Part 6 (1/2)

”That's what Mumps said,” cried Sam, before he had stopped to think twice.

”Ha! So you have met Mum--I mean John Fenwick?”

”We met him on the river.”

”And he said you had been following him?”

”Never mind, Mr. Crabtree, we won't talk any more,” put in d.i.c.k, with a warning glance at Sam. He turned to the waiter. ”Some fish, please, trout; and see that the biscuits are warm.”

”Yes, sah,” grinned the negro.

Tom at once took the cue. ”It's going to be a warm day,” he said to d.i.c.k.

”I wonder how sailing was last night,” put in Sam slyly.

At this Josiah Crabtree looked as black as a thundercloud.

”You boys have been playing the sneak on me!” he cried. ”Take my advice and beware of what you do in the future.”

”I wasn't talking to you,” retorted Sam. ”Kindly keep your remarks to yourself.”

By this time others were coming to the table, consequently the cross-fire of words had to come to an end. Josiah Crabtree finished his repast as speedily as possible and strode out of the dining room in high but suppressed anger.

”He's a corker,” remarked Tom. ”I believe he'd half kill us if he dared.”

”I guess he hasn't forgotten how I stopped him from maltreating Dora Stanhope,” said d.i.c.k. ”I wish I knew if he had been around their place since he came back from the West.”

”Of course he has been back,” said Tom. ”And he'll marry Mrs.

Stanhope yet--see if he don't.”

”Not if I can help Dora prevent it,” said his elder brother firmly.

Breakfast finished they walked out to learn what had become of Crabtree. They were just in time to see him leaving the hotel, valise in hand.

”He's off,” said Tom. ”I wonder where he is bound?”

”Let us follow him and find out,” returned d.i.c.k,

This did not prove to be an easy matter, for at the foot of the hotel grounds Josiah Crabtree jumped into a stage which was in waiting, bound for the depot.

”He's off on the train, I guess,” said Sam, and the others were inclined to agree with him.

Down at the river sh.o.r.e nothing could be seen of the _Falcon_, and they concluded that Mumps had also taken himself off.

The morning was spent around the hotel, in reading the newspapers and taking it easy out on the beautiful lawn.

”Hullo, here's a novelty!” cried Tom presently, and pointed to an Italian who was coming up to the hotel. The fellow had a small hand organ and a trained bear and two monkeys. The monkeys were dressed in red, white, and blue, and sat on the bear's back as he trotted along.

”He's going to give us a performance,” said Sam, as the Italian came to a halt in the center of the grounds.