Part 43 (2/2)
”Certainly,--and I am going to interview that Doctor Montgomery, too,--if I can catch him. But I want you two to go along,” answered Dave.
He was glad to take it easy for the rest of the day. On Monday, after school, the three boys went to Rockville on bicycles, Dave borrowing a wheel belonging to Buster. They rode straight to the Dunn house, to find it locked up tightly. In the yard was Dave's machine, standing against the tree as he had left it.
”I guess the doctor has come and gone,” said Dave, after trying all the doors. ”Most likely he'll make himself scarce for a while.”
”Why not interview that fellow s.h.i.+me?” suggested Phil.
”I will,” answered Dave, and taking the extra wheel along, the three students rode around to the Rockville livery stable and garage. Here Dave asked the proprietor about s.h.i.+me.
”He has gone,” said the man, sourly. ”Day before yesterday he took one of my best autos for a joy ride. When he came back this morning I discharged him. He took his things and got out--and I don't know where he went to.”
This was as much as the garage owner could tell, and with it Dave had to be content. He and his chums turned away; and a little later set out on the return to Oak Hall.
CHAPTER XXVII
A GAME OF ICE HOCKEY
”I reckon you scared them pretty thoroughly, Dave.”
”I am glad of it if I did,” answered Dave. ”I hope I scared them so much that they never bother me again.”
Several days had pa.s.sed, and in that time Dave had learned many things.
From Rockville had come the news that Doctor Montgomery had left rather suddenly, without stating where he was going, and Dave had likewise learned that s.h.i.+me had not shown himself since his discharge by the garage owner. And now from the military academy came word that Merwell and Jasniff had obtained leave of absence for a week.
”They say Doctor Montgomery must have been getting ready to leave,” said Phil, who had been to Rockville. ”He owes a board bill at the hotel as well as at his boarding-house. Mrs. Dunn is back, and is very angry to think the doctor got away during her absence.”
”I suppose Merwell and Jasniff think the affair will blow over by the time they return,” said Roger. ”Well, Dave, you can do as you please, but if I were you I'd try to corner them.”
”If I did that, Roger, they'd try to squirm out of it somehow. What I'd like to do best of all would be to give Merwell and Jasniff a good thras.h.i.+ng.”
”Well, they deserve that, Dave.”
”I believe they were going to place you in some kind of an awkward position,” came from Phil. ”Maybe they were going to commit some crime and try to fasten it on you.”
”Well, whatever it was, they got left,” declared Dave.
”By the way, did you see the notice Nat Poole posted up in the gym.?”
asked Roger, during a pause.
”No. What is it?”
”He has lost a watch-chain charm, and he offers a dollar reward for its return.”
”As if the fellows wouldn't return it without a reward, if it was found!” exclaimed Phil. ”That just shows Nat's natural meanness of mind!”
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