The Adventures of Rover Boys: 26 Illustrated Adventure Novels. Stratemeyer Edward

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      CHAPTER VIII

       JASPER GRINDER IS DISMISSED

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      Dick was greatly surprised over the news which Peleg Snuggers conveyed to him. He knew that Jasper Grinder was an intesenly passionate man when aroused, as on the occasion of the attempted caning, but he had not imagined that the man would fall into a fit while in such a condition.

      "Did he come out of the fit all right?" he questioned soberly.

      "When he came around he was as weak as a rag, and I and one of the big boys had to help him up to his room. He stayed there the rest of the evening, and the other teachers had to take charge."

      "What do they say about the matter?"

      "As soon as the captain got back all of 'em got in the private office and held a long talk. Then the captain had a talk with Mr. Grinder, and after that the captain sent me off to look for you. He said you must be at the Lanings, or at Mrs. Stanhope's, or else somewhere in Cedarville."

      "We are stopping with Mrs. Stanhope. Sam is sick with a heavy cold."

      "It's not to be wondered at. Master Tubbs has a cold, too, and the captain had Mrs. Green give him some medicine for it."

      "Has he punished Tubbs?"

      "No. He's awfully upset, and I don't think he'll do anything right away," concluded the general utility man.

      The cutter was turned around, and Dick and Snuggers hurried toward the Hall. Their coming was noticed by a score of boys who were snowballing each other on the parade ground, and a shout went up.

      "Dick Rover is coming back! Snuggers has brought Dick Rover back!"

      "Take care of the horse, Snuggers," said Dick. "Do the right thing, and I won't forget to pay you at Christmas-time."

      "All right, Master Rover; thank you," answered the man of all work.

      Dick was at once surrounded, but before he could answer any questions he saw Captain Putnam, appear at one of the windows and at once went inside to greet him.

      "Well, Rover, what does all this mean?" demanded the head of the school, but there was not much sternness in his tone

      "It means, Captain Putnam, that Sam, Tom, and I couldn't stand the treatment we received from Mr. Grinder. For a little set-to which Sam and Tubbs had in the gymnasium Mr. Grinder put Sam in the ice-cold storeroom, and was going to keep him there all night, with nothing but stale bread to eat and cold water to drink. If Sam had remained in the storeroom he would have died from the effects of it. As it is, he is now in bed at Mrs. Stanhope's, and we had to call in Dr. Fremley to attend him."

      "Is he very ill, Rover? Tell me the exact truth."

      "I have never told you anything else, Captain Putnam. No, I don't think he is very ill, but he's got a bad cold. He is very hoarse, and he com plained of such a pain in the chest that Mrs. Stanhope put on some plasters, and when the doc~ tor came he left some more."

      "Humph!" Captain Putnam began to walk up and down his private office. "What did you tell Dr. Fremley?"

      "Nothing but that Sam had exposed himself. I didn't want to give the school a black name. But one thing is certain, we can't remain here if Mr. Grinder is going to stay. I shall write to my father and tell him the full particulars."

      "It will not be necessary to do so, Richard." The captain caught Dick by the shoulder. "I have investigated this affair, and while I find that Sam was to blame, and Tom and you, too, yet I am convinced that Mr. Grinder exceeded his authority here. He had no business to put Sam in the storeroom and Master Tubbs in the stone cell in this freezing weather. More than that, some thing happened after you left that shows plainly Mr. Grinder is not the proper person to be a teacher here, and from to-day I intend to dispense with his services."

      Dick knew what the captain referred to, the falling of the teacher into his passionate fit on the floor, but he said nothing on СКАЧАТЬ