Winfield Scott Taylor

“ If you tell the fellows they'll think you are drawing the long bow."
"Yes, Larry vos told me somedings apoud dot," broke in Hans. "You vos regular Robinson Roosters," he said.
"Great Scott! Robinson Roosters!" yelled Tom, bursting out into a fit of laughter. "Boys, we are discovered at last."
"Well, if you are, you needn't crow over it," came from Larry.
"Roosters and crowing! Oh, Larry, I didn't think you'd begin to pun so early," put in Sam.
"He just hatched it out," said Tom. ”

“ That flat rock may be under us."
"No sharp-pointed rock within a hundred feet of here," answered Sam, gazing around. He began scraping away the snow. "Dirt under us, too."
"That settles it, then. Trial No. 1 is a failure. Mr. Barrow, we'll have to try the next stream."
"So it would seem, Dick. Well, you boys mustn't expect too easy work o' it. A big treasure ain't picked up every day."
"The trouble of it is, we don't know how much of a treasure it is," said Tom. "For all we know, it may be but a few hundred dollars—not enough to pay us, really, for our trouble." ”

“ As Professor Sharp uttered these words he brought to light a German silver case which Tom had picked up in a curiosity shop in New York. The case had his name engraved on it, and contained pencils, crayons, and other things for drawing.
"Where did you get that?" demanded the youth.
"Never mind where I got it. Isn't it yours?"
"Yes."
"Ha! Do you hear that, Doctor Wallington?" cried Abner Sharp in triumph. "He admits the outfit is his!"
"So I see," said the president of Brill, and if anything his face grew a trifle more stern. "Then you admit your guilt, Rover?" he questioned. ”

“ Around and around the buildings marched the students. William Philander Tubbs wanted to keep out of the procession, but he was caught by Sam and Tom and made to carry a flag consisting of an old red sweater tied to the handle of a broom. Other boys carried the college colors, and they added to the din with tin horns and wooden rattles.
"My! but this is disgraceful!" muttered Professor Sharp, in disgust.
"Disgraceful?" cried Doctor Wellington. "Not at all, sir. Let the young men enjoy themselves. They are doing no harm." ”

“ And at Max's look of surprise he told something of what had happened.
"If Koswell is that mean he ought to be exposed," said Max. "I don't blame him for playing a trick on old Sharp, but to lay the blame on Tom why, that's different."
"Will you come along?"
"If you want me to."
"I don't want to drag you into trouble, Max."
"I dink I can take care of myself," answered the German-American student.
The pair passed around to the rear of the spot where Flockley and his cronies were located. Here was a heavy clump of brushwood, so they were able to draw quite close without being seen. ”

“ Just before Ithaca was reached, the train was delayed. As a consequence they missed the last boat for Cedarville that night.
"That's too bad," said Dick. "Now we won't be able to get to the Stanhope place until eleven o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Well, we can send a telegram to dad at Cedarville," said Sam. "And maybe we can telephone," he added.
At Ithaca Hans left them.
"I keeps mine eyes open for dot Dad Sobber," said he. "Of I finds him I let you know."
"That's the talk, Hans!" cried Tom. "You play detective and some day perhaps you'll win a great big leather medal." ”

“ Then he got mad and so did Jerry Tolman, and both refused to come back in the boat with Baxter and me."
"I'll wager you started to boss things," said Sam. "Dick doesn't raise a row without just cause."
"Good for Sam," murmured Dick.
"Your brother was entirely to blame," grunted the mate. He was still far from sober.
"Jack Lesher, you tell what is not so," said Dick loudly, and joined the group, followed by, old Jerry.
Had a bombshell exploded, Lesher and Baxter would not have been more astonished. They stared at the newcomers as if they were ghosts. ”

“ Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" And he glared maliciously at the Rovers and Stanley Browne.
"Oh, Professor, can you—er—help us?" murmured Stanley. "We—er—are in a lot of trouble."
"So I see," answered Abner Sharp chillily. "Nice doings, I declare! Don't you think so?" he added to the other professor.
"It is too bad," murmured Professor Blackie. "I thought them all rather nice lads."
Dick's head was still dizzy, so he could not catch the import of the professor's words. He continued to work over Tom, who just then opened his eyes.
"Gi—give me a—a drink!" murmured poor Tom. ”

“ THE DEFENSE OF THE CAVE—SAVED!
"He has fainted, poor fellow!" said Dick, as he bent over the unconscious form of Bostwick.
"We ought to git back to the house at once!" put in old Jerry. "We must warn the cap'n and the others of what Lesher and his crowd intend to do."
"That is true, but we can't leave this poor chap here. He might die for the want of care," came from Tom. ”

“ Get out of the way, you boys!" cried the old stationmaster, as he brushed past, hitting Tom in the knee with a suit case he was carrying. The train that carried Hans had rolled away, leaving Ricks and the Rovers alone on the little platform.
"Why, Mr. Ricks, what's your rush?" asked Tom, sweetly. "Going to a wedding?"
"No, I ain't going to no wedding!" grunted old Ricks. "I don't want you young fellers to git in my way, that's all."
"Maybe you have to testify in that case in court," went on Tom, with a wink at his brother.
"Ain't got to testify in no court." ”

“ Crabtree," said Dick, his heart softening a little, now that he saw the man was beginning to break down.
"What will my friends, and the profession at large, say?" and Crabtree shook his head bitterly.
"You have only yourself to blame," put in Tom. He had not forgotten how Crabtree had threatened him but a short while before.
Suddenly the former teacher's last drop of courage seemed to desert him and, deadly pale, he sank on his knees.
"Spare me, boys, spare me! For the sake of my family and my friends, spare me!" he moaned.
"I didn't know you had a family," put in Sam. ”

“ When Ithaca was reached a surprise awaited the crowd. The weather was so cold that the ice impeded transportation, and the Golden Star was not making her usual trips to Cedarville and other points.
"Here's a state of things!" cried Tom. "What's to do—walk to Putnam Hall?"
"Well, hardly, seeing that it is a good number of miles and the weather is bitterly cold."
"Well, if we can't walk and can't ride, how are we to get there?" came from Sam.
"That's the conundrum, Brudder Bones," laughed Larry, imitating a negro minstrel. "I'se gib it up, sah!"
"It's no laughing matter," said Dick. ”

“ Then they stood there, in water up to their knees, supporting Dick as best they could. The oldest Rover boy was all but unconscious.
"Going to help us?" yelled Tom, to their enemies.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Tad Sobber.
"Oh, I fancy he was only shamming!" came from Josiah Crabtree. "Come on away."
"Don't you dare to leave us here!" cried Sam.
"Help us out," came from Tom. "It is your duty to do it."
"Not much!" answered Tad Sobber, with a sneer. "You can help yourself if you can!" ”

“ And he swung his club in the air defiantly.
"Out of my way, or I will fire on you!" answered Arnold Baxter, and started to draw his pistol.
"Oh, don't!" screamed Dora, and covered her face with her hands.
"We want no shooting here—" began Randy Fairwell, and then stopped short in wonder.
For reaching down, Tom had suddenly given the end of the plank a wabble. Before they could save themselves, the Baxters, father and son, pitched with a loud splash into the lake.
"Good for you!" cried Sam. "If only they don't try to shoot when they come up." ”

“ It will be only another of his lies."
"Then you shall go to the guardroom," said the teacher. "Rover, you may go to see the captain alone."
"I will, sir—at once," and Tom made away. He had no sooner departed than George Strong marched Baxter off to the guardroom previously described. As the pair passed down the stairs they encountered Mumps coming up.
"Hullo, Dan, what does this mean?" asked Mumps in wonder.
"I'm under arrest," laughed Baxter bitterly. "And for nothing, too."
"Silence!" commanded George Strong. "If you have done nothing wrong, you will soon be released." ”

“ Somehow Mamma Farley made her more certain of its sureness.
In the morning they alighted in the teeming station, and Winnie, anxious not to be seen, walked a little behind Mrs. Price. Winnie was ashamed of herself. She felt herself cold and isolated in the vividness of the life she contained.
At the big gate at the end of the track, they met Laurence. "Well, Winnie. Well, Mrs. Price."
Winnie looked up at him with eyes shuddering in softness. She showed him her helplessness against which he could not defend himself. When she lifted her mouth he had to kiss her. ”

“ Winnie lay face downward and sobbed. There was no triumph in her now. She felt herself as if already large with child, heavy and helpless. Through the darkness of her closed lids she could see, as if before her, Laurence's coarse and handsome head, his eyes turned toward her with their strained gaze, and the odd set of his neck that kept his face always a little to one side. ”

“ You're thinking of your own breakfast!" retorted Tom. "Come on, let's lead the way—before the dining car fills up." And he caught Nellie by the arm.
"All right, we're coming!" cried Sam, and followed with Grace. "Come on, Dick!" And he motioned to the others. Soon all were moving towards the dining car.
"Might as well do a little practicing," was Tom's comment, on the way, and linking his arm into that of Nellie, he began very softly to whistle a well-known wedding march.
"Oh, Tom Rover!" cried Nellie, giving him a playful poke in the side. "Of all things! And in a railroad car! ”

“ Rover burst into tears.
"I am sure something has befallen Anderson!" she sobbed. "Oh, what shall we do, Randolph?"
"I—I think I had better go to New York and—er—make some—er—inquiries," answered her husband, somewhat helplessly, for a visit to the teeming metropolis always appalled him.
"No, you stay here, and wait for some word, Uncle Randolph," said Dick. "Sam and Tom and I are going to New York."
"Oh, boys!" cried Mrs. Rover. "Going alone?"
"Why not, Aunt Martha?" asked Sam. "We are not afraid." ”

“ You might sail to town in the Dartaway."
"Dick if you do it, so will I," cried Dora.
"You won't be afraid?" he asked, anxiously.
"Why should I be?" she murmured. "If anything happened to you, why I—I'd just as soon have it happen to me, too!"
"I'll go, if Tom goes," put in Nellie. "I don't want to go anywhere near those horrid men."
"Someone will have to run the touring car," said Dick.
"I can do that,—if you will look after the girls," answered Sam, promptly; and so it was finally arranged. A few minutes later the prisoners were marched off by the sheriff and his men and Sam. ”

“ The crowd of newsboys and hackmen made Dick smile. "It's a good deal like New York, isn't it?" he observed.
"Yes, indeed," replied Sam. "Where shall we go—to the Western Palace?"
"We might as well. The sooner we find this Jack Wumble the better."
At that moment the burly man who had talked to Tom in the dining car brushed up to them.
"Good-morning, my young friend," he said to Tom. "Can I be of any assistance to you?"
"It I don't know as you can," replied Tom coldly. "I guess we can find our way around." ”

“ If a man attacked me on the street I would certainly endeavor to defend myself to the best of my ability. But you must remember that you are a pupil here, and Mr. Crabtree is one of your masters, appointed by me."
"I am not a pupil yet, sir—although I hope to be very soon."
"Why, what do you mean? " demanded Victor Putnam, and now his voice grew stern. Many a boy would have flinched, but Tom had determined to say just what he thought of Crabtree, and he stood his ground. ”

“ Hurrah!"
"They look as if they were having a row with Baxter and the mate," came from old Jerry.
A row certainly was in progress, and as they came closer they heard Tom talking.
"Yes, Lesher, I want to know all about this quarrel with my brother Dick. I am sure he was not in the wrong."
"See here, I know my own business," the mate growled. "You shut up and leave me alone."
"We won't leave you alone," came from Sam. "We want to know the truth."
"Yes, tell us the truth, Lesher," said Captain Blossom sternly.
"All against me, aint you?"
"We want the truth," answered Tom. ”

“ At these words Joel Fox dropped the tools he was using and turned pale.
"Is—er—is thet boy—er—" He could not finish.
"It was a wicked thing to do," put in Sam. "Any man that would shoot a boy ought to be lynched."
"Perhaps that crowd of men were coming up here," went on Tom. "Didn't they have a rope with them?"
"To be sure they had a rope, Tom. And one of 'em said something about hanging."
"What crowd are you talking about?" stammered Joel Fox, growing paler and paler.
"The crowd at the depot. Did you shoot him, Mr. Fox? ”

“ Winfield Scott came into life in 1786, and so crystallized about himself each of the three wars in which he was the principal magnet,—the maritime contest of 1812, the Mexican war in 1847, and the opening of the Rebellion in 1861,—that his calm front and majestic presence would readily single him out as the model figure for our American Mars. ”

“ And the bright, crisp bill was handed over.
"Money talks!" cried Dan Baxter. He gazed at the bank note in genuine pleasure. "I am much obliged."
"Here is where I must leave you," went on Sack Todd as they reached a crossing in the trails. "Keep right on, and you'll soon come in sight of Cottonton. Meet me there to-night at the Planters' Rest."
"I will."
"You had better keep out of sight—if those Rovers are on your trail."
"Trust me to lay low," said Baxter with a short laugh. In another moment the former bully of Putnam Hall found himself alone. ”