The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

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      "We have got to have something to eat!" declared Phil, stubbornly.

      "Ha! don't you dare to talk back to me, Lawrence! If you do it again, I'll give you some extra lessons to learn."

      "Mr. Haskers, won't you listen to us?" asked Dave, in a steady voice. "We have a good excuse to offer for being late."

      "I don't want any excuses. It was your duty to return to the Hall in time for supper."

      "We simply couldn't get here. We were on Bush Island, and our boat was taken away from us."

      "I saw you come back here in a boat."

      "We found our boat after a while,--after we had lost a good hour looking for it. Then we rowed back as fast as we could."

      "Pooh! The usual story! I want no such lame excuses! Some teachers might accept them, but not I! Go to your rooms, and at once,--and don't dare to come downstairs until to-morrow morning--or I'll cut off all your holidays until Christmas!" And Job Haskers folded his arms and stood like a judge before the boys.

      An angry remark arose to Dave's lips. But he checked it and turned toward the school building, and Roger and Phil followed. Job Haskers marched after them.

      "Go upstairs at once!" he ordered. "No lingering in the lower hall!" For he was afraid the lads might slip him and try to get something to eat on the sly.

      "Mr. Haskers, I wish to talk to Doctor Clay," said Dave.

      "Doctor Clay has nothing to do with this affair! I am in charge here for the present."

      "Do you mean to say that I can't see the doctor?"

      "Doctor Clay is away on business. You may see him in the morning if you wish."

      "I don't think he'd send us to bed supperless."

      "It is your own fault. You boys have got to learn to obey the rules of this institution. Perhaps it will be a lesson well learned."

      "I think it's an outrage!" muttered Phil.

      "What is that, Lawrence?" cried the teacher, harshly. But Phil did not repeat his statement.

      There seemed to be no help for it, and slowly the three students passed up the stairs and entered their dormitory. Job Haskers watched them out of sight, and then stalked away, his face as grim and hard as ever.

      "Well, doesn't this beat the nation!" groaned Roger, as he plumped down on one of the beds.

      "Evidently old Haskers hasn't forgotten what happened last term," was Phil's comment. "He is going to make it just as hard as he can for us."

      "I'm as hungry as can be. I didn't have much dinner. Dave, are you going to stand for this?"

      "What do you mean, Roger--staying in the room until to-morrow?"

      "That and going without supper."

      "I don't care so much about staying in the room," was the reply. "But I can assure you of one thing,--I am not going without my supper."

      "How are you going to get it?"

      "I don't know yet. But I am going to get it somehow," replied Dave, and his tone of voice showed that he meant what he said.

      CHAPTER XI

      A MIDNIGHT FEAST

      While the three students were discussing the situation the door of the dormitory opened, and Sam Day and Shadow Hamilton entered.

      "Hello, why weren't you down to supper?" asked Sam.

      "We didn't get here in time," answered Roger. And then he related what had occurred on Bush Island.

      "It was just like Jasniff and Merwell," said Shadow. "And like old Haskers, too! I suppose he is laughing to himself now because he made you go without your supper."

      "But I am not going without it," said Dave. "That is, not if you fellows will do me a favor."

      "Want me to get something from the pantry for you?" queried Sam, quickly. "I'll do it--if it can be done."

      "You can't get in the pantry any more," said Phil, with a wry face. "Since Dave and I did the trick some time ago they keep the doors locked."

      "And that puts me in mind of a story!" cried Shadow. "Once a little boy----"

      "Quit it, Shadow!" interrupted Sam. "You don't expect Dave and Roger and Phil to listen to your yarns when they are starving, do you? Tell the story after they have filled up."

      "Well, it was only a short yarn," pleaded the story-teller of the school. "But, of course, if we can do anything----"

      "You can--I think," said Dave. "But you must act quickly."

      "What's to be done?"

      "Since I have been here I have noticed a wagon going through on the main road every evening about this time. It belongs to Rousmann, the delicatessen man of Rockville. I wish you'd stop him and see what you can buy for us." And as he finished Dave took a two-dollar bill from his pocket and held it out.

      "By hookey! I'll do it!" cried Sam, readily. "Come on, Shadow! Maybe we can get enough to have a little feast to-night!"

      "Not on two dollars," answered Phil. "Here's another fifty cents."

      "Oh, I've got a little money of my own," returned Sam.

      "So have I--thirty-five cents," added Shadow. "My allowance is behind time. And that puts me in mind of another story. Two men were----Oh, but I forgot, you are too hungry to listen to yarns. Well, I'll tell it some other time," and away he went after Sam, out into the hallway and down the broad stairs.

      "If only they get there before that wagon passes!" sighed the senator's son.

      "Maybe the driver won't have anything to sell. He may be sold out," came from Phil.

      "Let us hope for the best," answered Dave, cheerfully. "He can't be sold out of everything. Even a loaf of bread and some sardines wouldn't go bad."

      "Or some frankfurters," added Roger.

      A few minutes passed, and Ben came up to the room, and the story of the adventure on the island and with Job Haskers had to be told again. Ben was as indignant as Sam and Shadow had been.

      "I wouldn't stand for it!" he cried. "Why don't you report to Doctor Clay?"

      "Because he is away," answered Dave. "But I may report to him to-morrow," he continued, thoughtfully.

      A half-hour passed--to the hungry boys it seemed a long СКАЧАТЬ