The Rover Boys at Colby Hall | Page 4

his eyes began to twinkle. "No use talking, though, we certainly did
have some good times in those days, didn't we?" he continued. "Do you
remember how we got the best of old Josiah Crabtree?"
"Yes. And how we got the best of a whole lot of our enemies," added
Sam Rover.
"Yes, and what gloriously good times we did have at Putnam Hall and
at Brill College," came from Dick Rover, with a sigh. "Sometimes I
wish all those happy days could be lived over again."
"When you think of those days, Dick, just think of what great times are
in store for our boys," said Sam. "I only trust they have as good times
as we had."
"I guess they'll know how to take care of themselves all right enough,"
was Tom Rover's comment. "But, just the same, we can't permit them
to become too wild. Sending them to that private school in New York
City doesn't seem to have done them so very much good, although, of
course, I admit they are well educated for their age."
"I know where I'm going to send Jack when the proper time comes,"
answered Dick Rover.
"Where?" came from his brothers.
"I'm going to send him to Colby Hall, the military academy which our
old school chum, Larry Colby, has opened. Larry sent me some of his
literature some time ago; and I have heard from several people that it's

already a first-class institution of learning--every bit as good as Putnam
Hall."
"Well, if it's half as good as dear old Putnam Hall it must be some
school," said Tom Rover. "And there's no reason why Larry Colby
shouldn't be able to run a first-class military academy. He was a good
scholar and a first-class cadet when he was at Putnam Hall."
"After Larry left Putnam Hall he went to travel in Europe," continued
Dick. "Then he went through college, and immediately after that he
joined the militia of New York State and there worked his way up until
he now sports the title of colonel."
"Colonel Colby, eh? That's going some," was Tom's comment.
"His school is patterned after West Point, as was Putnam Hall, and I
understand he has a West Point officer there to instruct the cadets in
military tactics."
"Well, that's the sort of school our boys will need," answered Tom
Rover. "The stricter it is the better it will be for them."
"I think it would be a good scheme to send them to Larry Colby's
school," was Sam's comment. "As Larry knows us so well he would
probably take an especial interest in our boys."
"Yes. But I wouldn't want him to show our lads any special favors,"
broke in Tom, quickly. "If the boys went there, I should want them to
stand on their own feet, just as we did when we went to Putnam Hall."
"That's the talk, Tom! No favoritism!" cried Dick. "The only way to
make a boy thoroughly self-reliant is to make him take his own part."
"If we are going to send them off to boarding school, they might as
well go this Fall as any other time," remarked Sam Rover. "Have you
any idea when the term at Colby Hall begins, Dick?"
"About the middle of September."

"It's the middle of August now. That would give us a full month in
which to make arrangements and for them in which to get ready."
"Have you ever said anything to the twins about going to boarding
school, Tom?" questioned Sam.
"Oh, yes. They understand that they are to go to some place sooner or
later. Fred understands it, too, doesn't he?"
"Yes."
"And I told Jack only a short while ago that he must get ready to think
of leaving home," put in Dick Rover. "Of course, it will be rather hard
on the boys at first. They have never been away from us at all except
the two weeks when they were out in that boys' camp."
"They'll have to get used to it, just as we got used to it when father
went off to Africa and Uncle Randy sent us to Putnam Hall. Perhaps we
had better tell them----"
Sam Rover broke off short as a series of shrieks in a high-pitched
feminine voice issued from the pantry of the big farmhouse. An instant
later a hired girl, followed by a middle-aged cook, came flying forth
from the kitchen doorway.
"Oh, save me! Save me!" cried the hired girl, clutching her skirts
tightly around her ankles, "Save me!"
"Oh, Mr. Rover! Mr. Rover! It's those dreadful boys! I won't stay here
another minute!" screamed the cook, flourishing a big spoon in one
hand and a dish-cloth in the other. "It's outrageous! That's what it is!
I'm going