FRED IS FOLLOWED
It took the Rover boys several days to settle down at Colby Hall.
Everything, of course, was new to them, and they took great delight in
roaming around the place in company with Spouter, Gif and the various
new friends they had made. During that time they continued to drill,
both in the morning and the afternoon; and it was surprising how
quickly they learned the manual of arms and also the other tactics
which go to make up the discipline of a cadet.
"This life is all to the merry," was Andy's comment one day, while he
and the others were down at the shore of the river inspecting the
boathouse with its numerous craft.
"It certainly is one fine place," answered Jack. "If Putnam Hall was
anything like this, no wonder our fathers thought so much of it."
Since Fred had asked Nappy Martell for the suitcase, the boy who was
addicted to loud clothing had avoided the Rovers. But through the cadet
named White they had learned much of what had happened in Nappy's room
when he came in after it had been "rearranged" by the Rovers.
"Nappy Martell was the maddest fellow you ever saw," Bart White had
declared. "He stormed all around the corridor, accusing nearly
everybody in that vicinity of having taken his neckties and his
underwear and a lot of jewelry. He even came to my room and threatened
to tell Colonel Colby if I didn't tell him where the things were."
"And, of course, you couldn't do that," had been Randy's reply, with a
side wink at the others.
"No. I told him I didn't know where the things were--because, you see,
I really didn't know," went on Bart White, innocently.
"And after that?" queried Jack.
"Oh, he stormed around, accusing this one and that one until some of
the boys got sick of listening and told him to shut up. Then he went
back to his room and slammed the door hard enough to burst it off its
hinges."
"Do you suppose he reported the matter to Colonel Colby?" had been
Fred's question.
"I don't know about that. You see, when a fellow gets as mad as Martell
was he's liable to do almost anything." And that was all Bart White had
had to relate concerning the affair.
So far, the Rover boys had not had anything to do with Asa Lemm. They
had met the sharp-faced professor once in the hallway and he had stared
at them in a fashion which made Andy shiver.
"He's got it in for me all right!" had been the declaration of the
fun-loving youth.
"I guess Gif was right," had been Jack's comment. "He'll have it in for
us the whole term. Too bad! I'd rather be friendly with every one than
have any enemies."
The Rover boys were just leaving the boathouse after having admired the
beautiful four- and eight-oared shells stored there, when they saw
Fatty Hendry coming towards them as rapidly as his stoutness permitted.
"Say! I've got something to tell you fellows," puffed the fat boy as he
came closer. "I just saw that sneak of a Codfish coming from Fred's
room. He looked awful sneakish, and I'm sure he was up to no good."
"I'll go up to my room at once and see," answered the youngest Rover,
and lost no time in speeding back to the Hall.
He bounded up the stairs two steps at a time. But when he reached the
room he occupied, a surprise awaited him. Everything was exactly as he
had left it. It may be as well to state here that every cadet at Colby
Hall was required to keep his room in absolute order, and a monitor
came around twice a day to see that this regulation was carried out. If
a pupil was lax in any particular regarding his room, he was given a
demerit in consequence thereof.
"Well, thank goodness! he didn't upset anything, even if he was here,"
murmured Fred to himself. "I wonder what the little imp was up to?"
Then a sudden thought struck him and he walked to the clothes closet in
the bottom of which he had deposited his suitcase. He found the bag in
the closet, but it was placed there in such a way that he was sure it
had been handled.
"Well, what have you found?" questioned Andy, who had followed his
cousin to the room.
"I think I know why he came here," declared Fred. "More than likely
Martell sent him here to find out whether I really had the suitcase or
not. The bag I know has been handled. When I placed it in the closet I
put the open end of the straps against the wall. Now the open ends are
on this side."
"Say! you're some detective, Fred!"
"I know how I left the bag. And he certainly had it out of the closet
and put it back."
"See if he did anything to it," went on Andy, quickly; and thereupon
Fred brought the bag forth and examined it. It was empty, just as he
had left it.
"Well, that will take the worry of the missing bag from Martell's
mind," was Fred's comment, as he and Andy left the room, this time
locking the door.
"Martell must have had some kind of a clue to the truth or he wouldn't
have sent Codfish here," was Andy's comment. "Maybe he got on to what
part Walt Baxter and Ned Lowe played in the trick." And in this surmise
Andy was correct. By the merest accident Codfish had overheard Walt and
Ned speaking about the joke, and at once he had gone to Nappy with the
news; and the upshot had been that Nappy had sent the sneak to Fred's
room to learn if the suitcase with Fred's initials upon it was there.
Late that afternoon both the old and the new cadets were assigned to
their places in the various classrooms and also given the text-books
which they were to study during the term.
"This begins to look like work," sighed Randy.
"Well, we didn't come here just for the fun of it," declared Jack. "We
came here, if you'll remember, to get an education."
"Oh, I'm not going to complain," returned his cousin quickly. "I'm
willing to do my share of studying. But after the splendid vacation we
had this Summer it will be a little tough at the beginning to get down
to the grind."
"That's just what I was thinking," declared Andy. "I wish a fellow
didn't have to study. Why can't some of our great inventors invent some
kind of knowledge pill so a fellow can just go and buy a few boxes and
then take them regularly?"
"Great idea, Andy!" exclaimed his twin merrily.
By the next morning all of the cadets had arrived, and also all of the
teachers and the other persons connected with Colby Hall. Then the
cadets were assembled on the parade ground and made to march into the
general assembly room of the institution, where Colonel Colby addressed
them. He spoke about the good work done by the cadets during the former
term at the school, and said he trusted that the present term would
turn out still better.
"At present all of our old officers of the battalion will hold over,"
he announced. "But in the near future--just as soon as we have got
settled in our classes--I will announce the time for a new election.
The major and the two captains to be elected must be in their senior
year at this institution. The other officers may be either sophomores
or juniors."
"That lets us out," whispered Andy to Jack. "Evidently no freshmen can
be officers."
"Well, why should we be officers?" answered his cousin. "We hardly know
a thing about soldiering yet. I think Colonel Colby's rule is a very
good one."
During the meeting in the assembly room all of the professors were
called on to say a few words to the cadets. The addresses delivered by
Professors Grawson and Brice and one or two of the other teachers were
well received; but it was plainly evident that when Asa Lemm came
forward to speak to the boys there was a distinctly cold feeling
towards him.
"I want to speak about attention to work," he said in a severe tone of
voice. "During the last term at this school there was not that
attention in classes that I desire. From now on I expect every one who
comes to me to pay strict attention at all times. Any laxity will be
severely punished."
"Gosh! He's a cheerful customer!" was Fred's comment.
"He'd make a fellow down on him almost before the term began," was
another cadet's comment.
"I don't wonder they call him old Lemon," added another youth.
"And now we're all ready to go to work," said Jack, after the cadets
had been dismissed. On the following day the classes were to begin.
There had been so much bustle and confusion throughout the school that
day that Fred, who was not feeling extra well, got quite a headache.
"You had better lie down for a while and rest," said Jack, kindly. "You
don't want to get sick."
"Oh, it's only a headache, and I'll soon be over it," declared Fred. "I
think I'll go out for a quiet walk along the river."
"Do you want me to go along?"
"No. I'd just as lief go alone, Jack. I think the quietness will do me
more good than anything."
This mood was not a new one with the youngest Rover, so Jack said no
more, and a few minutes later Fred slipped on his heavy sweater and
donned his cap and set out for his walk. His steps took him towards the
boathouse and the bathing houses, and then he continued on along a path
running close to the shore of the river.
Although the youngest Rover did not know it, his departure had been
watched by Codfish. The small boy lost no time in hurrying to Nappy
Martell and Slugger Brown with his information.
"You're sure he's alone?" asked Nappy, quickly.
"Yes. Nobody went out with him."
"Then that's our chance, Slugger," went on the boy from New York. "Come
ahead, if you want to help me."
"All right, Nap. But I thought you said you could polish him off
alone?"
"So I can. But I thought you'd like to see the fun."
"Can't I go along too?" put in Codfish.
"Yes, if you'll promise to keep your mouth shut about it."
"Oh, I won't say a word," returned the little cadet, quickly.
Putting on their hats and coats, the three cadets lost no time in
following Fred. It was quite dark on the campus and parade ground, but
they soon caught sight of the figure ahead as the youngest Rover moved
past the bathhouses to the river path beyond.
"He's alone all right enough," was Slugger Brown's comment.
"I thought I'd catch him sooner or later after I set Codfish to
watching him," answered Nappy Martell. "Now I guess I'll be able to
teach him to play tricks on me," he added sourly.
The three cadets quickened their pace, and in a moment more caught up
to Fred just as he reached a point on the river shore almost out of
sight of the Hall. Fred had dipped his handkerchief in the water and
used the same for wiping off his aching brow.
"See here, Rover, I want to talk to you!" cried Nappy Martell, and,
striding forward, he caught Fred roughly by the arm.
Of course, the youngest Rover was startled, not dreaming that anyone
was following him. Yet he showed no signs of fear.
"What do you want of me, Martell?" he asked quietly.
"I'll show you what I want of you!" cried Nappy Martell in sudden
wrath. "I'll teach you to play tricks on me! Try to make me believe
your suitcase was stolen, will you? And then come to my room and
rough-house things, eh? Just wait till I get through with you and
you'll wish you'd never been born!"