LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

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 time--and then came a clatter of footsteps in the hallway. The door was banged open, and in came Sam and Shadow, followed by Gus Plum and Luke Watson, and each carrying a fair-sized bundle under his coat.

      "We got there just in the nick of time!" panted Sam, for he was somewhat out of breath. "Fact is, I had to run after the wagon to stop it."

      "And we got a dandy lot of stuff," continued Shadow. "Gus and Luke helped us to buy it."

      "We are in for a spread to-night," explained Gus Plum. "But you fellows can eat all you wish right now."

      The door was closed and locked, and one after another the bundles were opened. The boys who had done the purchasing had certainly "spread themselves," as Dave said. They had obtained some fresh rolls and cake, an apple and a pumpkin pie, some cheese, and some cold ham and tongue, a bottle of pickles, and five different kinds of crackers in boxes.

      "This is certainly a spread and no mistake," said Dave, as he and Phil and Roger viewed the eatables with keen satisfaction.

      "Chip Macklin has gone off to a farmer's house for two quarts of milk," said Shadow. "And I told him to bring some apples, too,--if he could get them."

      "We'll have more than if we had been downstairs to supper," said the shipowner's son.

      "Whatever is left will do for our spread later," explained Sam.

      "Whatever is left," repeated Shadow. "Say, that puts me in mind of a story--and I'm going to tell this one," he added, as several of those present gave a groan. "A little boy was looking for his shoes. He found one and looked at it thoughtfully, and then said: 'I dess you is the right one, and your brovver is the left one, but you is the left one, and your brovver ain't left 'tall, 'cause he's gone.'" And the story produced a smile all around.

      In a few minutes came a triple rap on the door--a well-known signal--and Sam opened the portal, to admit Chip Macklin. The small student carried two bottles of milk under his coat, and his pockets were bulging with apples and pears.

      "Hurrah! Now we can have a square meal and no mistake!" cried Dave, as glasses were produced, and the milk was poured out. "Chip, we owe you one for this."

      "You're welcome," answered the little lad, with a smile. He was glad to be of service, in return for all Dave had done for him in the past.

      The eatables were spread out on a studying table, and Dave and his chums proceeded to "fill up," as Phil expressed it. They made a hearty meal, and yet, when they had finished, there was a considerable portion of the food left.

      "We'll not touch the pies or the fruit," said Dave. "Those can be saved for the spread later."

      The boys were just clearing away the crumbs of the meal when there came a hasty knock on the door.

      "Who is there?" asked Roger, going to the door, but not opening it.

      "It is I, Murphy," came in the husky tones of big Jim, the monitor. "If anything is going on in there, I want to warn you that Mr. Haskers is coming up--I heard him tell an under teacher."

      "Thanks, Jim--we'll be ready for him," answered the senator's son, and passed out a pear and an apple, and then the kind-hearted monitor walked away again on his rounds.

      The students worked hastily and noiselessly, and in less than three minutes the remainder of the food was stowed away in a closet out of sight, and everything about the dormitory was cleaned up. Then the lads got out their books and writing materials.

      "Come in!" cried Dave, when a knock sounded sharply, and the door was opened, and Job Haskers presented himself. His face showed his disappointment at finding everything as it should be.

      "Oh, Mr. Haskers, you are just in time!" cried Phil, innocently. "Will you kindly show me how to do this example in algebra?"

Скачать книгу