The Rover Boys In the Mountains | Page 7

word, Tom slipped past the various tables at which the
students were sitting, until he reached the door which connected with
Captain Putnam's private apartments.
Usually this portion of the Hall was forbidden ground to the scholars.
But Tom had been inside the rooms a number of times, so knew the
way well. Passing through a private sitting room and a small library, he
came to a narrow hall connecting with the main hall, at the end of
which were the stone cell and the empty storeroom.
He was just about to step into the main hall when he heard somebody
coming down from the floor above. The party was Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper, a good-natured lady upon whom Tom had played many a
joke in the past.
"Gosh! I mustn't be discovered!" he muttered, and looked around for
some place to hide. Under the staircase was a recess containing a
number of hooks with cloaks and overcoats, and into this he crowded,
drawing one of the overcoats so as to completely cover the upper
portion of his body.
Hardly had he gained the hiding place when Mrs. Green reached the
lower hallway. Tom heard her pause at the foot of the stairs, strike a

match, and light the big swinging lamp hanging from overhead.
"I might as well mend that overcoat now, while the captain is away,"
Tom heard her murmur to herself. "It's only a buttonhole that's torn out,
and a tailor would charge him four times what it's worth--and he always
so good at Christmas-time!"
"She's looking out for her present," thought Tom, with a grin. "But
that's none of my affair. If only she isn't after this overcoat!"
He heard the housekeeper approach the recess and pause for a moment
in front of it. He hardly dared to breathe, fearing that he would surely
be discovered.
"Well, I declare, if he hasn't gone and worn the very overcoat itself!" he
heard Mrs. Green cry. "Just like him, and two good coats a-hanging
here. Well, I suppose it's the warmest he's got, and he'll have a cold ride
back, especially if he returns to-night." And so speaking Mrs. Green
hurried away.
"A narrow shave, and no mistake," murmured Tom to himself, and
listened until he heard a distant door close. Then all was quiet, save the
distant murmur of the student's voices, coming from the sitting room.
Without losing more time, Tom left the recess and hurried to the door
of the stone cell.
"Sam!" he called out softly. "Are you in there?"
"No; _I'm_ in here," came in the voice of Tubbs. "And--I'm almost
frozen to--to--death." The last words with a chattering of teeth that told
only too plainly how the rich youth was suffering.
"Sorry for you, Tubby, really I am. But where is Sam?"
"In the--the storeroom. Oh, Rover, won't you please ask Mr. Grinder to
let me out? I'll freeze to death here, I know I will!"
"I'll do what I can. But he won't let you out. He isn't that kind of a

fellow."
"You might buy him off, Rover. I've heard he's a regular miser, and I'll
give you five dollars of my Christmas money if he'll let me go."
"I'll see what I can do after I've talked to Sam." And so speaking Tom
hurried to the door of the storeroom.
"Tom, is it really you?" cried the youngest Rover joyfully.
"Yes. How are you making out?"
"Horribly. I believe my feet and ears are already frozen!"
"Grinder is a beast to put you in here, Sam."
"I know that well enough. He won't give me any supper, I'm afraid."
"Then I'll try to get some supper to you."
"Is the key of this door on a hook outside?"
"No. If it was I'd have the door open long ago."
Sam gave a deep sigh, and then began to dance around once more to
keep warm.
"Perhaps I can find a key to fit this lock," went on Tom. "I know there
are keys in some of the other doors."
He ran off and soon returned with four keys, which he tried, one after
another. The third was a fair fit, and with an effort the bolt of the lock
was forced back.
"Hurrah! the door's open!" exclaimed Tom. "Now you can go where
you please."
"Then you wouldn't stay here?" questioned Sam anxiously.

"Not much! I'd hide in one of the dormitories, and I wouldn't show
myself until Captain Putnam gets back. I'll see to it that you get
something to eat, and when the captain returns you can tell him that if
you had remained in this place all night you would have been frozen to
death."
Sam was willing enough to take Tom's advice, and was soon in the
hallway.