“I had just gone upstairs to get a book when I saw Pud tearing around. Half a dozen fellows were there, and the way Pud cut up was like a circus. Shout Plunger came tearing upstairs to find out what it was all about, and Pud gave the snapping turtle a sling, and it hit Shout right in the face and then fell down inside his coat. Shout put his hand inside to find out what it was, he being too deaf to hear the talk about a snapping turtle, and then the turtle got busy and got Shout by the hand. Then there was more fun!”
“What did they do with the turtle at last?” questioned Jack.
“Oh, Shout wouldn’t take any chances,” answered Andy. “He put the turtle down on the floor and smashed it with his heel; and then, of course, the fun was all over.”
“Did they find out how the turtle came to be there?” questioned Fred.
“No, they didn’t. Codfish came along, and he started to say something, but I put up my fist and motioned to him, and then he shut up like a clam.”
“He’ll give you away sooner or later, Andy,” remarked Jack.
“If he does, he’ll pay for it,” retorted the fun-loving Rover.
Several days went by, and during that time the boys learned not a little concerning the catastrophe at the Hasley Shell-Loading plant, the local papers giving a full account of the affair. Fortunately the report that several had been killed was untrue, but about sixteen men had been injured, and several of them quite seriously.
There were many speculations concerning what had started the explosions. It was proved that the first had occurred in one of the cars which was standing loaded on the railroad track, while the second explosion had come less than a minute later from what was known as Storehouse No. 3. Then had followed an explosion at Storehouse No. 2, and after that the explosions had come so rapidly and there had been so much excitement that no one could tell exactly what had happened next. But fortunately the explosions had been confined to the storehouses and the loaded cars on the track. The main building of the shell-loading plant had suffered considerably, but a portion was still standing, and some underground vaults, filled with high explosives, had not been reached. Had these explosives gone up, it is more than likely Haven Point, as well as Clearwater Hall and possibly Colby Hall, would have been shaken to their foundations and with great loss of life.
A rigid investigation had been started by three different parties—the owners of the plant, the local authorities, and the Secret Service of the national government. The Secret Service men, of course, made no public report, but the others in authority came to the conclusion that the explosions had been started either by some spies working for the shell-loading plant or by two suspicious-looking men who had been seen several times around the place—the same fellows described by Jed Kessler.
“Maybe those two fellows on the outside had confederates on the inside,” remarked Jack, in talking the affair over with his cousins.
“More than likely that’s the truth of it,” said Randy. “Those fellows often work in gangs.”
During the days following the victory over Hixley High, a number of the cadets had gone down to Haven Point at various times, and several brought back the report that they had met Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell driving through the town in their runabout. Slugger and Nappy had put on a lordly air, bowing very condescendingly to those they knew, but refusing to stop for any conversation.
“Those fellows make me weary in the bones,” was the way Dan Soppinger expressed himself. “What ever brought ’em to Haven Point? If I had been fired out of the school the way they were, I wouldn’t want to show my face around here again.”
“Yes, Dan; but you aren’t the sort they are,” declared Jack. “I don’t believe either Slugger Brown or Nappy Martell has a particle of real pride. They think just because they have a little more spending money than most fellows, they can lord it over anybody.”
It worried all of the Rovers to think that Brown and Martell were hanging around Haven Point, and Jack telephoned to Clearwater Hall several times, calling up Ruth and also his sister Martha, asking if they had been annoyed in any way by the pair.
“We saw them again down near our boathouse,” said Ruth over the telephone. “They acted as if they wanted to talk to us, but we did not give them any chance to do it.”
“If they dare to say a word to any of you, just let us know and we’ll take care of them,” declared the oldest Rover boy.
On the third day came a long letter to Jack and an equally lengthy communication for Fred. The letters were from their fathers, and in them Dick and Sam Rover gave the particulars of how they had volunteered for service in France and how Dick had been commissioned a captain and Sam a lieutenant. They mentioned the fact that they were soon to leave New York City, along with a number of other volunteers, to go to Camp Huxwell, a beautiful site selected by the government and located on the Atlantic coast.
“Why, say, that isn’t very far from here!” exclaimed Jack. “I’ve often heard them talk about that place.”
Jack’s father also mentioned the fact that Colonel Colby had obtained a commission as a captain and that a great many others of his old school chums from Putnam Hall, and likewise two of his comrades from Brill College, were going. He added that if Jack wanted to come home to see him off, he could do so.
“And that’s just what my dad says, too,” said Fred, after both boys had finished reading the letters. “Of course we’ll go!”
“Ten horses couldn’t hold me back,” answered Jack.
“Well, if you fellows go, we’re going, too,” declared Randy, when the matter was talked over.
“Bet your life!” added Andy slangily. “I want to know what dad has got to say about all this.”
Jack and Fred communicated at once with their sisters, and learned that they, too, had received letters from home and were going to depart for New York City at the earliest possible moment. It was then arranged that the young folks should all leave together on the following morning.
“Remember me to your fathers,” said Colonel Colby, after they had asked for and received permission to go. “Tell them they will hear from me very shortly.”
The two girls met the four boys at Haven Point, and Ruth, May, Gif, and Spouter came to see them off.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” said Spouter, who had come to the railroad station at Haven Point earlier than the others, in order to obtain parlor-car seats for the party.
“What is that?” questioned Fred.
“When I came in for the seats, who do you think was just ahead of me at the ticket window?”
“You don’t mean Slugger and Nappy?” questioned Randy quickly.
“You’ve struck it!”
“What were they doing there?” asked Jack with interest.
“They were getting tickets for New York.”
“Oh, dear! do you mean to say we’ve got to put up with those fellows on this trip?” sighed Martha.
“You won’t have to notice them, Martha,” declared her brother.
“Don’t worry but what we’ll make them keep their distance,” added Fred.
The whole crowd looked around the depot, and presently made out Slugger and Nappy at the far end of the platform. They were smoking cigarettes and talking in low, earnest tones.
“I hope they didn’t get seats in the parlor car,” said Mary.
“I don’t think they did,” answered Spouter. “They’re such smokers, I guess they’d just as lief hang out in the smoking car.”
In a few minutes the train came along, and, bidding their friends good-bye, the Rovers got aboard and had a porter show them to their seats. From the window Jack waved Ruth a good-bye, and then the long train pulled out of Haven Point and began its trip to the metropolis.
It was rather a long journey, and it was necessary that they obtain a meal on the train.
“Let me go into the di
ning car and have a look around first,” remarked Fred, when it came time to eat.
“What’s the matter—afraid we won’t be able to get seats?” inquired Randy.
“I want to see if Slugger and Nappy are around. I don’t want to eat when they do.”
“Right you are!” answered Jack.
He and Fred hurried through the train and into the diner. Neither Brown nor Martell were present, for which they were thankful. They found a table for four on one side of the car, with a table for two directly opposite, and at once engaged both. Then, while Jack held the tables, Fred hurried back and brought the girls and the twins.
“I never eat in a dining car but what I think of that fun we had with Asa Lemm when we first came to the Hall,” remarked Andy, as they sat down. “My, what a pickle we did get that professor in!” he chuckled, referring to a series of incidents, the particulars of which were related in “The Rover Boys at Colby Hall.”
“I wonder if we’ll ever meet old Asa Lemm again?” remarked Fred.
“Sure!” returned Randy. “He’s like a bad penny—bound to turn up some time.”
The young folks ordered soup for a first course, and this was quickly served. Mary and Martha sat at the larger table with Andy and Randy opposite, while Fred and Jack occupied the smaller table on the other side of the car.
The soup was finished and the young folks were waiting to be served with the more substantial portion of the meal, when suddenly Fred, who was looking toward the far end of the dining car, pressed his foot down on that of his cousin.
“What is it?” questioned Jack quickly.
“Here come Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell,” was the low reply.
CHAPTER XI
TOM ROVER’S DILEMMA
Andy and Randy were facing the same way as Fred, and they, too, noticed the approach of Brown and Martell. Randy whispered something in a low tone of voice to Martha and Mary, and the two girls pursed up their lips, but said nothing, nor did they look around.
The dining car was almost full, and the only table vacant was a small one directly behind where Fred was sitting. Slugger and Nappy were conducted to this by the head waiter, thus passing the Rovers. They did not, however, notice our friends until they had seated themselves and given their order.
“Humph! what do you know about that?” murmured Nappy Martell to his crony. He was seated where he could stare directly at the two girls.
“What’s the matter?” returned Slugger Brown, and then turned around to follow his crony’s gaze. “What do you know about that? I didn’t know they were in such a hurry to get to the diner, did you?”
“I knew they would most likely want to eat,” answered Nappy.
The newcomers winked at each other, and then, while they were waiting to be served, Nappy began to stare boldly at Martha. But she refused to look at him, confining her attention to her plate and to Mary and the twins.
Fred could no longer see the unworthy pair, as they were behind him. But Jack, looking over his cousin’s shoulder, got a good view of how Martell was staring at his sister, and he also saw how uncomfortable this was making Martha. He waited a minute or two longer, hoping that Nappy would desist. But then, as the dudish young man continued to gaze at the girl, trying his best to catch her eye, he whispered something to Fred, and then rose to his feet.
“All right, Jack, I’m with you if you want any help,” returned Fred promptly.
Without hesitation, Jack approached the table at which Brown and Martell sat eating their soup, and placed himself close to the latter’s side.
“Now listen to me, Nappy Martell,” he said in a low but distinct voice, meant only for the dudish youth. “You keep your eyes to yourself and leave my sister and my cousin alone. If you don’t, I’ll smash you one in the face that will put you in the hospital. Now remember—I won’t give you another warning!” And having thus spoken, Jack turned on his heel and went back to his own table.
Nappy Martell flushed up and an angry retort arose to his lips. Then, however, he became pale and not a word escaped him.
“What was that he said, Nappy?” demanded Slugger in a whisper.
“I—I’ll tell you afterwards,” stammered Martell. “He’s mighty fresh—that fellow!”
“Did he threaten you?”
“I guess he wants to start a row,” grumbled Nappy. “But I don’t want any fight in front of those girls.”
“Those Rovers are getting too fresh to live,” was Slugger’s comment.“Some day we’ll have to get after ’em and polish ’em off.”
“We can’t get after ’em any too quick to suit me,” answered his crony.
After that Nappy confined his gaze to his chum and to the lunch set before him. Never once did he allow his eyes to rove over to the table opposite. Jack had spoken with an intensity that showed his earnestness, and for once Nappy Martell was completely subdued.
“Those Rovers are getting to be a regular bunch of rough-necks,” he growled, after he and his crony had finished a somewhat hurried meal and gone back to the smoking car.
“Did he want to fight you?” queried Slugger.
“That’s what he had in mind to do—as if I would want to fight before that crowd of people! Why, we would all have been arrested!”
Jack’s meal had been spoiled for him, but he did not let the others know this. He, however, kept his eyes on Brown and Martell until they left the dining car. Then he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Gee! I’m glad they’re gone,” was Fred’s comment.
“You’re no more glad than I am,” answered his cousin. “I’ll teach him to stare at my sister! For two pins I’d have wiped up the floor with him!”
“I wish I’d have gotten the chance,” put in Andy, from across the aisle. “Wouldn’t I like to have peppered up their food good for them!”
In due course of time the young Rovers reached the Grand Central Terminal at Forty-Second Street, in New York City. They had sent a telegram, announcing their coming, and found Mrs. Dick Rover and Mrs. Sam Rover awaiting them, each with a touring car.
“Well, I see you got in on time,” said Mrs. Dick Rover, after the greetings were over. “I thought on account of so many soldiers being sent to the various camps, the train might be late.”
“We saw some soldiers on the way,” answered her daughter.
“And we also saw some freight cars carrying cannon,” put in Mary.
“This war is going to make a great change all around,” declared Mrs. Sam Rover. And then she added to her daughter: “What do you think about your father going to the front?”
“It’s just what I expected,” answered Mary promptly. “He’s a real patriot—dad is!”
“You are right. But I hate awfully to see him go away,” sighed the mother.
The young folks were soon seated in the two automobiles, and their handbags were disposed of in the tonneau. Then the cars were started up, and they were soon whirling away over to Broadway and Riverside Drive, and then to the comfortable mansions occupied by the three Rover families.
It was still rather early in the afternoon, but Sam Rover had already come uptown from his office and was there to greet his son and daughter and the others.
“It’s great news, Dad!” cried Fred, shaking him warmly by the hand, while Mary clung around his neck and kissed him.
“Oh, I’m going to be real proud of you!” said the daughter.
A little later Dick Rover arrived, and Jack shook hands with a warmth that was most unusual. When Martha kissed her father a curious lump arose in her throat, and her eyes grew misty.
“I suppose it’s all right, Dad,” she whispered in his ear. “But, oh! I do hope you’ll come back all right.” And she clung to him in a way that spoke volumes.
“Of course I’ll come back all right, Martha,” said Dick Rover confidently. “And for
all you know, your dad will come back a major or a colonel, or maybe a brigadier general.”
“Oh, I don’t care about that! All I want is for you to come back safe and sound!”
“Your father will be up in a little while,” announced Dick Rover to the twins. “He had a meeting to attend in reference to the next Liberty Loan. He’s a tremendously busy man these days.”
“But Uncle Dick! he wanted to go to the front just as well as you did, didn’t he?” questioned Randy eagerly.
“Of course he wanted to go,” was the ready response. “But we couldn’t all go, you know. Somebody had to stay behind to look after our business interests in Wall Street.”
“But—but couldn’t you hire somebody else to run the business for you?” questioned Andy. Now that he and his brother were face to face with the fact that their Uncle Dick and their Uncle Sam were going into the army, it did not look right at all to them to have their father left behind.
“We thought something of that, but we really couldn’t see how it could be done. You see, we have a great many important deals under way, and if those transactions are not looked after carefully, we might stand to lose a great deal of money.”
“I don’t care—if dad wanted to go to the front, he should have had the chance to go!” burst out Randy.
“I declare, Randy, you’ll be as hard to manage in this affair as your father was,” said Dick Rover, with a faint smile.
“Was he really hard to manage?” queried Andy eagerly.
“He sure was! We had to talk to him for several days before he would agree to remain behind. He told us once that the whole business could go to pot.”
“Hurrah for dad! That’s the way I knew he’d act!” burst out the boy.
“If I was him I’d let the business go to pot!” declared Randy. “What good will your old business be if those Germans win this war and start in to rule everything? For all you know, they’ll come right over to New York and take your whole business away from you.”
“Well, that might possibly happen,” put in Sam Rover seriously.“Although I don’t think it is very probable.”
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