The Rover Boys In the Mountains | Page 6

neither
Dick nor Tom had time to protest, and when they reached the main
door of the school building they found it shut and locked in their faces.
"Say, this is an outrage," burst out Tom. "Sam wasn't to blame for that
fight. He didn't trip Tubby up."
"I know he didn't," put in Fred Garrison, who had come up also. "It was
Larry Mason. But I shan't give Larry away."
"Neither will I."
"Mr. Grinder always carries matters with a high hand when the captain
is away," put in Dick. "And he gets red-hot at the least little thing."
"He doesn't deserve to be a teacher here," came from George Granbury,
who had followed the others. "To my way of thinking, he's worse than
old Crabtree was, even though he is perhaps better educated."
"I'd like to know what he is going to do with Sam," said Dick, with a
serious look on his face. "Sam has made such a good record this term I
hate to see it broken."
"He'll do something to punish 'em both," came from Fred. "It will be

too bad, though, if he puts 'em in the stone cell. They'll freeze to death
such a night as this is going to be."
"I won't allow it," ejaculated Dick. "Why, that would be inhuman!"
"I'm going in by the back way and find out what's going on," said Tom,
and promptly disappeared around the corner of the Hall. He was soon
inside the building, but to his chagrin found every door leading to
Captain Putnam's private apartments and to the stone cell and the
storeroom locked. Having gone through the mess-rooms and through
several of the classrooms, he rejoined the others, who had gathered
around the fire in what was called the students' general living room,--an
apartment set aside during cold weather solely for the boys' comfort,
where they might read, study, play quiet games, or do similar things in
order to make themselves feel at home.
"How did you make out?" was the question immediately put.
"Made out, and that's all," said Tom gloomily.
"What do you mean?" came from Dick.
"Every blessed door is locked, and so are the windows. I can't get
within two rooms of the office."
"Did you hear anything?" asked George.
"Yes; I heard a noise like somebody stamping."
"Where did it come from?"
"I think it came from the stone cell. But it sounded like somebody
stamping on wood."
"Perhaps it came from the empty storeroom," cried Dick. "More than
likely Mr. Grinder has placed Sam and Tubby there. I wish he'd come
here. I'd question him."
"Your wish is gratified," whispered George. "Here he comes now!"

The door at the far end of the room had opened, and now Jasper
Grinder came forth in a hurry. He was about to pass to another room at
the rear of the school when Dick stopped him.
"Mr. Grinder, may I ask what you have done with Sam?" he asked.
"I have placed him in confinement until Captain Putnam returns," was
the snappy answer.
"Did you put him in the stone cell?"
"It is not for you to question me, Rover."
"In this cold weather it isn't fit for anybody to be in that stone cell. Sam
may catch his death of cold."
"I am the best judge of my own actions, Rover, and need no advice
from you. Your brother has broken the rules of this school, and must
suffer for so doing."
"It's inhuman to make a fellow freeze," burst out Tom. "I don't believe
Captain Putnam would do that."
"Not another word from either of you," came sharply from the teacher.
"Your brother will not freeze to death, but the cold may teach him a
useful lesson."
"If he gets sick, I'll get my father to hold you legally responsible," went
on Tom.
At these words the teacher turned slightly pale, a vision of a lawsuit
with damages to pay floating across his miserly mind.
"To ease your mind Rover, let me say I'll see to it that he doesn't get
sick," he said, and before Tom or Dick could question him further he
passed out of the room.
"If he isn't the worst yet!" burst out Fred, who had listened with interest
to what was said.

"I shan't stand it," returned Tom. "Will you, Dick?"
Dick, older and more thoughtful, mused for a moment.
"I'd certainly like to help Sam," he said. "But we must be careful and
not get into trouble with Captain Putnam."
"I'm going to find my way to the door of the cell somehow," went on
Tom.
"Old Grinder left that door unlocked when he! came out," said George,
who had joined them.
"Good? I'm going through before he comes back."
As good as his