The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ the bottom of the trunk was a pocketbook containing nearly all of the money which had been stolen. A footing-up revealed the fact that two watches and three gold shirt studs were still missing.

      "And those were pawned in Auburn," said Sam. "Just wait and see if I am not right."

      A party was organized to hunt for Caven, and the captain himself went to Auburn that very evening. The hunt for the missing boy proved unsuccessful, and it may be added here that he never turned up at Putnam Hall again nor at his home in Middletown, having run away to the West.

      When Captain Putnam came back he announced that he had recovered all but one watch. The various goods and the money were distributed among their rightful owners, and it must be confessed that a big sigh of relief went up from the cadets who had suffered. The single missing timepiece was made good to the boy who had lost it, by the captain buying a similar watch for the youth.

      After this several weeks passed without anything of special interest occurring outside of a stirring baseball match with a club from Ithaca, which Putnam Hall won by a score of six to three. In this game Dick made a much-needed home run, thus covering himself with glory.

      "The Rovers are out of sight!" was Larry's comment. "Whatever they do they do well."

      "And they hang together like links of a chain," added Fred. "The friend of one is the friend of all, and the same can be said of an enemy."

      One morning a telegraph messenger from Cedarville was seen approaching the Hall, just as the boys were forming for the roll-call.

      "Here's a telegram for somebody," said Sam.

      "I hope it's not bad news."

      "A message for Richard Rover," announced George Strong, after receiving it, and handed over the yellow envelope.

      Wondering what the message could contain and who had sent it, Dick tore open the envelope and read the brief communication. As his eyes met the words his head seemed to swim around, so bewildered was he by what was written there.

      "What is it, Dick?" came from Tom and Sam.

      "It's from Uncle Randolph. He wants us to come home at once. He says — but read it for yourselves," and the elder Rover handed over the message, which ran as follows:

      "Have just received a strange message from the sea, supposed to be written by your father. Come home at once. RANDOLPH ROVER."

      "My gracious! News from father!" gasped Tom.

      "Is he really alive?" burst out Sam. "Oh, I pray Heaven the news is true!"

      "A strange message from the sea," repeated Dick. "I wonder what he can mean?"

      "Perhaps it's a message that was picked up by some steamer," suggested Sam. "Anyway, uncle wants us to come home at once."

      "He doesn't say all of us. The message is addressed to me."

      "But of course he wanted all of us to come," put in Tom. "Anyway, four horses couldn't hold me back!" he continued determinedly.

      "Nor me," chimed in Sam. He drew a long breath. "If we hurry up we can catch the noon boat at Cedarville for Ithaca."

      "Yes, and the evening train for Oak Run," finished Tom. "Hurry up, Dick!"

      Dick was willing. To tell the truth, that message had fired him as he had never been fired before. He burst into the captain's office pell-mell, with Tom and Sam on his heels, to explain the situation. Ten minutes later — and even this time seemed an age to the brothers — they were hurrying into their ordinary clothing and packing, their satchels, while Peleg Snuggers was hitching up to take them to the landing at Cedarville.

      "Good-by to you, and good luck!" shouted Frank, as they clambered into the wagon, and many other cadets set up a shout. Then the wagon rattled off. The Rover boys had turned their backs on dear old Putnam Hall for a long while to come.

      CHAPTER XI

       THE ROVERS REACH A CONCLUSION

       Table of Contents

      For the three Rover boys the Golden Star could not make the trip from Cedarville to Ithaca fast enough. They fretted over every delay, and continually wondered if there was any likelihood of their missing the train which was to take them to Oak Run, the nearest railroad station to Valley Brook farm, their uncle's home.

      But the train was not missed; instead, they had to wait half an hour for it. During this time they procured dinner, although Dick felt so strange he could scarcely eat a mouthful.

      "Uncle Randolph doesn't say much," he murmured to Tom. "He might have said more."

      "We'll know everything before we go to bed, Dick," answered his brother. "I don't believe Uncle Randolph would telegraph unless the news was good."

      They indulged in all sorts of speculation, as the train sped on its way to Oak Run. When the latter place was reached it was dark, and they found Jack Ness, the hired man, waiting for them with the carriage.

      "There, I knowed it," grinned Jack. "Mr. Rover calculated that only Dick would come, but I said we'd have 'em all."

      "And what is this news of my father?" questioned Dick.

      "It's a message as was picked up off the coast of Africky," replied Ness. "Mr. Rover didn't explain very clearly to me. He's a good deal excited, and so is the missus."

      "And so are we," remarked Sam. "Can it be that father is on his way home?"

      "I calculate not, Master Sam. Leas'wise, your uncle didn't say so," concluded the hired man.

      Never had the horses made better time than they did now, and yet the boys urged Ness continually to drive faster. Swift River was soon crossed — that stream where Sam had once had such a stirring adventure — and they bowled along past the Fox and other farms.

      "Here we are!" shouted Dick at last.

      "There is Uncle Randolph out on the porch to greet us!"

      "And there is Aunt Martha!" added Sam. "I do believe they look happy, don't you, Tom?"

      "They certainly don't look sad," was the noncommittal answer; and then the carriage swept up to the horse-block and the three boys alighted.

      "All of you, eh?" were Randolph Rover's first words. "Well, perhaps it is just as well so."

      "We simply couldn't stay behind, uncle," said Sam. "And we are dying to know what it all means."

      "But you must have supper first," put in Aunt Martha, as she gave one and another a motherly kiss. "I know riding on the cars usually makes Tom tremendously hungry."

      "Well eat after we have had the news," said Tom. "We're dying to know all, as Sam says."

      "The news is rather perplexing, to tell the truth," said Randolph Rover, as he led the way into the library of the spacious home.

       "I hardly know what to make of СКАЧАТЬ