Edward Stratemeyer

“ CHAPTER VII A STRANGE LETTER BOX
"It won't be long now before we'll have to get back to Putnam Hall," observed Sam, as they drove along. "Dear old school! How I love it!"
"It's too bad that we are getting too old to go there," said Tom. "But we can't be boys always."
"I shall be glad to see the other fellows again," came from Dick.
"Do you know what I think?" declared Tom. "I think the Putnam Hall cadets are the finest lot of boys in the world!"
"Throwing bouquets at yourself, Tom?" said Sam, with a laugh. ”

“ There, in front of the soda fountain, were the bully of the Hall and his crony. They were drinking soda and talking to a young girl who had served them.
"Hullo, here they are!" cried Sam, and came to a halt.
As they looked into the place they saw Tad Sobber reach over the counter and catch the girl clerk by her curls. He held fast, grinning into her face, while she tried to pull away from him.
"The mean wretch!" cried Dick. "He tries to make himself as obnoxious as he can to everybody he meets." ”

“ About a quarter of a mile was covered when they heard a crashing in the brushwood not far ahead of them. Then came a yell of pain from both Merrick and Tad Sobber.
"Ouch! I'm being stung to death!"
"Get off of me! Oh! oh! oh!"
"They are hornets, Tad! Run, or they'll be after us!"
"I—I can't run! Oh! one stung me in the eye!" screamed Tad Sobber.
Then the Rover boys heard the man and the boy plunge on, Tad screaming with pain at every step.
"Wait! we can't go that way!" cried Tom, who had no desire to tumble into the hornets' nest as the others had probably done. "Let's go around!" ”

“ As they reached a bend Tom pointed forward.
"There he is, just going into the bushes!"
"He had better not go that way," was Mr. Laning's remark, "unless he knows the ground well."
"Why not?" asked Sam.
"Just beyond that patch of timber is Nixon's Swamp, as it is called—as boggy and treacherous a spot as can be found for miles around. If he don't look out he'll get stuck there and never get out."
"Do you know the swamp?" asked Dick. "I mean the good spots?"
"Fairly well—I used to come over here when I was a boy—to pick huckleberries. They are plentiful on the other side of the swamp." ”

“ Here Mrs. Green met them with her round, ruddy and smiling face.
"It's wonderful stories I've heard of you," said the matron. "I declare, you'll have to go into a museum!"
"Not until after supper anyhow," answered Tom, dryly. And then everybody present laughed.
The supper over, the boys went up to their dormitory, and here as many of the cadets as could crowded in, to talk over the doings of the past vacation. Larry Colby had spent the time on the coast of Maine, and George Granbury had been to the Thousand Islands and to Montreal. ”

“ 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. ”

“ By this time they were pretty well tired out, and Tom suggested that they start for home.
"It's a long tramp," he said, "and by the time we get back I guess we'll all be ready to rest."
"As for that, I am ready to rest now," said Sam. "Tramping through the snow is no easy task."
"Especially if a fellow's legs aren't very long," returned Dick, with a grin.
"Well, mine are as long as they ought to be," came from Sam, promptly. "They reach to the ground, and yours don't reach any further," and then there was a general laugh, Jack Ness guffawing loudly. ”

“ During that time the Rovers and their friends saw Tad Sobber and Nick Pell walking around the village, but did not speak to them.
"Hullo, here is something new," said Songbird, as they walked past the stores. "A dime museum!"
"Such a thing as that will never pay here," was Dick's comment. "Not enough people."
"It is to remain only one week," said Sam, after reading the sign over the door.
"Wonder if they really have one hundred snakes in the collection?" mused Tom, also reading the sign. "If so, there would be some fun if the bunch broke loose." ”

“ The lads ran down to the barn and had Jack Ness hitch up a fresh team to a buckboard. It was now growing dark.
"Take good care of yourselves," cried Mrs. Rover, as they drove off. "If the telephone and telegraph poles are down on the road see that you do not run into any of them."
They were driving to the gateway of the big farm when they saw Alexander Pop running after them, flourishing something in his hand. Aleck was a colored man who had once worked at Putnam Hall, but who was now attached to the Rover household. ”

“ Derringham, listen to me," said the eldest Rover boy firmly. "We are after a criminal—a man who for years robbed the railroad company of valuable freight. We know he is somewhere around your place. If you shield this criminal, or aid him in getting away, you will be guilty of a crime." ”

“ But then the Rovers' bob began to drag behind.
"Hurrah, we are going to win!" cried one of the boys on the other bob.
"Said I could beat you!" yelled Peter Slade to Dick.
"The race isn't ended yet," flung back the eldest Rover boy. ”

“ The reference to their uncle amazed them, and they wondered what the two men in the runabout had in mind to do. By their talk it was evident they meant to accomplish something unlawful.
"They are going to play Uncle Randolph some trick," whispered Sam. "We must get home and warn him."
"What we ought to do is to have the whole crowd arrested," answered Tom. "They are all implicated in the theft of freight."
"That's the talk," said Dick. "The question is, How can we do it? We are no match for those three men, and more than likely they are armed." ”

“ On and on went the swindler, with the Rover boys less than a square behind him. Then, as they came to a number of tall buildings, Merrick darted around a corner and out of sight.
When the Rover boys reached the corner they looked in every direction for the man. Only a few people were about, the majority of the town folks being at the show.
"Wonder if he went straight on, or took to some side street?" mused Dick.
"I'll go straight on," said Sam. "Dick, you can take one side street and Tom can take the other," and away went the youngest Rover, at a fresh burst of speed. ”

“ And he looked sharply at the Rovers.
"Sobber must like snakes—I saw him at the museum in Cedarville one day," answered Dick, and eyed the bully boldly. At this Sobber grew red in the face and slunk out of sight.
"Get to bed, all of you," said Captain Putnam sharply. "I'll investigate this in the morning."
As on the night before, it took the school a long time to quiet down. The Rover boys and their chums had a hearty laugh over the success of the trick.
"My! but Sobber is mad," said Fred. "You want to watch out, he'll do almost anything to get square." ”

“ Tired out from their long trip, the Rover boys were glad enough to get back home again. For nearly a week their friends remained with them at Valley Brook farm and then they departed, the Stanhopes and Lanings for their homes and Fred, Hans and Songbird for Putnam Hall.
"Of course you're coming back to the Hall?" Fred had said on leaving.
"Coming back?" had been Tom's answer. "Why, you couldn't keep us away with a Gatling gun!"
"To be sure we'll be back," answered Dick Rover.
"And we'll have the greatest times ever," chimed in Sam. "I am fairly aching to see the dear old school again." ”

“ I am armed and I warn you to keep back," answered the freight thief, and then a bend of the trail hid him from view.
"Do you think he'd dare to shoot?" asked Tom.
"There is no telling what a desperate man will do," replied Dick. "We had better be cautious."
After that they advanced with care. Presently the trail came out on a mountain road and this passed over some rocks and crossed two other roads. They saw no more of Dangler, and the footprints had disappeared.
"He has slipped us," said Tom, coming to a halt and resting on a fallen tree. "Hang the luck anyway!" ”

“ It angered him exceedingly to see how readily his open-minded relative had fallen into the swindlers' trap.
"But there may be some mistake," said Randolph Rover, in a forlorn tone. "Would that Merrick dare to impersonate Mr. Jardell?"
"Swindlers will do anything," answered Sam.
"We can make sure of that point by sending word to the traction company offices," answered Dick. "You are sure Mr. Jardell is the treasurer?" ”

“ The Rovers were exceedingly anxious to make records for themselves, and whenever a lesson was too hard for Tom or Sam, Dick helped them all he could. The eldest Rover boy was sorry he had missed his former position by being absent, but he was delighted to know that he and his brothers would now finish their schooling at Putnam Hall together.
"I couldn't bear to think of being separated from you," he said to Tom and Sam.
"We don't want to be separated," returned Tom.
"That's the talk!" declared Sam. "We'll stick together always!" ”

“ To one side of the parlor was an entry-way, and here was a stairs leading to the second story and another leading to the cellar.
"Well, shall we go up or down?" queried Dick.
"Let us see what the cellar looks like first," answered Sam. "Perhaps we'll find a pot of gold there."
"Or a few skeletons," put in Tom.
"Ugh! don't say skeletons," cried Songbird, with a shiver. "I've got the creeps already!"
"Look out that you don't break your neck on the stairs," warned Larry, and then Dick led the way down, holding the light before him. ”

“ Peleg Snuggers says it is going to be a heavy fall, and he generally knows."
"And he loves snowstorms so," put in Fred, with a laugh. "Do you remember the time we made a big fort and had a regular battle?"
"Indeed I do!" cried Larry. "It was great! We ought to have something of that sort this winter."
"I was hoping we'd get skating before it snowed," put in Songbird.
"Well, we can't have all the good things at once," answered Dick. "I think a heavy snowstorm is jolly. Somehow, when it snows I always feel like whistling and singing." ”

“ They likewise enjoyed the substantial lunch their Aunt Martha had provided, and ate until Tom was ready to "bust his buttons," as he expressed it.
"Let us try a new path down," said Sam, when it came time to go home, and he and Tom led the way, over a series of rocky ridges and cliffs anything but easy to traverse. In some places they had to drop ten and fifteen feet, and once Tom came down on his ankle in a manner that made him cry with pain.
"You look out for yourself," warned Dick. "If you sprain an ankle up here we'll have a job of it getting you home." ”

“ I used to be an honest man," responded the freight thief.
"Well, before you die, you'll learn that 'honesty is the best policy,'" observed Sam.
"I've learned that already. I've lost all my old friends, and I can't show myself anywhere any more."
The crowd had to tramp a good mile and a half before they reached a farmhouse where they could procure a team and a sleigh big enough to take all of them to Oak Run. Then they set off at a fast pace and at about supper time reached the Rover farm. ”

“ Dick led the way, setting a pace that made it hard for the others to keep up.
"Don't hurry so, Dick," remonstrated Fred. "The house isn't going to run away."
"Dick wants to make sure if that Merrick is around," responded Songbird. "And I can't blame him."
The old Sobber homestead was surrounded by a grove of trees equally aged. One of the trees had blown down, taking a corner of the roof with it. Through this opening the birds flitted.
"I don't believe a soul is around," observed Tom, as they halted in front of the building. ”

“ In the present story, as promised in the last volume, the scene is shifted back to the farm and to dear old Putnam Hall, with their many pleasant associations. As before, Sam, Tom and Dick are to the front, along with several of their friends, and there are a number of adventures, some comical and some strange and mystifying. At the school the rivalries are as keen as ever, but the Rover boys are on their mettle, and prove their worth on more than one occasion. ”

“ Then Hans took up the ends and tied them around his waist.
The drag had caused the Rovers' bob to get two lengths behind the other, and Peter Slade and his companions felt certain of winning.
"You can't touch us, Dick Rover!" called Slade, triumphantly.
"Good-bye!" called another boy. "We'll tell those at the bottom of the hill that you are coming."
"Are we making better time?" questioned Tom, anxiously. "If we are not I'll get off and shove," he added, jokingly.
"You hold tight now!" yelled Dick, and an instant later the bob went down over a ridge of the hill. ”

“ These and a number of other cries rang through the dormitory as the cadets saw the contents of the box. Several tried to back away, and Hans pitched over Tom and both went in a heap.
"Ton't you let dot snake bite me!" roared the German youth.
"Maybe he's poisonous!" came from Larry. He had sought safety by leaping on a bed.
Slowly the snake had lifted itself from the box, to glare at several of the boys. Then its cold, beady eyes were fixed on Dick and it uttered a vicious hiss. This was more than the eldest Rover could stand and he let box and snake drop in a hurry. ”

“ He is a big, overbearing fellow with hardly any education, and he wants to rule everybody. I can't understand how Captain Putnam took him as a pupil."
"He came well recommended, that's why," answered Songbird. "But I guess the captain has found out that the recommendation was false."
"He shan't rule me," said Tom, decidedly.
"We want no bullies here," put in Dick. "The day for all such is past."
"So say we all of us!" cried several cadets. ”

“ The girls remained in the parlor, much frightened, for it was after midnight.
As Dick reached the piazza he saw a dark form stealing along a row of bushes near the garden fence.
"There he is!" he exclaimed. "Stop!" he called out, loudly. "Stop, I tell you!"
"Who did you say it was?" asked John Laning, as he came from the kitchen with a stout cane in his hand.
"That rascal Merrick, one of the two men who stole my uncle's traction company bonds," explained Dick.
"What can he be doing here?"
"I don't know. There he goes, over the fence!"
"He is running towards the side road!" exclaimed Sam. ”

“ He pointed ahead to where a street light fell on a horse and buggy. On the seat of the latter sat Randolph Rover, driving along contentedly.
"Hullo, Uncle Randolph!" sang out Dick, and brought the buckboard to a halt.
"Why, Dick!" exclaimed the uncle, staring at the three boys in surprise. "What brings you here this time of night?"
"We came to find you, Uncle Randolph," said Tom, and added: "Are your traction company bonds safe?"
"My bonds? What do you know of my bonds?" And now the buggy halted beside the buckboard.
"We know two men are after them," said Sam. ”

“ The master of Putnam Hall mused for a moment. "Well, it is very queer. But, as the snake has disappeared, I think we may as well retire once more. I do not imagine we have anything to fear."
It was a good hour before the school was quiet. Many of the boys were afraid to go to bed, and the teachers could not blame them. The Rovers and their chums got together to discuss the situation in whispers and at the same time remove all traces of the feast which had been so curiously interrupted.
"Dick, what do you make of this?" asked Tom. ”

“ Then please do, Tom," said the dude eagerly. To have any young ladies think of him pleased him immensely.
"Well, these are a couple of young ladies who work in a laundry. Maybe they wash your shirts. They are colored, and——"
"Colored!" gasped the dude, and then a shout of laughter went up, in the midst of which William Philander started to leave the room.
"Don't go away mad, Billy," cried Tom. "Isn't it nice even to have two dusky damsels think of you?" ”