For the best part of a week after this, but little out of the ordinary occurred. With the excitement attending the close of the baseball season over, the Rovers applied themselves more diligently than ever to their studies. During that time they received notes from Grace and Nellie, stating that nothing new had developed concerning the missing four-hundred-dollar ring. They also received another letter from Dick, in which the oldest Rover boy stated that he and the lawyer had made a final settlement with Pelter, Japson & Company, and that he had heard that the brokers were about to leave New York City for good.
“By the way, Tom,” said Sam, after reading the letter from Dick, “this puts me in mind: What became of that fellow we hauled out of the river?”
“The last I heard of him, he was still under the care of Doctor Havens.”
“Don’t you think we ought to call on him? He might want to see us.”
“If he wanted that, Sam, wouldn’t he send us word? Perhaps, if he is any relation to Jesse Pelter, he would rather we would keep away from him.”
On the following morning a letter came addressed to Tom, and bearing the Ashton postmark. On opening the communication, he was much interested to read the following:
Dear Mr. Rover:
“I want to thank you and your brother for what you did for me. I shall never forget it. Even were I in a position to do so, I would not insult you by offering you any reward. You, perhaps, have learned my name, and maybe you are wondering if I am related to Mr. Pelter of Pelter, Japson & Company, of New York City. Mr. Pelter is my uncle, and for a number of years I made my home with him. I do not altogether like his way of doing business, and do not uphold him in his dealings with your family. But he is my uncle, and on several occasions he has assisted me very materially. For that reason, I think it is best that we do not meet.
“Again thanking you, I remain
“Yours truly,
“Barton Pelter.”
“I guess that explains it,” said Sam, after he, too, had read the communication. “He didn’t want to face us because of his relationship to Jesse Pelter.”
“I am glad that he doesn’t uphold Jesse Pelter in his actions, Sam.”
“More than likely he would be glad to come and see us in order to thank us in person for what we did for him if it were not for his uncle, and the fact that his uncle has aided him. You know the old saying, ‘You can’t bite the hand that feeds you.’”
“I wonder if he is still in Ashton?”
“We might telephone to the hotel and find out.”
Later on this was done, and the boys were informed over the wire that Barton Pelter had left early that morning, taking his automobile with him.
“Well, only one week more of the grind,” remarked Sam one morning on arising. “Aren’t you glad that the closing day is so near?”
“I think I would feel a little better if I knew how I was coming out with my examinations,” returned his brother.
“But, Tom, it won’t make any difference to you, if you are not coming back.”
“That may be, but, just the same, I would like to get as much credit as possible while I am here.”
Some of the examinations had already been held, and others were to come off within the next few days. As a consequence, the majority of the students were exceedingly busy, so that there was little time for recreation.
Since the Rovers had come to Brill, the college had been endowed with the money to build an observatory. This structure had now been completed, and the boys took great delight in visiting it and looking through the telescope which it contained. It stood on the highest hill of the grounds, so that from the top, quite a view of the surrounding country could be had.
“I am going to the observatory,” said Songbird, that evening. “There is going to be some kind of a transit, and I want to see it. Either of you fellows want to come along?”
“I can’t,—I’ve got a paper to finish up,” returned Sam, who was busy at his writing table.
“I’ll go. I need a little fresh air,” said Tom, and reached for his cap.
At the observatory the boys found one of the professors and about a dozen students assembled. The professor was delivering something of a lecture, to which the boys listened with interest, at the same time taking turns looking through the big telescope.
“It’s a wonderful sight,” murmured Tom, after he had had his look. Then, followed by Songbird, he walked to a little side window which, with several others, faced in the direction of Hope Seminary.
“I suppose you would rather be at Hope than here,” remarked Songbird, dryly.
“And you would rather be at the Sanderson cottage than anywhere else in the world,” retorted Tom.
“It’s too bad, Tom, that you are not coming back next Fall,” went on Songbird, seriously. “I don’t know how we are going to get along without you.”
“It can’t be helped. I’ve got to help Dick. Father is too broken down to attend to business, and I don’t think it is the fair thing to put it all off on Dick’s shoulders.”
“Oh, I understand. But Sam will come back, won’t he?”
“I think so. One of us, at least, ought to finish the course here. Dick and I are cut out for business, but I think Sam ought to go into one of the professions.”
“I wish I knew what I would like to do, Tom,” continued Songbird, wistfully.
“Oh, some day you will be a celebrated poet.”
“I think I have got to do something more substantial than write poetry.”
“Well, it all depends on the brand of poetry, Songbird.” And Tom began to grin. “There are some fellows who make big money at it.”
“I’d like to know who they are?” questioned the would-be poet, eagerly.
“The fellows who write up some new brand of safety razor or breakfast food.”
“Tom!” And Songbird looked positively hurt. “How can you be so cruel and degrade poetry so?”
“Well, they do it, I don’t. Now, if you—” Tom brought his words to a sudden stop, and commenced to stare out of the window. Far over the distant wood he had seen a strange light. Now it was increasing rapidly.
“What is it? What do you see?” demanded Songbird, as he realized that something unusual had attracted his chum’s attention.
“Look there!” cried Tom, pointing with his finger. “Doesn’t that look like a fire?”
“It surely does,” replied the other, after a hasty inspection. “But it may be only some brush heap that a farmer is getting rid of.”
“I don’t know about that. Say, haven’t they got a pair of field glasses here?”
“Sure!” and Songbird turned to get the article mentioned.
As rapidly as possible, Tom focused the glasses on the distant light, and took a careful look.
“Great Scott! it’s a fire—and at Hope Seminary!” broke out the youth. “It looks to me as if the whole place might burn down!”
“What! A fire at Hope!” cried Songbird, and his words attracted the attention of all the others in the observatory. He, too, took a look through the glasses, and one after another the remaining students did the same.
“It certainly is a fire, and at the seminary, isn’t it, Tom?”
Tom did not answer. He had already started to leave the building. Straight down the hill he tore, and then up to the building where he and the others had their rooms. He burst in on his brother like a cyclone.
“Sam, come on, quick! There is a fire at the seminary!”
The younger Rover, who was deep in his writing, looked up, startled.
“What is that you said, Tom?”
“I said, hurry up; come along; there is a fire at the seminary! The girls may be in danger! Come on, let us go there in the auto.”
“Oh, Tom, are you sure of this?” And now Sam leaped up, brushing his writing to one side.
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“Yes, I saw the fire from the observatory.” And in as few words as possible, Tom gave his brother the particulars. He was already donning his automobile outfit. Sam followed suit, and both boys ran downstairs and to the garage.
By the time they had the touring car ready, Songbird, Stanley, Spud, and several others had joined them. The word had been passed around that there was a fire at Hope, and permission to go to the conflagration was readily granted by the college management.
“All aboard who are going!” sang out Tom, who was at the wheel, with Sam beside him. Then, after several collegians had climbed into the tonneau, away the touring car dashed over the road leading to Hope.
CHAPTER XI
TO THE RESCUE
It was a wild ride, never to be forgotten. Tom had all the lights turned up fully, so that he might see everything that was ahead. From twenty miles per hour the speed climbed up to twenty-five, then thirty, then thirty-five, and finally forty. Over the newly-mended bridge they dashed at breakneck speed.
“Be on your guard, Tom,” warned Sam.
“We’ve got to get there,” was the grim response. “The girls may be in danger.”
“Right you are! Let her go for all she is worth!”
They had been making many turns and going up-hill and down, but now came a straight stretch of several miles, and here Tom put on all the extra power the touring car could command. From forty miles an hour, they reached forty-five, and then fifty, and, at one point, the speedometer registered fifty-four.
“My gracious, Tom, don’t kill us!” yelled Bob, to make himself heard above the roar of the motor, for Tom had the muffler cutout wide open.
The youth at the wheel did not answer. He was giving all his attention to the running of the car, and this was needed. Along the roadway they sped like an arrow from a bow, past trees and fences, with here and there a farmhouse or a barn. Once Tom saw a white spot in the road ahead, and threw off the power. But it was only a flying newspaper, and on he went as speedily as before.
“It’s at Hope, all right!” yelled Stanley, when they slowed down at a turn of the road.
“Yes, but I don’t think it is any of the main buildings,” returned another student.
“I hope not,” came from Sam.
There was one more small rise to climb, and then they came into full view of what was ahead. Through the trees they saw that one of the large barns, in which the fire had evidently started, was almost totally consumed. The slight wind that was blowing had carried the sparks to one of the wings of the main building, and this was now in flames at several points.
“Here comes the fire engine!” cried Bob, as the touring car swept through the seminary grounds; and he pointed down the opposite road. Along this a small engine from a nearby town was approaching, hauled by a score of men and boys. Far down another road could be heard the tooting of another engine, probably from some other town.
“We might give some of those fellows help,” suggested Songbird. “What’s the matter with running the car down to where they are, and hitching fast?”
“You can do it, Songbird, if you wish,” returned Tom, hurriedly. “I’ll join you just as soon as I find out if the girls are safe.”
“And I’ll go with Tom,” put in Sam.
“Oh, they must be safe; the fire isn’t in that part of the building,” broke in Stanley. “But go ahead, you fellows, we’ll take care of the machine.” For he well understood how anxious the Rovers must be regarding the Laning girls.
Leaping from the touring car, Sam and Tom joined the crowd in the vicinity of the fire, composed mostly of girl students and their teachers. About a score of men and boys living in the vicinity had come up, and these, with the hired help from the institution, were doing all in their power, to subdue the flames.
“Did all of the girls get out?” asked Tom, of the first teacher he met.
“I don’t know—I think so,” was the answer.
The boys pushed their way along from one group of students to another, trying to catch sight of those whom they were seeking. In the meantime, Songbird and the others from Brill had taken charge of the touring car, and run it down a side road, where they hooked fast to one of the arriving fire engines, much to the relief of those who had been dragging the machine over the somewhat rough highway, and were almost exhausted.
“Oh, Sam!” The cry came from Grace, and the next instant the girl rushed up and fairly threw herself into the arms of the youngest Rover.
“Where is Nellie?” he demanded, quickly. “Is she safe?”
“Here I am!” was the call, and then Nellie came up and caught Tom by the shoulder. “Oh, isn’t this dreadful!”
“It sure is, Nellie,” returned Tom, as he slipped his arm around her waist. “But I am mighty glad that you are safe. Do you think everybody is out?”
“We don’t know, but they ought to be out, for we had plenty of warning. The fire started in the barn, you know.”
“What caused it?”
“They think one of the men must have been smoking and dropped a light in the hay. Anyway, the fire started there.”
“The other fellows took the auto to help the fire engine,” broke in Sam. “Here they come now,” he added, as the machine came up with honking horn, and dragging one of the fire engines behind it.
“I wish we could do something to put out this blaze,” came from Tom. “Sam, we must get busy.”
“Right you are!”
“Oh, do be careful, both of you!” pleaded Nellie.
“Yes, don’t get burnt,” added Grace.
“We’ll look out, don’t you fear,” answered Sam, and then he and Tom turned to join those at the fire engines and the hose carts.
The seminary was provided with several water towers, and from these some lines of hose had already been run to the fire. Now some additional lines of hose were laid from the fire engines, which began to take water from two cisterns. Soon the added streams showed their effect on the flames.
“Girls! girls! have any of you see Miss Harrow?” The cry came from one of the teachers, as she made her way through the crowd.
“Why, isn’t she out?” asked a number.
“I don’t know, I can’t find her anywhere,” replied the instructor.
“Was she in the building?”
“I think so. She said at supper time that she had a toothache, and was going to retire early.” And thus speaking, the teacher hurried on.
“Is that the Miss Harrow who lost that four-hundred-dollar diamond ring?” asked Tom.
“Yes,” replied Nellie.
“Was her room in that addition?” questioned Sam, quickly, pointing to an end of the building which was on fire in several places.
“Yes, she has the corner window, right over there,” responded Grace, pointing to a spot close to where the building was in flames.
The words had scarcely left the lips of the girl, when, to the horror of those standing below, a third story window was suddenly thrown up, and the head of a woman appeared.
“Help! Help! Save me!” The cry came wildly from the woman, who was plainly terror-stricken.
“It’s Miss Harrow!” cried a score of voices.
“Look! Look! The fire is on both sides of her!”
“Don’t jump! Don’t jump!” yelled Tom, at the top of his lungs, and he saw the teacher prepare to cast herself to the ground.
“Can’t you come down by the stairs?” called out Sam, as loudly as he could.
“I’m afraid to open the door! The hall is full of smoke and fire!” screamed the teacher. “Save me! Save me!”
“Haven’t they got a ladder handy?” asked Tom.
“Sure, we’ve got a ladder—half a dozen of ’em,” responded one of the men who worked around the place.
“Where is it? Show it to us, quick!”
put in Sam.
“All right, this way,” returned the man, and started off with Sam at his heels.
“Don’t jump! don’t jump! We’ll help you!” cried a dozen voices to the teacher.
“We are going to get a ladder!” yelled Tom. “Stay where you are!”
And then he followed the others. The ladders were kept in a wagon shed, and it took but a few moments to bring them out. They were four in number, and of various sizes.
“I’m afraid none of ’em is long enough to reach that winder,” said the man who had led the way.
“You are right,” replied Tom. “But what’s the matter with lashing a couple of them together? Here’s a rope.” And he pointed to a washline that hung on a nearby hook.
In frantic haste a dozen persons carried the ladders to the burning building. Tom followed with the rope, which he unwound on the way. Then the washline was cut, and with it two of the longest ladders were lashed together as quickly as possible. Then the combination ladder was raised against the building and set close to the window, to the sill of which Miss Harrow clung.
“I’ll go up if you want me to,” cried Tom, as he saw the men who belonged around the place hold back. “You steady the ladder so it doesn’t slip.”
“Want me to help, Tom?” asked Sam.
“No, you see that they steady the ladder.” And thus speaking, Tom began to mount the rungs.
A cheer went up, but to this the youth paid no attention. In a few seconds he was at the third story window. He had to pass through considerable smoke, but as yet the flames had not reached that vicinity.
“Come, give me your hand, and step out on the ladder,” cried Tom to the teacher.
“I—I can’t!” gasped Miss Harrow. And now the youth saw that she was almost paralyzed from fright. She clung desperately to the window sill, evidently unable to move. Clinging to the ladder with his left hand, Tom placed his right foot on the window sill, and then he reached down and caught the teacher under the arm.
“Come, you don’t want to stay here,” he ordered, almost sternly, and pulled the teacher to her feet.
“Oh, oh, we’ll fall! I can’t do it!” were her gasped-out words.
The Rover Boys Megapack Page 295