Part 4 (1/2)
”You do as the young lady says,” said d.i.c.k in a cold, hard voice. ”I don't know you, but you are not wanted here, and that is enough. Go!”
And he pointed to the door.
”See here--” bl.u.s.tered Flockley. But he got no further, for d.i.c.k suddenly wheeled him around and gave him a shove that sent him through the doorway and off the back porch.
”Now the other fellow,” said the oldest Rover, but before Tom and Sam could touch Jerry Koswell that individual ducked and ran after Flockley. Then both young men stood at a safe distance.
”We'll fix you for this!” roared Flockley. ”We don't know who you are, but we'll find out, and--”
”Maybe you want a thras.h.i.+ng right now,” came from Tom impulsively.
”I'm in fighting trim, if you want to know it.” And he stepped out of the house, with Sam at his heels. d.i.c.k followed. At this hostile movement Flockley and Koswell turned and walked hurriedly out of the garden and down the country road, a row of trees soon hiding them from view.
”They are as mad as hornets,” observed Sam. ”If they belong anywhere near Ashton we'll have to look out for them.”
”Right you are,” answered Tom. ”But I am not particularly afraid.”
Having watched the two young men out of sight, the three Rover boys returned to the farmhouse. Minnie Sanderson had now recovered somewhat and she blushed deeply as she faced them.
”Oh, wasn't it awful,” she said. ”I--I don't know what you think of it. They had no right to touch me. I thought they were gentlemen. They have called here several times, but they never acted that way before.”
”Then we came in the nick of time,” answered d.i.c.k. ”Will you allow me to introduce myself?” and he bowed. ”My name is d.i.c.k Rover and this is my brother Tom and this my brother Sam. You are Miss Sanderson, I suppose.”
”Yes, Minnie Sanderson.”
”We are strangers here. We were on the train, but there was a little accident and we were in a hurry to get to Ashton, so we got off and walked up this road, thinking we could hire somebody to drive us to Brill College.”
”Oh, do you go to Brill?” And the girl's eyes opened widely.
”We don't go yet, but we are going.”
”Then--then you'll meet Mr. Flockley and Mr. Koswell again.”
”What, are they students there?” cried Tom.
”Yes. This is their second year, I believe. I know they were there last spring, for they called here.”
Sam gave a low whistle.
”We are making friends first clip, aren't we?” he murmured to his brothers.
The boys related a few of the particulars of the accident and their experience at the farmhouse near the railroad.
”Oh, that's old Mrs. Craven!” cried Minnie Sanderson. ”She would talk you out of your senses if you'd let her. But about a carriage, I don't know. If papa was here--”
At that moment came the sound of carriage wheels on the gravel path near the barn.
”There is papa now!” cried Minnie Sanderson. ”You can talk to him. I guess he'll take you to the college quick enough.”
”How did those two young fellows get here?” asked Sam.
”I don't know. And please--that is--you won't say anything to my father about that, will you? It would make him very angry, and I don't know what he'd do.”