CAUGHT IN THE ACT
The news that there had been a fire at Colby Hall soon spread to the
town and to Clearwater Hall, and there were many anxious inquiries over
the telephone and otherwise as to whether anybody had been hurt.
"No, nobody was hurt, and the fire didn't amount to much," said Spouter,
when called up by his Cousin May. "Perhaps, when we see you girls
personally, we'll have something to tell you that will be a surprise."
In the middle of the afternoon of the day following the fire, a number
of letters were brought in by one of the hired men from the Haven Point
post-office.
"Here's a drop letter for you, Jack," remarked Gif, who was distributing
some of the mail. "Most likely from your best girl," and he smiled
good-naturedly.
"Doesn't look much like a girl's handwriting," answered the oldest Rover
boy, as he inspected the envelope. Wondering what the letter might
contain, he tore open the envelope and was considerably surprised to
read the following, written on a raggedly-torn half sheet of note paper:
"You Rovers think yourselves smart, but do not forget that I am not
done with you. You have been the means of my losing a very
lucrative position. I will not have you arrested, for it would be a
hard matter for me to obtain justice in this neighborhood; but I
will remember you, and some day I will bring you to book for what
you have done. You are nothing but a set of imps and hoodlums, and
sooner or later Colby will learn the truth."
"This is undoubtedly from Professor Lemm," announced Jack, as he allowed
his cousins and their chums to read the letter.
"He's certainly a sweet-natured man," was Andy's comment. "He's real
charitable and kind, isn't he?" and this brought forth a smile from the
others.
"What do you think he'll do?" questioned Fred.
"I don't believe he'll do anything," answered Jack. "Fellows who write
such anonymous communications are usually cowards. Old Lemon belongs in
the class with Slugger, Nappy & Company."
The heavy snowstorm cleared away as rapidly as it had come, and the wind
blew the snow from large sections of the lake, so that the cadets could
once more enjoy themselves skating.
"Let's skate up to Clearwater Hall and see the girls," suggested Jack at
the first opportunity; and this was agreed to readily by all of the
crowd.
They found the girls of Clearwater Hall on the ice, watching out for
them, and soon the cadets and the girls were enjoying themselves
thoroughly.
"You must tell me all about the fire and about how Professor Lemm
happened to leave the Hall," said Ruth, as she skated away with Jack.
"I'll do that," he answered. "But you must keep a good part of what I'm
going to tell you a secret--at least for the present," he added, and
then gave the particulars of the joke which had been played on the
disliked teacher. Then he told of what had occurred at the gymnasium.
"Oh, Jack! do you really think Slugger and Nappy and that little Codfish
set the gymnasium on fire?" cried the girl.
"I think they did, Ruth--although, of course, it was by accident."
"What dreadful boys they must be getting to be," sighed the girl.
She had quite a few things to tell about happenings at the Hall, and
also mentioned what she intended to do during the Christmas holidays.
"I wish you were coming down to New York," said Jack. "I'd like first
rate to have you meet my Sister Martha and my Cousin Mary."
"Perhaps I shall get down there some time, Jack. Are you going to stay
at home during all of the holidays?"
"No. We have been planning to stay at home about a week, and then, if we
can arrange it, we want to visit Snowshoe Island and do a little hunting
before school opens again."
"Then you're going to accept old Uncle Barney's invitation!"
"That's the idea, Ruth. You don't mind, do you?" and the oldest Rover
boy looked anxiously at his companion.
"Not at all. In fact, I'm rather glad to hear of your going to the
island. It may give you a chance to talk to old Uncle Barney about my
folks. And if you get any such chance, I hope you'll impress it upon him
that we want to be friends."
When the cadets returned to Colby Hall, both Jack and Fred were in
unusual good humor, for, not only had Ruth said she would try to get
down to New York during the holidays, but May had told Fred that if
Spouter came down to the metropolis she would try to accompany her
cousin.
Several days slipped by, and the Rover boys applied themselves closely
to their lessons, for they wished to make as good a showing as possible
during the coming examinations. During that time, they saw Slugger,
Nappy and Codfish a number of times, but all of those unworthies seemed
to give them a wide berth.
Although Colonel Colby had not given the Rovers any of the particulars
of what he proposed to do, he had not forgotten what Randy and Fred had
told him. He had had a conference on the subject with Professor Brice,
Silas Crews, and Bob Nixon, the chauffeur, and Nixon and Crews were
detailed to watch every movement made by the bully and his cronies.
It was on the following Tuesday, the day previous to the examinations,
that Silas Crews came hurrying to the master of the Hall, who had just
entered the school library in search of a certain book.
"I think Brown and Martell are at it," he announced in a low tone of
voice. "Martell just sneaked a quart bottle of ink from the storeroom,
while Brown picked up some of the cans of vegetables which were cast
aside by the cook as unfit to eat. Now they have both gone down into the
boiler-room, evidently after those ashes."
"Continue to watch them, Crews, and tell Nixon to watch them, too. I
will notify Professor Brice, and also Captain Dale." Captain Dale was
the military instructor of the Academy.
Silas Crews hurried off, and Colonel Colby lost no time in notifying the
others of what was taking place. As a result, a guard was established,
which took cognizance of every move made by Slugger and Nappy. Why it
was that Codfish was not with them, nobody knew. The fact was, the poor
little sneak had been so terrified at the mere mention of doing anything
further that he had burst out crying and locked himself in his room,
stating that he was too sick to act.
Having obtained the bottle of ink and several cans of spoiled tomatoes,
Slugger and Nappy watched their chance and visited the boiler-room under
the school. Here they found a dozen large cans of ashes, and also an old
empty soap-box.
"We'll fill the soap box half full of ashes," said Slugger, "and then we
can place the opened-up cans of tomatoes and the opened-up bottle of ink
on top. When we get the stuff over to Colonel Colby's rooms, we can
spread half of everything around where it will make the best showing,
then we can skip over to the offices and do the same thing, and after
that we'll rush back and leave a little trail of ashes and some ink
leading into the Rovers' rooms, and place the empty ink bottle and the
empty cans in their closets and put the ash-box under one of the beds."
"Dandy!" replied Nappy. "Come on!"
Not knowing that Bob Nixon was watching them from a corner of the
boiler-room, they soon had the box of ashes and other stuff ready. Then,
watching their chance to see that the coast was clear, they sneaked up
out of the boiler-room and then out of the school by a side door. Here a
path led to the nearby building where Colonel Colby had his private
suite of rooms.
"Now then, hurry up!" cried Nappy, who was beginning to show signs of
nervousness.
They found the door to the main room unlocked, and both entered and set
the box of stuff on one of the easy chairs. Then one took up the ink and
the other an opened can of the decayed tomatoes.
"Now make a fine job of it," whispered Slugger.
Both took a step forward to start their nefarious work, when each was
almost paralyzed by hearing Colonel Colby's voice.
"Stop!" commanded the master of the school, and stepped out from behind
a screen which stood near a corner of the apartment.
"Oh!" ejaculated Nappy. "We're discovered!" and, dropping the bottle of
ink in his hands, he started to run.
"Not so quick, Martell!" came from the doorway, and then both of the
youths were startled to see themselves confronted by Bob Nixon. Behind
the chauffeur stood Captain Dale, while in another doorway appeared the
form of Professor Brice.
"Wa--wa--what does this mean?" stammered Slugger. He knew not what to
say or do.
"It means that I have found you out," answered Colonel Colby sternly.
"You will both march over to my office at once."