CHAPTER XXIV.
CONCLUSION.
"Say, Bob, what'll we do with this money?"
The check had been received on the day following Mr. Golden'sannouncement, and as soon as the boys got into bed that night theybegan to talk about it.
"Well, I'll tell you my idea. You remember what I said before I waskidnapped, about that prize of fifty thousand dollars for flyingacross the Atlantic, don't you? Well, tomorrow, let's ask dad about itand if he says we may try it, we can use it to buy an airplane nextsummer. What do you say?"
"What do I say? I say that, for a youth of your tender years, you havea mighty level head, and that last remark of yours is certainly acorker."
The next morning, at breakfast, they broached the subject to theirfather.
"Well, I never!" declared Uncle Ben, "What in the name of common sensewill you boys think of next? But of course, you are only fooling."
"Indeed we're not," declared Bob, emphatically.
"But sober earnest now, Bob, do you think the scheme is practical?"asked his father.
"I don't see why not. Lots of aviators can stay in the air as long astheir gasoline will hold out and the only reason they can't flyfarther is because they can't carry enough fuel. Now we could carryenough of those cylinders to take an airship round the world."
"Well, well," said their father, as he rose from the table, "there'slots of time to think of that between now and next summer. I won't sayyes, and I won't say no at present, but we'll see."
It was now the beginning of the last week in August and the boys spentthe next few days delightfully, sailing in the Sprite, fishing,swimming and playing tennis with the girls. To Jack's secret delightMrs. Golden invited Evelyn Nason to spend a week with them, and as shewas a lively girl, they were a very jolly party, and Mike declaredthat they made more noise than a barrel of monkeys.
September came around too soon, and Uncle Ben announced that the nextday he and Aunt Lucy must start for home. All were very sorry to havethem go, for they all loved them dearly.
"Don't forget, boys, that you are to spend a week with us nextChristmas," was the last thing Aunt Lucy said, as they started off intheir big car.
Two days later, May and Evelyn went home and the Roost seemed quitedeserted, and the Goldens began to think about leaving the lake forthe summer.
It was Wednesday evening, and they were going to close the cottage thefollowing Friday. They were all sitting around the open fire in theliving room, for the night was chilly.
"Boys," said Mr. Golden, throwing down the paper he had been reading,"how would you like to be tin soldiers?"
"Tin soldiers? What in the world do you mean?" asked Jack, as they alllaughed.
"Well, I'll tell you. This afternoon a friend from Philadelphia was inthe bank and he was telling me about a military college near there,where his boy went last year, and he praised it so highly, that Ithought it might be a good place for you. I believe in militarytraining," he continued, "as it teaches, besides other things,alertness and efficiency. I have very much regretted that I did nothave the advantage of such training, and I would like my boys to haveit. What do you say?"
The boys thought for a moment and looked at each other. Finally Bobsaid:
"I think it would be bully; how about you, Jack?"
"Same here. Do they teach cavalry there, dad?"
"Yes, they give courses in infantry, cavalry and artillery."
"That'll be great," declared both boys.
"Then you think you would like to go, do you?"
"Yes, sir, I think it will be just the place for us," answered Bob andJack said the same.
"All right then, we'll consider it settled and I'll write to thepresident the first thing in the morning as the term opens theseventeenth."
The boys talked about it for a long time that night, after they werein bed, and the more they thought about it, the more anxious they wereto go.
Friday morning came, and after a final sail in the Sprite, she waspulled into the boathouse and made snug for the winter. Needless tosay, the cells were taken to Skowhegan for safe keeping. By noon, theRoost was ready to be closed, and after lunch, they left for theirtown home, the boys on their motorcycles and the rest of the family inthe car.
"This has been a splendid summer," declared Bob, as they were about tostart, "in spite of all the trouble we've had, and I've had moreexcitement than I expected to have all my life."
"That's so," agreed Jack and then added soberly, "we certainly oughtto be very thankful that everything turned out so well."
One day, about a week after they came down from the lake, Mr. Goldensaid, at the supper table:
"Mr. Jenkins was in the bank today and said that Fred and Will werecoming home tomorrow, and that he had decided to send them to the samecollege where you're going."
Instantly the faces of the two boys fell.
"He said," continued their father, "that he wished you two were moreintimate with them."
"I don't," said Jack. "They're too mean and selfish and then you can'ttrust them. I'm mighty sorry they're going there."
"Oh, well," declared Bob, "I guess there'll be room enough for themand us, too."
It was Thursday and they were to leave the following Monday, and so wewill leave them, busy and happy in their last minute preparations fortheir new life in college.
And so we shall take leave of them for a short time. Their subsequentadventures will be found in a succeeding volume entitled "THE GOLDENBOYS AT THE FORTRESS."
THE END.