GOOD-BYE TO OAK HALL
"I'll wager Merwell is the maddest boy Oak Hall ever saw!" said Shadow,
when the excitement had subsided.
"Poole is a sneak, and no mistake," said Sam. "I wonder if he'll go and
tell old Haskers or Doctor Clay?"
"He won't dare--for he is afraid we will tell about the fire-crackers,"
answered Dave. "Yes, he is a sneak."
"I don't see, now, how I could ever make a friend of him," declared Gus
Plum. "Now, in one way, I like Merwell--he's a fighter and he doesn't
care who knows it."
"Yes, but he's got a wicked temper," observed Roger. "He reminds me of
Nick Jasniff. They would make a team."
"Where did he come from, anyway?" questioned Messmer.
"From some ranch out West. His father is a big cattle-owner. He is used
to life in the open air, and one of the fellows says he can ride like
the wind."
"We must watch him," declared Phil.
"I can't do that--since I am going away," answered Dave. "I'll have to
leave you chaps to fight it out."
"Do you think they'll come back or send Haskers?" asked Buster Beggs.
"It might be wise to leave this spot," answered Phil. "There are plenty
of places we can go to."
It was decided to move, and several baskets which had been stored away
in the bushes were brought forth.
"I've got an idea!" cried Henshaw. "Let us go to that old barn on the
Baggot place. Nobody will disturb us there."
"I want to fix up my burns first," said Roger.
"So do I," said Ben. "Come on to the Hall--we can join the crowd later."
So it was arranged, and while the senator's son and Ben went off in one
direction the remaining members of the Gee Eyes took another, which led
them over a small hill and through an old apple orchard.
The Baggot place had not been used for several years. The house was
nailed up, but the big barn stood wide open and had often been the
resort of tramps. But during the hunt for the robber, Pud Frodel, and
his tool, all the tramps had been rounded up and driven away.
Several of the students had brought their pumpkin lanterns with them,
and these were hung up on convenient nails.
"Say, a small stove wouldn't go bad," suggested Messmer. "It's mighty
cold in here."
"Let us settle down in some hay," suggested Phil. "That will keep us
warm, especially if we shut the doors and windows tight."
The baskets which had been brought along were filled with good things,
and these were speedily passed around. The boys fell to eating with
avidity, for the adventures of the evening had made them hungry. Then
Dave was called upon for a speech.
"I hardly know what to say, fellow-students," he began, after a cheering
and hand-clapping. "You have treated me royally to-night, and I do not
intend to forget your kindness. I am sorry that I am going to leave you,
but you all know what is taking me away----"
"We do, and we hope you'll find your folks," put in Phil.
"So say we all of us!" sang out Henshaw.
"If I am successful in my search perhaps I'll return to Oak Hall before
a great while," continued Dave. "In the meantime I trust you all have
good times, and that you may have no more trouble with our enemies. More
than this, as I expect to be away during the holidays, I wish each one a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
As Dave concluded there was a round of applause, and the club members
drank his health in lemon soda and sarsaparilla. Then some nuts and
raisins were passed around, and all prepared to return to Oak Hall.
"We've got to go in quietly, or else there may be trouble," said Phil.
"Remember, we don't know what Merwell and Poole will do."
There was no trouble, however, for which Dave was thankful, since he
wished to leave the Hall with a clean record. As soon as he reached his
dormitory he went to bed, and so did the other occupants of the
apartment. And thus his schooldays, for the time being, came to an end.
He was up bright and early and by nine o'clock was ready to enter the
sleigh that was to take him to Oakdale station. The boys gathered around
to see him off.
"I wish I was going with you," said Phil. "You must write me regularly."
"I'll do that, Phil. And you must tell me all about what happens here."
"Remember, Dave, I'll join you if I possibly can," said Roger. "Let me
know where I can telegraph or telephone you."
"Sure, Roger, and if you can join me I'll like it first-rate."
An hour later Dave was on the train and speeding towards Crumville. He
had sent word ahead when he would arrive, and at the station he found
the Wadsworth sleigh, with Caspar Potts and Jessie Wadsworth awaiting
him. The old professor looked hale and hearty, although his form was
slightly bent and his hair was gray and white. Jessie, round-cheeked and
rosy, was the picture of health and beauty.
"There he is! There's Dave!" cried the miss, and leaped to the sidewalk
to shake hands.
"Why, how tall you are getting, Jessie," said the boy, and then blushed,
for the handshake she gave him was a very cordial one. "How do you do,
Professor?" And he shook hands with the man who had done so much for him
in his younger years.
"I am very well indeed, Dave," answered Professor Potts. "Will you sit
up here by me, or with Miss Jessie?"
"Dave must come in with me," said Jessie, promptly.
"Did my Uncle Dunston come?" questioned the boy, looking around, for he
had fully expected to see his relative.
"No, he has a touch of rheumatism in his left knee," answered Caspar
Potts.
"That's too bad."
Dave assisted Jessie to a seat and then got in beside her, and tucked in
the handsome fur robe. Off went the team at a spanking gait, past the
stores of the town and then in the direction of the Wadsworth mansion.
Many looked at Dave as he rode by and thought him a lucky boy--and he
certainly was lucky, and thankful for it.
The mansion reached, Dave was warmly greeted by Mrs. Wadsworth, and,
later on, by Mr. Wadsworth, who had been to his large jewelry works on
business. The lad found his Uncle Dunston in his room, in an easy-chair,
with his rheumatic leg resting on a low stool.
"It's not so very bad, Dave," said Dunston Porter, after their greeting
was over. "I hope to be around again before long. But it is too bad it
should come on at this time, when I had hoped to go to London with you."
Dave sat down, and a conversation lasting the best part of an hour
ensued. The boy told all he knew about Nick Jasniff, and showed the
letter which Gus Plum had received. Dunston Porter said he had sent
several cablegrams to London, but so far had heard nothing of
satisfaction.
"I even sent a money order to this Nick Jasniff, thinking he might try
to get it cashed, but the order has not been called for. The money was
cabled to London and then put in a letter for the General Delivery
department. Evidently this Jasniff is keeping shady, or otherwise he has
left the city or is living under an assumed name."
"I know pretty much the sort of a chap he is," said Dave. "He likes to
go to the theater, and he was a great chap to bowl. If I go over there I
am going to hunt up the bowling places, if there are any, and take a
look in at the different theaters. If he is in London I ought to run
across him some day. And I'll try finding him by letter and by a notice
in the newspapers, too."
Dave was a very busy boy for the next few days, perfecting his plans to
visit England. Yet he managed to spend several happy hours with the
others and especially with Jessie, who now acted more like a young lady
than a girl. Truth to tell, Dave thought a great deal of the rich
manufacturer's daughter, and Jessie seemed always to want him around,
that they might sing together, or play games, or go out for a
sleigh-ride.
"You mustn't forget us when you are in London," said Jessie. "I want you
to send me some postal cards--the picture kind."
"I'll send you one every day," replied Dave. "The very nicest I can
find."
"With pictures of the places you visit?"
"Yes."
"Then you must tell me about the places in your letters."
"Do you want me to write?"
"Of course, and I'll write too," said Jessie, and gave him one of her
sunniest smile. Dave thought of that smile long afterwards--when he was
in London and in the far northland--and it always brightened him in
spirits.
On the day before his departure Dave received a telegram from Roger. It
was short and characteristic:
"Hurrah! Engage stateroom for two. What steamer?"
"Good for Roger!" cried Dave, as he showed the message to his uncle. "He
has permission to go with me. Now I won't be lonely."
"I am glad to know he is going along," said Dunston Porter. "Not but
that I know you can take care of yourself, Dave."
Dave at once sent word to New York, to the steamship office, and by
night the matter of a stateroom for two was arranged. Then he sent word
to Roger where his chum could meet him.
He spent a quiet evening at the Wadsworth mansion. Jessie and the others
did what they could to cheer him, but they realized what was on his
mind.
"Oh, Dave, I do so hope you will find your father and your sister!" said
Jessie, on bidding him good-night. "I want to know Laura; I know I shall
love her--for your sake!" And then she ran off. Dave watched her mount
the stairs and disappear in her room, and then he retired to his own
apartment, more thoughtful than ever, yet with a warm feeling in his
heart that was peculiar to itself, for it only came when he saw Jessie
or was thinking of her.