The Rover Boys Series - Stratemeyer Edward

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The Pornellites were now desperate and massed themselves as never before. They pushed forward ten yards — fifteen — twenty — almost thirty. It looked as if they would score another touchdown, if not kick a goal. But now Sam Rover sent a certain sign to his players. It was taking a risk, but it was worth trying. The ball came over to the right of the field and spun like lightning to the left. Fred caught it up, ran ten yards, and passed it to Larry Colby, who turned it over to Tom. Away it went to Sam, and then to Frank. The Pornellites were bewildered. Where was the ball?"

      "Putnam has it!"

      "There she goes! Hurrah for Frank Harrington. Another touchdown!"

      It was true. Putnam Hall had scored another touchdown. A tremendous yelling and cheering broke out, in the midst of which the gong sounded. The game was over, and our boys had won the victory.

      In a twinkle the gridiron was covered with swarming students, and Sam and his fellow players were hoisted up on willing shoulders, to be trotted around the oval. "Hurrah for Pornell!" they shouted. "Hurrah for Putnam!" came back the cry. It had been a bitter but friendly contest, and victors and vanquished shook hands over and over again.

      Of course many students of Pornell were bitterly disappointed, but no one felt so sour over the whole afternoon's doing as did Dan Baxter. In all he had lost over fifty dollars, and now neither his fellow students nor the boys of Pornell Academy wanted anything to do with him. "I haven't any use for a chap who bets against his own crowd," was the comment of one academy student, and he voiced the sentiment of all. Only Mumps stuck to his chum, and the two soon left the grounds together.

      By four o'clock the cadets were on their way back to Putnam Hall, the carriages moving behind the two companies of young soldiers, who sang and shouted themselves hoarse as they moved along. Even Captain Putnam entered into the spirit of the affair. "Brings me back to the days when I was a cadet myself," he said to George Strong.

      Directly after supper a huge bonfire was lit on the playground, and the students were allowed to have their own fun until eleven o'clock. The football team was, of course, the center of attraction, and Sam and Tom came in for their full share of honors.

      While the festivities of this Thanksgiving Eve were at their height, a sudden thought struck Dick. Captain Putnam had given the cadets permission to go beyond bounds if any cared to do so, and he hurried away, his intention being to call upon Dora Stanhope and see how she was faring. Although Dick would not admit it, he thought a great deal of Dora, and he was sorry that she was in danger of having the detestable Josiah Crabtree for a stepfather.

      It was a clear, moonlight night, and he hurried off in the best of spirits, taking a short cut by way of a road through the woods. As he walked along he remembered how Tom had met in this vicinity the thief who had stolen the watch.

      "I wonder if I'll meet him," he thought, but no tramp put in an appearance; indeed, he did not see a soul until the Stanhope homestead was reached.

      A light was burning brightly in the sitting room, and the curtains were drawn down to within six inches of the bottom of the windows. Dick was about to ascend the porch, when he changed his mind and walked softly to one of the windows.

      "If they have a lot of company I won't disturb them on a holiday like this," he thought, and peeped under one of the curtains.

      The sight that met his gaze filled him with astonishment and indignation. Only two persons were present, Dora and Josiah Crabtree. Crabtree had the girl by the left wrist, and had one hand raised as if to strike his prisoner.

      CHAPTER XVII

       DICK AT THE STANHOPE COTTAGE

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      "The villain!"

      Such were the words which sprang involuntarily to Dick's lips as he gazed at the scene before him. He was filled with bitter indignation and could hardly resist the temptation to break in the window and leap to Dora's assistance.

      As he paused, he saw Dora push Crabtree back and leap to the opposite side of the center table.

      "Don't you dare to touch me, Mr. Crabtree!" came loud enough for Dick to hear quite plainly.

      "I want you to behave yourself, young lady," stormed Josiah Crabtree.

      "I know how to do that without your advice."

      "No, you don't. You have set your mother against me. If it hadn't been for you, we would be married long ago."

      "I believe a daughter has a right to advise her mother concerning a stranger, Mr. Crabtree."

      "A stranger!"

      "Well, an outsider — if you like that better."

      "I am no outsider. I've known your mother for years. I might have married her, instead of your father doing so, if he hadn't played an underhanded trick which —— "

      "Stop, sir. You shall not say a word against my father."

      "Good for Dora!" thought Dick. "She's the right kind."

      "Your mother is quite willing to marry me, and as a dutiful daughter you should bow to her wishes."

      "Mother is not herself, Mr. Crabtree. Ever since father died she has been upset by business matters, and you have pestered the life out of her. If you would only go away for a month or so and give her time to think it over, I am sure she would end this matter between you."

      "Tut, tut, child, you do not know what you are talking about! Your mother has given me her word, and you ought to bow to the inevitable."

      "She has not yet married you, sir, and until she is actually bound to you there will still be hope for her."

      "This is — is outrageous!" cried Josiah Crabtree wrathfully. "Do you think I will allow a mere slip of a girl to stand between me and my plans? Just wait until I am your father —— "

      "You shall never take the place of my dear dead father, Mr. Crabtree — never!" and now Dora's eyes filled with tears. "He was ten thousand times better than you can ever be!"

      "I must admit I can't see it. He had not half the education I possess," answered Josiah Crabtree conceitedly.

      "Perhaps not, but he had an honest, warm heart, and that counts for more than a mere book education. I fancy many men are smarter, even in book learning, than Mr. Josiah Crabtree, who tried last week for an opening at Columbia College and failed to meet the requirements."

      "Ha! who told you that?"

      "Mother told me."

      "She is foolish to take you into her confidence. It was not my fault that I failed of the opening — merely the pigheadedness of those having the matter in charge. However, I do not care much. As soon as your mother and I are married, I shall make some changes here, put up a fine brick building, and open a rival school to Putnam Hall."

      "Gracious, here is news!" thought Dick. "I wonder what Captain Putnam will say to that?"

      "Will you?" ejaculated Dora. "And who will give you permission to make alterations here?"

      "Mrs. Crabtree — that is soon to be."

      "Do you know that she holds this property in trust for me, Mr. Crabtree? It will be hers only if I should die before I become of age. Her own share of papa's estate is situated further up the lake, at Berryport."

      At this announcement Josiah Crabtree started back. "You — you are not telling the truth," he faltered.

      "I am."

      "But your mother is the executrix of your father's will."

      "Yes."

      "Exactly. Consequently she has full control of all the property until you are twenty-one."

      "She has — but certain changes suggested by you or her would be subject to the approval of the court or the surrogate, so I have

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