I heard about," said Macklin. - -"He has paid them up, so I was told," replied another student. "But -I'll wager it made him mad to do so." - -"He had no business to bet against his own school," said Sam. "It was a -mean piece of business. I've cut him dead for doing it." - -What was said about Gus Plum having money was true. He had paid all his -debts and in addition had spent several dollars in having a so-called -"good time" with Jasniff and Poole in a tavern on the outskirts of -Rockville. But he was not particularly happy, if one was to judge by -the worried and scared look that often showed itself on his face. At -times it looked as if he wanted to draw away from Nick Jasniff, but -that student clung to him closer than ever. - -One Friday afternoon Dave, Roger, and Ben got out of school a little -early and resolved to walk to Oakdale, just for the exercise and to -buy a few things of trifling importance. They were soon on the way, -and arriving at the town lost no time in making their purchases. In -Oakdale they met Mrs. Fairchild and asked her if she had heard anything -concerning the robbery at her house. - -"Not a thing," said the widow; "and I suppose I never shall." - -With their purchases in their pockets, the students left the town and -started on the return to the academy. As it was nipping cold, they -walked rapidly, only stopping on the way to pick up some chestnuts -which were handy. - -Each had his pocket filled with chestnuts, when all heard a commotion -around a bend of the road. - -"What's that?" questioned Dave, looking ahead. - -"Sounds like a runaway!" exclaimed Ben. - -"If it is we had better be getting out of the way," said Roger. "I have -no desire to be run over." - -The noise came closer and from a distance they heard a man shouting -wildly. - -"Sthop! Sthop, I said! Vot you vants to run avay for, annahow?" - -"It's Zumm, the baker!" cried Dave. "His horse must be running away!" - -The sounds of hoofs could now be distinguished, and in a moment more -the steed came in sight, dragging a baker's wagon behind him. The -vehicle swayed from side to side, threatening to go over any instant. - -"Look out!" - -"He is running away and no mistake!" - -"Where is Zumm?" - -"He must have been thrown out!" - -Nearer and nearer came the frightened horse. He was less than a hundred -feet away when he swerved to one side, running two of the wheels of the -wagon into some low bushes. - -"I am going to stop him if I can!" cried Dave, with sudden -determination. - -Before Ben or Roger could stop him he was out in the road and leaping -for the head of the frightened horse. He caught hold of the bridle and -hung fast. - -"You'll be killed, Dave!" - -"Don't go under his feet!" - -"Sthop him, sthop him!" came from the German baker who owned the -outfit. He was running after the horse and wagon as rapidly as his -somewhat bulky form permitted. - -Dave paid no attention to the cries but clung fast. The horse did a -good deal of dancing and prancing but it was of no avail. Finally he -backed into the bushes until the back of the wagon struck a tree, and -there he remained, trembling violently in every limb. - -"Good for you, Dave!" sang out Ben, in admiration. "I must say, you -know exactly how to handle a horse." - -"Pick up those lines," panted Dave, and stepping forward, Roger did so. -Then Ben came up on the other side of the frightened animal and soon -they had the horse completely subdued and standing quiet. - -"Is he--is he all right, yes?" panted the German baker, coming up all -out of breath. - -"I think so," answered Dave. "He had a big scare, though." - -"Yah, dot's so." - -"What made him go off?" - -"Noddings but a biece of baber in der road. Ven he see dot, he got so -oxcitements like neffer vos alretty!" - -"Did he throw you out?" asked Ben. - -"No, I vos got out to bick up some chestnuts, and I let him valk along -py himselluf. Den all to vonce he kicks up his heels and runds avay -kvick! Next dime ven I go avay I ton't let him alone a minute!" - -The German baker was anxious concerning his stock in trade, and while -the boys continued to hold the horse he climbed into the wagon to look -after his bread, and pastries. - -"Chust vot I dink!" he groaned. "Dem nice cakes vos all cracked -alretty! Now vot I got to do, tole me dot?" - -"Cracked cakes?" queried Roger, with a grin. - -"Yah. You see, I vos make some nice cakes for Mrs. Dill's barty. Da vos -sphoiled and now I haf to make more." - -"Don't throw them away," said Dave. "We'll eat a cracked cake any day." - -"So? All right, my poys. You do me a favor to sthop mine horse, I vos -gif you der cakes, yes," answered Mr. Zumm. - -He was a liberal-hearted man and without delay brought out several -large cakes, somewhat crushed and broken but still well worth eating. -The sight of such good things set Dave to thinking. - -"Fellows, I've got an idea!" he said. "Let's buy Mr. Zumm's cakes and -pies and have a feast to-night!" - -"Just the thing!" came from both Ben and Roger. - -"I not sell you dem cakes," said the baker, when the matter was -explained to him. "You vos goot poys, yes, and I like you. I gif you -four pig cakes, mit der pastepoard poxes to carry dem in." - -"Thanks, you are very kind," said Dave, and the others said the same. -They insisted, however, upon purchasing several pies, and also some -chocolate éclairs. The goodies were put into several pasteboard boxes, -and then the boys hurried off towards the Hall and Mr. Zumm resumed his -journey to town. - -The three boys had some little difficulty in getting into Oak Hall with -their pasteboard boxes. They were going up a back stairs when Nat Poole -caught sight of them. - -"Hello, something doing, I'll be bound!" said Poole to himself. "Guess -I'll watch and see what it means!" - -He crouched out of sight in a dark angle of the hallway and allowed -Dave, Roger, and Ben to pass him. Then, when the dormitory door was -closed, Nat Poole tiptoed up to it. - -"Put the cakes on the top shelf," he heard Dave say. "The pies can go -over in that corner." - -"A spread!" murmured Nat Poole to himself. - -"I don't think we ought to start too early," came in Ben's voice. "Let -us make it exactly midnight just for the fun of the thing." - -"That suits me," answered the senator's son. "Who is to be invited?" - -This was talked over, and it was decided to ask all the inmates of -Dormitories No. 11 and 12 and also a few of the students in No. 8, -including Henshaw and Babcock. - -"But we want to be very quiet about it," cautioned Dave. "If Haskers -should hear of it, he'd make all the trouble he could for us." - -"Mum's the word, and I'll tell the other fellows so," answered Roger. - -"Don't let Plum, or Poole, or Jasniff get an inkling of this," -cautioned Ben. "They would like nothing better than to spoil our fun." - -"Yes, we certainly must be careful of that crowd," answered Dave. - -The three boys remained in the dormitory for quarter of an hour, -talking matters over and making their arrangements for the midnight -feast, and Nat Poole took in every word that was said. Then, as Dave, -Ben, and Roger started to come out into the hallway, Poole ran off and -managed to get down into the dining hall ahead of them. - -"I've got news," he whispered to Gus Plum, who sat beside him. "I'll -tell you all about it after supper." - -"What kind of news?" questioned the bully. - -"About a feast. The Porter crowd expects to pull off something big -to-night, and I know exactly how we can block their game and land them -in all kinds of trouble!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -MORE PLANS THAN ONE - - -Dave and his chums waited impatiently for bed-time and in the meanwhile -the invitation to participate in the coming feast was extended to all -who had been mentioned as possible guests. All accepted with pleasure, -and Babcock said he expected to have a "whang-bang time," whatever that -might mean. - -About nine o'clock Dave and Roger got ready to retire to the dormitory. -They were just going upstairs when Chip Macklin came rushing up to them. - -"Come with me," cried the small student, in breathless tones. - -"Where to?" questioned Dave. - -"Never mind--come on, and be quick about it." - -Seeing that something unusual was up, Dave and Roger followed Macklin -to a back hallway. Here the small student looked around cautiously, to -make sure that they were not being observed. - -"It's all off!" were Macklin's first words. "The sooner you get rid of -that cake and stuff the better!" - -"What makes you say that?" demanded Dave. - -"I just overheard Nat Poole talking to Plum and Jasniff. They mentioned -your name and something about breaking up a feast, and I made up -my mind something was in the wind. I don't like to play the sneak -any more"--Macklin got red as he said this--"but I felt I had to in -this case. Poole told his cronies all about the stuff hidden in our -dormitories and about the feast to be had at midnight, and they planned -to go to old Haskers and to Dr. Clay and have us all caught red-handed!" - -At this announcement the faces of Dave and Roger fell for a moment. - -"So you'd better get the stuff out of the way at once," went on Chip -Macklin. - -"Tell me just what was said," said Dave, after an awkward pause, and -Macklin did as requested. As he proceeded Dave's eyes lit up in sudden -merriment. - -"So that is their game," he said. "Well, we'll pay them back,--just -wait and see!" - -"One thing is certain, the feast is off," said Roger, with a sigh. - -"Not a bit of it," answered Dave. "Didn't you hear what Chip said? They -are going to rouse up Haskers and Dr. Clay about eleven o'clock, so -as to catch us red-handed. What's the matter with having our little -jollification before that time?" - -"Good for you, Dave! But we'll have to be careful----" - -"Leave it to me, and I'll fix the whole thing," replied Dave. - -It was not long after that when all the pupils of Oak Hall retired to -their dormitories. In the meantime Dave lost no time in going among his -chums and acquainting them with the new order of things. - -Dave's plan worked like a charm. He rightfully guessed that Nat Poole -would be listening at one of the dormitory doors. Accordingly he spoke -in a loud voice after the door was locked. - -"We'll have to wait until twelve o'clock before we touch a mouthful," -he said. "In the meantime let us fix that lemonade and those other -things. All of the other fellows will come in at exactly quarter to -twelve. The feast is to last from twelve to one o'clock." - -"I'm sorry I've got to wait until twelve o'clock," said Ben, in an -equally loud tone. "But if that is the rule of this club, why, I'll -have to obey." - -"Those other good things won't arrive until quarter to twelve," said -Roger. - -So the talk ran on until the boys were undressed and ready to retire. -Then the lights were put out and all became quiet. - -In the darkened hallway Babcock was on guard. Soon he came in with a -broad grin on his face. - -"You've fooled 'em completely," he whispered. "They have arranged to -call up the doctor and old Haskers at exactly half-past eleven, and -they are going to pounce in here just a few minutes after twelve,--when -they expect everything to be in full blast. Plum says he will help -smash down a door, if it is necessary." - -"Well, it won't be necessary," answered Dave, dryly. - -As soon as all was quiet, the good things were brought forth and -all the invited guests lost no time in "making themselves at home," -as Buster Beggs expressed it. Growing boys always have tremendous -appetites, and it did not take long for the larger portion of the cakes -and pies to disappear. - -"Ah!" sighed Sam Day, at last. "I must let up, I am too full for -utterance." - -"I can't eat another mouthful," said Polly Vane, as he finished a -chocolate éclair. "It was delicious, though." - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow, who sat on the edge of -a table eating a quarter of a pumpkin pie. "A poor boy went to a Sunday -school picnic, and when eating time came he filled up on sandwiches -and cake and lemonade until he was ready to burst. Then they brought -around some ice-cream. 'Johnny,' says a lady, 'you'll have some -ice-cream, won't you?' Johnny looked at her for a minute, his face full -of sorrow. 'Can't,' says he. 'Why not?' says the lady. 'Because,' says -he, 'I--I kin melt it, ma'am, but I can't swaller it!'" And a laugh -went up. - -"What are you putting away?" asked Roger of Dave, who was filling two -large paper bags with cake crumbs and pie crusts. "Going to feed the -birds?" - -"No, I've got a little plan. Won't these do more good in Plum's -dormitory than in ours?" - -"Eureka!" shouted Buster, and then checked himself. "It's a splendid -plan!" he whispered. - -"Wait till they go off to rouse up the doctor and old Haskers," said -Ben. - -"That's what I had in mind to do." - -The boys assembled went over the dormitories with care, cleaning up -every evidence of the feast. Everything that was left was put in paper -bags, which Dave had provided. Then came a rather tedious wait on the -part of the majority, Dave and Roger meanwhile slipping out to learn -what the enemy was doing. - -At last came the opportunity for which Dave was waiting. He saw Poole, -Plum, and Jasniff leave their dormitory and hurry towards the rooms -occupied by the master of the Hall and his second assistant. - -"There they go, Dave!" - -"I see them, Roger. Quick! back to the room with you!" - -They ran to their own dormitory and in a minute reappeared with the -bags of broken cake and pie crusts. With these they rushed to the -dormitory occupied by the bully of the school and his cronies. The door -was ajar and all was dark inside, the students not in Poole's plot -being sound asleep. - -With deft hands Dave and Roger distributed the broken cake and the pie -crusts, putting some on a table, some on a desk, a portion in the beds -occupied by Plum, Poole, and Jasniff, and the remainder on the window -sill and the floor. Then they overturned a chair, and shoved one of the -beds partly against the door, so that it could not be readily closed. - -"Now for the alarm!" cried Dave, and lit several gas jets. Then he and -Roger set up a sudden yell and ran with might and main for their own -room. - -Dr. Clay and Job Haskers had just been awakened by Poole and his -cronies when the alarm sounded. This aroused Andrew Dale and fully two -score of students, and all rushed into the hallways to learn what it -meant. - -"A feast in Dormitory 12, eh?" said the worthy master of Oak Hall. -"I'll see about this!" And he donned his dressing gown. - -By the time he reached Dormitory 12 the whole school was in an uproar. -Some thought there might be a fire, and there was great excitement. - -"If the place is on fire, I want to get out!" cried one student. - -"There is no fire!" answered Dave. "I think it's a false alarm." - -"Didn't the alarm come from Plum's room?" asked one pupil. - -"I think it did," answered another. - -"Let us go see what is up!" - -Many rushed in that direction, followed by Andrew Dale. Then came a cry -of astonishment from the first assistant. - -"What does this mean? A feast, I declare." - -"A feast!" said Dr. Clay, who was in the rear. "I was told there was a -feast going on in Dormitory No. 12!" - -"You can see for yourself, Doctor." - -"I do see," answered the master of the Hall, severely. "Plum, what does -this mean?" - -"I--er--I don't know," stammered the bully. He was so amazed that he -could not collect his senses. - -"Poole, can you tell me what this means?" - -"N--no, sir. I--I haven't had a thing, sir." - -"Jasniff, what about this?" - -Nick Jasniff shrugged his shoulders. "I thought there was something -going on in Porter's room. Poole said so." - -"Well, who sounded that alarm here?" thundered Dr. Clay. - -To this question there was no answer. - -"We had better look in No. 12," suggested Job Haskers, who had just -come up, wrapped in a flannel robe and wearing slippers. - -The doctor and his assistants turned to the dormitory occupied by Dave -and his chums, and then looked into the bedroom adjoining. Everything -was as clean and orderly as could be. The boys were up, but they were -not dressed. - -"What's the row?" asked Buster Beggs, sleepily. "Oh, Doctor, is that -you? I thought I heard some noise." - -"Didn't you hear the alarm?" asked Dave. "I thought it woke up -everybody." - -The doctor said little but looked around the rooms with care, and so -did Job Haskers. - -"Some mistake evidently," muttered the assistant. - -"I am going to find out what the crumbs in that other dormitory mean," -answered Dr. Clay. - -He passed out, and meeting Poole in the hallway caught the pupil by the -shoulder. - -"Just come with me," he said, and led the way back to the room Nat -occupied with his cronies. "Now, explain this!" he demanded. - -Of course poor Nat Poole could not explain, and neither could Plum nor -Jasniff. They tried to tell their story, but for once the doctor was -too impatient to listen. - -"As there was no cause for that alarm, I want you all to go to bed," -said he, after listening to a few words. "It is midnight and I want -all of you to get your night's rest. In the morning I'll make an -investigation." - -"What of this muss?" faltered Poole. - -"Clean it up, every bit of it!" thundered the doctor, and passed out -and to his own room once more. - -"I won't touch the stuff!" snarled Nat Poole. - -"Neither will I," came from Plum. - -"Nor I," added Jasniff. - -"Are you going to disobey?" demanded Job Haskers, who had remained on -the scene. - -His manner was so menacing that the three students shrank before him. - -"It wasn't our fault----" began Plum. - -"Enough. I can see through your doings. You tried to get others into -trouble to hide your own tracks. This plot will not work with me. In -the morning you must clean this apartment thoroughly, or I will punish -you severely!" And having thus delivered himself Job Haskers stalked -off, leaving Plum, Poole, and Jasniff the maddest students Oak Hall had -ever known. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE FIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM - - -"This is some more of Porter's doings," growled the bully of Oak Hall, -when he and his cronies found themselves alone. - -"That's it," agreed Jasniff. "Confound him, I'd like to wring his neck!" - -"I suppose they had their feast on the quiet," grumbled Poole. "We were -foolish that we did not watch them more closely." - -The three went to bed and in the morning set to work to clean up the -dormitory. Then they had to go downstairs, to be interviewed by Job -Haskers, who gave them some extra lessons to learn, as a punishment. -He would listen to no explanation from them, happening to be in a -thoroughly bad humor himself. - -The next few days proved unusually cold, and then came a snowstorm -which covered the ground to the depth of several inches. The students -got as much fun out of the downfall as possible, snowballing each other -with great glee. They also took shots at Pop Swingly and Horsehair -while the pair were engaged in cleaning off the walks. - -"Hi! hi! stop that!" roared Swingly, as a snowball from Ben took him -in the back. Then one from Roger knocked off his hat. At the same time -Dave, rushing by, threw some loose snow down Jackson Lemond's back. - -"Whow!" spluttered the driver, dropping his broom and working at his -neck. "Who did that? Birr! it's as cold as a cake o' ice!" And he began -to shiver and dance around. - -"This weather will surely make ice," said Sam, and he was right, for -that night several inches of ice formed on the river, and this made -all the students look forward eagerly to the time when there would be -skating. - -Frank Bond had quite recovered from the shock he had received at the -hands of Plum and his cohorts. But he was still the pale, delicate, and -nervous boy as of old and shrank from contact with the more boisterous -students. He appreciated what Dave and his chums had done for him -and did his best to give the bully of the Hall a wide berth. He was -a studious lad, and soon a warm friendship sprang up between him and -Polly Vane and they often studied their lessons together, Polly giving -the younger lad all the assistance he could. - -During those days Dave looked eagerly for letters from the Wadsworths, -Caspar Potts, and his Uncle Dunston. The letters came and were full of -kind words and best wishes, yet the communication from his uncle filled -him with anxiety. In part this letter read as follows: - - "Strange as it may appear, I have not yet received a line from your - father or your sister Laura. I cannot imagine where they can be that - they do not send word of some kind. If they had received even one - letter from me concerning you, I feel sure your father would not lose - a moment in answering. I have sent to a dozen places for information, - but all in vain." - -"This is certainly a mystery," Dave said to Roger. "What do you make of -it?" - -"Oh, I shouldn't worry too much," answered the senator's son, -hopefully. "Your father and sister are probably traveling in some -out-of-the-way place in Europe where the letters and cablegrams haven't -reached them." - -"Waiting is very hard, Roger." - -"I know it must be. I suppose you want to know what your father and -sister are like." - -"That's it, and I want to be with them, too," answered the former -poorhouse youth. - -Dave wanted to find Ben, to get a book the latter had been reading. He -was told that Ben was down to the gymnasium and so strolled in that -direction. The building was almost deserted, not more than half a dozen -students being present. - -In one corner was Gus Plum and not far away Jasniff lounged on a bench. -Between the pair stood Frank Bond, his face having a white and scared -look upon it. - -"Please, Plum, I don't care to do such things," Frank was saying. "I'd -rather you'd excuse me." - -"You'll do what I want you to do!" answered Plum, brutally. "You can't -back out now." - -"But I don't want to----" began the small boy, when of a sudden the -bully of Oak Hall caught him by the ear. - -"See here, you imp, you listen to me!" snarled Plum. "I haven't -forgotten what trouble you got me into before. Now you mind me----" - -"Oh, let go, please let go!" screamed Frank. "Don't pull my ear off!" - -He tried to break away, but the bully held him fast. The next moment, -however, Dave stepped between. - -"Plum, I want you to let Frank alone," said Dave, quietly but firmly, -and at the same time looking the bully squarely in the eyes. - -"Look here, this is none of your affair," blustered Plum. - -"Let him go, I say--and at once," and now Dave clenched his fists. - -"You want more trouble with me, eh?" growled Plum, releasing the small -boy and sticking his chin in Dave's face. - -"No, I do not want trouble, but I am able to meet it if it comes," -answered Dave, not budging an inch. "You ought to be ashamed to -bulldoze such a small chap as Frank. Why don't you leave him alone, as -the doctor told you to do?" - -"See here, I don't want you to preach to me!" roared Plum. "I know my -own business and I don't want you to put in your oar!" - -"That's the talk," came from Jasniff. - -Instantly Dave swung around on his heel. - -"This is certainly none of your business, Jasniff," he said, coldly. - -"Ain't it? Well, Gus is my particular friend, and what concerns him -concerns me," blustered Jasniff. - -"Oh, Dave, let us go away," whispered Frank, growing more frightened -than ever. - -"You can go away if you wish, Frank. I am not afraid of these two -bullies; Plum knows that, even if Jasniff does not." - -At this home thrust Gus Plum winced, for he had not forgotten the -drubbing received from Dave in times gone by. Jasniff, however, was -undismayed, and striding closer, he pushed in between Plum and Dave. - -"I've heard of the unfair advantage you once took of Gus, but you can't -take such an advantage of me," he said, loudly. "I am not afraid of -anybody in this school, and I want you to know it." - -His manner was so offensive that it caused the quick blood to rush to -Dave's face. Plum fell back and so did Frank Bond. There was a moment -of suggestive silence. - -"Jasniff, I never took any unfair advantage of Plum, and everybody in -this school knows it," said Dave, steadily. "Plum is a bully,--and you -appear to be built the same way." - -"So I'm a bully, eh?" stormed Nick Jasniff, putting up his fists. - -"You are." - -"Do you want me to fight you?" - -"No, I'd prefer not to dirty my hands on you." - -"Maybe you think you can lick me?" - -"I am not doing any thinking on that subject." - -"You can't talk to me like this--I won't allow it," stormed Jasniff, -putting up his fists again. "If you want to fight, say so!" So -speaking, he gave Dave a sudden shove that sent him up against Frank -Bond. - -"Oh, Dave, don't let him hit you!" gasped the little lad. "He is so big -and strong----" - -Dave did not answer--indeed, it is doubtful if he heard the words. With -a quick leap forward, he caught Nick Jasniff by both arms and backed -him against the side of the building. - -"Let go!" screamed Jasniff, in a rage. "Let go, I say!" - -"Listen to me, Jasniff," returned Dave, still holding the squirming -student. "I don't want to fight, but if you attack me, I'll not only -defend myself, but I'll give you the worst thrashing you ever had in -your life. I understand you thoroughly. You are not only a bully but -worse. Why Dr. Clay allows you to remain here I don't know. I want you -to understand once for all you can't bulldoze me." - -"That's the talk!" said Shadow, who had walked up. - -"Make him keep his distance, Dave," added Buster, who was with the -youth who loved to tell stories. - -"Bulldoze you?" stormed Nick Jasniff. "I'll show you what I'll do--you -poorhouse rat! I'll make mincemeat of you!" - -So speaking, he tore himself loose from Dave and backed away a few -steps. Then, with clenched fists, he rushed in and aimed a heavy blow -at Dave's face. - -The fist struck Dave's ear, for the latter did what he could to dodge. -Then came another blow on the shoulder and one on the chin, all -delivered with lightning-like rapidity. Nick Jasniff was a boxer, and -could use his fists better than he could learn his lessons. - -"Good!" shouted Gus Plum, gleefully. "That's the way to do it, Nick!" - -"Knock him out!" added Nat Poole, but keeping safely in the background. - -Dave backed away a step or two and again Jasniff came at him, hitting -him a light blow in the arm. Then the boxer struck out again for Dave's -face. - -But this blow did not land. Instead, Dave leaped to one side and struck -out himself, hitting Jasniff in the left ear. This was followed by -a tap on the chin and another in the ribs. Jasniff tried to land on -Dave's chest, but failed, and Dave came back once more with a crack on -his opponent's nose that caused the blood to spurt. - -"A fight! A fight!" - -"Look at that blow!" - -"Jasniff is quick, ain't he?" - -"First blood for Dave Porter!" - -Again the two boys went at it, and for several minutes blows were given -and taken with remarkable rapidity. With his skill as a boxer, Jasniff -had anticipated an easy victory; he was astonished at the manner in -which Dave parried some of his blows. Around and around the gymnasium -floor circled the two boys, and as the shouting grew louder the crowd -increased. - -The blood was now flowing not alone from Jasniff's nose but also from -a scratch on Dave's chin. A few more passes and the two clinched, -Jasniff getting Dave's head under his arm. But with a sudden turn Dave -cleared himself, and hit his opponent in the teeth, again drawing -blood. Wild with rage, Jasniff threw prudence to the winds and leaped -forward literally to crush the youth who dared oppose him. - -To him who loses his wits in such a situation as this, all is lost. -Blinded by rage Jasniff forgot to guard himself and in a trice received -a blow in the left eye that made him see stars. Then, as he plunged -forward again, another swift and heavy blow hit him squarely on the -chin. His head went up and back with a jerk, his form swayed from side -to side, and down he went on the floor with a thud, and lay there like -a log. - -"My! what a blow!" - -"Jasniff is knocked out clean and clear!" - -"I never saw anything like it in my life!" - -So the cries ran on, while Nick Jasniff lay where he had fallen. For -the moment nobody approached the prostrate youth, then Plum stepped to -his side, shaking, he knew not why. - -"Nick! Nick!" he called, softly, as he raised the fallen one's head. "I -say, Nick!" - -"Sh--shall I get some water?" faltered Nat Poole. He too was shaking. - -"Yes." - -While the water was being brought, Jasniff was helped to a sitting -position. He was still all but overcome. His cronies bathed his face -and did what they could to bring him around. In the meantime Dave and -his friends withdrew to another corner of the gymnasium. - -"So he knocked me out, eh?" snarled Jasniff, when he was able to speak. -"Just wait, I'll fix him yet!" - -"What, you're not going to fight again?" asked Plum, in astonishment. - -"Ain't I?" snarled Nick Jasniff. "I'll either lick him, or he'll kill -me!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NICK JASNIFF - - -"Here comes Jasniff again!" exclaimed Shadow. "He looks mad enough to -eat you up, Dave!" - -"I thought he was done for," said Ben, who had been wiping the blood -from Dave's chin. - -The crowd parted as the boy who had been knocked out strode forward. -His gait was unsteady and from his eyes there gleamed a wild fire awful -to behold. - -"Thought you had got rid of me, eh?" he cried. "Well, I am not done for -yet!" And with this he struck Dave in the shoulder. - -"If you want more you shall have it, Jasniff!" retorted Dave, and -struck out in return. Then the blows came as rapidly as before. Dave -was hit twice in the chest and came back with a crack on Jasniff's ear -and one in the right eye that made the youth see more stars than ever. -Then, as they circled around the floor, Dave watched his chance and hit -his opponent once more in the nose, causing him to slip and pitch over -on his side. - -"Another knockdown!" - -"Jasniff, you had better give it up." - -"Porter has the best of you, Nick." - -If ever a boy was mad that boy was Nick Jasniff. Half blinded from the -blow in the eye he rolled over and got up on his knees. Then he leaped -to his feet and ran to the wall of the gymnasium. - -"I'll fix you! I'll fix you!" he snarled, and pulled from its resting -place a wooden Indian club weighing at least three pounds. "You shan't -crow over Nick Jasniff, not much!" - -"Hold up, what are you going to do?" cried Ben, who stood near. - -"I'm going to smash his head for him!" answered Jasniff, and before -anybody could stop him he made a dash for where Dave was standing. He -swung the Indian club around so recklessly that the crowd parted right -and left to let him pass. - -Dave saw him approach and for the moment hardly knew what to do. He had -not dreamed of such unfair play. It was easy to see that Jasniff was in -a frame of mind fit for any foul deed. - -"Don't!" he cried, as the half-crazed lad leaped before him. "Stop, -I tell you!" And then as the Indian club was swung over his head, he -leaped to one side and caught the other boy around the waist with both -arms. "Drop that club, you brute!" - -"Drop the club! Drop the club!" came from all sides, and in a twinkling -Ben and Shadow leaped in and wrenched the Indian club from Jasniff's -grasp. - -"What an outrage!" - -"Jasniff, you ought to be lynched for that!" - -"This is a young gentlemen's school, not a resort for toughs." - -So the cries ran on. Jasniff tried to speak, but nobody would listen to -him, and even Plum and Poole knew enough to keep silent. Dave retained -his hold a few seconds and then pushed his opponent from him. - -"I am done with you, Jasniff," said he, in a clear, hard voice. "Done -with you, understand? I'll never dirty my hands on you again. If you -dare to molest me in the future, I'll hand you over to the police. They -are the only ones to handle such a coward and brute as you." - -Everybody heard the words and many applauded them. Plum and Poole fell -back and the face of each grew scarlet. Nick Jasniff stood stock still, -breathing heavily. He wanted to do something terrible,--but he did -not dare. Dave was pale and his jaws were firmly set. The tension all -around was extreme. - -Then Jasniff moved, turning his back on Dave. He looked at Plum and -Poole, but they cast their eyes to the ground. The crowd parted and -Jasniff walked away, slowly and unsteadily. In a minute he left the -gymnasium, slamming the door after him. There was a long sigh of -relief over his departure. - -"Dave, I really think he meant to kill you!" said Ben, coming up and -clutching his chum by the arm. - -"That's what he did!" said Buster Beggs. "His eyes had a terrible look -in them." - -"Perhaps you are mistaken," answered Dave, in an odd voice that sounded -strange even to himself. "But I--well, I don't propose to fight a -fellow with Indian clubs." - -"He ought to be bounced out of this school," said Luke Watson. - -"I'll never speak to him again," asserted Babcock. - -"Wonder what Dr. Clay will say when he hears of this fight?" said -Roger, who had come in during the wind-up. "I suppose he won't like it -at all." - -"He can't blame Dave," answered Ben. - -"Porter started the quarrel by interfering with me," said Gus Plum. - -"What, Gus, do you stand up for Jasniff?" demanded Shadow. - -"Well, I--er----" - -"I don't see how anybody can stand up for Jasniff," said Messmer. "I -used to go with him, but I am glad now that I cut him." - -"I am not standing up for that Indian club affair," said Gus Plum, -lamely, and walked away, followed by Nat Poole. - -"Oh, Dave, you did fight him most beautifully," cried Frank Bond, his -delicate face glowing. "Oh, I wish I was as strong as you!" - -"Perhaps you will be some day, Frank. Go out in the fresh air all you -can, and take plenty of exercise here in the gym. Do you know what made -me strong? Working on a farm,--cutting wood and plowing, and things -like that." - -Dave retired to the washroom and there bathed his face and hands, and -combed his hair. The blood soon stopped flowing from his chin and the -scratch showed but little. Many wanted to congratulate him on his -victory, but he motioned them away. - -"Thank you, boys, but I don't want you to do that," he said, quietly. -"I want to tell you plainly that I don't believe in fighting any more -than Dr. Clay does. It's brutal to fight, and that is all there is to -it. But every fellow ought to know how to defend himself, and when he -is attacked as I was he has got to do the best he can for himself. If -Jasniff hadn't pitched into me roughshod I should never have fought -with him." - -"Do you really mean that, Porter?" asked a voice from the other side -of the washroom, and Andrew Dale stepped out from behind a high -roller-towel rack. The first assistant teacher had come in just as the -encounter was ending. - -"Oh, is that you, Mr. Dale? Yes, sir, I do mean it," answered Dave. -"Did you see the fight, may I ask?" - -"I saw Jasniff attack you with the Indian club, but I was too far off -to take a hand. You say he attacked you first?" - -"He did, and some of those here can prove it." - -"That's right," said several of the students. - -"What was the quarrel about?" - -"It began between Plum and myself. Plum was browbeating Frank Bond and -I told him to stop. Then Jasniff put in his say, and I told him it was -none of his business. Then he wanted to know if I wanted to fight, and -I told him I preferred not to dirty my hands on him. Then he shoved -me and struck me two or three times. Then--well, then I sailed in and -knocked him down twice. Then he got the Indian club, and you know the -rest." - -"That's the truth of it, Mr. Dale," said Frank. - -"Absolutely," added another student, who had seen the whole affair. - -"Well, Porter, you had better come to the doctor's office and we'll -investigate further," said the teacher, and a little later Dave found -himself confronting the master of Oak Hall. He told his story in a -straightforward manner and mentioned the names of several who had -witnessed the affair. Then he was told he could go, and Frank was -called in, and then Ben, Shadow, Buster, and later still Plum and -Poole. The doctor questioned all closely, and finally sent Andrew Dale -after Jasniff, but the youth could not be found. - -"Has he left the school grounds?" questioned Dr. Clay. - -"I could not find that out," answered the assistant. "Nobody seems to -have seen him since he left the gymnasium." - -"Well, as soon as he shows himself, send him to me." - -"I will, sir." - -"From what I can learn, he is a thoroughly bad boy," went on the master -of Oak Hall, beginning to pace the floor of his office. "I must confess -I hardly know what to do with him." - -"He is a bad boy, no doubt of that," answered the teacher. "And he has -a bad influence on some of the other boys." - -"You mean Plum and Poole?" - -"I do." - -"I believe you are right. Do you think he ought to be sent from the -school?" - -"Yes, unless he will make an earnest endeavor to mend his ways, Doctor." - -"There is one trouble in the way, Mr. Dale. His folks are now in Europe -for the benefit of Mrs. Jasniff's health. If I send him off, he will -have no place to go to." - -"You can write to his father explaining the situation. He may write to -his son and that may help matters." - -"I have already determined to send a letter. But Mr. Jasniff knows his -son is wild--he wanted me to tame him down. But I don't see how I can -do it. Supposing he had brained Porter!" Dr. Clay shivered. "I should -never have gotten over it, and it would have ruined the school!" - -"There is another thing to consider, sir," pursued the assistant. "It -may be that Porter will write to his uncle about this, and his relative -may be afraid to let the boy remain here while Jasniff stays." - -"No, I questioned Porter about that. What do you think he said?" The -master of Oak Hall smiled slightly. "He said he could take care of -himself and he could make Jasniff keep his distance. He certainly has -courage." - -"He is the grittiest boy in the school--and one of the best, too," -answered Andrew Dale, heartily. And there the conversation came to an -end. - -The fight between Jasniff and Dave was the sole topic discussed that -evening at Oak Hall. The boys who had not witnessed the encounter could -scarcely believe that Dave had knocked the other student down twice -and blackened his eyes, and they could scarcely credit the fact that -Jasniff in his rage and humiliation had attacked Dave with the heavy -Indian club. Some went to Jasniff's dormitory, only to learn that the -student was missing. - -In the dormitory Plum and Poole sat in a warm corner, talking the -affair over in a low tone. To do them justice, both were horrified over -the club incident. Each had seen that awful look in Jasniff's eyes and -each had expected to see Dave stretched lifeless on the gymnasium floor. - -"I--I didn't think it of Nick!" whispered Poole. "He certainly went too -far." - -"He was so wild he didn't know what he was doing," answered Plum. "It -doesn't pay to get that way. If he had really killed Porter----" - -"Oh, don't say it, Gus! Why, it makes me tremble yet," whined Nat -Poole. "If Nick is going to act like that, I'm going to have nothing -more to do with him. What if something had happened? He might have -dragged us into it somehow--we've been so thick with him." - -To this Gus Plum did not answer, but a far-away, thoughtful look came -into his eyes. - -"It doesn't pay to be too thick with a fellow like that," pursued Nat -Poole. "He'll get you into a hole some time or other." - -"Maybe you're right, Nat." Gus Plum drew a long breath. "I wish----" -The bully of Oak Hall suddenly checked himself. - -"What do you wish?" - -"I sometimes wish I had never been thick with Nick. But he----" Again -Plum checked himself. "By the way," he resumed, "did that new allowance -come in yet?" - -"No. My dad wrote he wouldn't allow me a cent until next month. Why?" - -"Oh, it doesn't matter." The bully drew another long breath. "I thought -perhaps you'd lend me a little." - -"Why, I thought you had what you wanted!" cried Poole, in astonishment. - -"I did have, but I----Well, it doesn't matter, Nat. I'll get along -somehow." And then Gus Plum heaved a deeper sigh than ever. Evidently -there was something on his mind which worried him considerably. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -WHAT HAPPENED AT ROCKVILLE - - -"Boys, how is this for weather!" called out Roger, the following -morning. "Isn't it cold enough to freeze the hind leg off a wooden -horse?" - -"I guess the bottom has dropped out of the thermometer," answered Dave, -as he followed Roger in rising. - -"How do you feel, Dave?" - -"Oh, pretty good. My chin is a little swollen and my shoulder is -somewhat stiff, that's all." - -"Wonder if Jasniff is back yet," said Ben. - -All the boys wondered that, and Luke Watson took it upon himself to -dress in a hurry and go out for information. - -"Nothing seen of him yet," announced Luke, on returning. - -"Perhaps he has run away for good!" cried Buster. - -"He's afraid the doctor will punish him severely," said Polly Vane. "It -was such a--er--outrageous thing to do, don't you know." - -"He's a tough boy," was Roger's comment. - -"Oh, say, speaking of a tough boy puts me in mind of a story I heard -yesterday," said Shadow, who sat on the edge of his bed, lacing his -shoes. "A young married lady----" - -"Gracious, Shadow, how can you tell stories on a cold morning like -this?" interrupted Dave. - -"Shadow would rather tell stories than keep warm," said Roger, with a -smile. - -"Maybe this is a hot one," said Ben, grinning. - -"Now you just listen," pursued Shadow. "A young married lady went and -bought a barrel of best flour----" - -"Four X or Not At Home brand?" questioned Buster, innocently. - -"If you interrupt me I'll throw the soap at you, Buster. This was a -barrel of guaranteed flour. Two days later she came back to the grocer -with a very indignant look on her face. 'That flour is no good,' says -she to Mr. Grocer. 'Why not?' says the grocer. 'Because it is tough,' -says the lady. 'I made doughnuts with it yesterday and my husband -thought they were paperweights!'" - -"No well-bred lady would say that," came softly from Dave. - -"O my! what a pun!" cried Roger. "Well, she wasn't well-bred, she was -poor-bread." And then a general laugh went up. - -It was indeed cold, with the sun hiding behind a gray sky and a keen -north wind blowing. When they went below they ran into Babcock, who -had been down to the river. - -"The ice is coming along finely," said Babcock. "I think we'll be able -to skate by to-morrow." - -All the boys hoped so, and as soon as they could went down to the river -to look at the ice. It was moderately firm and some lads were already -sliding on a stretch of meadow. But Dr. Clay would not let them go on -the river proper until it was safe. - -That day the master of Oak Hall sent out Andrew Dale and Swingly the -janitor to look for Nick Jasniff. But the search proved of no avail. -Wherever the student was, he managed to cover up his tracks completely. - -By Monday of the following week skating was at its best, and many hours -were spent by Dave and the others on the ice. They skated for miles, -and also had half a dozen races, including one between Dave, Roger, and -Messmer, in which the two chums came out even, with Messmer not far -behind. - -During those days came word that Phil was slowly but steadily -improving. This news was greeted with satisfaction by all his friends, -who hoped that he would soon be able to come to school again. - -"We can't get along without him," said Dave, and Roger echoed the -sentiment. - -The senator's son had received word from two of his friends, who were -now students at one of the leading colleges. Both belonged to a glee -club which was to give an entertainment at Rockville Hall on Tuesday -night. - -"I'd like to go to that entertainment and hear Jack and Joe sing," said -Roger. "I wonder if the doctor will let me off?" - -The matter was explained, and in the end it was agreed to let the -senator's son go to the entertainment, taking Dave and Shadow with him -for company. As skating was so good, the students decided to go by way -of the river, walking the distance from Rockville Landing to the hall -where the entertainment was to take place. - -It was a bright moonlight night when the three started and all were in -the best of spirits. There were a few skaters out, mostly grown folk, -so the way was by no means lonely. They had plenty of time, so did not -hurry. - -"We don't want to overheat ourselves," said Roger. "Perhaps the hall -will be warm, and then we won't be able to stand it." - -Arriving at Rockville Landing, they took off their skates and left them -at one of the boathouses. Then they walked through the town, past the -brightly lighted shops, and stopped at one place for some candy and -glasses of hot chocolate. - -"Well, I never!" cried Dave, suddenly, as they were leaving the shop. - -"What's up?" queried Shadow. - -"Did you know that Gus Plum was coming here?" - -"I certainly did not," answered the senator's son. "Where is he?" - -"I just saw him over there. He passed around that corner." - -"Maybe you were mistaken in the person," ventured Shadow. - -"I think not." - -"He may have come over,--to go to the entertainment, just as we are -doing." - -"He doesn't care for music." - -"I know that." - -The three boys walked to the corner and looked down the side street. -Nobody resembling the bully of Oak Hall was in sight. - -Five minutes later found them at the place where the entertainment was -to take place. Roger took his chums around to the stage door and in, -and introduced Dave and Shadow to his friends, and then the students -from Oak Hall went around to the front and secured seats near one of -the boxes. - -The programme was a light and varied one--such as are usually given -by college glee clubs--and Dave and his chums enjoyed it thoroughly. -One bass singer rendered a topical song, the glee club joining in the -chorus. This was wildly applauded, and the singer had to give at least -a dozen verses of the effusion. - -"This is all right!" whispered Dave. "I wish our glee club could do as -well." - -"Maybe it will--when the boys are as old as these fellows," answered -Shadow. - -"These fellows are the best singers at the college," said Roger. "They -can't get into the club unless they have first-class voices." - -The concert came to an end about half-past ten o'clock, and Roger -waited for a while, in order to talk to his friends again. Then he, -Dave, and Shadow started on the return to Oak Hall. - -Their course took them past the railroad station and a row of small -dwellings. Just as they were between the station and the dwellings -a light from a street lamp fell full upon two persons standing some -distance away. - -"Look! there is Gus Plum again!" cried Dave. - -"Yes, and that is Nick Jasniff with him!" said the senator's son, in a -tone of great surprise. - -"Let us go over and make sure," suggested Shadow. - -The three started across the street, and as they did so Plum and -Jasniff moved away in the direction of one of the dwelling houses. -Before they could be stopped they had mounted the porch, opened the -door, and gone inside. Those outside heard the door locked, and then -all became quiet. - -"Well, I never!" came from Dave. "This is certainly a mystery." - -There was good cause for his words. The front of the dwelling was -entirely dark and the lower windows had the solid wooden shutters -tightly closed. - -"Shall I ring the bell?" asked Roger, after a pause in perplexity. - -"There is no bell to ring," answered Shadow. - -"I wouldn't knock," advised Dave. "What's the use? We may only get into -a row." - -"The doctor ought to know that Jasniff is here," said Roger. - -"We can tell him that, even if Plum won't," added Shadow. "I agree with -Dave, it will do no good to knock." - -"I'd like to know if they saw us," said Dave, as he and his chums -continued on their way up the street. - -"If they didn't it's queer why they should get out of sight in such a -hurry," replied the senator's son. - -"Perhaps Jasniff is going to get Plum to smooth matters over with the -doctor," was Dave's comment. "He may be sick of staying away from the -Hall." - -"Dave, what are you going to do if he does come back?" asked Shadow, -curiously. - -"Do? Nothing." - -"Aren't you afraid of him in the least?" - -"Oh, I shall keep on my guard, for fear he may play me some foul trick." - -"I'd rather he'd go away for good." - -"So would I," added Shadow. - -"Oh, I don't know. He may reform. If he wants to reform, I'd like to -give him the chance." - -"He'll never reform," said Roger, decidedly. "He is a bad egg through -and through." - -"Just what I think," said Shadow. "To my mind, he is much worse than -Plum or Poole." - -"Oh, I know that," returned Dave. - -Arriving at the boathouse, they got out their skates and put them on. -While they were doing this, two men, wrapped up in heavy overcoats, -walked up over the ice and passed down the street in the direction from -whence the students had come. - -"There's the long and the short of it," said Roger, with a laugh. He -had noticed that one man was unusually tall and the other unusually -short. - -"Well, men can't all be of a size," laughed Dave. "That little man had -all he could do to keep up with the big fellow," he added. - -The skate to the school was a fine one and they arrived at Oak Hall -just as the silvery moon was sinking behind the distant hills. Swingly -let them in, and inside of quarter of an hour the boys were in bed and -in the land of dreams. - -The next day was a busy one for Dave. He had some extra hard lessons, -to which he applied himself with vigor. An examination was soon to take -place and he was determined to come out at the top if it could possibly -be accomplished. - -"Gracious, I can't grind like that," said Roger, but half in admiration. - -"Dave has his eye on that medal of honor," said Ben. "Well, it is -certainly well worth working for." - -The weather had changed and by noontime it was snowing furiously. Dave -had not seen Gus Plum in the morning, but the bully was at the dinner -table as usual. Shadow had reported seeing Nick Jasniff in Rockville -to the doctor, but had given no particulars. Dr. Clay had said he -would look into the matter, and sent Andrew Dale to Rockville for that -purpose. - -It was not until evening that the assistant teacher returned from the -neighboring town. He had seen nothing of Nick Jasniff, although he had -hunted thoroughly and even visited the house Shadow had mentioned. - -"The house was locked up, and when I knocked on the door nobody came to -answer my summons." - -This was as much as Andrew Dale could tell concerning the missing -student. But he brought other news, which was flying over the -country-side like wildfire. During the night thieves had broken into -the railroad station at Rockville, opened the old-fashioned safe, and -stolen nearly three hundred dollars in money, some checks, and several -bundles of railroad tickets. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AN ICE-BOAT RACE - - -"What do you think of that?" cried Roger, when the news was circulated -among the boys. - -"I think the deed was done by the same fellows who robbed Mrs. -Fairchild and Mr. Lapham," said Ben. "The authorities are dead slow -that they don't catch the rascals. They must certainly be hanging out -somewhere in this district." - -"Boys, I've got an idea!" cried Dave. "Mrs. Fairchild said the man she -saw was rather tall. Don't you remember the tall man we saw last night?" - -"To be sure, and the short fellow with him," exclaimed Roger. "They may -be the very rascals!" - -"Let us tell the doctor of this," said Shadow, and forthwith they went -to Dr. Clay, who listened to their story with interest. - -"I will notify the authorities," he said. "How did the men look in the -face?" - -"I didn't see their faces," answered Roger. - -"One had a beard, I think," ventured Shadow. - -"Both had reddish beards," answered Dave, "and they had reddish -mustaches, too." - -This was as much as the boys could tell. Later it was learned that -the tall and the short man had been seen before and it was pretty -clearly established that they had had something to do with all of the -robberies throughout that district. But the men were missing, and what -had become of them nobody could tell. The local papers came out with a -full account of the robbery and not only mentioned the money that had -been taken but also the names on the checks, and the lists of stolen -railroad tickets. These accounts Dave and his chums read with interest. - -"Say, I saw a funny thing just now," said Ben, coming to Dave and Sam -Day a little later, while both were doing some sums in algebra. "I was -in the library and so were a lot of fellows, including Plum and Poole. -Plum has been on the sick list to-day and wasn't downstairs when the -news came in about that Rockville affair. He took up one of the papers -and began to read about the robbery, and all at once he staggered back. -I thought he was fainting. He grabbed the paper with all his might and -his eyes almost started out of his head. He would have gone over, only -Poole caught him and led him to a chair. Then he said his head hurt him -and he went to his dormitory." - -"That was certainly queer," said Dave, thoughtfully. - -"He acted just as if that news was some kind of a blow to him," went on -Ben. - -"I don't see how it could affect him," said Sam Day. "I guess it was -just his sickness." - -Sam did not know that Gus Plum had been seen in Rockville the night -the robbery occurred, and Dave did not feel called upon to enlighten -him. But Ben knew, and he and Dave walked away to talk the matter over, -being joined a moment later by Roger and Shadow. - -"Plum was certainly in Rockville," said Shadow, "but I don't see how -that connects him with the robbery." He was voicing a thought that had -come to the minds of all. - -"I don't believe he was connected with it," said Dave. "It's an -awful thing to think a fellow is a thief." He looked at Shadow, who -understood him thoroughly, as my old readers will understand. "But--he -was there with Jasniff," he added, slowly. - -"Do you think Jasniff had anything to do with it, Dave?" - -"I should hate to think any boy was a thief." - -"I don't believe a fellow like Jasniff could open that safe," came from -Roger. "Those robbers must have had regular burglars' tools." - -"But what made Plum so afraid, or dumbstruck, or whatever you may call -it?" asked Ben. "It was no small thing, I can tell you that." - -"Perhaps he got scared, thinking he was at Rockville with Jasniff at -the time of the robbery," answered Dave. "He knows Jasniff is a kind of -outcast just now. Perhaps he himself suspects Jasniff." - -The students speculated over the affair for some time. At first Dave -thought it might be best to let Dr. Clay know, but finally concluded to -keep quiet and see what the next few days would bring forth. - -The bully of the school was certainly ill at ease that day and also the -next. He missed nearly all his lessons and was sharply reprimanded by -Job Haskers. - -"I've got a headache," he said. "It has ached for several days. I wish -you would excuse me." And this getting to the ears of the doctor, he -was told to take some headache tablets and retire. - -Some of the students who were of a mechanical mind had built themselves -ice-boats and these were now being used on the river whenever the -opportunity afforded. Messmer and Henshaw had a boat, and one afternoon -after school they asked Roger and Dave to go for a sail down the river. -Ice-boating was something of a novelty to Dave, and he accepted the -invitation gladly and so did the senator's son. - -The ice-boat built by Messmer and Henshaw was about twenty feet long, -with a single sail, and was named the _Snowbird_. It was by no means -a handsome craft, not being painted, but under favorable conditions -developed good speed, and that was all the builders wanted. - -"We didn't build her for beauty, we built her for service," Henshaw -explained. - -"Well, as long as she'll go that's all we want," answered Roger. "I -shouldn't give a cent for a boat that was good-looking and couldn't get -over the ground." - -"Did you ever see a boat get over the ground, Roger?" asked Dave, -quizzically. - -"Well--er--not exactly, but you know what I mean, Dave." - -"So I do, and I agree with you." - -The start of the trip was made in fine shape, and for a little while -they sailed along in company with two other ice-boats belonging to -other students. But then the others turned back, and the _Snowbird_ -continued on the course alone. - -"This is certainly grand!" cried Dave, enthusiastically. He was sitting -at the bow, holding fast with one hand and holding on his cap with the -other. "My! but we are rushing along." - -"It's just the right kind of a breeze," said Henshaw. - -"Beats skating, doesn't it?" came from Roger. "We must be making about -a mile a minute!" - -"We won't dare to go too far," said Messmer. "Remember, we've got to -get back, and that will take longer." - -"Maybe the wind will change." - -"No such luck, I am afraid." - -On they went, the runners of the _Snowbird_ making a sharp skir-r-r on -the smooth ice. They were passing an island and as they reached the end -they came in sight of another ice-boat, carrying a number of boys in -military uniform. - -"Hello! there is an ice-boat from Rockville Military Academy!" -exclaimed Dave. "That's a pretty good-looking craft." This was a -deserved compliment, for the ice-boat was gayly painted and decorated -with a small flag. - -"Hello!" yelled one of the Rockville students, as the other craft came -closer. "Where did you borrow that old tub?" - -"From the fellow who swapped it for that barn-door you're riding on," -retorted Dave, quickly. - -"I'll give you ten cents for it," went on another Rockville cadet. - -"Thanks, but we don't want to rob you," answered Roger, merrily. - -"Maybe you think you can beat us," said Henshaw, who had been eying the -other ice-boat critically. - -"We don't think so--we know it," was the quick rejoinder. - -"Come ahead then, and prove it," exclaimed Messmer. - -In a moment more the race was on. There was a straight course of two -miles ahead and over this the rival ice-boats flew, at first side by -side. Then an extra puff of wind took the Rockville craft ahead. - -"What did I tell you!" cried one of the cadets. "You're too slow for -us. Good-by!" - -"You're not leaving us yet," answered Henshaw, who was steering, and -he threw the _Snowbird_ over a bit from the shore. The wind was coming -over the top of a hill and now both craft got the full benefit of it. -On they rushed, with Rockville slightly ahead. Then, slowly but surely, -the Oak Hall boat began to crawl up. - -"We are gaining!" cried Dave. - -"Oh, if I only had a bellows, to help make wind!" sighed the senator's -son. - -They had still half a mile to go when of a sudden the _Snowbird_ shot -ahead. Those on the Rockville craft were amazed and their faces fell. - -"Here is where we beat you!" cried Henshaw. "Good-by! We'll tell 'em -you are coming." - -"Oh, go to grass!" growled one of the Rockville cadets, and then the -_Snowbird_ continued to forge ahead, leaving the rival ice-boat far -behind. - -"They feel sick," said Dave. "I must say I didn't think this ice-boat -could do it. You've certainly got something worth having." - -"Even if we are not all painted up and haven't a flag," added Messmer. - -They continued on the course for quarter of a mile further. Then they -came to a number of islands, and rounding one of these started to tack -back. Meanwhile the rival ice-boat passed on down the river. - -"Not so much fun in this," observed Roger. "I like to rush right before -the wind." - -"That's like the small boy who wanted to go down hill on his sled all -the time and never wanted to walk back," answered Henshaw. "But going -back will not be so much of a hardship as you think." - -"Oh, I'll like it well enough," answered the senator's son, quickly. - -They were soon opposite one of the islands not over a mile from Oak -Hall. It was a lonely and rocky spot and one seldom visited by any of -the students. - -"Somebody is out skating here," said Dave, and he pointed out two -persons who were close to the island. - -A moment later the ice-boat was thrown over on the other reach and came -close to the island. Then Roger uttered an exclamation: - -"The tall man and the short man!" - -"Can they be the robbers?" queried Dave, quickly. - -He watched the pair, and saw them disappear behind some bare bushes -which fringed the shore of the island. - -"Roger, I think we ought to try to find out something about those -fellows." - -"I think so myself." - -"If those are the rascals who robbed the Rockville railroad station, we -ought to try to capture them," said Henshaw. - -"How can we do that?" asked Messmer. "We are not armed." - -"Let us follow them up anyway," said Dave. - -This was agreed to by all on board the _Snowbird_, and in a few minutes -the craft was run close to the shore and the sail was lowered. - -"I am going to arm myself," said Roger, and suited the action to the -word by picking up a heavy stick that lay handy. Seeing this, the -others also procured sticks, and thus armed, all made their way to the -spot where the two men had last been seen. - -"Here are their tracks in the snow," said Dave, pointing to the drift -which the wind had swept up from the river. "It will be easy enough to -follow their tracks." - -"We had better go slow and make no noise," cautioned Roger. "If they -hear us they'll be on guard and may run away." - -Slowly and silently after that the students followed the trail, through -the snow and over the wind-swept rocks. They passed under some tall -trees, crossed a frozen-over gully, and then came to where a pile of -rocks appeared to bar their further progress. - -"They passed along this way!" whispered Dave, pointing to the -footmarks, close to the base of the rocks. "Go slow now, or----" - -"Hush!" interrupted Roger. "I hear voices." - -"I see a cabin, just beyond the turn of these rocks," said Henshaw. -"The two men must be there." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND - - -The four boys came to a halt, to consider what they should do next. -They did not know but that the two men might be desperate characters -and ready to fight hard if cornered. They might even be ready to do -some shooting. - -"I'll go ahead and take a look around," said Dave. "You others had -better remain here for the present." - -This was agreed to, and with extreme caution Dave made his way around -a corner of the rocks and along some bushes, to one side of the cabin. -The building was of logs, very much dilapidated, having been erected by -some campers many years before. - -As Dave came close to one of the windows of the cabin he saw a man -cross the floor in the direction of a rude fireplace. Then a match -was struck, and some paper lit. Soon a fire was blazing in the room, -casting a ruddy glare over all. - -Both men were present, each still wrapped in his overcoat and with his -hat pulled down over his forehead. That they were the individuals he -had seen in Rockville the night of the concert and the robbery the -youth was quite sure. - -Dave was anxious to hear what the two fellows might have to say, and so -crept closer to the window, which was wide open. Near the window a log -was loose, leaving quite a crack, and by putting his ear to this the -boy made out nearly all that was being said. - -"We were simple, I think, to come here, Pud," said the tall man, as he -threw some more wood on the fire. "We ought to be miles away by this -time." - -"I ain't going away yet, Hunk," was the reply from the short man. "You -know what I came for. Well, I am going to stick it out." - -"But it is getting more dangerous every day," pleaded the man called -Hunk. - -"Oh, you only think so." - -"No, I don't. Didn't I read the papers,--and didn't you read them too? -They are after us, I tell you." - -"Well, they haven't got us yet." - -After that there was a pause, during which one of the men put some -water in a pot to boil and brought out some provisions in a flour bag. - -"Who is next on that list of yours?" asked the man called Hunk, -presently. - -"Paul Barbridge, and I want to do him up good. He was the foreman of -the jury that sent me up for two years." - -"Has he got money?" - -"I think so--leastwise, I am going to find out," and the speaker gave a -low chuckle. "Oh, I ain't going to let up until I run through the whole -twelve or their families. And then I am going to strike the judge--and -strike him good and hard. I'll show 'em that they can't send Pud Frodel -to prison and not get paid back! I said I'd get square when I was -sentenced and I am going to keep my word. Fairchild died on me, but I -reckon I fixed his widow for it." - -There was another pause, during which both men prepared to eat some of -the provisions they had brought with them. Dave was on the point of -rejoining his companions, when the men began to speak again and now -their words filled him with amazement. - -"You're a queer one, Pud," said the man called Hunk. "A queer one, I -must say. Sometimes I wonder to myself how I can stick to you." - -"Well, you haven't got to stick if you don't want to." - -"I know that. But you want me, don't you?" - -"I like to have somebody, and--you like your share, eh?" And the short -man laughed harshly. "I've been square, haven't I?" - -"Yes, to the cent--and that is why I stick to you. But you do such -queer things. Now, for instance, those schoolboys----" - -"Oh, don't bring that up again, Hunk. I know just what I am doing. I -told you that before." - -"Well, one of those boys may be all right, but I shouldn't trust the -other." - -"Both of 'em want money--want it just as bad, almost, as we do. One of -'em up and told me so." - -"Yes, but----" - -"When fellows like that want money--actually want it--they get -desperate. At such a high-toned school they have to keep up a front, -and they can't do that unless they have got the coin in their pockets." - -"When are you going to see them again?" - -"To-morrow." - -"Where?" - -"At the old mill, near Nabill's." - -"Well, if you----What's that?" - -The speaker broke off short, as a sound from outside reached his ears. -Tired of waiting for Dave, Roger and the other students had come closer -and Henshaw had stumbled over a loose stone and gone crashing into a -hollow among some bushes. - -"Somebody out there!" ejaculated Pud Frodel, and caught up a club that -stood handy. - -"Maybe they're following us!" returned his companion. "Come on and -see. We don't want to be cornered in a place like this." - -"Oh, my ankle!" came in a painful cry from Henshaw. He had given that -member a severe wrench. - -"Some of the schoolboys!" cried one of the men. - -"Let us get out," added the other. - -"Are those two fellows we know in the crowd?" - -"No, these are all strangers." - -After having run out of the cabin, the two men went in again. Then they -seemed to suddenly disappear. - -"Hullo, Dave!" sang out Roger. He could see but little in the gloom of -the coming night, for it was now nearly supper time. - -"I am here, Roger." - -"Where are the men? And what kept you so long?" - -"I don't know where the men are," answered Dave, ignoring the other -question. "They just stepped back into the cabin." - -"Look out that somebody isn't shot," said Messmer, nervously. - -"Are they the fellows we are after?" asked the senator's son. - -"I am pretty sure they are," whispered Dave. "But I want to talk to you -about it later," he added, giving Roger's arm a knowing squeeze. "There -is something of great importance in the air." - -"I should think there would be--if these are the thieves, Dave." - -"It's more than that. But don't ask me about it just now." - -After some hesitation, the four boys entered the cabin. The fire was -burning brightly, so that they could see with ease. All looked in -consternation. Not a sign of the two men was to be seen anywhere. - -"Where are they?" - -"They certainly came in here!" - -"That is true--they did come in here," said Dave. "Perhaps they are in -hiding." - -The boys began to search around the cabin and presently the senator's -son found a piece of a log that was loose. He gave a push and it rolled -away, showing a dark hole, leading through some thick bushes and past -some rocks. - -"This is the way they went!" he shouted. "It's a clever outlet." - -The passageway was so dark the boys hesitated for a moment about -entering it. Then Dave caught up a firebrand and went in. Soon the -others heard him shout from some distance behind the cabin. - -"Come right through!" he called. "It's all right." - -They went through and next found themselves under some tall trees. -Beyond was an open space, and here the tracks of the two men were -plainly to be distinguished. They led to the shore of the island and -disappeared on the ice beyond. - -"They've gotten away from us," said Henshaw, disappointedly. He was -limping badly. - -"How's the ankle?" asked Dave. - -"I gave it a bad twist, but I guess I can walk to the ice-boat." - -Nothing could be seen in the fast-gathering darkness, and after -remaining at the shore for a few minutes, the four retraced their -steps to the dilapidated cabin. Here the fire was replenished and the -students looked around for evidence against the two men. - -"They are certainly the two men who committed the robberies in this -district," said Dave. "They as much as admitted it themselves. The -short, stout fellow is the leader and he is doing the work for a -particular reason. He was once sent to prison for two years. He vowed -he would get square on the twelve jurymen and the judge who convicted -him. So now he is going around robbing one after another of the -thirteen." - -"Mrs. Fairchild wasn't a juryman," said Messmer. - -"No, but her husband was--the fellow mentioned that." - -"It's a pity we didn't catch them," said Roger. "We got tired of -waiting for you and were afraid you had gotten into some kind of -trouble," he added, to Dave. - -They looked around the cabin with care, but could find little outside -of the provisions previously mentioned. There were some evidences that -the men had been there a number of times, but that was all. - -"This is not their regular hanging-out place," said Dave. "They must -have another resort--where they have at least some of their plunder." - -"I think the best thing we can do is to get back to the Hall and notify -Dr. Clay," said Roger. "He can then set the authorities on their track." - -This was considered good advice, and putting out the fire, so that it -might not destroy the cabin, they left the place once more and started -for the spot where they had left the _Snowbird_. - -To Henshaw the walk was a difficult one, and the others had to help him -over the trying places. Consequently, when they at last reached the -shore it was pitch dark. A cold north wind caused all to shiver. - -"It will be no easy job steering back to the Hall in this darkness," -said Messmer. "A fellow can't see fifty feet ahead of him." - -"Oh, I know the course well enough," answered Henshaw. - -The ice-boat was found exactly as they had left it, and soon the craft -was shoved out on the lake. Then all got aboard, the sail was hoisted, -and off they started for Oak Hall. - -"Phew! but it is getting cold!" was Dave's remark, as he buttoned up -his overcoat. - -"Those men will have a cold walk, wherever they may be going," returned -Messmer. - -"They said something about the old mill," answered Dave. "I'll tell you -the story after I've seen Dr. Clay." - -On and on sped the _Snowbird_ with the wind shifting in her favor. It -was so cold the tears streamed down the cheeks of all the boys and -Roger declared that his ears were about frozen. They tried to look -ahead, but could see next to nothing. - -"Henshaw, are you sure of your course?" asked Dave, presently. - -"I think I am," was the hesitating response. "But it is dark, no two -ways about it." - -The wind now took another turn and the ice-boat bore away to the left -bank of the river. Henshaw did what he could to bring the craft about, -but two minutes later came a grating jar and everybody was pitched off -into a snowbank, some heels over head. - -"I guess we've landed!" spluttered Roger, as he pulled himself to his -feet. "Henshaw, what did you do that for?" - -"I--I didn't know we were going ashore," replied Henshaw, who had gone -head first into the snow himself. "Anybody hurt?" - -One after another got up. Fortunately nobody had been hurt. Messmer had -some of the snow down his back and Dave had some up his coat sleeve. -The ice-boat was as good as ever. - -"Now we want to be more careful," said Dave, as they hauled the craft -on the lake once more. "One such spill is enough." - -"That's true," said Roger. Then the journey was resumed, nobody -dreaming of the accident so close at hand. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -DAVE'S HEROISM - - -As the ice-boat swept along Dave revolved in his mind all that he had -heard at the old cabin. - -He could place but one meaning on the words spoken by the two criminals -regarding two schoolboys. They must refer to Nick Jasniff and Gus Plum. - -"Can it be that those two are in with such rascals?" he asked himself. -"I might think it of Jasniff, but I never dreamed Plum could be quite -so bad. And yet last season he did some pretty crooked work with the -valuable postage stamps that disappeared." - -On and on swept the _Snowbird_, through the darkness of the night. It -was growing colder each moment, and the cutting wind made each of the -lads shiver. Dave wanted to tell Roger his tale in full, but now was no -time for connected conversation. - -Suddenly out of the darkness loomed a strange object, moving in almost -the same direction as the _Snowbird_. It was the ice-boat belonging to -the Rockville cadets. - -"Look out!" yelled Henshaw, while Messmer gave a scream of fright. -Then both ice-boats appeared to turn toward each other, there came a -grinding, rending crash, and in a twinkling Dave found himself spinning -on his back over the ice with Roger beside him. - -Fortunately for Dave he landed in such a fashion that he received -little more harm than a thorough shaking up. He slid a distance of two -hundred feet and then came to a stop in a small ridge of snow. - -"Hello, I wonder if anybody is hurt?" he asked himself, and got to -his feet as quickly as possible. He walked back to the scene of the -collision and soon ran into the senator's son. - -"Are you all right, Dave?" - -"Yes, Roger; how about you?" - -"Got shaken up, that's all." - -"Help! help!" came faintly from one of the ice-boats, and running back -Dave and Roger saw Henshaw on the ice, with the overturned _Snowbird_ -on top of him. Close at hand lay the second ice-boat, and it was plain -to see that both craft were much damaged. - -Messmer was near, suffering from a cut on his hand, yet he was willing -to go to Henshaw's assistance. The bow end of the _Snowbird_ was raised -and Henshaw dragged himself forth. - -"Are you badly hurt?" asked Dave, anxiously. - -"My left leg got a pretty good squeeze," answered Henshaw, trying to -limp around on the member. "I am afraid I can't walk on it." And he sat -down on the edge of the overturned ice-boat. - -In the meanwhile the Rockville cadets were pulling themselves together. -All had been bruised and scratched a little, but that was all. Their -ice-boat, too, had gone over, and the runners were partly broken. - -"That was your fault!" growled one of the cadets, striding over to the -students of Oak Hall. - -"No more our fault than yours," answered Dave. - -"You ran right into us." - -"You did as much of the running in as we did," answered Roger. - -"Do you suppose I got my leg hurt for fun?" growled Henshaw. - -"Are you hurt?" questioned another of the cadets. - -"I am." - -"Well, I am sorry for that." - -The fact that Henshaw was hurt caused the Rockville boys to become a -little more friendly, and two of them said they would do what they -could for the sufferer. No more was said about the cause of the -accident, which was in reality the fault of both parties equally. - -Nothing much could be done for Henshaw. It pained him to stand on the -injured leg and so he remained sitting down. The other boys began to -inspect both ice-boats. It was found that they were badly broken at the -bow and both masts were loosened. As a consequence, while they could be -used, progress on the river, even before the wind, would be slow. - -"This is too bad," observed Dave. "We ought to get back to Oak Hall as -soon as possible, and tell the doctor what we have learned." - -After a good deal of tugging both ice-boats were righted and each party -boarded its own craft. On they went in the darkness and soon separated, -the craft from Rockville doing a little better than that containing our -friends. - -"I don't think we'll get back to the Hall much before midnight," said -Dave, and this proved to be the case. It lacked just ten minutes of -that time when they tied up at the boathouse. Henshaw's leg was now -stiff and the others had to carry him to the door. - -"Ha! so I have caught you!" exclaimed Job Haskers, as he suddenly -showed himself. "What do you mean by coming in at this late hour?" - -"We've had an accident--Henshaw is hurt," answered Roger. - -At this announcement the teacher's face took on a sour look. - -"An accident, eh? You are quite sure?" he demanded, with a suspicious -look at Henshaw. - -"Yes, I'm sure," grumbled the hurt one. "We had a collision with -another ice-boat, and when our craft turned over I was caught -underneath." - -"What is the trouble there?" came in Dr. Clay's voice, and he showed -himself at the top of the stairs and then came down. After asking a -few questions he had Henshaw taken to a private bed-chamber, where the -injured limb was carefully examined and then bathed with liniment. - -"I wish to see you in private, Dr. Clay," said Dave. "Perhaps Morr and -Messmer will want to see you too." - -"Very well, come into the office," answered the master of Oak Hall, and -led the way. He made a light and then faced the three students who had -followed him. - -In a plain, straightforward manner Dave told of the visit to the rocky -island and the old cabin, and of what the two men had said. He did not -mention the talk about the two schoolboys, although strongly tempted -to do so. He said the two men expected to go to the old mill, near -Nabill's farm, the next day. - -"This is very important," exclaimed the doctor, when he had finished. -"I must notify the authorities at once, and we must do everything we -can to capture the rascals." - -"Can I do anything?" asked Roger. - -"I think not. As you say one man is very tall and the other very short, -it ought not to be a very difficult matter to recognize them if they -show themselves. The old mill is also well known, so there can be no -mistake." - -"Of course, they may not go to the mill now," went on Dave. - -"That is true. But I will have the authorities keep a close watch all -around this district and also at the railroad stations. As he has been -in prison this Pud Frodel must be known." - -After that the doctor told the boys they had better go to bed, and they -did so. But it was an hour before Dave could get to sleep. Once he -thought of getting up and visiting Gus Plum's dormitory, but gave up -the idea, knowing that all the others would want to know what was doing. - -In the morning the weather changed. It was not so cold, but the -snow was coming down thickly and the wind sent it swirling in all -directions. Already the ground was covered to a depth of several -inches, and there was no telling when the storm would cease. - -"This will make it hard to track those men," observed Roger, as he and -Dave came down for breakfast. - -"Roger, I want to tell you something," said Dave, and as the pair -walked to a secluded corner of a hallway Dave told his chum what had -been on his mind since the visit to the lonely cabin. - -"Oh, Dave! can this be true?" cried the senator's son, in horror. "Can -Jasniff and Plum really be mixed up in this?" - -"It looks like it to me, Roger," was Dave's slow reply. "And yet I -shouldn't want to say a word until I was certain. Jasniff I know is -bad,--and so is Plum, for the matter of that. But there is a difference -between them." - -"I know it, Dave. Jasniff is wicked at heart, while Gus is more a bully -and headstrong." The senator's son paused. "What do you propose to do?" - -"I've been thinking of having a straight talk with Plum. Of course, if -he is really in with those robbers I'll have to expose him." - -The chums talked the matter over for several minutes and then went -in to breakfast. Plum was there, but Dave noticed that the bully -ate little. Soon Plum arose and left the dining room abruptly. Dave -followed, why he could hardly tell. But he had a feeling that he must -follow Plum then and there. - -The bully of Oak Hall passed from the hall to the coat room, and there -donned his overcoat, hat, and rubbers. Then he walked to a side door, -and opening it cautiously, stepped out into the howling storm. - -Dave was now certain something unusual was in the wind, for the school -session would begin in twenty minutes and he knew Plum would not go out -in such a storm without good reason. Quickly he donned his own coat, -hat, and rubbers and followed to the outside of the school building. -He saw Plum running across the campus and he followed. Then the bully -leaped the boxwood hedge and came out on a road leading to a village -called Bagor, a short distance from Rockville. - -"Perhaps he is going to meet Jasniff," Dave reasoned. "He must be -pretty well upset. I don't believe he even got permission to leave." - -The road led through a wood and then up a long hill. The snow was so -thick that Dave had all he could do to keep Plum in sight. The bully of -the Hall walked rapidly, his head bent low and his hands rammed well -down in his overcoat pockets. - -The high ground at the top of the hill gained, Plum struck off to the -southeast, in the direction of the railroad tracks. Inside of five -minutes he reached a point where the tracks ran through a deep cut. On -either side were tall trees, and the sloping banks of the cut ran down -almost to the rails, now covered with snow. - -At the edge of the cut Plum paused again. He looked up and down -the opening, as if undecided in what direction to turn. Far away a -locomotive whistle sounded and a freight train appeared in sight, -rolling forward rapidly on a slight down-grade. - -As the freight train came closer Plum prepared to climb down the steep -slope of the cut. All was covered with ice and snow, and he had taken -but a dozen steps when he lost his footing and his hold and rolled -over and over. Then he struck a projecting rock and the next instant -pitched forward on his head, rolled over and over once more, and landed -squarely on the tracks below! - -Dave was close to the edge of the cut and saw the whole occurrence. -When Plum struck on his head he uttered a deep groan, showing that he -was injured. Then, as he lay on the tracks, he did not move. - -"He is unconscious!" thought Dave, and a chill of horror swept over -him. He looked along the cut. The freight train was sweeping forward, -directly for the unconscious youth. In half a minute more it would -reach Plum and run over him. He heard a fierce whistle, as the -locomotive engineer gave the signal for brakes, and the engine itself -was reversed. But the grade was too great and the train too heavy for a -sudden stop. - -Dave's heart leaped into his throat. Was Plum to be ground up under his -very eyes? He had no great love for the bully, but at that moment his -heart went out to him as if he were a brother. - -"I must save him--if I can!" he told himself. "He must not be killed -if I can help it!" And then, throwing himself face downward, he slid -over the ice and snow to the bottom of the cut. His hands and face were -scratched, but he paid no heed. As he touched the bottom he leaped up. -The train was less than fifty feet away, the wheels grinding sharply on -the tracks. He made one wild leap forward, caught Plum by the feet and -dragged him out of harm's way. Then the train rolled on, coming to a -stop a few seconds later. - -[Illustration: He made one wild leap forward.--_Page 288._] - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -GUS PLUM'S CONFESSION - - -"You did this for me, you! Oh, Dave Porter, how could you do it? How -could you?" - -It was Plum who spoke. He sat on a fallen tree not far away from the -railroad cut. His forehead was swollen and there was a cut on his -cheek, but otherwise he had quite recovered from the shock received. -The train, after stopping for a few minutes, had gone on, and the two -youths were alone. - -Plum's voice was choked with emotion. He had come to his senses to find -Dave and the fireman of the train bending over him. It was the fireman -who had told of Dave's brave deed. - -"Pluckiest thing I ever see in my born days," the fireman had said. "He -came down the slope pell-mell and hauled you off the track just as we -hit the spot." - -Then the fireman and the train had gone on and Dave had done what he -could for the bully. Plum was trembling like a leaf and found it next -to impossible to control himself. Twice before he had tried to speak -but his voice had failed him. - -"You are sure you are not hurt?" asked Dave. He himself hardly knew -what to say. The excitement of the occasion had put him in a dripping -perspiration. - -"Oh, I don't care if I am!" replied Plum. "I--I wish--I wish I was -dead!" - -"Plum!" - -"Yes, I do! I--I--but I can't talk about it. And to think you did this -for me, you! Why, I thought you hated me!" - -"Perhaps I did, Gus. But I didn't hate you when I saw you on the tracks -unconscious." - -"You did more for me than I should ever have done for you." - -"Maybe not." - -"I know it, Porter, for--well, you know how I have hated you. But I am -not going to be that way any more--I couldn't!" - -After this there was a silence. Each boy wanted to say something, but -hardly knew how to get at it. Finally Dave broke the ice. - -"Gus, what brought you to this spot this morning?" he questioned. - -"Oh, don't ask me! I was crazy, I guess. I wanted to get away--I never -wanted to see Oak Hall or anybody again!" - -"Were you going to run away?" - -"I guess so--I don't know. I didn't sleep last night nor the night -before." - -"Gus, tell me the truth, will you?" went on Dave, boldly. "Are you -working with those fellows who robbed the Rockville railroad station -and those other places?" - -"No! no! Oh, Porter! Dave! What do you know about this--about me?" -Plum's face grew as white as the snow around them. "I--I heard what you -told Dr. Clay last night--I was listening at the door. Do you--do you -know anything more?" - -"I do and I don't, Gus. Those men said something about two schoolboys, -and I and some others saw you in Rockville the night of the robbery. -More than that, I know what sort of a fellow Nick Jasniff is, and you -and he are always together." - -"Dave, I didn't steal any money, I give you my word I didn't! I was -led along by Jasniff. I was in debt and I needed money badly. Jasniff -said he knew where he could borrow some for me, and he did get me fifty -dollars. Then he introduced me to that short man, who went by the name -of Sloan, and to the tall man, who went by the name of Carson. It seems -Jasniff knew Sloan, or Pud Frodel, years ago, before he was sent to -prison. The tall man isn't over-bright and he is simply Pud Frodel's -tool. One day I was talking to the tall man and I soon found out what -sort of a crowd they were, although the tall fellow didn't say so in -so many words. Then I wanted to cut them, and cut Nick Jasniff too, -but Jasniff said if I did, he'd write a letter to Dr. Clay exposing -me. Jasniff, after he ran away from the Hall, went right in with the -robbers and he wanted me to go in, but I up and told him I wouldn't -have anything more to do with him and with those rascals." - -"Good for you, Gus!" cried Dave, heartily. "I am glad to hear that." - -"Wait, I am not done yet. Jasniff tried to smooth matters over and -asked me to meet him at Rockville. I did so, as you know, and I met the -men too. We had a meal together and I was drugged. After that I don't -know what I did. When I was myself again Jasniff said I had helped to -rob the railroad station." - -"But did you?" - -"I don't think so, although I remember being taken to somewhere in a -carriage and seeing the lights of the station. After that, I had some -hot words with Jasniff and came back to the Hall. Then Jasniff sent -a letter, stating he would surely expose me if I opened my mouth to -anybody. Then came your news to the doctor. If those men are captured, -and Jasniff with them, they will surely drag me into the affair! How am -I going to face it--especially after what happened last summer? Oh, I -wish I was dead!" - -Gus Plum's lips began to tremble and the tears stood in his eyes. -His better nature was struggling to the surface, and he was a most -miserable object to behold. Dave pitied the lad from the bottom of his -heart. - -"It certainly does look black, Gus," he said. "But if you are not -guilty I'd face the music if I were you. If those men are brought into -court you can turn witness against them, and against Jasniff too. I -know it will hurt you in school--but if you don't want to stay here you -can go to some other academy." - -After this Dave talked to Gus Plum for a full half-hour, giving the -other boy his best advice. Both lads were so excited that neither -minded the snow and the cold. Plum was in a deeply penitent mood and -during the course of the conversation told how he and Jasniff and Poole -had cut down the tree and let it fall on the roadway, so that Dave and -Babcock had been pitched off their wheels, and he also told of how -Henshaw had been drugged previous to the football game, and of several -other mean things that had been accomplished. - -"And then to think that on top of it all you saved my life," Plum went -on. "Oh, Dave, I can't understand it! You're the best boy alive!" - -"Oh, no, I am not," answered Dave. "I've got lots of faults of my own, -Gus, lots of them!" - -"But you're not mean like me--and not dishonest. I don't wonder the -fellows like you." - -At last they started back for the school, the snow pelting them in -the face as they journeyed along. Each boy was busy with his thoughts -and but little was said. When they came in sight of the Hall Gus Plum -halted. - -"Oh, I can't do it! I can't!" he almost sobbed. - -"Come, I'll go with you to Dr. Clay," answered Dave, and linked his -arm in that of the other youth. Thus they entered a side door and -passed directly to the office. Here, when confronted by the master of -Oak Hall, Gus Plum burst into bitter tears and it was several minutes -before he could utter a word. - -When the confession had been finally made Gus Plum's face wore a more -peaceful look than it had for many a day. He kept nothing back, nor did -he try to defend himself in the least. He wanted Dave to remain in the -office and addressed his words quite as much to his fellow student as -to the master of the Hall. - -"I know I am not fit to remain here, Dr. Clay," he said at last. "And -if you send me home I shall not complain. But please don't hand me over -to the police! Anything but that!" - -It was then that Dr. Clay spoke, and never had Dave seen him more stern -and at the same time dignified. In well-chosen words he told Plum what -he thought of his pupil's meanness and baseness. - -"By your own confession, you acknowledge doing things of which I did -not dream a pupil of mine could be guilty. You have endangered the very -lives of Porter and Babcock, as well as the life of little Frank Bond. -More than this, you have been guilty of drinking and gambling, and you -have been the companion of common criminals. And this on top of what -happened last year! Plum, I do not see how I can forgive you. You have -been a discredit to this school, and if I hand you over to the police -it will serve you right." - -"Dr. Clay!" It was Dave who spoke. He was filled with emotion that he -could not suppress. "Please don't do that! For my part, I am willing to -forgive Gus for what he did to me. Please give him another chance, just -one! If you hand him over to the police you'll blast his reputation -forever!" - -The doctor turned to the speaker in surprise, and as Dave went on, -pleading the cause of his former enemy, the master's face gradually -relaxed. He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, and cast a -searching gaze on Gus Plum's pale, haggard features. - -"Plum, listen to me," he said, and now there was a trace of kindness in -his tones. "If I give you one more chance----" - -"Oh, Dr. Clay, if you'll do that!" sobbed the boy, "I'll--I'll try to -be better! I'll try to give up my bad habits! I never realized until -now how really bad I have been! Just give me the chance, and I'll be -better! I'll do as Chip Macklin is doing. Chip was never as bad as I've -been, but you know how he has changed. I want to do better--I want to -make something of myself, as Porter is doing. Please give me one more -chance!" - -"I'll do it!" said the doctor, softly, almost fatherly. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -THE MEDAL OF HONOR--CONCLUSION - - -Throughout Oak Hall there was an air of mystery that day. Gus Plum did -not show himself and Dave did not come to his class until after dinner. -When Dave did appear many wanted to question him, but he evaded the -crowd and took no one but Roger into his confidence, although later he -told Babcock and Henshaw how Plum had confessed to what had been done -previous to the football game. - -"That was dastardly," said Babcock. - -"I know it," said Dave. "But believe me, Plum is suffering for it. He -has a great deal on his mind, and it will be a real act of charity on -your part if you forgive him. He has promised Dr. Clay that he will -reform, and I think we ought to help him to do it." - -"He can't reform--it isn't in him," said Henshaw, promptly. - -"I can't believe you," answered Dave. "If you had seen what I saw you'd -think better of Gus. He has a good side to him as well as a bad side. -I am going to give him a chance and I hope all the other fellows will -too." - -"But what is it all about?" insisted Buster Beggs. "Jasniff?" - -"Yes, Jasniff is mixed up in it, and he did his best to get Plum into -a lot of trouble. Perhaps you'll hear all about it some day. I have -promised to keep quiet, so I can't say anything,--and I don't want to -speak about it anyway," added Dave, with feeling. - -The snowstorm lasted for three days, and during that time no word came -in from the authorities who were trying to catch Pud Frodel and his -companion in crime. The doctor had notified the representatives of the -law of the proposed meeting at the old mill, and some officers had gone -there, only to find that the evildoers had changed their plans. - -It was hard for Dave to settle down to his lessons, yet he did his -best, for the examinations were now close at hand and he still had his -eye fixed on the medal of honor. Plum came back to his class and was -a changed person. Whenever he recited he did so in a low voice, and -the minute he was dismissed he disappeared, where, none of the pupils -seemed to know. He was occupying a small room by himself and kept the -door locked. - -At last the storm cleared away and then came in word that one of -the men, the fellow called Hunk, had been caught. He was closely -questioned, and being rather simple-minded, as previously mentioned, -said that Pud Frodel had gone to New York, in company with Nick -Jasniff. He said that Jasniff was now hand-in-glove with Frodel, and -that the two were planning more mischief. - -Upon this news Dr. Clay sent a cablegram to Mr. Jasniff, who was in -London, that Nick had run away from school and also sent a letter -of particulars. Later word came back that Mr. Jasniff would have a -relative look for Nick and would be back himself as soon as he could -arrange certain business matters. - -At last came the day for the school examinations. Dave was fully -prepared for them, and when he came out three points ahead of everybody -else nobody was surprised. Polly Vane stood second, Roger fourth, Ben -sixth, and Shadow eighth. Gus Plum stood tenth, much to the surprise of -many who had imagined he would come out close to the end. - -"Dave Porter wins the medal of honor!" said a dozen. - -"Hurrah for Dave!" cried Roger, and the cheers were given with a will. - -The medal was presented to Dave by the doctor. The entire school was -assembled for the occasion, and Dr. Clay made a neat address, in which -he complimented the winner on the creditable showing he had made. - -"I am highly pleased to give Master David Porter this medal," said the -master of the Hall. "He deserves it in more ways than one. Why, some -one else will tell." - -And then, to the amazement of all, Gus Plum got up from his seat, -walked quietly but firmly to the platform and faced his fellow -students, his face red but determined. - -"I want to say a few words about Dave Porter," he said, looking around -from one face to another. "You all know me and you know how I have -acted towards Dave. Well, Dave saved my life, and more than that, he -has proved himself my best friend. He stood by me at a time when I -guess every other fellow in the world would have turned his back on me. -That's why he deserves a medal of honor,--and would deserve it even if -he was at the bottom of the class." Plum paused a moment. "I ought not -to speak about myself--I guess the doctor didn't think I would. But I -want to say before you all that I am going to try to be different from -what I used to be. The doctor might have sent me away from this school -for what I did, but Dave Porter spoke up for me, and now I am to have -another chance here--and I am going to make the best of it. That's all." - -Gus Plum bowed and walked back to his seat. There were murmurs all -around, and a few hisses, but the majority of the students looked at -Plum encouragingly. He kept his eyes down, looking at nobody. Roger -reached over and shook hands, and then a number of others did the same. - -"What Plum has said about Porter is strictly true," said the doctor, -coming forward again. "Therefore I take the greatest of pleasure in -presenting the medal of honor to the winner, and with it I wish him the -best of luck throughout life!" - -A cheer went up, in which Gus Plum joined heartily. Then other prizes -were presented, after which school was dismissed for the day. - -Plum's speech had a tremendous effect. All wanted to know how Dave had -saved his life and the story had to be told over and over again. Little -was said about why the former bully had left school that snowy morning, -and the boys knew enough not to ask too many questions. - -"I really think he'll turn over a new leaf," said Ben. "He seems to -have awakened to a realization of how he was drifting." - -"I hope with all my heart he does try to do better," said Roger. "I am -going to do as Dave is doing--encourage him all I can." And then Ben -and a number of others said the same. - -That day came a welcome letter from Phil Lawrence. He was getting -better rapidly now and expected to come back to Oak Hall in a few weeks. - -"This is glorious news!" cried Dave. "Poor Phil! How he has suffered!" - -"And all for the glory of a football game," answered Roger. "Pretty -rough sport, no mistake about it." - -"Well, that's what makes it exciting," said Buster Beggs. - -"Which puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "A boy went to -the country for his health. After he had been there a week he wrote to -his mother: 'Having dead loads of fun. Fell from the cherry tree and -sprained my wrist, had the bull horn me over a fence, got sick eating -green apples, and yesterday, when I fell in the well, I lost the dollar -pop gave me. Send another dollar and it will be all right.'" And the -usual short laugh went up. - -On Monday came in news that Pud Frodel had been captured. It was also -learned that Nick Jasniff had sneaked on board of a steamer and sailed -for Europe. The next day Gus Plum received a letter which he showed to -the doctor and to Dave. It ran in part as follows: - - "You were a fool to go back on me. If you had stuck to me we could - have made a lot of money. They are after both of the men, so I am - going to clear out. I've got several hundred dollars and I expect to - have a good time in Europe on it." - -This communication was unsigned but was in Nick Jasniff's handwriting. -Gus Plum shivered as he perused it. - -"I am glad I did not stick by him," said he. "I am sorry I ever had -anything to do with him." - -"His influence in this school was certainly very bad," said Dr. Clay. - -Later on the two men were tried and convicted, and each received -several years in prison as a punishment for their crimes. Only a small -amount of the stolen goods was recovered, which made Mrs. Fairchild, -Mr. Lapham, and a number of others mourn. Much to the surprise of -everybody it came out that Frodel and the other man had robbed Roger -while he lay unconscious at the bridge and had also made off with his -motor cycle. They had wanted to pawn this, but had not dared, and it -was found where they had placed it, under some hay in a barn near -Oakdale. During the trials Gus Plum was called as a witness for the -state to testify and did so, doing nothing to shield himself. This was -considered to his credit, and when he returned to Oak Hall many thought -more of him than ever. There was now a coolness between the former -bully and Nat Poole, who seemed to be left in the cold all around. - -"I don't think we'll ever see anything more of Jasniff," said Dave one -day to Roger. But in this surmise Dave was mistaken, and how will be -related in another volume of this series, to be entitled, "Dave Porter -in the Far North; or, The Pluck of an American Schoolboy." In this -volume we shall meet many of our friends again, and learn what Dave -did towards finding his father and his sister who had so mysteriously -disappeared during their tour of Europe. - -Thanksgiving was now at hand, and many of the boys prepared to return -to their homes for the holidays. Dave was going to Crumville and so was -Ben. Roger was going home too, along with Shadow and Buster Beggs and -Sam Day. - -"I am going to stop to see Phil," said Dave, and Ben went with him. -Phil was delighted over the visit, and amazed to learn the news -concerning Plum and Jasniff. - -"Dave, you're a dandy!" he cried. "You're one boy in a thousand!" - -"Say one boy in ten thousand!" answered Ben. - -At this Dave smiled quietly. - -"I only tried to do my duty," said he. - -The homecoming was full of pleasure to the boy, and here, for the time -being, we will leave Dave. He had won the medal of honor, and no one -begrudged him the pleasure it gave him to wear it. - - -THE END - - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes. - -1. Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by - =equal signs=. - -2. Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as - possible. - -3. Simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors have been silently - corrected. - -4. 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