The Rover Boys on the Farm; or, Last Days at Putnam Hall
A hurry call was sent to Doctor Fremley of Cedarville and he came as
quickly as his mare could bring him. Only the teachers and the physician
were allowed in the bedroom with Pell, so the cadets did not know what
took place.
"It's as plain as day," said Dick to his brother and his chums. "Sobber
got the snake and put it in the box. That is why Pell said he was to
blame."
"But Sobber told a teacher he did not bring the snake into the Hall,"
answered Songbird.
"I do not believe him," came from Tom.
"Nor do I," added Sam. "He's a bad egg, if ever there was one."
The poisoning of Nick Pell cast a damper over the whole school, and
neither the teachers nor the pupils could settle down to lessons. The
doctor remained with the sufferer for two hours, and when he went away
he looked very grave.
"He is by no means out of danger," announced the physician. "But let us
hope for the best. I think his parents ought to be notified."
This was done, and Mr. and Mrs. Pell came on the very next day to see
their son. They found him in something of a fever and out of his mind,
crying continually for Sobber to take the snake away.
"Richard, I want to see you," said Captain Putnam that evening, and led
Dick to his private office. There he demanded to know what the eldest
Rover knew of the snake incident.
"Captain Putnam, I will tell you everything from beginning to end,"
answered Dick. "If I am to suffer I'll take my punishment, and Tom and
Sam say they stand ready to do the same." And thereupon Dick related the
particulars of the trouble with the bully and Pell, and of how he and
his brothers and Songbird and Hans had seen Sobber and Pell at the
museum where the snakes had been. Then he told of the feast, and how the
snake had been discovered in the box.
"I have kept the box," he added, "and you can look at the writing if you
wish. I think it is in Tad Sobber's hand, although somewhat disguised."
The address on the box was investigated by the master of the Hall, who
sent for several compositions Tad Sobber had written. The bully was much
disturbed when he had to give up the compositions to George Strong.
"What's that for?" he asked, with a scowl on his face.
"Captain Putnam wants them," answered the teacher, and would say no
more.
With anxious eyes the bully watched the first assistant disappear into
the office with the compositions. Then, looking to make sure that he was
not observed, he stole up to the door and applied his ear to the
keyhole. What he heard filled him with increased alarm.
"It is Sobber's handwriting beyond a doubt," said Captain Putnam, after
comparing the compositions with the address on the box cover. "I wonder
if he knew that the snake was a poisonous one?"
"Perhaps Nick Pell can tell that--after he gets over his trouble,"
returned Dick.
"Provided he does get over it, Richard."
"Don't you think he'll recover?" cried Dick, in consternation.
"He may not. It is a very serious case, so Doctor Fremley informs me."
"What does Mr. Pell say about it?"
"He wants me to investigate. He says he may have somebody arrested for
this--and I can hardly blame him. It was a vile thing to do--bring a
poisonous snake into the school."
At the mention of arrest Tad Sobber shut his teeth hard.
"I guess it's about time I made myself scarce," he muttered. "Perhaps I
had better leave and join Uncle Sid." And he walked away silently and up
to his room. He remained there about ten minutes, then stole forth and
down a back way, a fair-sized bundle under his arm.
At the conclusion of the interview in the office Captain Putnam sent for
Tad Sobber. One of the monitors went on the errand and came back in
quarter of an hour with the information that the youth could not be
found.
"Did he have permission to leave the grounds?" asked the captain of the
teachers.
"Not from me," said one instructor after another.
Then Peleg Snuggers was sent out to hunt the bully up and soon came back
with the information that Sobber was not around the grounds, but had
been seen by two of the cadets walking in the direction of Cedarville.
Sobber had given one of the cadets a note for the master of the Hall.
This ran as follows:
"Must go to the village on a matter of great importance. Will
explain when I return.--T. Sobber."
"Maybe he has gone to find out about that snake," suggested Tom.
"How could he?" came from his younger brother. "The museum keeper has
moved away."
"Tad may know where he moved to," put in Larry.
A whole day passed and the bully did not show himself. Then Captain
Putnam drove over to the village and attempted to hunt him up, but
without success. He learned that the museum man had shipped his outfit
to Boston.
"He has run away," said the master of the Hall to Mr. Pell and George
Strong. "I am satisfied now that he was guilty. But as Nick knew of it,
he must have had something to do with it," he added.
"I trust my son recovers," answered Mr. Pell, with a deep sigh. But the
days went by and Nick Pell still remained in bad shape, very weak and
out of his mind for the greater part of the time. During his lucid
intervals he told how Sobber had purchased the snake for five dollars,
the owner saying it was sick and liable to die in the near future. He
added that the bully had said he hoped the snake would bite one of the
Rovers.
"I didn't want him to use the snake," said the sufferer, "but he
insisted, and told me to keep my mouth shut about it." After that poor
Nick began to rave again and had to be given some medicine to keep him
quiet. During one of his good spells he was removed to a house located
about half a mile from Putnam Hall, where he could get the benefit of
absolute quietness. His father went back to business, but his mother
remained behind to nurse her boy.
The Thanksgiving holidays were now at hand, but the Rover boys decided
to remain at the Hall and not go home until Christmas. Besides, they
were preparing for the party at the Stanhope cottage, which was to come
off on the following Wednesday evening. They had seen Dora, Nellie and
Grace several times, and all had prepared for "the best time ever," as
the girls put it. Captain Putnam gave the boys permission to take the
carryall and allowed them to leave the school on the day of the party at
six o'clock.
"Whoop! here we go!" cried Tom, as he took the whip and cracked it
loudly. "Hold on, everybody! Peleg, don't let the team lag," he went on,
to the driver.
"An' don't you go for to make 'em run away, Master Tom," answered the
driver, grimly.
"It's a pretty long drive and we don't want to be late," said Dick. "So
push ahead as fast as you can."
"Say, Tubby, where's your stovepipe hat?" asked Sam of the dude cadet,
who formed one of the party.
"I--ah--thought it would not be--ah--quite appropriate," lisped William
Philander. "Not--ah--being full dress, you know."
"He was afraid of having it mashed," said Fred. "Hurrah! We're off! Now
for a good night's fun!"
They were to have a good night's fun--and a most unusual adventure with
it.
CHAPTER XIX
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PARTY
It was a clear, bright evening when the boys drove over to the Stanhope
cottage. All were in high spirits and sang and joked to their hearts'
content. For the time being the trouble with Tad Sobber was totally
forgotten. So far nothing more had been heard of the bully, and all were
satisfied that he had left both Putnam Hall and Cedarville and perhaps
for good.
"One boy told me he used to live with an uncle in New York City," said
Larry. "He didn't know the uncle's name."
When the carryall arrived at the Stanhope place they found the cottage
well lit up. Dora had invited a number of her girl friends and these,
with her cousins, Grace and Nellie, were already on hand. The boys let
out a ringing cheer as they stopped at the horse-block, and the girls
came out to greet them.
"All here?" cried Dora.
"All here," was the answer.
"Good!" cried several of the girls.
"I guess we are a bit early," observed Dick. "But we wanted to make sure
we wouldn't be late, and it's a long drive over."
"You are not a bit too early," answered Dora, and gave him her dainty
hand which he squeezed ardently.
Soon the boys were piling out on the ground, and a general handshaking
followed. Those who did not know each other were introduced, and
everybody walked into the house, where a room upstairs had been prepared
for the cadets' reception.
"Now, everyone must feel perfectly at home," said Mrs. Stanhope, who was
being assisted by Mrs. Laning and Mr. Laning. The older folks prepared
the refreshments while the young people sat down in the parlor and the
sitting room.
At first, as at all parties, there was a little stiffness, but this was
soon broken by Tom asking in a solemn voice:
"Say, did anybody bring an iceberg in his pocket? If he did he will
please set it on the kitchen stove to thaw out."
"Oh, Tom!" shrieked Nellie, and all the girls giggled. Then the "ice was
broken" and everybody started to talk at once. Even William Philander
was pleased, for he had discovered a tall, willowy girl who exactly
suited him and who thought him charming.
At first they played half a dozen different games and gave out riddles,
and Songbird recited a poem written in honor of the occasion. The poem
was the best effort he had yet made in the verse line and of course
everybody applauded. Then Grace said he ought to have it published in
the Cedarville weekly paper, and this pleased the poet very much.
"Maybe you can get a dollar a line for it, Songbird," suggested Dick.
"If he can we'll let him divide up with us," added Tom, and this caused
a laugh.
Presently refreshments were announced, and the boys and girls paired off
and entered the dining room. Here a long table was spread, decorated
with autumn leaves and the Putnam Hall colors. There were six colored
candles on the table, each with an elaborate red shade, and the general
effect was warm and pleasing. There were plenty of good things to eat,
including ice-cream frozen into all sorts of forms. When the forms were
passed around, Dick got a drum major, Tom an Uncle Sam, and Sam an
airship. Hans got a fat Dutch boy, which tickled him immensely.
"Dot vos look chust like some poys by der Fadderlandt," he observed.
With the ice-cream came snapper bonbons, filled with all sorts of things
made of paper, and soon one boy was wearing an apron, another a
nightcap, and the like. Dora got a yellow jacket, and Nellie a baker's
cap, while Grace skipped around wearing a poke hat over a foot high.
There was plenty of laughter, and the old folks did not hesitate to join
in. Nuts and raisins followed the ice-cream, and then the young folks
went back to the sitting room and the parlor to finish their games and
have some music.
"Dora, you must play for us," said Dick, and led her to the piano. Then,
while some of the others gathered around the girl played "Waiting for
the Wagon," "Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party," and a number of other
favorites, and these the crowd sang lustily.
"Guess it is about time for us to leave," whispered Fred to Dick,
presently. "I know you'll like to have Dora play all night for you, but
it can't be done."
Dick looked at his watch.
"Phew! as late as this!" he exclaimed softly. "Yes, we'll have to go."
"Let us sing 'Home, Sweet Home,'" suggested one of the boys, and Dora
struck up the opening chords. They were in the midst of the first verse
when Dick chanced to glance towards one of the windows and stopped
short.
A man was outside peering in at the party.
It was Merrick!
"Well, I never!" burst out the eldest Rover boy, and his sudden