Part 21 (1/2)

”Day before yesterday I was over to Ashton,” answered Stanley, after the door to the room had been closed and locked. ”I went by the upper road and I had to pa.s.s that new roadhouse, the place called the Red Horseshoe. Well, who was sitting on the piazza but Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur. They had been having a gay time, I guess, and both were talking loudly. When they saw me they called to me to stop, and then they asked me if you fellows had come back to Brill.”

”What did you tell them?” asked Tom.

”I told them no, but that you were expected in a few days. Then both of them began to brag, and said they had it in for all three of you Rovers.”

”Did they say what they intended to do?” questioned Tom.

”Not exactly, but Koswell intimated that if you didn't look out you might be blown up.”

”Blown up!” exclaimed d.i.c.k, and he thought instantly of what Tad Sobber and Josiah Crabtree had said to Dora and Nellie.

”That's what he said. I wanted to find out what he meant, but Larkspur stopped him from talking and told him to shut up. But, d.i.c.k, I feel sure they mean something, and all of you fellows better be on your guard,”

added Stanley earnestly.

”This is surely getting interesting,” said Tom. ”First Sobber and old Crabtree promise to blow us up and now Koswell and Larkspur propose the same thing.”

”They must be in league with each other!” cried Sam.

”It looks that way--especially after what happened on Cas...o...b..y,”

returned d.i.c.k. And then he told Songbird and Stanley of the recent happenings near the Rovers' home, and elsewhere.

”Well, my advice is, keep your eyes wide open all the time,” said Songbird. ”Those fellows are desperate--their actions show it--and they'll play you foul if they get half a chance.”

”And to that advice let me add something more,” said Stanley. ”Don't trust Dudd Flockley. He pretended to reform for a while, but behind it all I think he is as bad as ever. If you gave him any information he may carry it straight to those others.”

”Thank you, Stanley, I'll remember that,” said d.i.c.k.

”So will I,” added Tom, and Sam nodded in approval.

”Well, to let you in behind the scenes,” went on d.i.c.k, to Stanley and Songbird, ”I am not so much worried about ourselves as I am about Mrs.

Stanhope and Dora and the Lanings. Sobber and old Crabtree want that fortune from Treasure Isle the worst way and they'll do anything to get hold of it. Koswell and Larkspur are probably short of funds, and, as they like to live high, they'll help Sobber and Crabtree all they can,--for a rake-off of the proceeds.”

”I reckon you are right,” said Songbird. ”But what do all of them mean by blowing you sky high.”

”That remains to be seen,” said Sam.

”Or rather felt,” added Tom, who had to have his little joke. ”Maybe they'll plant some dynamite under the college and blow us up!”

”Hardly that, Tom,” returned his older brother. ”But they may try some kind of a dirty trick along those lines.”

”Don't worry, boys, don't worry!” cried Songbird soothingly. ”Let the troubles of the future take care of themselves”, and then he murmured softly:

”Though the skies be dark and dreary And hope be almost dead, And hearts are all so weary----”

”Each one can go to bed!”

finished Tom. ”A fine bit of poetry truly, Songbird, old sport.”

”Who said anything about going to bed?” snorted the would-be poet. ”I had a finer line than that, Tom. It was--er--it was--a--er--a----Oh, dear, you've quite driven it out of my head!”