Edward Stratemeyer

“ Dave took his skates and went to the river, and Plum followed. Soon the pair were skating by themselves. When they had turned a bend, Plum led the way to a secluded spot, under the widespreading branches of an oak, and with a deep sigh threw himself down on a rock.
"I suppose you've got your own opinion of me," he began, bitterly, and with his face turned away. "I don't blame you—it's what I deserve. I hadn't any right to promise you that I'd reform, for it doesn't seem to be in me. My appetite for liquor is too strong for me. ”

“ I want you to make a man of yourself. You can do it if you'll only try. Won't you try?—for your own sake—for my sake—for the honor of Oak Hall? Say yes, and then thrust liquor out of your mind forever—don't even let yourself think of it. Get interested in your studies, in skating, boating, gymnastics, baseball,—anything. Before you know it, you'll have a death grip on that habit and it will have to die."
"Do you really believe that, Dave?"
"I do. Why, look at it—some men right down in the gutter have reformed, and they didn't possess any more backbone than you. ”

“ If you don't believe it, just ask Jessie Wadsworth." And Roger Morr began to grin. "I know Jessie will say at once that you are the dearest, sweetest——"
"Come now, Roger, let up!" interrupted Dave, growing red in the face. "Supposing Jessie should hear you?" And he looked anxiously toward the sitting-room door, which was partly open.
"There is no harm in telling the truth," returned Roger, with a calmness that made Dave blush still more. "But joking aside, Dave, I really hope this day proves to be the happiest of your life, and Laura turns out to be the jolliest of sisters." ”

“ I have no appetite for liquor, but I think I can understand something of what it means. But let me tell you one thing." Dave's voice grew intensely earnest. "It's all nonsense to say you are not going to reform—that you can't do it. You can reform if you'll only use your whole will power."
"But look at what I've tried already!" Plum's tone was utterly hopeless. "Oh, you don't know how I've fought against it! People who haven't any appetite for liquor don't know anything about it. It's like a snake around your neck strangling you!" ”

“ A silence followed, during which each youth glared at the other. Merwell had his skates in his hand and made a movement as if to lift them up and bring them down on Dave's head. But then his arm dropped to his side, for that terrible look of danger was still in the eyes of the youth who had spent some years of his life in the Crumville poorhouse. ”

“ Sam was a cautious player, not easily rattled. He allowed two balls to pass him, and they were called such by the umpire. Then, seeing just what he wished coming, he "swatted it for keeps," as Phil said, and ran for dear life. He reached third and the fellow at second came home, tying the score.
Pandemonium now broke forth in earnest, while the catcher walked forward to confer with the pitcher. Gus Plum was up, and his face was deathly white as he faced the pitcher. He felt as if the fate of a nation depended upon him.
In came the ball and with unerring judgment Plum struck at it. ”

“ Slowly at first and then faster and faster, it rolled down the hill, increasing in size as it progressed.
"It's getting there! " sang out Roger. "See how it is shooting along!"
"Look!" yelled Dave, pointing up the river. "An ice-boat is coming!"
All looked and saw that he was right. It was a craft from the Rockville academy, and it was headed straight for the spot where the big snowball was about to cross.
"If the snowball hits them, there will be a smash-up!" cried Roger.
"And that is just what is going to happen, I fear," answered Dave. ”

“ The mysterious student in white was crawling up the gable and was already close to the ridge!
"Shadow Hamilton!" murmured Dave. "He is sleep-walking again!"
Dave was right—it was indeed poor Shadow, and as fast asleep as a sleep-walker can get. The lad had a tape measure in one hand and was muttering to himself:
"If the gable of a house is fourteen feet long on one side, and the angle at the top——" And then the rest was lost in the wind.
"He's dreaming of that problem in geometry," said Dave to himself. "It's got on his nerves." ”

“ But I saw that Porter was willing to let you go on."
This was the bitterest pill of all for Link Merwell to swallow. To think he might have been disqualified but that Dave Porter had been given the chance to continue hammering him! He wanted to argue, but no one except Nat Poole would listen to him, and so he strode out of the gymnasium in disgust, accompanied by his crony.
"It makes me sick," he muttered. "Everybody stands up for Porter, no matter what he does!" ”

“ They exchanged glances, and then the dudish pupil pulled his crony by the coat-sleeve and led the way to a lonely part of the campus.
"Oh, Link, do you think we took the doctor's boat by mistake?" asked Poole, with something akin to terror in his tones.
"Hush! not so loud!" warned Merwell. "If we did, you don't want to let anybody know it."
"But what shall we do? The doctor and Mr. Dale can't leave the island without a boat." ”

“ Slowly Shadow climbed down from the gable roof and made his way toward the scuttle. He had taken but a few steps when suddenly he slipped and fell.
"Oh!" he cried, and looked around in bewilderment. "Where——"
"Shadow!" cried Dave, and caught him by the arm. "You are all right, so don't worry."
"But where am I?" insisted the sleep-walker.
"On the roof."
"You have been walking in your sleep, Hamilton," explained Mr. Dale. "Come, let me help you down the ladder. You are soaked through, and if you don't get into a warm bed very quickly you may catch your death of cold." ”

“ By common impulse they moved toward the door.
"What if we meet Murphy?" asked Phil.
"We'll do our best to avoid him, but if we do see him I rather think he'll side with us and keep quiet," answered Dave. "I know he hates Haskers as much as we do."
Hiding what was left of their meal in a corner of a shelf, behind some books, the two lads stole into the semi-dark hall and up one of the broad stairs. They met nobody and gained their dormitory with ease. Going inside, each undressed in the dark and prepared to retire. ”

“ I guess she thinks a lot of you, too."
"Now, Phil——" began Dave; but just then some other boys appeared and the rather delicate subject had to be dropped.
Dave had procured a theatrical book on how to make up for all sorts of characters, and he and Plum studied this and got their costumes ready. Both were truly comical outfits, and each lad had to laugh at the other when they put them on.
"We must keep them a secret," said Dave. "It will spoil half the fun to let the others know how we are going to be dressed. We don't want a soul to know until we step on the stage." ”

“ He's always that way when he's got anything to drink."
Dave's face was a study. When Merwell had called him "a poorhouse rat" he had gone white and his teeth had closed with a snap, but now, when he heard how the misguided youth was the victim of his own appetite, the lines softened into pity and nothing else.
"It's too bad," he said. "Why can't fellows leave drink alone?" And then he thought of poor Gus and how he had been tempted.
"We ought to take the stuff away from him," said Roger.
"It's too late for that—the bottle is empty, and Merwell threw it overboard," answered Poole. ”

“ Laura was handsome rather than pretty. She had an aristocratic air which had come down to her from her mother and grandmother. She was stately in her movements and her voice charmed Dave the moment he heard it.
"Just to think, you are really and truly my brother!" she exclaimed. "Isn't it wonderful!"
"It's wonderful for me to find a sister—and a father," answered Dave. "Sometimes I am afraid I'll wake up and find it all a dream."
"When I got papa's telegram I thought it was a dream. One of the cowboys on the ranch brought it over from the railroad station. ”

“ Dave took the bunch of keys from his pocket and approached the door. He tried one key after another, but none of them appeared to fit. Then Phil brought out such keys as he possessed, but all proved unavailable.
"That is one idea knocked in the head," said Dave, and heaved a sigh.
"I am going to tackle the bread and milk," said Phil. "It is better than nothing."
"It won't make us suffer from indigestion either," answered Dave, with a short laugh. ”

“ Dave was the lion of the occasion, and his many friends nearly wrung his hand off. The other members of the nine also came in for a share of the praise. The Rockville boys felt their defeat keenly, but had to acknowledge that they had been beaten fairly.
As soon as he could get away from his chums, Dave sought out Laura and Jessie.
"I've got those letters," he whispered to Laura. "And I doubt if Link Merwell will ever trouble you again."
"Oh, I am so thankful, Dave!" she answered. "I'll never be so foolish again as to write letters to a person with whom I am not well acquainted." ”

“ Plum was again at first, but Dave and Roger were on the bench as substitutes.
It had been a hard-fought battle from the first ball pitched. Each pitcher had been hit heavily, but good field work had kept the score from going higher. Shadow had made a phenomenal catch that had brought forth much applause, and Phil had brought in the third run when it looked almost certain that he would be put out.
It was Oak Hall's turn at the bat, and they did their best to score. But with a man on second and another on first, their hopes faded, and they tired, leaving the figures as before. ”

“ One tent had a big sign over it, 'The Greatest and Most Marvelous Wonder of the Age—A man who plays the piano better with his feet than most skilled musicians can play with their hands. Admission 10 cents.' That sign attracted a big crowd and brought in a lot of money. When the folks got inside a man came out, sat down in front of a piano that played with paper rolls, and pumped the thing for all he was worth with his feet!"
"Oh, what a sell!" roared Phil. "Shadow, that's the worst you ever told."
"Quite a feat," said Dave. ”

“ Hardly had they left the office when Siller, the boatman, came in.
"The boat you had is at the dock," he announced. "It was tied up around a corner, where I didn't see it before."
"That proves some boys from this school took it from the island," said the doctor. "Is the boat all right?"
"Yes, sir. I looked her over, and in the bottom I found this case."
As Siller spoke he handed over a small leather case, which was empty but smelt strongly of tobacco.
"A cigarette case!" cried the master of the school. "Could any pupil here have had that? They know that smoking is forbidden." ”

“ Passing the roadhouse, Dave came to a halt at the roadside.
"Going to pump up!" he called out. "Go ahead—I'll catch up with you." And so the others went on, leaving him alone.
He was at work with a small hand pump he carried when he heard a murmur of voices in the bushes and trees back of the roadhouse. The murmur grew louder, and presently he made out the voices of Gus Plum and Link Merwell.
"You're a fool, Gus, to act this way," Merwell was saying. "What's the use of being a softy? You are missing a whole lot of fun." ”

“ A wooden peg had served to keep the hasp in place.
"It looks to me as if somebody had let them out," said Dave, after an examination.
"But who would do that, Dave?" questioned Phil.
"Somebody not a member of the Gee Eyes—some enemy of the club."
"But why should the Soden boys run away?" asked Shadow. "They were willing to be initiated."
"Perhaps they got cold feet—mentally as well as physically," ventured Henshaw. "They may have got to talking things over in the dark and got scared." ”

“ Dave was in the carryall, along with Phil, Shadow, and ten others. They were a jolly crowd, and as the turnout bowled along over the road they sang, gave the school yell, and cut up generally. The athletic yell was very popular, as follows:
⁠"Baseball!
⁠Football!
⁠Oak Hall!
⁠Has the call!
Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!"
"This is the day we rip Rockville up the back!" cried one of the students.
"And poke holes in the sky with raps for home runs," added another.
"And strike out three men every inning!" cried a third. "Dave, how is our pitcher to-day?" ”

“ Maybe Dave Porter would have some work straightening matters out, eh?"
"By Jove, you're right!" cried Nat Poole. "It's a great scheme, Link! If we work it right, we can get him in the hottest kind of water—especially if he thinks a good deal of both girls."
"And that isn't all," added Link Merwell, lighting a fresh cigarette. "Don't forget Roger Morr. If he thinks a good deal of Vera Rockwell we'll manage to put a flea in his ear,—that Porter is trying to cut him out in an underhanded way. I reckon that will split up the friendship between Porter and Morr pretty quick." ”