CHAPTER XVIII SEEN THROUGH A SPYGLASS
Three days later Jack came to Pepper, Andy, and Dale, who were out onthe campus catching ball.
"Mr. Strong is in trouble," he announced, and the ball catching came toan end at once.
"What's up, Jack?"
"Somebody I think has been playing tricks on him."
"What did they do?"
"Order a lot of things in his name."
"I must say I don't understand," said Andy, with a puzzled look.
"Day before yesterday there came an elegant set of Cooper's works byexpress with a C. O. D. charge of thirty-two dollars. Mr. Strong neverordered the books."
"That's mean, to play a trick like that on him," said Dale. "Now if itwas old Crabtree I wouldn't say a word."
"Yesterday came a bookcase, also C. O. D., at eighteen dollars, and thenhe got three fountain pens by mail, with a bill for twelve dollars."
"Has he any idea who ordered the things?" asked Andy.
"Not the slightest idea in the world."
"He must be mad."
"He said he was very much annoyed and could not imagine who would bemean enough to play such tricks on him."
"If they signed his name to the orders that would be forgery," wasDale's comment.
"So it would."
"Why doesn't he send for the orders?"
"He is going to do it."
The second assistant teacher was indeed in trouble. On the day followingthe above conversation a parrot arrived in a cage for him, followed by acanary bird. Then came a canoe and a rifle, both, sent "on approval."The next day he got a letter from a city firm, asking how he wished themto send the automobile that he desired.
"This is too much!" said the teacher, as he read the letter to CaptainPutnam.
"It is an outrage," answered the master of the Hall, warmly. "We mustfind out who is up to these tricks."
"It will keep me busy a long time explaining matters," went on GeorgeStrong, with a troubled look on his face.
"You had better refuse all goods after this, unless you are certain theyare all right."
"I'll do it."
The next day seemed to cap the climax, for that morning there came acrate of dishes, two boxes of mineral water of the most expensive kind,and a folding baby carriage. George Strong was desperate and refused toaccept anything, despite the protestation of the express driver fromCedarville.
"I didn't order the things and I won't accept them!" cried the teacher."Send them back!"
"And about the charges?" asked the expressman.
"Collect at the other end. I have nothing whatever to do with theorders." And the expressman went away grumbling loudly to himself.
As was to be expected, the refusal to accept goods brought a great dealof trouble. George Strong received some harsh letters and in some caseswas threatened with suits-at-law. In three instances he received theoriginal orders for inspection, but they were poorly written, in pencil,and he could make little or nothing out of them. Goods had been sent tohim because he referred to Captain Putnam as to his responsibility tomake payments. This brought the master of the Hall into the mix-up, andhe had to do what he could to explain matters.
"We must certainly locate the party or parties who are guilty," said thecaptain. "Mr. Strong, have you any especial enemies among the students?"
"I think not, captain."
"Have you had occasion to reprimand any of them, or keep them in afterregular hours?"
"Oh, yes, I have kept some of them in."
"Who?"
The teacher named over seven or eight, among them being Reff Ritter, DanBaxter, and Gus Coulter.
"Any others?"
"I once had to keep in Dale Blackmore and Andy Snow for talkingtogether. But I do not think they can be guilty."
"Perhaps not, although Snow is rather full of fun."
The matter was talked over and the teacher said he would watch the boyshe had mentioned closely.
On the following Saturday Jack and Andy got permission to go to Top RockHill, located not many miles from the academy. They wanted some of theothers to go along, but there was a "scrub" baseball game on and theydeclined.
"Do you remember how Baxter got into trouble at Top Rock Hill lastfall?" said Jack, as they trudged along.
"Indeed I do, Jack," returned Andy. "I don't think he'll try to take anymore nuts from private property."
Jack had with him a new spyglass and wanted to test it. The boys climbedto the very top of the hill, where a grand panorama was spread beforethem. On one side were the rolling hills and on the other the sloperunning down to the lake, which lay glistening like silver in its rim ofgreen.
"I can see the Hall with this glass," said Jack. "And I can see some ofthe fellows out on the lake in boats."
He allowed Andy to take a look, and after a while they turned the glassin the direction of the somewhat dusty road that wound around the footof Top Rock Hill.
"I can see a buggy coming along the road," said Jack. "There is a man init."
Andy took a look at the turnout.
"Why, that is one of our horses!" he exclaimed. "The spotted white,Billy Boy. Can it be the captain who is out driving?"
"No, he was in his office when we came away."
"Maybe it is old Crabtree."
"I think it is Mr. Strong by his hat," said Jack, handling the glass. "Ican't see his face very clearly. He is slowing up and---- Well, Ideclare!"
Jack stopped suddenly and gave another long look.
"See! see!" he exclaimed. "Two men are on the road. What are theydoing?"
"They seem to be quarreling with the carriage driver," answered Andy."They are hauling him out of the carriage, and, yes, it is Mr. Strong!"
"If he is in trouble, we ought to help him!"
"Right you are! Come on!"
Shutting up the spyglass, the two cadets hurried from the top of thehill in the direction of the wagon-road. The way was rough and uncertainand they had to beware of dangerous holes. Once they got caught in atangle of bushes and had to go back.
"I hope we are not losing the right direction," panted Andy, as hepaused to gaze round.
"We are all right," answered the young major. "Hurry up! He may be inperil of his life!"
At last they gained the bottom of the rocky hill. There was a smallmeadow to cross, beyond which was the wagon-road, lined with trees andbushes.
"Help!" they heard somebody cry. "Help! help!"
"That is Mr. Strong's voice!" exclaimed Andy.
"I see the horse and carriage!" answered Jack, pointing down the road."Look, the carriage is empty!"
"And the horse is running away!" finished his chum, as they saw thesteed dash onward at a gallop.
"Help! help!" came the cry again. Both boys looked around, but could seeno one.
"Shall we call to him?" asked Andy.
"No! no!" answered Jack, hastily. "That will put his assailants onguard. Come, the cry came from yonder."
Forward the two boys darted once more, and then Andy called a halt.
"We haven't anything in the way of weapons," said he. "Let us getclubs."
This advice was followed promptly. Fortunately heavy sticks were readilyto be had, so but little time was lost. Then, as they heard another cry,they darted into a thicket along the roadside.
A moment later they came upon a thrilling scene. George Strong was inthe grasp of one man, who held him from the back, while a second man wasgoing through his pockets.