Part 4 (1/2)
”I suppose he didn't want to hurt your feelings, Fred,” returned Jack.
”More than likely he knew you would feel bad to have him going off for a good time up in the woods and have you and the rest of us staying at home.”
Two days pa.s.sed, and the young cadets were so busy getting ready for the examinations previous to the midwinter holidays that they had no time to pay attention to anything else. They heard that Bill Glutts was openly boasting that the _Yellow Streak_ could beat any bobsled in that vicinity and that the _Blue Moon_ had won the contest by a foul. But to this just then they paid no attention.
”I'll get at Bill later--just wait!” was the way Jack expressed himself, and the others knew that the young captain would keep his word.
On Wednesday the boys received letters from home stating that word had come in that their fathers were still in the trenches in France. No serious fighting had so far taken place in their sector, and none of them had been wounded and all were in the best of health.
”That's the best news yet,” said Fred, with satisfaction, and the others agreed with him.
Gif Garrison had also received a letter, and this he read with tremendous satisfaction. His face was aglow as he called the Rover boys to him.
”I've got an important announcement to make to you fellows,” he said.
”Let us go up to your rooms and talk it over.”
”What is the announcement?” questioned Andy eagerly.
”I'll tell you when we are alone,” answered Gif.
CHAPTER IV
SOMETHING ABOUT CEDAR LODGE
”Oh, go ahead, Gif, and get it off your chest!”
”Don't keep us waiting.”
”Has some one died and left you a fortune?”
Such were some of the remarks made after Gif Garrison had said that he had an important announcement to make to the four Rover boys.
”Not another word until we get to your rooms,” said Gif. ”And, Andy, won't you please run off and get Spouter Powell? I just saw him heading for the gymnasium.”
”All right, Gif. But don't you dare to let the others in on the secret until I get back,” returned the fun-loving Rover boy, and away he sped on his errand.
A few minutes later all of the lads mentioned were a.s.sembled in the Rover boys' sitting room, some on chairs, one on a table, and two on a couch. Andy playfully started to throw a pillow at Fred, but Gif at once put up his hand in protest.
”Any horseplay, and I'll call it all off,” he warned.
”I'll be good, Gif!” cried Andy reluctantly, and got rid of the pillow by using it for a back rest.
”This letter is from my Uncle Louis, who is a partner with my father in the owners.h.i.+p of a large tract of land not far from the seacoast,” began Gif. ”There is a small but comfortable bungalow on it, known as Cedar Lodge. n.o.body was going to use the Lodge this winter, and I suggested to my folks and Uncle Louis that they allow us fellows to occupy it during the holidays.”
”And what did they say?” questioned Randy eagerly.
”They said I could go there if I wanted to, and I could take you Rover boys and Spouter with me, provided you could get consent to go.”