the gathering darkness hid her entirely from view.
CHAPTER IV
THE DISASTROUS RESULT OF A TRICK
"She's gone!"
"Yes; and I wonder where to, Tom?"
"I don't believe the yacht will go very far," said Sam. "Maybe old
Crabtree merely wants to see what sort of a sailing craft she is."
"We can watch here for a while," returned Dick.
They sat down on a rock and waited, in the meantime discussing the
strange situation. They could reach no conclusion but that Josiah
Crabtree had some plot he wanted to put into execution. "And it's
something underhand, too," was Dick's comment.
At last they grew tired of waiting and almost fell asleep. This being the
case they returned to the hotel and made their way to the bed chamber.
Soon each was sleeping soundly.
When they awoke the sun was shining brightly -- and it was half-past
seven o'clock. "All up!" shouted Tom, and dragged Sam out by the foot.
Soon they were dressed and made their way to the dining room.
They had scarcely seated themselves when Josiah Crabtree came in and
was shown to a seat directly opposite the boys. He did not notice them
at first and began to eat a dish of oatmeal silently and rapidly.
Tom nudged Sam, and the younger Rover nudged his oldest brother,
and a snicker went up. At this Josiah Crabtree glanced at them
carelessly. Then he started back in amazement.
"Why - er - why - ahem - so it is you!" he stammered. "Er -- where did
you come from?"
"We came from our bedroom," answered Tom promptly. "Where did
you come from, Mr. Crabtree?"
"Why - er -- don't be impertinent, Rover. I might say that I came from
my bedroom too."
"I thought you came from the river," remarked Dick carelessly.
"From the river?
"Yes."
"You are -- ahem, mistaken, my lad. I have not been near the river -- at
least, not since I came up from New York on the boat."
"Stopping here for the summer?" put in Sam.
"I do not know as that is any of your business, Samuel. I am no longer a
master at Putnam Hall and when I left that place I washed my hands of
all those connected with that place."
"A good thing for the Hall, sir," came from Tom.
"Don't be insulting, Rover. You go your way and I'll go mine."
"As you please, sir. You spoke to us first."
"I'll take good care and not do it again. But this looks as if you were
following me up."
"That's what Mumps said," cried Sam, before he had stopped to think
twice.
"Ha! So you have met Mum -- I mean John Fenwick?"
"We met him on the river."
"And he said you had been following him?"
"Never mind, Mr. Crabtree, we won't talk any more," put in Dick, with
a warning glance at Sam. He turned to the waiter. "Some fish, please,
trout; and see that the biscuits are warm."
"Nes, sah," grinned the negro.
Tom at once took the cue. "It's going to be a warm day," he said to
Dick.
"I wonder how sailing was last night," put in Sam slyly.
At this Josiah Crabtree looked as black as a thundercloud.
"You boys have been playing the sneak on me!" he cried. "Take my
advice and beware of what you do in the future."
"I wasn't talking to you," retorted Sam.
"Kindly keep your remarks to yourself."
By this time others were coming to the table, consequently the
cross-fire of words had to come to an end. Josiah Crabtree finished his
repast as speedily as possible and strode out of the dining room in high
but suppressed anger.
"He's a corker," remarked Tom. "I believe he'd half kill us if he dared."
"I guess he hasn't forgotten how I stopped him from maltreating Dora
Stanhope," said Dick. "I wish I knew if he had been around their place
since he came back from the West."
"Of course he has been back," said Tom. "And he'll marry Mrs.
Stanhope yet -- see if he don't."
"Not if I can help Dora prevent it," said his elder brother firmly.
Breakfast finished they walked out to learn what had become of
Crabtree. They were just in time to see him leaving the hotel, valise in
hand.
"He's off," said Tom. "I wonder where he is bound?"
"Let us follow him and find out," returned Dick,
This did not prove to be an easy matter, for at the foot of the hotel
grounds Josiah Crabtree jumped into a stage which was in waiting,
bound for the depot.
"He's off on the train, I guess," said Sam, and the others were inclined
to agree with him.
Down at the river shore nothing
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the
Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.