CHAPTER VII.
SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE.
Despite the stirring events which had just passed the Rovers managed topass a pleasant evening at the Stanhope cottage. This was in a largemeasure due to Dora, who did all she could to entertain them and makethem forget their troubles. All played games, and Dora played the pianoand sang for them, while Dick and Tom also took a hand at the singing.Sam could not sing, and declared that he was certainly getting a cold,whether from being in the storeroom or not.
At ten o'clock the boys retired, to a large bed chamber containing adouble bed and a good-sized cot. They were soon undressed, and aftersaying their prayers dropped asleep and slept soundly until seven in themorning.
When they arose a surprise awaited them. On the ground outside the snowlay to the depth of a foot or more, and it was still showing as heavilyas ever.
"Hullo! we are snowed in!" exclaimed Sam, as he gazed out on thewhitened landscape.
"Sure enough," returned Dick, and added:
"This looks as if Captain Putnam might not come back to-day,"
"If that's the case, I vote we stay here," put in Tom. "I'm sure Mrs.Stanhope will keep us."
It was found that Sam's cold had attacked him in earnest. He was veryhoarse, and complained of a severe pain in the chest.
"You'll have to do something for that cold," said Dick. "Better stay inbed this morning, and let Mrs. Stanhope put a plaster on your chest."
Going below, he told the lady of the cottage of his brother's condition.A mustard draught was at once prepared and placed upon Sam, and he wasalso given some pine tar cough mixture. These things relieved himsomewhat, but Mrs. Stanhope insisted upon it that he remain in bed, andbrought him his breakfast with her own hands.
"Of course you must stay here, especially since Sam is sick," said Dora,while they were eating a breakfast of buckwheat cakes, honey, chops, andcoffee. "He may not get worse, but if he does, one of you will have totake the horse and go for the doctor."
"Yes, we'll have to watch Sam," answered Dick. "But don't put yourselvesto too much trouble on our account."
"As if we could take too much trouble for you!" exclaimed Dora, andblushed sweetly. It was not likely that she would ever forget all theRovers had done for her and her mother.
Tom was anxious to learn about the Lanings, and was told that they wereall at home and doing finely.
"Nellie and Grace are going on a visit to an aunt at Timber Run afterthe holidays," said Dora. "They wanted me to go along, but I didn't careto leave mamma, and we didn't wish to lock up the house for fear sometramps might break in and rob us."
After breakfast Sam said he felt like sitting up, but toward noon hischest began to hurt him again, and Mrs. Stanhope said it would be bestthat somebody go for a doctor. Dick and Tom both volunteered, but it wasfinally decided that Dick should go alone, on horseback.
A steed was soon saddled, and off Dick rode, wrapped in his overcoat andwith an old fur cap pulled well down over his ears. It had now stoppedsnowing, so the weather was not quite as unpleasant as it had been.
Dick was bound for the house of Dr. Fremley, a physician he knew well,and thither he made his way as speedily as the horse could plow throughthe drifts which presented themselves. At times, when the wind arose, itwas nipping cold, and the youth was glad to get in where it was warmwhen the physician's office in Cedarville was reached.
"Certainly, I will come and see your brother," said Dr. Fremley. "I'llbe ready to go in about half an hour."
"Will you go on horseback?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll wait in town and go back with you," said Dick. "I wish tomake a purchase or two."
It was agreed that the youth should meet the physician at half-pasttwelve, and leaving his horse in the latter's stable, Dick walked downthe main street of Cedarville.
He had his Christmas money with him, and entering a drug store he boughta cup of hot chocolate, that warmed him considerably. After this heselected a bottle of cologne and a box of chocolates as a Christmas giftfor Dora.
Opposite to the drug store was a stationery and book store, and hereDick procured a fancy floral calendar for Mrs. Stanhope and aninteresting girl's book for Dora.
From the store Dick could obtain a side view of the Cedarville Hotel,which stood on a corner up the street, and having paid for his purchasesthe youth stood near the door and watched the hotel, wondering at thesame time if he would see anything of Dan Baxter.
Presently a number of men came from the bar-room of the hotel and movedin various directions. With one of these was the youth for whom Dick waslooking.
Dan Baxter and his companion moved in the direction of the lake shore,and Dick lost no time in following the pair.
The man with Baxter was a stranger to Dick, but he showed by his mannerthat he was a rough individual, and when he talked he did a great dealof swearing, which, however, will not appear in his conversation inthese pages.
Having reached the road running along the lake front, Baxter and hiscompanion, whose name was Lemuel Husty, passed northward past astraggling row of cottages and then on the road leading to the villageof Neckport.
"I wish I had time--I'd follow them," said Dick to himself, and turnedback, much disappointed over the fact that he had not had a chance tospeak to Dan Baxter.
As Dick turned in the direction of the doctor's office once more he washailed by a lad of the village, named Harry Sharp.
"Hullo, Dick Rover!"
"How are you Harry? How do you like the snow?"
"All right enough, only it will spoil some of the skating."
"So I've been thinking," answered Dick, as the two came closer.
"Say, Dick, who do you suppose I met a while ago," went on Harry Sharp.
"I don't know--Dan Baxter?"
"That's the chap. How did you guess it?"
"I saw him myself."
"I thought he didn't dare to show himself?"
"Well, he ought to be arrested, Harry. But perhaps having his father inprison, and losing most of his money, is punishment enough for him."
"I met him in the post office. He was posting several letters."
"Did you see the handwriting on the letters?"
"No. As soon as he saw me he slid out of sight."
"I guess he doesn't fancy being recognized. By the way, have you seenCaptain Putnam?"
"Saw him about an hour ago. I think he was going to the Hall."
"Good enough! I was waiting for him to get back."
A few words more followed, and the two boys separated, and Dick hurriedto the doctor's office. Dr. Fremley was ready to leave, and soon thepair were on the way to the Stanhope cottage.
Not wishing to give the Hall a bad name Dick deemed it advisable to saynothing about the fact that Sam had been locked in an ice-cold roomwithout his overcoat or hat, and merely stated that his brother hadexposed himself.
"He has a very heavy cold," said the doctor, after an examination. "Iflet run, it would have become serious, beyond a doubt; but I feelconfident I can check it," and he left some medicine and some plasters.
As soon as the doctor was gone Dick announced his intention of returningto Putnam Academy. "The captain has got back, and I want to lay thewhole case before him, and do it, too while Sam is still sick."
"Shall I go along?" asked Tom.
"No, I'll go alone. They may need you here on Sam's account."
Dick was soon on the way, riding another horse, for the Stanhopes nowkept two. He had had a fine dinner, and felt in the best of spirits,despite the disagreeable task before him. He did not doubt for a momentbut that Captain Putnam would side with him and condemn the actions ofJasper Grinder.
He was still out of sight of the Hall when he saw Peleg Snuggers ridingtoward him in the captain's cutter.
"Is that you, Master Rover!" sang out the man of all work. "Where areyour brothers?"
"Safe, Snuggers. Has the captain got back?"
"Yes--got in a couple of hours ago."
"Has he said anything about our going away?"
"Said anything? Just guess he has. Why, the whole school is so upsetnobody knows what he is doing. Do you know what happened after you andyour brothers ran away?"
"Of course I don't. What did happen?"
"Mr. Grinder had a terrible row with more than a dozen of the boys, whosided with what you had done. He got awfully mad at them, and was goingto cane the lot, when all of a sudden he fell down in a fit, just likehe was going to die, and we had to work over him most an hour before wecould bring him around."
The Rover Boys In The Mountains; Or, A Hunt for Fun and Fortune Page 8