Tom Rover

“ 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." ”

“ A runner of each turnout was smashed, and the occupants of the other sleigh came tumbling in upon the lads in great confusion.
"Great Caesar! what's this?" groaned Tom as he shifted a weight from his shoulders, and then he stared in amazement as he found himself confronted by Nellie Laning!
"Tom Rover!" burst from the girl's lips soon as she could recover her breath. "Did you ever!"
"Well, hardly!" murmured Tom, as he helped her to, a sitting position. "You're coming in on us fast. What's the trouble? Oh, and there is Grace and your father!" ”

“ He was surprised to find Dan Baxter talking to Tom.
"Do you know Bud Cashaw?" he questioned.
"Bud Cashaw? Who is he?"
"This is Bud."
"Not much! Do you know who this is? Tom Rover, the brother I was telling you about."
"Tom Rover!" almost shouted the owner of Red Rock ranch. "Are you certain of this?"
"Yes. Didn't I go to school with him? I know him as well as I know my own father."
Sack Todd glared at Tom and gave him a close inspection. Then he shook the youth fiercely. ”

“ And the dudish student shook Tom's hand again.
And then, for once in his life, Tom Rover didn't know what to say. As he afterwards admitted, he was completely "stumped." Poor, innocent Tubbs had really thought it an honor! To Tom that was "the limit."
"I'll never really know that chap," he said to his brothers. "His head must be filled with sawdust and punk."
"Well, let him drop now," advised Dick. "Quit your fooling, Tom, and get at your studies. You know what I told you. We may have to leave Brill before we anticipated. And we want to get all the learning we can." ”

“ I introduced my readers to Dick, Tom and Sam Rover and their friends and relatives. This book and those which immediately followed related the adventures of the three Rover boys at Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College and while on many outings.
Having graduated from college, the three young men established themselves in business in New York City and became married to their girl [iv] sweethearts. Dick Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was likewise his brother Sam, while Tom Rover became the proud father of twin boys. ”

“ I'll never forgive you, Tom Rover, never!" And William Philander stalked away, still clutching the poster in his hand.
"Poor William Philander!" murmured Sam. "It was rather a rough joke, Tom."
"Oh, it will do him good," was the answer. "He's too uppish to live."
"Yes, he wants some of the conceit knocked out of him," added Stanley. "But come on, if we are going for a walk, let us get started."
"Wish I had been in the classroom to see the fun," mused Tom, his old-time grin overspreading his face. No matter how old Tom got he'd never give up his boyish pranks. ”

“ Seeing that Tom contemplated running away, he made the youth dismount. "Better make a prisoner of him," he suggested.
"By all means!" cried Dan Baxter, and brought forth a stout lariat. With this Toni's hands were bound behind him, and his feet were also secured.
"That's number one, Roebuck," laughed Arnold Baxter, turning to the man who had thus far remained silent.
"Tom Rover?" asked the man laconically.
"Yes."
"A bright-looking chap."
"Oh, he's bright enough," growled Baxter senior. ”

“ He was awful angry at us when he left the Hall."
"If he doesn't want to speak he can do the other thing," said the youngest Rover. "Perhaps he'll be glad to meet somebody in this out-of-the-way place."
They walked over to where Peter Slade stood and both spoke at once. The other lad was startled at first and then he scowled.
"Humph! you down here?" he said, shortly.
"Yes," answered Tom, pleasantly enough. "Did you just get in on the steamer?"
"I don't know as that is any of your business, Tom Rover!" ”

“ Who are you?"
"I'm a miner from Black Run. My handle is Jack Wumble. These are two friends o' mine, Dick an' Sam Rover. We ain't goin' to harm you. We are lookin' fer a young feller thet's lost, that's all."
"We are looking for my brother," added Dick. "His name is Tom Rover. I think he was traveling with you." They had now come close enough to see that Ike Furner was alone.
"Don't know no Tom Rover," was the slow response. "There's a young feller with me, but his name is Brill Thomas." ”

“ That’s the best ever!” shouted Andy, throwing his cap into the air. “I knew you’d do it, Dad.” And, rushing forward, he grabbed his father and gave him a big hug.
“But—but—I really don’t understand,” stammered Dick Rover, for once so surprised he could scarcely speak. “How did you fix it up, Tom?”
“Allen Charter is going to do the trick for me,” answered Tom Rover.
“Allen Charter?” exclaimed Sam Rover. “I [251] thought you said he had declined and was going to volunteer!” ”

“ Tom Rover wins!" was the cry, and many rushed forward to congratulate him, while Larson and Jackson retired as quickly as they could and in great disgust.
The next contest was a dash of two hundred yards and was won by a boy named Bird.
"He's a bird!" sang out Tom loudly, and at this the crowd laughed heartily.
Then came a race of a quarter of a mile for the little cadets and this was won by Harry Moss, with Joe Davis a close second. Lew Flapp had backed up Ben Hurdy, but cigarettes had done their work on Hurdy and his wind gave out long before the race came to a finish. ”

“ Knowing that the young folks were usually very hungry when they got home and that they always enjoyed home cooking, their mothers had prepared quite a spread for them. Mrs. Tom Rover had gone downtown to meet her husband, and now she came back in a flutter of excitement.
“Hello, Ma! Where is Dad?” questioned Randy, as he ran up and gave her a hug and a kiss, followed by his twin. ”

“ The contestants from Putnam Hall were Tom Rover, Fred Garrison, Tubbs, and a lad named Hollbrook.
"Are you ready?" asked Mr. Richards, after lining the boys up and telling them of the conditions of the race.
There was a dead silence.
"Go!" shouted the starter.
Away went the eight skaters, side by side, each striking out bravely. Fred was in the lead, with two Pornell boys a close second, while Tom Rover was fourth.
"Go in, Tom, you must win!" sang out Dick excitedly.
"Hurrah for Tubby!" came from several others. "He's crawling up!"
"Go in, Gray!" ”

“ And then, turning to the lads, he continued: “You don’t know where you are going, boys, but you’re on the way.”
“Do you mean to say that we’re not going home?” came from all four cadets in a chorus of wonder.
“You are not,” replied Tom Rover. “But don’t ask any more questions. Go ahead and [10] get ready to leave. We have a long ride ahead of us, and we don’t want to drive any farther than is necessary after dark.”
While the Rover boys were saying good-bye to their chums and getting ready to make the trip, Tom Rover and his brother Sam went in to call on their old school chum, Colonel Colby. ”

“ While at Colby Hall Jack had worked his way up until he became the major of the school battalion, while Fred became captain of Company C. Andy and Randy had been too full of fun to go in for military honors, but had taken their part in numerous sporting contests. When the time came for graduating from the school all of the boys had passed with flying colors, much to their parents’ delight.
“The kids are all O. K., even if they’re full of fun,” said Tom Rover proudly to his wife, Nellie. ”

“ But they will take care of themselves, I feel that more and more every day," concluded Randolph Rover; and there, for the time being, the subject was dropped.
"I wonder what has become of old Josiah Crabtree?" remarked Dick Rover, as he and his brothers walked around the parade ground to inspect several improvement which Captain Putnam had caused to be made.
"I'm sure I can't guess," answered Tom.
"Like as not he became scared to death. I suppose you'll be satisfied if he keeps away from Dora and her mother in the future?"
"Yes; I never want to set eyes on him again, Tom. ”

“ A real live American boy can't be still all the time, and he ought to know it," and, with a decided shake of his curly head, Tom Rover took a baseball from his pocket and began to throw it up against the side of the farmhouse, catching it each time as it came down. ”

“ Soon it was raining steadily, and when they reached a spot clear of trees they got soaked to the skin. But as it was very warm they did not mind this.
"It's like taking a bath without troubling about undressing," said Tom, and this remark caused a smile.
They were now in a bunch once more, with Bahama Bill leading them. The old tar was looking sharply ahead and soon he gave a grunt of satisfaction.
"What is it?" asked Anderson Rover eagerly.
"I know where I am now," was the reply. "And unless that earthquake knocked it skyhigh thet cave ought to be right ahead o' us!" ”

“ To my old readers the youths already mentioned in these pages will need no special introduction. For the benefit of others, however, let me state that Sam Rover was the youngest of [17] three brothers, Dick being the eldest and fun-loving Tom coming next. They were the sons of one Anderson Rover, a rich widower, and had for years made their home with their Uncle Randolph and their Aunt Martha at a beautiful farm called Valley Brook. ”

“ This is a private affair of importance."
"Sure," was the ready answer. "I wouldn't have butted in if I had known something was doing," and Henry walked off toward the college buildings.
"Just tell Tom Rover to wait—we'll fix it up somehow," cried Jerry to Songbird and Max as the pair departed. "It's all a—er—a mistake. I'm—er—sorry I got Rover into it—really I am."
"No doubt of it, now!" answered Songbird significantly. "Evildoers are usually sorry—after they are caught!"
CHAPTER XI HOW TOM ESCAPED PUNISHMENT Dick and Sam were good walkers, so it did not take them long to reach Ashton. ”

“ Not far behind were Hans and Harold Bird.
"A bob cat! Look out for him!" cried Fred.
"Protect us!" put in Songbird. "We are helpless!"
"See, they are tied to the trees!" exclaimed Tom. "What does this mean?"
"I see the bob cat!" said Sam Rover, and without ado fired up into the tree. Down came the beast, spitting viciously and clawing the air, to fall at Tom's feet. Bang! went Tom's pistol and then all of the others fired, and almost as quick as I can tell it the beast lay dead where it had fallen. Then the boys looked around for other bob cats, but none showed themselves. ”

“ As they reached one of the streets they heard a cheerful whistle.
"That's Dick!" said Sam. "He won't whistle so happily when he learns the news."
"Hullo!" came from Dick Rover, as he caught sight of his brothers. "What brings you back so soon?"
"Thought you were going to stay on the house boat until we got there," added Fred Garrison, who, with Hans Mueller, accompanied the eldest Rover.
"There is no houseboat to stay on," answered Tom. ”

“ CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
"Do you see anything of the Baxters?" asked Sam, when the rowboat was within a hundred feet of the schooner.
"I thought I did before, but I don't see them now," answered Tom.
"Rowboat, ahoy!" shouted Captain Langless. "What brings you?"
"I reckon you know well enough," Tom shouted back. "We are after Dick Rover."
"Dick Rover? Who is he?"
"Your prisoner."
"Our prisoner?" The owner of the Peacock put on a look of surprise. "Really, you are talking in riddles."
"I don't think so. Where are Arnold Baxter and his son Dan?" ”

“ We could go hunting, and have lots of fun, even if we didn't find the treasure box."
"The treasure box was probably taken away years ago," said Randolph Rover. "Most likely several of the smugglers knew of it."
"And what of that ghost?" asked Anderson Rover, with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Pooh! we're not afraid of ghosts," sniffed Sam. "Are we, Tom?"
"If I saw a ghost, I'd be apt to pepper him with shot, if I had my gun," answered Tom. "No, I'm not afraid of such things—and neither is Dick."
"It would be a fine thing to find a big boxful of silver," said Dick seriously. ”

“ May be away from home several days or a week. Very important to see man—trip this summer depends upon it.
"Anderson Rover."
"Wonder who the man can be?" mused Dick, after reading the message twice.
"He has something to do with this matter father was going to tell us about," returned Sam. "It's certainly a mystery."
"Well, this relieves our anxiety," said Randolph Rover. "So long as I know nothing has happened, your father can stay away as long as he pleases."
"But I am dying to know what it is all about," burst out Tom, who was always impatient to get at the bottom of things. ”

“ The cut was not a deep one, and the youth was suffering more from shock than from anything else.
"I'll be all right by to-morrow," he assured his Aunt Martha. "I only got a knock-down blow, that's all."
"The machine didn't fight fairly," added Tom, who had to have his little joke. "It hit Dick before he was ready."
"Well, I am thankful it was no worse," answered Mrs. Rover. "But it is bad enough."
"And we'll have to have a mason here to mend the chimney," added Randolph Rover.
"I'll get a man from the Corners to-morrow," said Tom. ”

“ This was true, for the train had stopped at a way station, having broken something on the engine, and the thief had left, to walk the remainder of the distance to Middletown on foot.
It was not until nightfall that Dick returned to his uncle's farmhouse.
Here he found that Sam and Tom had already arrived. Tom was lying on the sofa in the sitting room, being cared for by his Aunt Martha, who was the best of nurses whenever occasion required.
"Didn't find any trace of the villain?" queried Randolph Rover, with a sad shake of his head. "Too bad! Too bad! And it was your father's watch, too!" ”