CHAPTER IX THE CHUMS MAKE A CALL
For a week after the races, matters at Putnam Hall ran along smoothly.Captain Putnam insisted upon it that the students attend to their studiesand our friends pitched in with vigor, so that Jack stood first in hisclass, Pepper third, and Andy fourth, which was certainly fine.
During that time Dan Baxter had a sharp "run-in" with the master of theHall, who gave the bully a stern lecture. As a consequence Baxter wasquite humble for the time being and did not risk doing anything to bringhim into further disgrace.
On a Tuesday morning Captain Putnam called Jack, Pepper, and Andy intohis private office.
"Gracious, I hope we aren't in for a lecture!" whispered Andy while onthe way.
"Have you been doing anything wrong?" asked Pepper with a wink.
"No, have you?"
"Not much. I had some flour yesterday and when I was upstairs oldCrabtree was in the lower hallway. Somehow the flour slipped out of myhand and went down on Crabtree's head."
"Slipped is good!" chuckled Jack. "Did he spot you?"
"Not much! I had business elsewhere, and I dusted," answered his chum.
When they entered the office they found Captain Putnam awaiting them witha smile and knew at once that everything was all right.
"I've received an invitation for you three lads," said the master of theHall. "It is from Mr. Rossmore Ford. He and his wife and daughters aregoing to have a small gathering at their home this afternoon and evening,and they would like you to be present. If you desire to go you may do so.Mr. Ford is anxious to do something to show how much he appreciates whatyou did for his daughters."
"Oh, I don't know----" faltered Andy, who was somewhat bashful.
"Let us go by all means!" cried Pepper. "I'm sure we'll have a goodtime."
"I shouldn't mind going," said Jack. "They seemed to be real nice people,and it would look strange to refuse."
So it was settled that they should go, and Captain Putnam said they couldtake a horse and buggy from the Hall and make the journey to Point ViewLodge and back in that.
"And remember to be back by eleven o'clock," said the master of the Hall.
They were to start at two o'clock, and immediately after dinner theyrushed up to their dormitory to get ready. It was a rule of theestablishment that cadets must wear their uniforms when going out on suchoccasions and they brushed up as never before, and put on their bestcollars, cuffs, and shoes.
"Jack is sprucing up for the girls," observed Pepper, with a wink atAndy.
"I'm sprucing up for the credit of the Hall," retorted the young major."And you must do the same."
When they went down to the barn, Peleg Snuggers had the horse and buggyready for them, and the utility man told them of the road to take to getto Point View Lodge.
"Mr. Ford is a swell gent," said Peleg Snuggers. "Ain't no more swellgent in these parts."
"Any danger of his bursting?" queried Andy.
"Is he a land swell or a sea swell?" questioned Pepper.
"You young gents know wot I mean," answered the utility man. "He'srich--got millions."
"Phew!" murmured Jack. "Boys, we'll have to put on swell airs!"
"Peleg, won't you lend me a diamond for my shirt front?" asked Andy.
"Ain't got no diamond."
"Maybe you'll lend us a gold watch," suggested Jack.
"Oh, you stop a-jokin' me," cried the utility man. "How am I to gitdiamonds an' gold watches on twenty dollars a month, answer me that now?"
"Oh, we know you're rich, Peleg," said Pepper. "Some day you'll buy outthe Hall and give us free board, eh?" And then the boys drove off,leaving Peleg Snuggers standing grinning after them.
"Boys is boys, an' allers will be!" murmured the man of all work. "Bless'em all, say I."
The road to Point View Lodge was somewhat rough and they had to drivealong with care. In some spots the trees overhung the road completely,making the way rather dark.
"It will be no mean drive getting back," said Andy.
"We've got a lantern, and we can drive slow," answered Jack. "We ought tostart for the Hall by half-past nine o'clock."
At last they reached the Lodge, located on a point of the lake shore.There were elegant grounds, filled with shrubs and flowers, and a finemansion with broad piazzas. Off to one side was a large summerhouse andto the other a barn and sheds.
"This is fine and no mistake," murmured Jack. "See, there is quite acrowd here, too."
A stable-hand took care of their turnout, and soon Rossmore Ford and hisstately wife came to greet them. Then the girls came also, and there werewarm handshakings all around.
"I am very, very thankful for what you did for Laura and Flossie," saidMrs. Ford. "I want you to make yourselves at home here, and I trust youhave a good time."
"It's a splendid place," said Andy.
They were introduced to a number of the guests, including several youngmen from Pornell Academy, and then Laura and Flossie took them around themansion and grounds, showing them various points of interest. The girlswere bright and lively and soon succeeded in making them feel perfectlyat home.
"I see you have several students from Pornell here," said Jack to Laura,when they had drifted a short distance away from the others.
At this Laura frowned slightly.
"Yes. We did not expect them. They came to make a call."
"Oh, I see."
"One of them, Roy Bock, knows some of my mother's people, and he comes onthat account and brings those others with him."
"He seems to be making himself at home."
"Yes, he acts as if he owned the place. Flossie and I do not like them tocome, but mamma doesn't like to say anything, and pa is away most of thetime."
They took a ramble through the garden and into a conservatory, and Lauragave Jack a big rose for his buttonhole, while Flossie got roses for Andyand Pepper. These had just been pinned on when Roy Bock appeared,followed by three of his fellow students from Pornell Academy.
"So here you are!" cried Roy Bock, loudly. "We were wondering what hadbecome of you. Spooning, I suppose?" he added, coarsely.
"We were showing our friends around the grounds," said Laura, quietly.
"I just heard you were the chaps that pulled the girls out of the lake,"said a student named Grimes.
"Oh, anybody could have done that," came from another, named Gussic.
"I suppose anybody could have rowed that race, too," said Jack, sharply.The manner of the rival academy boys was very obnoxious.
"Oh, I heard how your school won that race!" cried Flossie, her eyesbeaming.
"I guess our school didn't have a fair show," growled Roy Bock. "ThePutnam Hall crew started before the pistol went off."
"That is not true!" exclaimed Pepper. "The start was a very fair one."
"Humph! Of course you'd say so," grumbled the student named Gussic.
"I say so because it is true."
"I reckon all you fellows have the swelled head now," put in Grimes. "Butjust wait till the football match comes off--we'll show you a trick ortwo."
"Oh, please don't quarrel here!" whispered Laura, in a frightened tone."If you get Roy Bock mad, he'll say all sorts of mean things."
"We've got to go back now," said Bock. "We'll call again some day--whenthese fellows ain't around. We don't want anything to do with chaps whocheat at boat races."
"Bock, some day I'll make you take back those words," said Jack, hotly."But we are guests here, so I'll say no more."
"Bah! I'm not afraid of you," growled Roy Bock, and then he strode off,followed by his fellow students. Soon they left the house, on thebuckboard that had brought them to the Lodge.
"Oh, how thankful I am that they are gone," said Flossie. "Do you know, Iam getting afraid of Roy Bock!"
"He's a--a--puppy," said Andy. "Excuse the word, but I can't describe himin any other way."
"I think he is very mean," came from Laura. "I wish he wo
uld keep awayfor good."
"His companions are about as bad as he is," said Pepper. "They seem to beall tarred with the same brush."
"They are always together," said Flossie. "They always come here in abunch and stay and stay. It's a wonder they didn't invite themselves todinner. And then, so I've been told, they tell their fellow students thatwe urge them to come, and that they can't hardly get away from here!"
There were one or two other young folks present, and all had a good timeuntil dinner was served. The repast was an elaborate one, and our friendsdid it full justice. Then came some music and a few games, and all toosoon it was time for Jack, Pepper, and Andy to leave.
"We've had a boss time!" cried Pepper, enthusiastically. "Excuse theFrench!" he added, meaning the slang.
"Couldn't have had a better!" added Jack.
"It was real nice of you to ask us to come," put in Andy.
"We have enjoyed your company," said Laura, and Flossie said the same.Then Mr. and Mrs. Ford asked them to call again.
"You must come down to our school," said Jack. "On Saturdays we give aspecial drill."
"And Jack, you know, is our major!" said Andy.
"Oh, pa, we must see the drill by all means!" cried the two girls.
"Well, we can drive over some day," answered the fond parent.
It was quarter to ten when the boys left the grounds in the buggy. Thelantern was lit and hung over the dashboard, yet it did not light theroad very well, and they had to proceed with care.
"This isn't so nice," observed Andy, when they were in a black portion ofthe woods. "Supposing some tramps or highway robbers should pounce out onus?"
"Andy must have been reading some trashy five-cent library," laughedPepper. "I caught Link Smiley reading one the other day, and I had tolaugh at all the hair-breadth escapes the so-called hero had."
"Excuse me, but I'm not giving up my good nickels for such rot," answeredAndy. "Good books are too plentiful. But it is dark and no mistake."
"I see a light ahead!" interrupted Pepper. "Perhaps a carriage is comingthis way."
They drove slowly, and presently came up to where the light was resting,on a limb of a tree. Just as they were opposite to the lantern, eightmasked figures leaped out from behind the bushes.
"Stop!" was the command. "Don't you dare to drive another step!"