Dan Baxter

“ But Dick was now thoroughly aroused, and he made after Baxter. When he got close enough, he put out his foot and sent the bully sprawling. Baxter came down on some rough sea-shells, cutting his face and hands in several places.
"Oh! oh!" he howled. "Stop it!"
"I will not stop it, Dan Baxter, until you promise to let Dora Stanhope and the other girls alone in the future. They want nothing to do with you, and you must keep your distance." ”

“ They were about to start on the return when Tom suddenly plucked his brother by the sleeve.
"Somebody is coming," he whispered. "Let us hide."
They had scarcely time to get behind some brushwood when the Baxters came into view, moving very slowly and gazing sharply around them.
"I don't see a thing, dad," came from Dan Baxter in disgusted tones. "I don't believe they came this way."
"They certainly didn't go back to that old boat," replied Arnold Baxter. "Let us take a walk along the beach."
"I am tired to death. Let us rest first." ”

“ THE TURNING UP OF DAN BAXTER
The boys were very curious concerning their old enemy, and on going below took a walk around several squares in the vicinity, in the hope of meeting the individual who had attracted Dick's attention.
But the search proved unsuccessful, and they returned to the hotel and went to dinner, with a larger appetite than ever.
"It would be queer if we met Dan Baxter out here," said Tom, while they were eating. "He seems to get on our heels, no matter where we go." ”

“ But to follow Dan Baxter up was out of the question, as they speedily discovered when they stepped out on the sidewalk. People were hurrying in all directions, and the bully had been completely swallowed up in the crowd.
"We must watch out," said Dick. "Now he knows we are here he will try to do us harm, mark my words." ”

“ Poor boy! it's too bad, isn't it?"
"It is too bad," said Dan Baxter hypocritically. "Do you know his name?"
"No, but he's a brother to those boys who us from the yacht a couple of hours ago. A lumber raft struck the yacht and the boy was knocked overboard and managed to cling to some timber."
"Is the man who was saved his friend?"
"No, he was on the raft and the two are strangers;" and with this remark the mate of the freight steamer passed on.
Without delay Dan told his father of what he had heard. Arnold Baxter was much pleased. ”

“ Mumps got sick, and that's all there is to it," growled Dan Baxter, and then went to dressing his swollen eye once more.
In the meantime Sam and Tom had rejoined their fellows and told their story. All of the others were indignant at Baxter's doing and glad to learn he had been given a sound drubbing.
"I don't see why he hangs in this neighborhood," said Larry. "It's a wonder he doesn't try to join his father." ”

“ As he did so, he gritted his teeth hard.
"They shan't capture me!" he muttered. "I am not to be taken alive!"
Away went the crowd at a breakneck speed, Dan Baxter in their midst. But at the first opportunity the bully turned to the southward and he disappeared when a patch of timber was gained.
"This is too hot for me," he muttered. "I guess best thing I can do is to get out of this neighborhood and skip for parts unknown for a while." And then he urged his horse still further to the southward, until the mists in a swamp in the midst of the timber hid him completely from view. ”

“ The girls continued their work, and for the time being Dan Baxter kept his distance. Jack Lesher continued to snore away in the hammock, nor did he rouse up when Dick and old Jerry returned.
"Dan Baxter!" cried Dick, as he leaped from the rowboat. "Where did you come from?" And then the story of the newcomers had to be told over again.
Dick eyed Jack Lesher with open disgust. "A man who will act like that has no welcome in our camp," he said to Baxter. ”

“ You are even bigger brutes than I took you to be," concluded the elder Rover boy bitterly.
"We've got to look out for ourselves," said Dan Baxter. "If we let you have the girl you ought to be satisfied."
"Let us talk to Dora," suggested Tom.
"No, you can't see her unless you agree to our terms," said Arnold Baxter decidedly. "If we bring her up now she may try to get away from us."
"You have got to submit to arrest and stand trial," said Sergeant Brown. "There are no two ways about it. If you won't submit quietly we'll have to fight. ”

“ They walked toward the cabin and ran down the companionway. At the lower doorway they paused and then Tom grinned.
On one side of the room was Dan Baxter with his hands in the air. On the other side was Hans, with a pistol in each hand.
"Ton't dare to mofe," Hans was saying. "Of you do I vos put exactly fourteen shots into your poty, ain't it!"
"I am not moving," grumbled Baxter. "Didn't I tell you I am sick of the whole thing, Dutchy? I don't want to fight, or anything." ”

“ A TWENTY-DOLLAR BILL
"It's odd that Dan Baxter should be out here," observed Sam as they journeyed along. "Can he be following us?"
"It is possible," returned Dick. "You know he would do almost anything to harm us."
"He has got to keep his distance," said Fred. "I shan't put up with any more of his games."
When they came to a turn of the road, they saw Dan Baxter and the bushy-haired man a long distance ahead. The former bully of Putnam Hall was on the lookout for them and at once urged his steed onward at an increased rate of speed. ”

“ Being cast away on the Pacific was productive of additional adventures and surprises. On a ship that picked the girls and boys up they fell in again with Dan Baxter, and he did all in his power to make trouble for them. When all were cast away on a deserted island, Dan Baxter joined some mutineers among the sailors, and there was a fight which threatened to end seriously for our friends. But as luck would have it, a United States warship hove into sight, and from that moment the boys and girls, and the friends, who had stuck to them through thick and thin, were safe. ”

“ Not caring to remain on the ground, Tom did so. He noted that the two men with Baxter were tramps, and he came to the conclusion that he had a hard crowd with whom to deal.
"March!" went on Baxter, taking Tom by the shoulder.
"March? Where to?"
"You'll find out fast enough."
"Suppose I refuse."
"You had better not, Tom Rover. You know I'm not to be trifled with."
"I am not afraid of you," answered Tom boldly. "You were always a bully, Dan Baxter, and a bully is a coward." ”

“ You'll stay right where you are for the present," answered the older Baxter grimly.
Dan had slipped out and he made a thorough search before returning to the cottage. In the meantime Dick was forced to sit down on a bench in a corner, while Arnold Baxter stood over him with a stout club.
"This is getting interesting, to say the least," thought Dick. "I wish I hadn't come anywhere near the cottage."
"Nobody around," announced Dan Baxter, as he came in and closed and locked the door.
"Good," answered his father. He turned again to Dick. ”

“ The trouble is, I can't end the tale properly."
"How is that, Dick?" asked his Uncle Randolph. "You were all saved. Isn't that a proper ending for any book?"
"Yes, but what of the villain? Baxter didn't show himself, and that is no ending at all. He should have fallen over a cliff, or been shot, or something like that."
"And we should have married the three girls," put in fun-loving Tom. "That would make the story even more complete."
"Well, things do not happen in real life as they do in story books," said the parent. "It is likely you will never hear of Dan Baxter again. ”

“ The party came east from Ithaca."
"It's Dan Baxter and Jasper Grinder sure!" burst out Dick. "Well, this beats the nation."
"Then you know the crowd?"
"I do—to my sorrow, Mr. Barrow. That Dan Baxter is the good-for-nothing young fellow I told you of this morning, and Jasper Grinder was a teacher at the Hall. We had a big row with him and he was kicked out in a hurry by Captain Putnam. They are our enemies." ”

“ A bargain was struck at once, and Dan Baxter went on board of the schooner Golden Wave that afternoon.
"I'm glad I am out of it," he told himself, when snug on board of the craft. "I'll get to Australia after all, and I'm considerably richer than I thought I would be. More than that, I've got in on those Rover boys in a way they won't forget in a hurry."
While the detectives looked for the thief, the boys had small heart to go sight-seeing. Every time they, went out they looked for Dan Baxter. ”

“ Let us get a bite of some thing before we go back to the hotel."
The others were willing, and they entered a nearby restaurant and seated themselves at one of the tables. As they did this, a person who had been following them stopped at the door to peer in after them. The person was Dan Baxter.
"They are going to dine before retiring," he muttered to himself. "The Old Nick take the luck! They have all the good times, while I have only the bad!"
Dan Baxter had followed the boys from the hotel to the theater and had also waited around for them to come out. ”

“ He told them of several of the former pupils of Putnam Hall, including Fenwick, better known as Mumps, who he said was novr working in a Chicago hotel.
"You boys can rest assured of one thing," said Dan Baxter during the course of the conversation, "if I can ever do you a good turn I'll do it, no matter what it costs me."
"That is very kind to say, Dan," answered Dick. "And let me say, if we can do anything more for you we'll do it." ”

“ By this time the playhour was over, and all of the skaters rushed back to the Hall, to get ready for the drill previous to supper. It is needless to add that each lad brought an extra big appetite with him.
All of the Rover boys noticed that Dan Baxter did not turn up at roll call, nor did the bully put in an appearance that night. "Got a day off," said Mumps, but that was all he could tell.
Late on the following day Tom was walking toward the gymnasium when he caught sight of Baxter just entering the school grounds. ”

“ The matter was talked over for a quarter of an hour longer and then the detectives went off to make their report and to follow on the trail of Dan Baxter, if such a thing was possible.
It must be confessed that the three Rover boys slept but little that night. The loss of the cash was something of a serious matter to them, even though they still possessed a hundred odd dollars in cash between them, and could easily telegraph home for more. More than this, the diamonds and cuff buttons had been gifts of which they were very proud. ”

“ It means that Dan Baxter's father is in the neighborhood and Dan is going to call on his parent."
"I know that, but—"
"You are surprised that father and son are equally bad? I'm not;
I thought it all along."
"What will you do?"
"Follow them."
"Will you whistle for Tom and Martin Harris?"
"No; that might arouse suspicion. Let us follow them alone. When they return to their yacht we can tell the others," concluded Dick.
CHAPTER XXII THE BAXTERS MAKE A NEW MOVE As silently as possible Dick and Sam came after Baxter and his toady John Fenwick. ”

“ The girls wished to edge away, but there was no room in the narrow bow. The eldest girl looked around as if for help. Her eyes met those of Dick, and she blushed.
"Say, that fellow is a regular pill," whispered Tom to his elder brother. "Somebody ought to take him by the collar and pitch him over-board."
"You are right, Tom," answered Dick, and then as the bully attempted to crowd still closer to the girls he suddenly arose, took a few steps forward, and caught Dan Baxter by the arm. ”

“ A moment later, they heard the guards walk away, and then Tom told the truth about the letter, and Sam and Dick led him to the hole in the wall.
"It is not quite big enough to use, yet," whispered the eldest Rover. "But we hope to have it big enough by to-morrow. It's slow work, when you have got to be on your guard all the while."
"I'd like to know what became of the detective," returned Tom.
"He must have run away as soon as he saw how affairs were shaping," put in Dick. "I hope he rounds up the whole gang."
"So do I, and Dan Baxter with them," answered Tom. ”

“ The men of the ranch crowded around the newcomer and plied him with questions. Tom tried to catch all that was said, but was unable to do so.
"We'll have to make short work of this, I am afraid," he heard Sack Todd say, a little later.
"What about the boy?" questioned the long-nosed man.
"He ought to be shot!" was the cold-blooded reply, which made Tom shiver.
"Shall we put him with the rest?"
"Yes."
Without ceremony, poor Tom was marched away to the trap-door, a man on each side of him. Dan Baxter came behind. ”

“ Upon an accounting it was learned that Rush & Wilder were by no means in a good financial condition and that Senator Harrington would lose a good sum of money should they fail.
"I'd give a thousand dollars to collar those thieves," said the senator dismally.
"If Arnold Baxter and Girk got that money they'll live in high clover for a while," remarked Dick, when the excitement was over and they had returned to Frank's home. "My! what a villain that Baxter is proving to be! No wonder Dan was bad! It must run in the blood." ”

“ They were trying to put down the first of their stakes when a pistol shot rang out, and Dick received a slight wound in the hand. Looking up the mountain side they saw Arnold Baxter's savage face gazing down at them. Behind the father was his son Dan, and close by stood Roebuck. Evidently their enemies meant to fight for the possession of the mine to the bitter end. ”

“ I'm sure it's the best picture you've painted."
"I honestly believe it is. Some parts of it," said Baxter, frankly, "are excellent.
"It's obvious. But either those very parts or others are singularly disagreeable. That word isn't criticism, I know; but I pay you for the right to be arbitrary. They are too hard, too strong, of too frank a reality. In a word, your picture frightens me, and if I were Marian I should feel as if you'd done me a certain violence." ”