CHAPTER X
A STRANGE MESSAGE FROM THE SEA
"Jim Caven!" repeated Dick slowly, "What makes you believe that heis guilty?"
"From what Mr. Dickerson here says," answered Tom, and repeatedwhat the farmer had told him.
"Gracious, that does look black for Caven!" said Dick, when he hadfinished. He turned to the farmer. "Would you recognize that boyagain if you saw him?"
"I allow as how I would. His eyes was wot got me--never sawsech unsteady ones afore in my life."
"Yes, those eyes put me down on Caven the minute I saw him,"answered Tom. "More than half of the boys at the Hall have puthim down as a first-class sneak, although we can't exactly tellwhy."
"See here," said Dick. "I think it would be best if Mr. Dickersonwould drive back to the Hall with us and tell Captain Putnam ofwhat he knows."
"And see if he can identify Caven," finished Sam. "Are youwilling to do that, Mr. Dickerson?"
"Well, to tell the truth, I've got some business to attend tonow," was the slow reply.
"I am sure Captain Putnam will pay you for your trouble," went onSam. "If he won't, we will."
"You seem mighty anxious to bring this Caven to justice," smiledthe farmer.
"We are, for two reasons," said Tom. "The first is, because heisn't the nice sort to have around, and the second is, because oneof the men working at the school, a colored waiter, whom we allliked, has been suspected of this crime and had to run away toavoid arrest."
"I see. Well--" The farmer mused for a moment. "All right, I'llgo back with ye--and at once."
The team was turned around as well as the narrow confines of thehilly road permitted, and soon the Rover boys were on their wayback to Putnam Hall, a proceeding which pleased Tom in more waysthan one, since he would not have now to put up at a strangeresort to have his ankle and his wheel cared for. They bowledalong at a rapid gait, the horses having more speed in them thantheir appearance indicated. They were just turning into the roadleading to Putnam Hall grounds when Dick espied several cadetsapproaching, bound for the lake shore.
"Here come Caven, Willets, and several others!" he cried. "Mr.Dickerson, do you recognize any of those boys?"
The farmer gave a searching glance, which lasted until theapproaching cadets were beside the wagon. Then he pointed hishand at Jim Caven.
"Thet's the boy I seed over to Auburn, a-pawning thet watch an'them studs," he announced. "He's got his sodger uniform on, but Iknow him jest the same."
Jim Caven looked at the farmer in astonishment. Then when heheard Seth Dickerson's words he fell back and his face grewdeathly white.
"I--I don't know you," he stammered.
"I seed you over to Auburn, in a pawnshop," repeated Dickerson.
"It--It isn't true!" gasped Caven. "I was never over to Auburnin my life. Why should I go there to a pawnshop?"
"I guess you know well enough, Caven," said Tom. "You bad bettercome back to the Hall with us and have a talk with CaptainPutnam."
"I won't go with you. This is--is a--a plot against me,"stammered the slim youth.
"You will go back!" cried Dick, and caught Caven by the arm. Butwith a jerk the seared boy freed himself and ran down the road atthe top of his speed.
Sam and Dick pursued him on their bicycles, while some of theothers came after on foot. Seeing this, Jim Caven took to thewoods just as Dan Baxter had done, and the boys found itimpossible to track him any further.
"I wonder if he'll come back tonight?" said Dick, as the partyreturned to where they had left Seth Dickerson and Tom.
"I don't think he will," answered Sam. "I declare, he must bealmost as bad as the Baxters!"
The farm wagon soon reached the Hall, and Dick ushered SethDickerson into Captain Putnam's office. The captain lookedsurprised at the unexpected visitor, but listened with deepconcern to all the farmer and the Rover boys had to say.
"This certainly looks black for Caven," he said at last. "I didnot think I had such a bad boy here. And you say he got away fromyou?"
"Yes, sir."
"It is a question if he will come back--providing he is reallyguilty. I will have his trunk and bag searched without delay.But if he is guilty how did that ruby stud and the watch come intoAlexander Pop's possession?"
"He was down on Aleck," replied Tom, who had hobbled in after theothers. "And, besides, he thought if Aleck was arrested thesearch for the criminal would go no further."
"Perhaps you are right, Thomas. It is a sad state of affairs atthe best."
The party ascended to the dormitory which Jim Caven occupied withseveral smaller boy. His trunk was found locked, but Captain Putnamtook upon himself the responsibility of hunting up a key to fit thebox. Once open the trunk was found to contain, among other things,a bit of heavy cloth tied with a piece of strong cord.
"Here we are, sure enough!" cried the captain, as he undid thepackage and brought to light several of the missing watches andalso some of the jewelry. "I guess it is a clear case againstCaven, and Pop is innocent."
"I wish we could tell Pop of it," put in Dick.
"He must feel awfully bad."
"I will do what I can for the negro, Rover. I am very sorryindeed, now, that I suspected him," said Captain Putnam, with aslow shake of his head.
At the bottom of the trunk was a pocketbook containing nearly allof the money which had been stolen. A footing-up revealed thefact that two watches and three gold shirt studs were stillmissing.
"And those were pawned in Auburn," said Sam. "Just wait and seeif I am not right."
A party was organized to hunt for Caven, and the captain himselfwent to Auburn that very evening. The hunt for the missing boyproved unsuccessful, and it may be added here that he never turnedup at Putnam Hall again nor at his home in Middletown, having runaway to the West.
When Captain Putnam came back he announced that he had recoveredall but one watch. The various goods and the money were distributedamong their rightful owners, and it must be confessed that a bigsigh of relief went up from the cadets who had suffered. Thesingle missing timepiece was made good to the boy who had lost it,by the captain buying a similar watch for the youth.
After this several weeks passed without anything of specialinterest occurring outside of a stirring baseball match with aclub from Ithaca, which Putnam Hall won by a score of six tothree. In this game Dick made a much-needed home run, thuscovering himself with glory.
"The Rovers are out of sight!" was Larry's comment. "Whateverthey do they do well."
"And they hang together like links of a chain," added Fred. "Thefriend of one is the friend of all, and the same can be said of anenemy."
One morning a telegraph messenger from Cedarville was seenapproaching the Hall, just as the boys were forming for theroll-call.
"Here's a telegram for somebody," said Sam.
"I hope it's not bad news."
"A message for Richard Rover," announced George Strong, afterreceiving it, and handed over the yellow envelope.
Wondering what the message could contain and who had sent it, Dicktore open the envelope and read the brief communication. As hiseyes met the words his head seemed to swim around, so bewilderedwas he by what was written there.
"What is it, Dick?" came from Tom and Sam.
"It's from Uncle Randolph. He wants us to come home at once. Hesays--but read it for yourselves," and the elder Rover handedover the message, which ran as follows:
"Have just received a strange message from the sea, supposed to bewritten by your father. Come home at once. RANDOLPH ROVER."
"My gracious! News from father!" gasped Tom.
"Is he really alive?" burst out Sam. "Oh, I pray Heaven the newsis true!"
"A strange message from the sea," repeated Dick. "I wonder whathe can mean?"
"Perhaps it's a message that was picked up by some steamer,"suggested Sam. "Anyway, uncle wants us to come home at once."
"He doesn't say all of us. The mess
age is addressed to me."
"But of course he wanted all of us to come," put in Tom. "Anyway,four horses couldn't hold me back!" he continued determinedly.
"Nor me," chimed in Sam. He drew a long breath. "If we hurry upwe can catch the noon boat at Cedarville for Ithaca."
"Yes, and the evening train for Oak Run," finished Tom. "Hurryup, Dick!"
Dick was willing. To tell the truth, that message had fired himas he had never been fired before. He burst into the captain'soffice pell-mell, with Tom and Sam on his heels, to explain thesituation. Ten minutes later--and even this time seemed an ageto the brothers--they were hurrying into their ordinary clothingand packing, their satchels, while Peleg Snuggers was hitching upto take them to the landing at Cedarville.
"Good-by to you, and good luck!" shouted Frank, as they clamberedinto the wagon, and many other cadets set up a shout. Then thewagon rattled off. The Rover boys had turned their backs on dearold Putnam Hall for a long while to come.
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