JOSIAH CRABTREE FREES HIS MIND
The individual to whom Tom referred had been a former master at
Putnam Hall, but his disagreeable ways had led to his dismissal
by Captain Putnam.
Josiah Crabtree was a tall, slim individual, with a sharp face
and a very long nose. During the past term at Putnam Hall he had
been very dictatorial to the Rover boys, and it must be confessed
that they had made life anything but a bed of roses for him.
Crabtree had been very desirous of marrying a certain widow by
the name of Stanhope, but the marriage was opposed by Dora, the
widow's daughter, and as Dick was rather sweet on Dora, he had
done all he could to aid the girl in breaking off the match, even
going so far as to send Crabtree a bogus letter which had taken
the teacher out to Chicago on a hunt for a position in a private
college that had never existed. Dick knew that Crabtree was
comparatively poor and wished to marry the widow so that he could
get his hands on the fortune which the lady held in trust for her
only child.
"It is Crabtree," said Dick, as he gave a look.
"I wonder how he liked his trip to Chicago?" laughed Sam.
"Perhaps the Mid-West National College didn't suit his lofty
ideas."
"Hush! don't let him hear you talk of that," returned Dick. "He
might get us into trouble."
"What kind of soup, sah?" interrupted the waiter, and then they
broke off to give their order, and the waiter hurried off to fill
it.
"I'd like to know if he has been around the Stanhope cottage
again," mused Dick, as he sipped his soup.
"Dick can't bear to think of anybody around Dora," laughed Tom.
"I don't want _him_ around," retorted the elder Rover, growing red
in the face. "He wants the Stanhopes' money and that's all he
does want. I don't believe he really loves Mrs. Stanhope."
"But why does she encourage him?" came from Sam. "Why don't she
send him about his business?"
"Oh, she is sickly, as you know, and he seems to have a peculiar
hypnotic influence over her, at least that's what Dora thinks."
"What are you laughing at, Tom?"
"I--I was thinking of the time we put the crabs in old
Crabtree's bed," answered the younger brother.
"No, you, weren't--"
"Well?" demanded Tom, as Dick paused.
"You were laughing because I mentioned Dora, and--"
"'Pon my honor I wasn't," smiled Tom, but his look belied his
words.
"You were. If I mention her cousins, Grace and Nellie Laning, I
guess the laugh will be on you and Sam--"
"We'll call it quits," answered Tom hurriedly.
"They're all nice girls, eh, Sam?"
"To be sure. But, I say, hadn't we best keep out of old
Crabtree's way?"
"I don't know as it's necessary," said Dick.
"I'm not afraid of him, I'm sure."
"Oh, neither am I, if you are going to put it that way," answered
the youngest Rover.
"If he's stopping here I'm going to have some fun with him,"
grinned Tom.
The evening meal was soon finished, and the boys took a stroll
around the grounds. They were just on the point of retiring when
Dick drew his brothers' attention to a figure that was stealing
through a nearby grove of trees.
"There goes Crabtree."
"I wonder where he is going," mused Sam. "Where does that path
lead to?"
"Down to the river," came from Tom. And then he added suddenly:
"Come, let us follow him."
"What's the good," grumbled Dick. "I'm tired out."
"There may be some chance for fun. Come on," and thus urged Dick
and Sam followed their fun-loving brother.
The path through the grove ran directly to the cliff overlooking
the Hudson, at a point where a series of stone steps led up from
the water's edge. As they gained a spot where they could look
down upon the river, Dick uttered a short cry.
"Look, boys, a yacht!" he said, pointing through the moonlight.
"I'll wager it is the _Falcon_!"
"And Mumps is coming to meet Josiah Crabtree," put in Sam.
"But what would he want to see Crabtree about?" demanded Tom.
"That remains to be seen. Remember at Putnam Hall the only friends
Josiah Crabtree had were Dan Baxter and Mumps."
"That is true, Dick. See, Crabtree has his handkerchief out and
is waving it as a signal."
"And here comes somebody up the steps. Mumps, sure enough,"
whispered Sam.
"Let us get behind the trees and learn what is going on," came
from Dick, and the three brothers lost no time in secreting
themselves in the immediate vicinity.
"Well, John, I've been waiting for you," said Josiah Crabtree, as
Mumps came forward and the two shook hands.
"So have I been waiting for you," returned the former sneak of
Putnam Hall. "Why didn't you come yesterday?"
"It was impossible to do so, my lad. Is that the _Falcon_ down
there?"
"It is."
"Who is in charge of her?"
"A sailor named Bill Goss."
"Is he a--ahem--a man to be trusted?"
"I guess I can trust him," snickered Mumps. "If he dared to give me
away, I could send him to jail."
"You mean that you--er--have him--ahem--in your power?"
"That's it, Mr. Crabtree."
"Very good. And is be, a good sailor?"
"As good as any on the river."
"Then he can sail the yacht down the river without mishap?"
"He can take her to Florida, if you wish to go that far."
"No, I don't want to go that far--at least, not at present."
"Don't you think you ought to let me in on your little game,"
went on Mumps earnestly. "So far I'm in the dark."
"You will know all very soon, John--and you shall be well paid
for what you do."
"That's all right. But if it isn't lawful--"
"I will protect you, never fear."
"Where is Dan Baxter?"
"Hush! It will be best not to mention his name, my lad."
"'But where is he?"
"I cannot say exactly."
"Is he around Lake Cayuga?"
"Well--ahem--more than likely he is. To tell the truth, he
is very anxious to see his father."
"To bone him for some more money?"
"I think not. Daniel thinks a great deal of his parent, and when
Mr. Baxter was so seriously injured--"
"Dan didn't care much for that. He isn't that kind."
"Daniel is a better boy than you think, John. He loves his
parent, and when that imp of a Rover got Mr. Baxter into trouble
Daniel was very much exercised over it."
"Gracious, but that's rich," murmured Dick. "_I_ got him into
trouble. I guess the rascal did that for himself."
"Well, we won't talk about that, professor," went on Mumps. "You
didn't stay in Chicago long."
"No, I--ahem--the position offered to me did not suit my
views, so I declined it."
"Gee-christopher!" came from Tom, and each of the Rovers could
scarcely keep from laughing.
"I think those Rover boys put up a job on you," said Mumps. "At
least, I got an inkling that way."
"Indeed. I would like to wring their necks, the imps!" burst out
Josiah Crabtree. "Oh, what have I not suffered at their hands!
At one hotel where I stopped they placed live crabs--But let
that pass, the subject is too painful. To come back to the
point. I can have the _Falcon_ at any time that I may need her?"
"Yes."
"And you will promise to say nothing to a soul about what is done
on the trip I propose?"
"I will."
"Very good, You see, this is a--er--a delicate matter."
"Are you going to marry Mrs. Stanhope and use the yacht for your
honeymoon?" said Mumps somewhat slyly.
"Hardly--although that would not be a bad idea, my lad. But
now I have a different deal on hand--something very much
different. If you do not object I'll take a look at your yacht
and interview this sailor you mention."
"All right, come ahead."
Mumps led the way down the rocky steps and Josiah Crabtree
followed, moving slowly that he might not fall. Creeping to the
edge of the cliff, the Rover boys saw the pair reach the _Falcon_
and go on board.
"Now what is in the wind?" said Dick, as soon as the pair were
out of hearing.
"That's a conundrum," replied Tom. "I'll wager one thing though--old
Crabtree is up to no good."
"I believe you are right. I wish we could hear the rest of what
is going on."
"Can't we get close to the yacht?" suggested Sam. "See, the sky
is clouding over. I don't believe they will see us going down
the stairs."
They talked the plan over for a moment, then began to descend the
steps, keeping as low down as possible and close to some brush
which grew up in the crevices of the stones. Soon the river bank
was gained at a point not over fifty feet from where the yacht
lay.
They halted behind a large stone close to the water's edge. By
straining their eyes in the darkness they saw Mumps, Crabtree,
and Bill Goss in earnest conversation in the stern of the vessel.
A low murmur came to their ears, but not a word could be
understood.
"We must get closer," was Dick's comment, when to the surprise of
all they saw the sailor hoist the mainsail of the _Falcon_. A
gentle breeze was blowing, and soon the yacht was leaving the
shore. They watched the craft until the gathering darkness hid
her entirely from view.