The Rover Boys In the Mountains | Page 6

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 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,