The Rover Roys on the Ocean | Page 6

a tall, slim individual, with a sharp face and a very
long nose. During the past term at Putnam Hall he had been very
dictatorial to the Rover boys, and it must be confessed that they had
made life anything but a bed of roses for him. Crabtree had been very
desirous of marrying a certain widow by the name of Stanhope, but the
marriage was opposed by Dora, the widow's daughter, and as Dick was
rather sweet on Dora, he had done all he could to aid the girl in
breaking off the match, even going so far as to send Crabtree a bogus
letter which had taken the teacher out to Chicago on a hunt for a
position in a private college that had never existed. Dick knew that
Crabtree was comparatively poor and wished to marry the widow so
that he could get his hands on the fortune which the lady held in trust
for her only child.
"It is Crabtree," said Dick, as he gave a look.
"I wonder how he liked his trip to Chicago?" laughed Sam. "Perhaps
the Mid-West National College didn't suit his lofty ideas."
"Hush! don't let him hear you talk of that," returned Dick. "He might
get us into trouble."
"What kind of soup, sah?" interrupted the waiter, and then they broke
off to give their order, and the waiter hurried off to fill it.
"I'd like to know if he has been around the Stanhope cottage again,"
mused Dick, as he sipped his soup.
"Dick can't bear to think of anybody around Dora," laughed Tom.
"I don't want him around," retorted the elder Rover, growing red in the
face. "He wants the Stanhopes' money and that's all he does want. I
don't believe he really loves Mrs. Stanhope."

"But why does she encourage him?" came from Sam. "Why don't she
send him about his business?"
"Oh, she is sickly, as you know, and he seems to have a peculiar
hypnotic influence over her, at least that's what Dora thinks."
"What are you laughing at, Tom?"
"I - I was thinking of the time we put the crabs in old Crabtree's bed,"
answered the younger brother.
"No, you, weren't -"
"Well? "demanded Tom, as Dick paused.
"You were laughing because I mentioned Dora, and -"
"'Pon my honor I wasn't," smiled Tom, but his look belied his words.
"You were. If I mention her cousins, Grace and Nellie Laning, I guess
the laugh will be on you and Sam --"
"We'll call it quits," answered Tom hurriedly.
"They're all nice girls, eh, Sam?"
"To be sure. But, I say, hadn't we best keep out of old Crabtree's way?"
"I don't know as it's necessary," said Dick.
"I'm not afraid of him, I'm sure."
"Oh, neither am I, if you are going to put it that way," answered the
youngest Rover.
"If he's stopping here I'm going to have some fun with him," grinned
Tom.
The evening meal was soon finished, and the boys took a stroll around

the grounds. They were just on the point of retiring when Dick drew his
brothers' attention to a figure that was stealing through a nearby grove
of trees.
"There goes Crabtree."
"I wonder where he is going," mused Sam. "Where does that path lead
to?"
"Down to the river," came from Tom. And then he added suddenly:
"Come, let us follow him."
"What's the good," grumbled Dick. "I'm tired out."
"There may be some chance for fun. Come on," and thus urged Dick
and Sam followed their fun-loving brother.
The path through the grove ran directly to the cliff overlooking the
Hudson, at a point where a series of stone steps led up from the water's
edge. As they gained a spot where they could look down upon the river,
Dick uttered a short cry.
"Look, boys, a Yacht!" he said, pointing through the moonlight. "I'll
wager it is the Falcon!"
"And Mumps is coming to meet Josiah Crabtree," put in Sam.
"But what would he want to see Crabtree about?" demanded Tom.
"Remember at Putnam Hall the only friends Josiah Crabtree had were
Dan Baxter and Mumps."
"That is true, Dick. See, Crabtree has his handkerchief out and is
waving it as a signal."
"And here comes somebody up the steps. Mumps, sure enough,"
whispered Sam.
"Let us get behind the trees and learn what is going on," came from
Dick, and the three brothers lost no time in secreting themselves in the

immediate vicinity.
"Well, John, I've been waiting for you," said Josiah Crabtree, as
Mumps came forward and the two shook hands.
"So have I been waiting for you," returned the former sneak of Putnam
Hall. "Why didn't you come yesterday?"
"It was impossible to do so, my lad. Is that the Falcon down