The Rover Boys at College | Page 5

eight," said one of the
brakemen to Tom. "This section of the road is the worst managed of the
lot."
"And how far is it to Ashton?" asked Dick.
"About twelve miles by the railroad."
"Then walking is out of the question," came from Sam. "I shouldn't
mind hoofing it if it was two or three."
"The railroad has to run around the hill yonder," went on the train hand.
"If you go up the tracks for a quarter of a mile you'll come to a country
road that will take you right into Ashton, and the distance from there
isn't more than seven or eight miles."
"Any houses on that road?" asked Tom.
"Of course--farmhouses all along."
"Then come on," went on Tom to his brothers. "We can hire a carriage
to take us to Ashton and to the college. Some farmer will be glad of the
chance to earn the money."
"Let us wait and see if the train moves first," answered Dick.

"She won't move just yet," answered the brakeman with a sickly grin.
The boys stood around for a quarter of an hour and then decided to
walk up to the country road that had been mentioned. Their trunks were
checked through, but they had their dress-suit cases with them.
"We'll have to carry these," said Sam dolefully.
"Let us see if we can't check them," returned his big brother. But this
was impossible, for the baggage car was locked and they could not find
the man who had charge of it.
"Oh, well, come on," said Tom. "The cases are not so heavy, and it is a
fine day for walking," and off he started and his brothers followed him.
It was certainly a fine day, as Tom said. It was early September, clear
and cool, with a faint breeze blowing from the west. On the way they
passed an apple orchard, laden with fruit, and they stopped long enough
to get some.
"I declare this is better than sitting in that stuffy car," remarked Sam as
he munched on an apple. "I am glad to stretch my legs."
"If we don't have to stretch them too long," remarked Dick.
"Say, I wonder if we'll pass anywhere near Hope Seminary!" cried Tom,
"It may be on this road."
"What of it?" returned his younger brother. "The girls are not here
yet--won't be for two weeks."
"Oh, we might get a view of the place anyway, Sam."
"I want to see Brill first," came from Dick. "If that doesn't suit us--" He
ended with a sigh.
"Oh, it will suit, you can bet on it!" cried Sam. "Father wouldn't send us
there if he wasn't sure it would be O.K. He's as much interested as we
are."

Walking along the highway, which ran down to a little milk station on
the railroad, the three boys soon discovered a farmhouse nestling
between some trees and bushes. They threw their baggage on the grass
and walked up to the front door.
They had to knock several times before their summons was answered.
Then an old lady opened the door several inches and peeped out.
"What do you want?" she demanded in a cracked voice.
"Good afternoon," said Dick politely. "Can we hire somebody to drive
us to Ashton? We were on the train, but there has been a smash-up, and
we--"
"Land sakes alive! A smash-up, did you say?" cried the old lady.
"Yes, madam."
"Was my son Jimmie killed?"
"Nobody was killed or even hurt."
"Sure of that? My son Jimmie went to Crawford yesterday an' was
coming back this afternoon. Sure he wasn't on that train?"
"If he was he wasn't hurt," answered Dick. "Can we hire a carriage to
take us to Ashton?"
"How did it happen--that accident?"
"The express ran into the end of a freight train."
"Land sakes alive! The freight! Maybe it was the one we sent the cows
away on. Was there any cows killed, do you know?"
"I don't think so."
"Well, tell me the particulars, will you? I don't go out much an' so I
don't hear nuthin'. But an accident! Ain't it awful? But I always said it

was risky to ride on the railroad; I told Jimmie so a hundred times. But
he would go to Crawford an' now maybe he's a corpse. You are sure
you didn't see a tall, thin young man, with a wart on his chin, that was
cut up?"
"What do you mean, the wart or the young man?" asked Tom, who was
bound to have his fun.
"Why, the young man o' course; although I allow if he was cut up the
wart would be, too. Poor boy! I warned him a hundred--"
"Can we hire a carriage here or not?" demanded Dick. The