The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      Dora went upstairs, but soon came back, carrying a pillow and a quilt.

      "There, that will provide a little comfort," she said, but then, as Dick caught her hand as if to kiss it, she gave a merry little laugh and ran upstairs again.

      It was a long while before Dick could go to sleep. He had read the letter found in the kitchen with care, and he wondered what it all meant.

      "What plans can Arnold Baxter be completing?" he asked himself. "And how can he surprise father? Can that refer to the missing mine in Colorado? He talks as if he was going to get out of jail pretty soon, but that can't be, for the judge will certainly give him three or four years at the least. Perhaps I had better write to father about this."

      No other person came that night to disturb the inmates of the cottage, and when at last Dick did fall into slumber he did not awaken until the sun was shining in the window and a neighboring Irish woman, who did Mrs. Stanhope's washing and ironing, was knocking on the kitchen door for entrance.

      "Good-morning, Mrs. O'Toole," he said, as he leaped up and let her in.

      "Good-marnin', young sir," stammered the washerwoman. "Sure an' I didn't ixpict to see you here."

      "I suppose not. But come in, and I will call Miss Dora."

      "No need to call me, if you please," came in a silvery voice from the hall, and Dora appeared, as bright and fresh as ever. "I would have been down before, only I had to wait on mamma."

      "And how is she?"

      "She is no worse, but neither is she better. I shall send for our doctor to-day."

      Breakfast was soon on the table — fresh coffee, fresh eggs, and dainty buckwheat cakes baked by Dora's own hands. It is needless to say that Dick enjoyed the repast.

      "You'll make a famous housekeeper for somebody some day, Dora," he said, looking at her pointedly.

      "You go and eat your cakes before they get cold," she answered.

      "I've already eaten my fill, I can't go another one. I've enjoyed them ever so much. Now I guess I had better be off for Cedarville."

      "If you wish, you can hitch up Dolly to the carriage and drive over. It will be nicer than walking."

      "Supposing I go over on horseback? Is she used to a saddle?"

      "Oh, yes, and you will find a gentleman's saddle in the harness closet back of the stalls."

      "Then I'll go that way. Good-by. I'll be back before noon, unless something unusual turns up. And when I am down in Cedarville I'll send word to father about Aleck."

      Leaving the house Dick went to the barn, which was usually locked. Dora had given him the key, but to his surprise he found the padlock pried off and the door partly open.

      "Can this be more of Crabtree's work?" he asked himself. "Perhaps he has stolen the mare! What fools we were not to look in here last night."

      But Dick's fears were groundless. The mare was still there. But she was all saddled, ready for him to ride.

      "Crabtree's work, beyond a doubt," he thought. "Before he went to the house he came here, and it was his intention to steal the mare and get away on her."

      CHAPTER VII

       A HUNT THROUGH THE WOODS

       Table of Contents

      Before starting for Cedarville Dick acquainted Dora with the discovery he had made.

      "We were fortunate," said the girl. "I would not lose Dolly for a good deal."

      If there was one thing Dick loved it was a good horse, and once on Dolly's back he urged the little mare along at top speed. She was in prime fettle, and flew along the hard road as if she thoroughly enjoyed the outing.

      Arriving at Cedarville Dick sought out the little police station, for the town had at last taken on a force, consisting of a chief and eight men.

      The chief, a little fat man by the name of Burger, sat in his office reading the Cedarville Trumpet, the weekly journal of the place.

      "Want to see me on business, eh?" he said, laying down the sheet. "All right, young man, sit down. What name?"

      "Richard Rover. I am one of the cadets at Putnam Hall."

      "Just so. Trouble at the Hall, I presume? Anything connected with that celebration last night?"

      "No, sir, I —— "

      "Another robbery, then? Captain Putnam seems to have his hands full."

      "We've had no robbery at the Hall, sir. I came —— "

      "No robbery, eh? Then perhaps it's a fight. Students will fight when they get celebrating. I know we had a fight once at the academy I attended, and it lasted three days."

      "I hope they called out the fire department," answered Dick, with a grin.

      "The fire department — Ha! ha! a good joke! No; they called in the doctor, ha! ha! So it's a fight, eh? Does the captain want us to arrest anybody?"

      "It's not a fight."

      "What? But you said —— " The fat chief paused.

      "I said I wanted to see you about business."

      "Just so — and that you were from Putnam Hall, and Captain Putnam had sent you."

      "No, no. Please give me a chance to talk."

      "Why, of course. I never interrupt anybody. Go on, but don't take too much time, for my time is limited."

      "I came from Mrs. Stanhope's cottage, man broke in there last night —— "

      "Ha, a burglary! Why didn't they let us know at once? Or perhaps you have collared the villain already?"

      "No, we haven't got him, although my brother and I tried to catch him."

      "Pooh! Two boys, and tried to catch a burglar! Of course he got away."

      Dick felt disgusted, and arose to make his departure.

      "If you won't listen to what I have to report, I'll take myself off," he said half angrily.

      At this Chief Burger stared at him in astonishment.

      "Really, you are a remarkable boy," he gasped. "Ain't I listening to everything you are saying?"

      "Hardly. I wish to tell you everything from the beginning."

      "Just so. Go on, I shan't say a word. What a remarkable boy! But it must be the military training that does it."

      As well as possible Dick told all that had happened during the night. Chief Burger interrupted СКАЧАТЬ