"I got a letter from mamma yesterday. She says Professor Crabtree called again. But she had the maid go to the door, and she refused to see him."

"That's good. Did he say anything to the maid?"

"She says he went away looking very angry and muttering something about making mamma see him. Mamma watched him from an upper window and she wrote that he hung around the garden about half an hour before he went away."

"The rascal! You had better get Mr. Laning to look into this for you. If he bothers you any more he ought to be locked up."

"Just what I think. But mamma is too timid to go to the police, or anything like that."

"I wish I was there when old Crabtree called-I'd give him a piece of my mind!"

"Oh, d.i.c.k, maybe he would want to-to-shoot you, or something!"

"No, Josiah Crabtree isn't that kind. He belongs to the snake-in-the-gra.s.s variety of rascals. But perhaps he won't come again-now that your mother has refused to see him."

"I wish I could be sure of it," sighed the girl.

"What have you done about the fortune, Dora?"

"Mamma has everything in the vault of a safe deposit company in Ithaca.

We don't know just what to do-thinking Tad Sobber may tie the money up again in the courts."

"I don't see how he can do that-unless he brings up some new evidence to prove that the fortune belongs to Sid Merrick's estate."

"Uncle John thought it might be best to buy Tad Sobber off-just to end the matter. But Sobber wanted too much."

"I'd not give him a cent-he doesn't deserve it-after the way he treated you, and us. I don't believe Sid Merrick ever had a right to one dollar of the fortune."

"I believe that, too."

"I suppose Crabtree came around because he heard that you had more money than ever. Gracious, Dora, some day you'll be real rich in your own name!"

"Well, won't you like it," she demanded brightly.

"I'll not complain. But I'd take you just as quickly if you were poor,"

added d.i.c.k earnestly.

"Would you, d.i.c.k?"

"Do you doubt me?"

"No, d.i.c.k, I don't. I know you don't want me for my money," and Dora leaned forward to let her hand rest for a moment on his shoulder.

"I've got a little money of my own," he went on, after a pause, in which they looked straight into each other's eyes.

"A little! Oh, d.i.c.k, I guess you've got a good bit more than I've got."

"Are you sorry for that, Dora?"

"Sorry? Oh, no, but-but--" And Dora suddenly turned very red.

"What, dear?" he whispered.

"Why-I-that is-you said you would take me just as quickly if I were poor.

Well-I-I'd take you that way, too!" And now the girl hid her blushes in her handkerchief.

"Dora, you're a darling, and true-blue!" whispered d.i.c.k, fervidly. "We'll pull together, rich or poor, and be happy, see if we don't!"

"First call for lunch!" announced a waiter, coming through the car.

"Say, that hits me!" came from Tom. "I had such a slim breakfast I am hollow clear to my shoes!"

"A slim breakfast!" sniffed Sam. "Fruit, sawdust and cream, fried eggs with bacon, half a dozen m.u.f.fins, and coffee!"

"Get out! You're thinking of your own breakfast!" retorted Tom. "Come on, let's lead the way-before the dining car fills up." And he caught Nellie by the arm.

"All right, we're coming!" cried Sam, and followed with Grace. "Come on, d.i.c.k!" And he motioned to the others. Soon all were moving towards the dining car.

"Might as well do a little practicing," was Tom's comment, on the way, and linking his arm into that of Nellie, he began very softly to whistle a well-known wedding march.

"Oh, Tom Rover!" cried Nellie, giving him a playful poke in the side. "Of all things! And in a railroad car! I've a good mind not to walk with you."

"All right, I'll change the tune," cried Tom, cheerfully, and commenced to whistle a funeral dirge, at which all of the girls shrieked with laughter.

It was a jolly crowd that sat down to the tables in the dining car, and the Rover boys saw to it that the girls were provided with whatever they desired on the bill of fare. They took their time over the meal, and the fun they had made even the waiters smile broadly.

"We'll get to Cartown in an hour," said Sam, after they had returned to the parlor car. "And then we'll have to say good-bye."

"Oh, it's too bad!" pouted Grace. "I wish you were going through to Cedarville with us."

"So do I."

"Well, the best of friends must part, as the oyster said to the sh.e.l.l,"

observed Tom, and at this joke the others smiled faintly. But now that they were to separate so soon all felt rather sober. Little did they dream of the exciting occurrence that was to bring them together again.

CHAPTER VIII HOME ONCE MORE

"And now for Oak Run and home!"

It was d.i.c.k who spoke, as he and his brothers boarded another train at Cartown. The girls had gone on in the first train and the boys had had to wait half an hour for the one on the line which would take them close to Valley Brook farm.

"Home it is!" returned Sam. "And I'll be glad to see dad again-and the rest of 'em."

"Right you are, Sam," joined in Tom. "After all, there is no place like home."