"Well then-" her voice sank very low. "There can't be any other fellow!

There!"

"Nellie!" he cried. Then he would have caught her in his arms, but she held him back.

"Wait, Tom. I understand, and I am very, very glad," she said, earnestly.

"But mamma-she is a little bit old-fashioned, you know. She made both of us-Grace and I-promise not to-to become engaged until we were twenty or twenty-one."

"Oh!"

"So we'll have to wait a little longer."

"I see. But we understand each other, don't we, Nellie?"

"Yes, I'm sure we do."

"And when you are old enough--"

"We'll talk it over again," she answered, and took his arm as if to walk back to the others.

"All right," he said. Then of a sudden he turned and faced her. "And is that all?" he pleaded.

"Oh, Tom, it ought to be!" she murmured.

"But, Nellie!" he pleaded, and drew her a little closer. Then for just an instant her head went down on his shoulder and she allowed him to kiss her. Then they joined the others, both feeling as if they were walking on air.

An hour later found everybody either in the house or on the veranda. Dora sat down to the piano and the other young folks gathered around to sing one favorite song after another, while the old folks listened. They sang some of the Putnam Hall songs, and tried several that were popular at Brill and at Hope.

"I like that even better than the fireworks," murmured Mrs. Stanhope, to Anderson Rover.

"Well, I think I do, myself, Mrs. Stanhope," he answered. And then he drew his rocking-chair a little closer to where the widow was sitting.

"It seems to me that d.i.c.k and Dora match it off pretty well," he continued, in a lower tone.

"Yes, Mr. Rover. And d.i.c.k is a fine young man-your sons are all fine young men. I shall never forget what they have done for me and for Dora."

"Well, they are bright lads, if I do say it myself," answered the father, proudly. "And let me say, too, that I think Dora is a very dear girl. I shall be proud to take her for a daughter."

"No prouder than I shall be to take d.i.c.k for a son, Mr. Rover."

"I am glad to hear you say that-glad that the idea is agreeable all around," returned Anderson Rover.

"I shouldn't be surprised if, some day, Nellie and Grace married your other sons."

"Possibly. But they are rather young yet to think of that. d.i.c.k is older, even though they go to college together. You see, he got behind a little at Putnam Hall because, when I was sick, he had to attend to a lot of business for me. But he is going ahead fast now. He came out at the head of his cla.s.s."

"So Dora told me. Oh, he will make his mark in the world, I am sure of it."

"If he does not, it will be his own fault. I shall give him as much of an education as he desires, and when he wishes to go into business, or a profession, I shall furnish him with all the money he may need. I am going to do that for all of the boys-that is, unless the bottom should drop out of everything and I should become poor."

"Oh, Mr. Rover, I trust you do not antic.i.p.ate anything of that sort!"

"No, at present my investments are safe. But one cannot tell what may happen. Hard times come, banks break, railroads default on their bonds, and a man is knocked out before he knows it. But I don't look for those things to happen."

"Mr. Rover, before I leave I wish to ask your advice about that fortune we brought home from Treasure Isle."

"What about it?"

"Do you think I ought to invest the money, or keep it intact and wait to see what that Tad Sobber does?"

"I should invest it, if I were you. I really can't see how Sobber has any claim."

"Would you be willing to invest it for me? A large part of it really belongs to Dora, you know. I am not much of a business woman, and I would be glad if you would help me in the matter."

"Certainly I will help you to invest, if you wish it," answered Anderson Rover.

"Can I send the money to you?"

"Yes, But wait till I send you word. I want to look over the various offerings in securities first."

At that moment came a call from the parlor. The young folks wanted the old folks to come in and join in the singing, and they complied. As they left the piazza a form that had been hiding behind some bushes nearby slunk away. The form was that of Tad Sobber.

"Thought I'd hear something if I came here," muttered that individual to himself. "Going to turn the fortune over to old Rover to invest, eh? Not much! not if I can get my hands on it!"

And then Tad Sobber disappeared down the road in the darkness.

CHAPTER XII OFF FOR CAMP

All too quickly for the girls and the boys, the visit of the folks from Cedarville to Valley Brook farm came to an end. During the week the boys took the girls on several trips in the touring car, and once all went for a picnic up the Swift river.

"You must write to us often, d.i.c.k," said Dora, on parting. "If you go camping, tell us all the particulars."

"I certainly will, Dora," he answered. "And you let me know all about what you are doing. And don't forget to urge your mother to take a trip somewhere."

The boys had already written to their former school chums and fellow travelers, Fred Garrison and Hans Mueller, and those boys had written back that they would arrive at the farm, with an outfit for camping, on the following Sat.u.r.day.

"That will just suit!" cried Sam. "We can rest up over Sunday and start for camp Monday morning."

"I'm anxious to see what Hans will bring," came from Tom, who was perusing a long communication from the German American youth. "He seems to have the notion that this outing is to last into cold weather, and that we are going to hunt bears and lions and a few other wild beasts."

"Oh, maybe he is only trying to be funny," answered Sam.

"Hans is funny without trying to be," put in d.i.c.k. "Just the same, he is one of the best boys in the world."

Fred Garrison and Hans Mueller had arranged to arrive at Oak Run on the same train, and the Rover boys went to meet them as they had the folks from Cedarville, in the new touring car.