CHAPTER III.
TOM ON A TOUR OF DISCOVERY.
Poor Sam was removed from the gymnasium so quickly that neither Dick norTom had time to protest, and when they reached the main door of theschool building they found it shut and locked in their faces.
"Say, this is an outrage," burst out Tom. "Sam wasn't to blame for thatfight. He didn't trip Tubby up."
"I know he didn't," put in Fred Garrison, who had come up also. "It wasLarry Mason. But I shan't give Larry away."
"Neither will I."
"Mr. Grinder always carries matters with a high hand when the captain isaway," put in Dick. "And he gets red-hot at the least little thing."
"He doesn't deserve to be a teacher here," came from George Granbury,who had followed the others. "To my way of thinking, he's worse than oldCrabtree was, even though he is perhaps better educated."
"I'd like to know what he is going to do with Sam," said Dick, with aserious look on his face. "Sam has made such a good record this term Ihate to see it broken."
"He'll do something to punish 'em both," came from Fred. "It will be toobad, though, if he puts 'em in the stone cell. They'll freeze to deathsuch a night as this is going to be."
"I won't allow it," ejaculated Dick. "Why, that would be inhuman!"
"I'm going in by the back way and find out what's going on," said Tom,and promptly disappeared around the corner of the Hall. He was sooninside the building, but to his chagrin found every door leading toCaptain Putnam's private apartments and to the stone cell and thestoreroom locked. Having gone through the mess-rooms and through severalof the classrooms, he rejoined the others, who had gathered around thefire in what was called the students' general living room,--an apartmentset aside during cold weather solely for the boys' comfort, where theymight read, study, play quiet games, or do similar things in order tomake themselves feel at home.
"How did you make out?" was the question immediately put.
"Made out, and that's all," said Tom gloomily.
"What do you mean?" came from Dick.
"Every blessed door is locked, and so are the windows. I can't getwithin two rooms of the office."
"Did you hear anything?" asked George.
"Yes; I heard a noise like somebody stamping."
"Where did it come from?"
"I think it came from the stone cell. But it sounded like somebodystamping on wood."
"Perhaps it came from the empty storeroom," cried Dick. "More thanlikely Mr. Grinder has placed Sam and Tubby there. I wish he'd comehere. I'd question him."
"Your wish is gratified," whispered George. "Here he comes now!"
The door at the far end of the room had opened, and now Jasper Grindercame forth in a hurry. He was about to pass to another room at the rearof the school when Dick stopped him.
"Mr. Grinder, may I ask what you have done with Sam?" he asked.
"I have placed him in confinement until Captain Putnam returns," was thesnappy answer.
"Did you put him in the stone cell?"
"It is not for you to question me, Rover."
"In this cold weather it isn't fit for anybody to be in that stone cell.Sam may catch his death of cold."
"I am the best judge of my own actions, Rover, and need no advice fromyou. Your brother has broken the rules of this school, and must sufferfor so doing."
"It's inhuman to make a fellow freeze," burst out Tom. "I don't believeCaptain Putnam would do that."
"Not another word from either of you," came sharply from the teacher."Your brother will not freeze to death, but the cold may teach him auseful lesson."
"If he gets sick, I'll get my father to hold you legally responsible,"went on Tom.
At these words the teacher turned slightly pale, a vision of a lawsuitwith damages to pay floating across his miserly mind.
"To ease your mind Rover, let me say I'll see to it that he doesn't getsick," he said, and before Tom or Dick could question him further hepassed out of the room.
"If he isn't the worst yet!" burst out Fred, who had listened withinterest to what was said.
"I shan't stand it," returned Tom. "Will you, Dick?"
Dick, older and more thoughtful, mused for a moment.
"I'd certainly like to help Sam," he said. "But we must be careful andnot get into trouble with Captain Putnam."
"I'm going to find my way to the door of the cell somehow," went on Tom.
"Old Grinder left that door unlocked when he came out," said George,who had joined them.
"Good! I'm going through before he comes back."
As good as his word, Tom slipped past the various tables at which thestudents were sitting, until he reached the door which connected withCaptain Putnam's private apartments.
Usually this portion of the Hall was forbidden ground to the scholars.But Tom had been inside the rooms a number of times, so knew the waywell. Passing through a private sitting room and a small library, hecame to a narrow hall connecting with the main hall, at the end of whichwere the stone cell and the empty storeroom.
He was just about to step into the main hall when he heard somebodycoming down from the floor above. The party was Mrs. Green, thehousekeeper, a good-natured lady upon whom Tom had played many a joke inthe past.
"Gosh! I mustn't be discovered!" he muttered, and looked around for someplace to hide. Under the staircase was a recess containing a number ofhooks with cloaks and overcoats, and into this he crowded, drawing oneof the overcoats so as to completely cover the upper portion of hisbody.
Hardly had he gained the hiding place when Mrs. Green reached the lowerhallway. Tom heard her pause at the foot of the stairs, strike a match,and light the big swinging lamp hanging from overhead.
"I might as well mend that overcoat now, while the captain is away," Tomheard her murmur to herself. "It's only a buttonhole that's torn out,and a tailor would charge him four times what it's worth--and he alwaysso good at Christmas-time!"
"She's looking out for her present," thought Tom, with a grin. "Butthat's none of my affair. If only she isn't after this overcoat!"
He heard the housekeeper approach the recess and pause for a moment infront of it. He hardly dared to breathe, fearing that he would surely bediscovered.
"Well, I declare, if he hasn't gone and worn the very overcoat itself!"he heard Mrs. Green cry. "Just like him, and two good coats a-hanginghere. Well, I suppose it's the warmest he's got, and he'll have a coldride back, especially if he returns to-night." And so speaking Mrs.Green hurried away.
"A narrow shave, and no mistake," murmured Tom to himself, and listeneduntil he heard a distant door close. Then all was quiet, save thedistant murmur of the student's voices, coming from the sitting room.
Without losing more time, Tom left the recess and hurried to the door ofthe stone cell.
"Sam!" he called out softly. "Are you in there?"
"No; _I'm_ in here," came in the voice of Tubbs. "And--I'm almost frozento--to--death." The last words with a chattering of teeth that told onlytoo plainly how the rich youth was suffering.
"Sorry for you, Tubby, really I am. But where is Sam?"
"In the--the storeroom. Oh, Rover, won't you please ask Mr. Grinder tolet me out? I'll freeze to death here, I know I will!"
"I'll do what I can. But he won't let you out. He isn't that kind of afellow."
"You might buy him off, Rover. I've heard he's a regular miser, and I'llgive you five dollars of my Christmas money if he'll let me go."
"I'll see what I can do after I've talked to Sam." And so speaking Tomhurried to the door of the storeroom.
"Tom, is it really you?" cried the youngest Rover joyfully.
"Yes. How are you making out?"
"Horribly. I believe my feet and ears are already frozen!"
"Grinder is a beast to put you in here, Sam."
"I know that well enough. He won't give me any supper, I'm afraid."
"Then I'll try to get some supper to you."
"Is the key of this door on
a hook outside?"
"No. If it was I'd have the door open long ago."
Sam gave a deep sigh, and then began to dance around once more to keepwarm.
"Perhaps I can find a key to fit this lock," went on Tom. "I know thereare keys in some of the other doors."
He ran off and soon returned with four keys, which he tried, one afteranother. The third was a fair fit, and with an effort the bolt of thelock was forced back.
"Hurrah! the door's open!" exclaimed Tom. "Now you can go where youplease."
"Then you wouldn't stay here?" questioned Sam anxiously.
"Not much! I'd hide in one of the dormitories, and I wouldn't showmyself until Captain Putnam gets back. I'll see to it that you getsomething to eat, and when the captain returns you can tell him that ifyou had remained in this place all night you would have been frozen todeath."
Sam was willing enough to take Tom's advice, and was soon in thehallway. Then the door was locked again.
"It's heartless to leave poor Tubby in that cell," said Tom. "Let's gethim out too."
"All right--if you can find a key to fit the lock."
Losing no time, the brothers tried one key after another in the lock tothe door of the stone cell.
"Who's that?" came in a chatter from Tubbs.
"Tom Rover," was the answer. "I've just released Sam, and now we aregoing to release you, if we can."
"Good for you Rover."
"There she goes!" cried Tom a few seconds later, and in a moment morethe door was opened and Tubbs stood in the hallway with the Rover boys.
Tubbs was about to say something, when Sam suddenly caught him by thearm.
"Hush!" he whispered. "Somebody is coming! I hope it isn't oldGrinder!"