The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ so there!" And Tom slid into a seat and devoured the generous slice of pie dealt out to him with keen relish.

      "It's really like home," he murmured presently. "Mrs. Green, when you die, they ought to erect an awfully big monument over your grave."

      "But I'm not dying just yet, Tom — pray don't speak of it."

      "By the way, my aunt was dyeing when I left home," went on the boy, as he moved toward the door.

      "Indeed. Didn't you hate to leave her?"

      "Not at all. She didn't seem to mind it."

      "What was her trouble, Tom — consumption?"

      "No, she had an old brown dress that had faded out green and she was dyeing it black," was the soft answer, and then Tom ran for his life. Mrs. Green did not speak to him for almost a week after that. And yet with it all she could not help but like the boy.

      Of course Peleg Snuggers came in for his full share of attention, and the utility man had all sorts of jokes played on him until he was almost in despair.

      "Don't, young gents, don't!" he would plead. "Oh, my! An' to think the term's just begun!" And he mopped his brow with his red bandanna handkerchief.

      "Peleg, you are getting handsomer every day," remarked Sam. "It's a wonder you don't go into the beauty show in New York."

      "Wot kind of a joke is that, Master Rover?"

      "Oh, it's no joke. You are handsome. Won't you let me take your photograph?"

      "Have you got a camera?"

      "To be sure. Here it is." Sam drew a tiny box from his pocket. "Now stand still and I'll take a snap shot."

      Snuggers had wanted to have his picture taken for some time, to send to a certain girl in Cedarville in whom he was much interested. To have a photograph taken for nothing tickled him greatly.

      "Wait till I brush up a bit," he said, and got out a pocket-comb, with which he adjusted his hair and his stubby mustache.

      "Now stand straight and look happy!" cried Sam, as a crowd collected around. "Raise your right hand to your breast, just as all statesmen do. Up with your chin — don't drop your left eye — close your mouth — up with that ear — now then, don't budge on your life!"

      Peleg Snuggers stood like a statue, his chin well up in the air and his eyes set into a steady stare. Sam elevated the tiny box and kept the man standing for fully half a minute, while the boys behind Snuggers could scarcely keep from roaring.

      "There you are," said Sam at last. "Now wait a minute and the picture will be finished."

      "Don't you have to print 'em in the sun?" asked Snuggers.

      "No, this is a new patented process." Sam drew a square of tin from the box. "There you are, Peleg, and all for nothing."

      "I don't see any picture," growled Snuggers, looking at the square blankly.

      "You must breathe on it, Peleg; then the picture will come out beautifully. It's a little fresh yet."

      Peleg Snuggers breathed on the square of tin as directed, and then there slowly came to view the picture of — a donkey's head! The boys gathered around set up a shout.

      "Hurrah, Peleg, what a fine picture!"

      "You've changed a little in your looks, Peleg, since you had the last taken, eh?"

      "Your girl will fall in love with that picture, Peleg, I'm certain of it."

      "Sam Rover, I'll git square, see if I don't!" roared the utility man, as he dashed the square of tin to the ground. "I knowed you was goin' to play a joke on me." And he started to walk off.

      "Why, what's the matter?" demanded Sam innocently. "Isn't it a good picture?"

      "I'll picture you!"

      "I thought I was doing my best."

      "Show me off for a donkey! If it wasn't against the rules I'd — I'd wollop you!"

      "A donkey! Oh, Peleg, I did nothing of the kind! Here is your picture, on my word of honor."

      "It's a donkey's head, I say."

      "And I say it's your picture. I'll leave it to anybody in the crowd."

      "I guess I know a donkey's head when I see it, Master Rover. I didn't expect no such joke from you, though your brother Tom might have played it."

      "Boys, isn't this a good picture?" demanded Sam, showing up the other side of the tin square.

      "Why, splendid!" came from the crowd. "Peleg, there is some mistake here."

      "Oh, you can't joke me no more!" returned the utility man.

      "But just look!" pleaded Sam. "Isn't that a good picture of you? If you don't say so yourself I'll give you five dollars."

      He handed the tin over again, this time with the opposite side toward Snuggers. He had just breathed on it heavily.

      "Now blow on it," he continued, and Snuggers did as directed. The moisture cleared away, revealing the face of the utility man in a bit of looking-glass!

      "Oh, you're tremendously smart, you are!" muttered Snuggers, and walked off. But he was not half as angry as he had been a few minutes before.

      CHAPTER XII

       DICK VISITS DORA STANHOPE

       Table of Contents

      "Battalion, fall in. Attention! Carry arms!"

      It was several days later, and the cadets were out for their first parade around the grounds. Dick still retained his position as second lieutenant of Company A, having been re-elected the term previous. Tom was first sergeant of Company B, while Sam was still "a high private in the rear rank," as the saying goes.

      The day was an ideal one in the early autumn, and Captain Putnam and George Strong were both on hand to watch the drilling. Major Bart Conners had graduated the year before, and his place was now filled by Harry Blossom, formerly captain of Company A.

      "Shoulder arms!" came the next order. "Battalion, forward march!"

      Tap! tap! tap, tap, tap! went the drums, and then the bass drum joined in, and the two companies moved off. Soon the fifers struck up a lively air, and away went the cadets, around the grounds, down the road and back, and then to the mess-hall for supper. The boys felt good to be in the ranks once more, and Captain Putnam congratulated them on their soldierly appearance.

      "It does me good to see that you have not forgotten your former instructions in drilling and marching," he said. "I trust that during the present term we shall see even better results, so that the work done here may compare favorably with that done at West Point."

      The school had now begun to settle СКАЧАТЬ