THE END OF THE TERM
"What can Gabe Werner be doing around here?" questioned Randy, who had
heard the conversation between his two cousins.
"I'm sure I don't know," answered Jack. "He doesn't live anywhere in
this vicinity, and I thought after he left the school he went home."
"Evidently Glutts must have known about his being here, otherwise they
wouldn't be together," said Andy.
Jack stood up so that he might get a better view of the other side of
the showhouse. He noticed several vacant seats directly behind those
occupied by Glutts and Werner.
"I'm going to slip over there just as soon as the lights are turned
down," he said to Fred. "If they are hatching out any mischief perhaps
we'll hear something worth listening to."
"I'll go with you," was the ready reply.
The pair explained to the others what they were about to do, and then
slipped out of their seats and made their way to the back of the moving
picture theater. Then, when the lights were being turned out, they moved
forward and slipped into two seats directly behind Glutts and Werner
without being noticed by the two bullies.
The educational film was now being shown again, and this caused Glutts
to give a snort of disgust.
"I don't care for that sort of stuff," said the wholesale butcher's son.
"I wish they would put on the war play. Tell me some more about this
scheme you've got for spending the winter holidays."
"Oh, it's a dandy scheme, all right, Bill," responded Werner. And then
he began a description of a winter's camp and told how he had permission
to go there and how he wanted Glutts to go with him.
While Gabe Werner was speaking some people sitting next to him had
arisen and were trying to get out. Gabe and Bill arose, and as they did
so the former turned around and caught sight of the two Rovers.
"Say! what do you know about this?" he cried in astonishment.
"Jack Rover and Fred Rover!" murmured Glutts, and his face likewise
betrayed astonishment.
"Did you fellows follow us into the theater?" demanded Werner.
"We certainly did not," returned Fred quickly. "We were in the theater
long before you came in."
"Huh!" Werner was stumped for a moment. "I didn't notice them here, did
you?" he questioned his crony.
"If I had I should have taken a seat elsewhere," was Glutts' ready
reply. He glared at the Rovers. "I suppose you have been listening to
everything we said."
"If you don't want to be heard you had better not talk in a place like
this," replied Jack.
"I don't care what they did hear," grumbled Werner. "I'm not ashamed of
what I am doing or intend to do."
"If I were you, Glutts, I'd cut Werner," advised Fred. "Captain Dale
won't give you any credit for sticking to him after what happened at the
encampment."
"I suppose you are going to tell Captain Dale you saw me with him,"
retorted Glutts.
"I shan't say a word unless I am questioned."
"I haven't forgotten what happened at the encampment," said Gabe Werner,
turning to Jack. "Some day I'm going to square accounts with you."
"When that time comes I think I'll be able to defend myself, Werner,"
answered the young captain coldly.
By this time a number of people in the audience were turning around,
evidently annoyed by the conversation. One heavy-set man turned back and
tapped Werner on the shoulder.
"Say, if you fellows want to hold a talk-fest, go outside and do it," he
growled. "We want to look at the pictures."
"Come ahead, Jack," whispered Fred. "It won't do us any good to stay
here, now that Glutts and Werner have discovered our presence."
"Right you are," was the answer. And a moment later the two Rovers
slipped out of their seats and made their way to the rear of the
showhouse. Here they were joined by the others of their crowd; and all
went outside and across the street to a drugstore, where Jack treated
the others to hot chocolate soda.
"They are hatching out something, that is sure," remarked Jack.
"As near as I could make out, Werner is going off into the woods on a
hunt and wants Glutts to go with him," returned Fred. "I wonder where
they are going?"
No one could answer that question, and presently the crowd began to talk
of other things, and especially of the war play they had just witnessed.
"Gosh! but a play like that brings the war pretty close to a fellow,"
said Randy, with a sigh.
"Makes a fellow think of how our dads are making out over there, doesn't
it?" said Fred.
"When they showed those ambulance scenes with all the dead and dying
lying around it gave me the cold shivers," came from Andy. "I tell you
what--war is a terrible thing."
"Yes, and you have got to see something like that to realize how really
terrible it is," put in Jack.
Several days later the term at Colby Hall came to an end. There was
something of an entertainment, with prize speaking in which Spouter
distinguished himself, and then came the final drill and parade around
the campus. Following this the cadets indulged in several snowball
fights and in quite some horseplay, and then rushed off to their rooms
to pack their suitcases and other baggage so as to be ready to depart
for home in the early morning.
"Wow! but it feels good to know I haven't got to look at a grammar or an
algebra for the next few weeks," cried Randy, with satisfaction.
"Say! it makes me feel as happy as a clown in a circus," declared Andy,
and, in high spirits, he began a jig and ended by turning a flip-flap
over one of the beds. Then he and his twin indulged in a pillow fight,
in which Fred joined.
"Hi, you fellows! stop your rumpus," cried Jack, who was trying to pack
his suitcase. "You keep on, and you'll have the ceiling of the floor
below down."
"Can't help it!" cried Andy gayly. "We've got to break loose once in a
while," and he playfully landed a cake of soap in the open suitcase.
"I'll soap you!" cried the young captain, and, taking the article in
question, he made a leap over the bed, caught his cousin by the neck,
and allowed the cake of soap to slip down Andy's back.
"Great salt mackerel!" ejaculated the fun-loving Rover, and, pulling his
coat tight, he arched his back. "Anybody notice the camel's hump?"
"It isn't a hump, Andy. It's only a wart on your backbone," answered his
twin.
"Well, hump or wart, it isn't going to stay there very long," remarked
the other, and immediately proceeded to stand on his hands, shaking his
body in such a manner that presently the soap rattled out on the floor.
Then quietness was restored for the time being, and the Rovers continued
their packing.
A conference was held with Gif, and it was decided that all of the crowd
were to go home for Christmas. Several days later the Rovers were to
meet Gif and Spouter at Portview, and then all would proceed to Cedar
Lodge.
"And don't forget to bring your guns and all your other traps," said
Gif.
"You trust us for that!" responded Fred.
"We'll be there with everything that is necessary outside of the
provisions. Those, of course, we can get at Portview or at Timminsport."
"I hope we get a chance at a moose," sighed Randy.
"Gee! Why don't you make it a lion or an elephant or a polar bear while
you are at it?" cried his twin. "Might as well wish for everything in
the menagerie. It doesn't cost any more," and at this there was a
general smile.
"I know what I'd like to get," said Jack. "I was reading about one in
the paper the other day. They must be beautiful creatures."
"What's that?" questioned Gif.
"A silver fox."
"Oh, say, Jack! that would be fine. But I imagine silver foxes are
exceedingly rare."
"Oh, I know that. Just the same, I'd like to bag one. The fur would make
a very fine piece for some lady to wear."
"Ruth Stevenson, for instance," murmured Andy; and at this his cousin
made a playful pass at him with his fist, which the fun-loving Rover
easily dodged.
The next morning the cadets had an early breakfast, and a short while
later saw many of them on their way by carriage and automobile to Haven
Point. Many girls were also coming in from Clearwater Hall, so that the
railroad station present an unusually lively appearance.
In the crowd was Bill Glutts, but he took care to keep away from the
Rovers. Gabe Werner was nowhere to be seen, and the Rovers rightfully
conjectured that he had left the town.
The boys had hardly arrived when a carry-all came in from Clearwater
Hall containing Mary and Martha, as well as Ruth and May and a dozen
other girl students. There was a general handshaking, and then all took
a stand on the station platform to wait for the coming of two trains
which were to bear the various students in opposite directions.
Everybody had already procured a ticket, and the trains which were
expected were extras, for it would have been impossible for the ordinary
locals to have taken care of such heavy traffic.
"I am sorry you're not going to travel with us to New York," said Jack
to Ruth.
"Well, I'm sorry you're not coming my way," answered the girl, with a
smile.
"But you'll be down to our house directly after Christmas, won't you?"
"Yes, we'll be down the day after--May and I."
"Well, that will give us a whole day together, anyhow, before us fellows
start for Cedar Lodge," went on the young captain. Then he nudged Ruth
in the elbow. "Come over here," he whispered. "I want to show you
something that I don't want the others to see."
Together they slipped out of the crowd and around the corner of the
little railroad station. Then Jack brought out a large flat package from
an inner pocket of his overcoat. "I had these taken as a Christmas
surprise to mother and Martha. What do you think of them?" and he
brought forth several photographs of himself taken in his cadet uniform.
They had been taken by the leading photographer of Haven Point who made
a specialty of work for the two schools, and they certainly showed the
young captain at his best.
"Oh, how lovely, Jack!" cried Ruth in genuine pleasure. "I declare, they
are splendid pictures."
"Then you like them?" he queried anxiously.
"I certainly do! I don't think they could be better." She looked at the
three poses presented critically. "If it's all the same to you, I'll
keep this one," she said finally.
"Oh, Ruth, you don't want my picture, do you?" he questioned, and there
was a trace of wistfulness in his voice.
"Of course I do, Jack. I can keep this one, can't I?" and the girl
looked full at him in a manner that spoke volumes.
"Why, sure! if you want it," he answered quickly. "But, say! don't I get
one of yours in return?" he added.
"Well, I'll see about that," she hesitated.
"Oh, now, Ruth--"
"I haven't had one taken in an awfully long time, Jack."
"Never mind, you will let me have one of them anyhow, won't you?"
"I--I guess--maybe so. I'll give it to you for a Christmas present. Only
don't tell the others."
"I won't, Ruth. And you can keep about my picture to yourself, too,"
added the captain. And thereupon the decidedly interesting conversation
between the pair had to come to an end as one of the trains came puffing
in--that which was to carry Ruth and some of the other girls, as well as
many of the cadets, away.