The Putnam Hall Encampment; or, The Secret of the Old Mill

by Edward Stratemeyer

  CHAPTER XXIX AT THE HAUNTED MILL

  "I think Ritter and his cronies will catch it rather heavily," remarkedAndy, as he and his friends walked away from Captain Putnam's quarters."Well, it will serve them right."

  "I think we have gotten ourselves in trouble," said Jack. "We havepromised not to leave camp unless we have permission to do so. How arewe to get off to go to the old mill with Bert Field?"

  "We might ask Captain Putnam for permission," said Pepper "But I doubtif he would let us go."

  The morning passed, and at noon the lads heard that Ritter, Coulter andPaxton had been assigned to extra guard duty. More than this, they werecut off from leaving the camp at any time and were also cut off fromtaking any part in all athletic contests.

  "That's a blow for Ritter," said Dale. "He wanted to row in a race andwanted to play another game of ball."

  "Well, he can be thankful he wasn't expelled," came from the youngmajor.

  What to do about meeting Bert Field the cadets did not know. They wantedto keep their word with the youth and they did not desire to break theirpromise to Captain Putnam.

  "I suppose we'll have to go to the captain and tell him about the oldmill," said Jack. "But I am almost sure he won't let us go there,especially at night."

  "Well, he might let us go in the daytime," returned Pepper.

  The matter was solved in a most unexpected manner. From the Fords camein an invitation to visit them at their hotel that evening, when awell-known magician was going to give an entertainment for the benefitof the guests. Mr. Ford enclosed a note to Captain Putnam, asking themaster of the school to give Jack, Pepper, Andy and Dale leave ofabsence.

  "Hurrah! I guess we'll get off!" cried Pepper, and lost no time inhanding the note to Captain Putnam. Mr. Ford was to call for the cadetsin a launch, and they were given permission to take in theentertainment.

  It must be confessed that the boys did not enjoy the entertainment asmuch as they might have under other circumstances. They liked the show,and the girls treated them as cordially as ever, but they could not helpbut glance at the clock, and wonder if they could get away in time tomeet Bert Field. At last Laura noticed Jack's nervousness.

  "What is the matter?" she asked.

  "I'll tell you," he answered frankly. "We have another engagement--asecret one--an hour from now. It's something Captain Putnam doesn't knowanything about--something just among us boys."

  "Oh, I know--a feast or hazing, or something like that!" cried Laura."Well, I'll see that you get off to it, and when it is over you'll haveto write to me and tell me all about it."

  "Perhaps I will," answered the young major.

  Laura explained to her sister, and the two managed it so that the cadetsleft the hotel without having Mr. Ford take them back to camp in thelaunch.

  "Now for the place where we are to meet Bert Field," cried Pepper. "Ihope we find him on hand. I am just in the mood for an adventure."

  "Well, you'll get it--if we get in the old mill," answered Andy, grimly."Don't forget what happened before."

  "I am not forgetting it," answered The Imp, and felt of the pistol hehad brought along. He had no desire to do any shooting, but he wasresolved to do his best to save himself from bodily harm.

  Their numerous tramps in that vicinity had made them more or lessfamiliar with the roads, and they took as direct a course as possiblefor the spot where they were to meet Bert. He was on hand and glad tosee them.

  "I was afraid you couldn't come," he said. "I made up my mind to waitjust an hour and then go it alone. Here is the rope. Are you armed?"

  "Yes; are you?"

  "I am."

  But little more was said, for the boys were afraid that somebody goingto or coming from the old mill might hear them. Like a file of Indiansthey walked through the woods in the direction of the dilapidatedstructure that was located on the bank of the river.

  "I've got a notion that Jabez Trask is at the mill," whispered Bert,when they came within view of the place. "I've been watching around hishouse all afternoon, but he was nowhere in sight."

  They did not go very close to the old mill, but halted at the foot ofthe trees before mentioned. Andy boosted the others into a tree and thenclimbed up himself. Then the acrobatic youth led the way, from one treeto another. All moved closer to the mill without making any noise.

  There was no moon, but the stars were shining brightly, and by the lightthey saw the building loom up before them. Not a light was to be seen,and the only sound that reached their ears was the roaring of the Fallssome distance away.

  "Now then, be careful!" whispered Andy, as he moved out on the end of alimb. "Don't make a noise when you drop on the roof."

  As he went out the limb bent beneath his weight until it rested on theshingles of the roof. He alighted on the top of the mill with ease, andone after another the others followed.

  The limb bent beneath his weight.]

  The roof was of the low, gabled sort, with several windows at either endof the building, just below the top. Andy crawled over the shingles withthe ease of a trained athlete and looked over the edge. One of thewindows was within three feet of him and he noted with satisfaction thatone of the sashes was completely gone and the other was minus its panesof glass.

  "I'd hate to break any glass--it would make such a noise," said he. "Nowthen, the rope."

  This was quickly made fast and Andy went down and crawled through thewindow into the loft of the mill. The others came after him. Then thefive boys stood in a circle, almost holding their breath, and wonderingwhat they had best do next.

  "Well, we are in the place anyway," murmured Pepper.

  "Yes, and they haven't dropped us into the river either," added Andy.

  It must be admitted that the hearts of the four cadets thumped wildly intheir bosoms. They realized that they were in a dangerous situation, andthere was no telling what would happen next. Bert Field was strangelyself-possessed, even though his nerves were at a high tension.

  "I'll go first," said he. "I think it is my place to do so."

  "Well, we'll watch out, and do all we can to protect you, and ourselves,in case of trouble," answered Jack.

  Having listened for several minutes, the boys grew bolder and Bert Fieldlit a small bullseye lantern he had brought along. By the aid of thelight, they tiptoed their way across the loft floor and down a narrowpair of stairs.

  "Listen!" said Bert, suddenly, and came to a halt. He shut off thelight, and all came to a halt and strained their ears.

  From a distance came a murmur of voices. Three men were talking in oneof the rooms of the old mill. Then the boys saw a ray of light shiningunder a closed door.

  "They are in that room," said Bert. "I'm going to the door and listen towhat they have to say."

  He moved on and so did the cadets, all anxious to listen to theconversation. Now the boys were certain they had only human beings todeal with they felt better.

  "I want you, Vidder, to go out on the road and watch," came in the voiceof Jabez Trask. "Put on that cowhide with the horns to-night."

  "All right,--but I am pretty tired," croaked the voice of an old man.

  "Never mind--you can sleep all day to-morrow," answered Jabez Trask."You, Jepson, guard all the doors. If anybody comes, why--the trap--youknow!"

  "Indeed I do!" answered another voice, shrill and harsh.

  "I am going to make another hunt to-night," went on Jabez Trask. "I mustfind that will. That boy is watching me and I don't like it."

  "Wish you would find the will," growled the old man called Vidder. "Thenwe'd get our money."

  "Right you are. Now begone, so I can get to work," went on Jabez Trask.

  The men in the room began to move, and the cadets and Bert crouched outof sight behind some boxes and barrels. Then two of the men came out andleft the mill. A moment later Jabez Trask appeared, lantern in hand.

  "I'll follow up that new clue to-night," the boy
s heard the misermutter. "Let me see, what was it? Third stone from the top, sixth stonefrom the left. William Robertson wrote that in the note-book, and itmust mean something. If I can get that will, and destroy it, the fortunewill be mine, all mine!"

  Lantern in hand, Jabez Trask crossed the room and entered anotherapartment. The boys heard him going down a flight of stone steps.

  "I am going after him," whispered Bert, excitedly. "He thinks he isgoing to locate that will! Maybe I got here just in time!"

  CHAPTER XXX A FIND OF IMPORTANCE--CONCLUSION

  "Don't make a noise--or you may spoil it all," whispered Jack.

  He caught Bert by the arm, and as silently as shadows the pair followedthe old miser down the flight of stone steps, and the others came afterthem. They saw that Jabez Trask had entered a room that was almost avault, being built of stone and about ten feet square. The miser hadplaced his lantern on the floor and was counting the stones on one ofthe walls.

  "That's not right," the boys heard him mutter to himself. "This wall haseighty-six stones in it. I want the one with seventy-six--seventy-six,like the Revolutionary year. Let me see," and he commenced to count thestones in another of the four walls.

  This, too, was a disappointment, and then he went at the third. Then hegave a chuckle of satisfaction.

  "Seventy-six, clean and clear!" he muttered. "This must be the wall. Nowthen, sixth stone from the left, third stone from the top. Ha! here itis! Now to find out what is behind it!"

  He brought forth a chisel and commenced to pry on the stone. It camefrom the wall with ease, revealing an opening behind it.

  "The box! The box at last!" almost shrieked the miser, and putting hisarm into the opening he drew forth a black, metal box, covered with dirtand mildew.

  Bert Field uttered a cry, he could not help it But in his excitementJabez Trask did not notice the noise. The miser fell on his knees on thedirt floor and commenced to fumble with the opening of the box. Then thelid flew back and out tumbled half a dozen legal-looking documents.

  "The will! At last!" almost shrieked the man, and fairly kissed one ofthe papers. "I'll read it over first, to make sure it is the one, andthen I'll burn it. Then the Robertson fortune will be mine, all mine!"

  "You scoundrel! Give me that will!" cried Bert Field, and before theothers could stop him, even had they wished to do so, he was on top ofJabez Trask and had hurled the miser on his back. The man clung to thepaper desperately.

  "Stop!" he bawled. "Help! help!"

  "Give me that will!" repeated Bert. "It is mine,--I have a right to it!"

  "No! no!" screamed Jabez Trask. "Vidder! Jepson! Where are you? Help!"

  He continued to struggle, and the will was in danger of being torn topieces, when Jack and Pepper rushed forward and caught Jabez Trask bythe arms. Then Bert got a good hold on the legal document and twisted itfree.

  "Don't take that! It is mine--all mine!" moaned the miser, and suddenlyhis eyes commenced to roll, as if he was going to have a fit.

  "Take the box and the other papers!" cried the young major to Bert."I'll see if there is anything more in that opening."

  He ran forward and felt into the opening, only to find it empty. By thistime footsteps were sounding overhead.

  "Those men are coming!" cried Andy. "If you've got what you want we hadbetter get out of here, unless you want to fight."

  "I don't want to stay, now I have the will and the other privatepapers," answered Bert. "Come on--they may try to take the papers awayfrom me!"

  The boys ran from the vault and across the lower floor of the old mill.Then an outer door opened and the man called Vidder appeared.

  He presented a comical appearance and under ordinary circumstances theboys would have laughed at him. Over one shoulder dangled a cow's hideand over the other a pair of fearful looking horns. In one hand hecarried a light, placed in an object formed to represent a large humanskull.

  "What does this mean?" he asked, when Bert ran full tilt into him,hurling him flat. Then the youth ran through the doorway, and the cadetsfollowed him.

  "Beware of traps!" sang out Pepper. "Let us keep in a string and joinhands."

  This was done, Bert forming one end of the line and Dale the other. Oncethey stepped on a platform that threatened to go down with them, butthey were on the alert and got off in a hurry. Then they dashed straightinto the woods, where they knew the men would have difficulty infollowing them.

  "Well, I guess we have accomplished what we set out to do," said Jack,when they finally came to a halt.

  "Yes, indeed!" cried Bert. "And I do not know how to thank you enough,"he added, warmly.

  "Don't you want to read that will over and see if it is really in favorof your mother?" asked Dale.

  "Yes."

  A light was made, and all of the boys looked over the document withcare. The will left small sums of money to various servants andemployees and then the bulk of the Robertson estate went to Bert'smother and her heirs--the only heir now being Bert himself.

  "I'll tell you what I would advise," said Jack. "You come to camp withus, Bert. You can sleep with me. In the morning we'll lay this wholematter before Captain Putnam and ask his advice. I am sure he will tellyou what is best to do."

  "I ought to have Jabez Trask arrested."

  "Perhaps. But it will be punishment enough for that miser if he has tolet go his hold on the property."

  Bert agreed to follow the advice of the young major, and before longthey reached the camp, and Jack took the strange lad to his tent withhim, and gave him the use of a vacant cot.

  It was certainly a meeting of importance that occurred in CaptainPutnam's headquarters the next morning, after breakfast and drill. Berttold his story in full, and the cadets had their say, and then the willand the other documents were brought forth and looked over with care.

  "What you need is a good lawyer," said the master of the school to Bert."This Jabez Trask is undoubtedly a scheming rascal who will do all inhis power to keep you out of your own. If you wish I'll take you toRochester and introduce you to a legal gentleman who will take care ofall your interests and have the courts mete out to Trask the punishmenthe deserves."

  This suited Bert, and the journey to Rochester was taken the next day,Jack and Pepper accompanying the captain and the Robertson heir. A longconference with a first-class lawyer was held, and immediate steps weretaken to place Bert in possession of his own.

  When efforts to locate Jabez Trask were made there was a surprise. Themiser had closed up his mansion and fled. Nor could the two men, Vidderand Jepson, be found.

  "It is evidence of their guilt," said the lawyer to Bert. "I do notthink you will have any difficulty in establishing your claim to thefortune." And the legal gentleman was right. Bert obtained the fortunewith but little trouble, and he was correspondingly happy. The courtsappointed a well-known business man of Ithaca as his guardian, and thisguardian told Bert the best thing he could do would be to go to somefirst-class school and finish his education.

  "That is just what I want to do," said Bert. "And the school I want togo to is Putnam Hall."

  "A good selection," was his guardian's reply. "A fine school."

  "And one in which I have some warm friends," added Bert earnestly.

  Bert's coming to Putnam Hall pleased Jack and his chums, and they gavehim a royal welcome. Before this time the repairs to the school buildingwere finished, and the encampment at Lake Caboy came to an end.

  "Well, we had a dandy time camping out," said Jack to his chums.

  "And lots of adventures," added Pepper. "Wonder if we'll ever have anymore?" They did have more adventures, and what they were I shall relatein another volume, to be called "The Putnam Hall Mystery; or, The SchoolChums' Strange Discovery." In that book we shall meet all our oldfriends again, and also learn something more of the doings of ReffRitter and his cronies.

  It was an ideal day when the cadets marched back to Putnam Hall. The sunshon
e brightly overhead, and most of the lads were in the best ofspirits. The Fords came over to the camp to see our friends take up themarch.

  "Well, are you glad to go back?" asked Laura, of the young major.

  "Rather," was Jack's answer. "Putnam Hall seems like home, you know."

  Then Captain Putnam gave the order to break camp. The drums rolled andthe boys set up a cheer. The young major stepped in front of the twocompanies.

  "Battalion, attention!" he called out. "Shoulder arms! Forward march!"

  The drums sounded, the flag floated out on the breeze, and the march forthe Hall was begun. The visitors gave a shout of farewell, and the girlswaved their handkerchiefs. And here for the present we will leave thePutnam Hall cadets, and say good-bye.

  THE END

  Books by Arthur M. Winfield

  THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES

  THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS. THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS. THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS. THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION. THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT.

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  _12mo. Illustrated. Cloth_ _Price, per volume, 60 cents, postpaid_

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  By VICTOR APPLETON

  12mo, printed from large type on good paper, each volume with half-tonefrontispiece. Handsomely bound in cloth. Printed wrappers.

  Price, 40 Cents per Volume, postpaid

  It is the purpose of these spirited tales to convey in a realistic waythe wonderful advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like theseimpress themselves on the youthful memory and their leading isproductive only of good.

  TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE Or Fun and Adventure on the Road TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP Or The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT Or The Speediest Car on the Road TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE Or Daring Adventures in Elephant Land TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER Or The Quickest Flight on Record TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE Or The Wreck of the Airship TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE Or The Castaways of Earthquake Island TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD Or Marvellous Adventures Underground TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY Or A Daring Escape by Airship TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT Or On the Border for Uncle Sam

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  The outdoor chums are four wide-awake lads, sons of wealthy men of asmall city located on a lake. The boys love outdoor life, and aregreatly interested in hunting, fishing, and picture taking. They havemotor cycles, motor boats, canoes, etc., and during their vacations goeverywhere and have all sorts of thrilling adventures. The stories givefull directions for camping out, how to fish, how to hunt wild animalsand prepare the skins for stuffing, how to manage a canoe, how to swim,etc. Full of the very spirit of outdoor life.

  THE OUTDOOR CHUMS Or, The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club. THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE LAKE Or, Lively Adventures on Wildcat Island. THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE FOREST Or, Laying the Ghost of Oak Ridge. THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE GULF Or, Rescuing the Lost Balloonists. THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AFTER BIG GAME Or, Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness.

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  Transcriber's Notes

  --Copyright notice provided as in the original printed text--this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.

  --Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.

  --Moved promotional material to the end of the text, and moved illustrations to the appropriate place in the text.

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