"Don't you mind me at all," cried Fred. "I'll go with you-as far as Marville."

"And I go so far as Ithaca," added Hans. "Py chiminy! I hopes you cotch dot rascal, Tad Sobber alretty quick!"

"So do I hope we catch him," answered d.i.c.k.

The Rover boys were so used to traveling that getting ready did not bother them. They knew they could catch a train for Ithaca in two hours and so lost no time in packing their dress-suit cases.

"We'll go to the depot in the auto," said d.i.c.k. "Frank Rand can bring the machine back here." And so it was arranged, Rand being an automobile owner living at the Run.

"Oh, boys, I do hope you will take care of yourselves!" cried Aunt Martha, when they were ready to leave.

"Don't worry, Aunty, we'll do that!" cried Sam.

"Here is something to remember me by!" added Tom, and gave her a warm hug and a kiss. Then the others kissed her, and gave a handshake to Uncle Randolph.

d.i.c.k brought the automobile out, and in all of the lads piled and Aleck Pop lifted in the dress-suit cases and Hans' bundle. The power was turned on, and off the touring car moved.

"Good-bye!" was the cry from the boys.

"Don't forget to let us know what is happening!" called out Randolph Rover. "And if you need me, don't hesitate to send for me."

d.i.c.k turned on more gasolene and advanced the spark, and soon the big touring car was shooting along the country road at a speed of twenty-five miles an hour. They had plenty of time to make the train, but the Rovers were impatient to get to Oak Run, to send a message to their parent, advising him of their coming.

Through the village of Dexter's Corners they dashed, around a corner, and then straight for the bridge spanning Swift River. A farm wagon was making for the bridge from the opposite sh.o.r.e, and there was not room for both vehicles to pa.s.s on the bridge.

"Better slow up and wait, d.i.c.k!" cautioned Sam, but instead, d.i.c.k turned on more power, and away they sailed over the bridge like the wind, and past the farm wagon.

"Phew! that's going some!" cried Fred. "I don't know as I would have nerve to run a car like that!"

"Oh, d.i.c.k's a dandy driver," answered Tom, enthusiastically.

Arriving at the station, they went to the telegraph office and asked for messages, and found none. Then word was sent to Anderson Rover at Cedarville. After that the automobile was turned over to Frank Rand, who agreed to take it back to Valley Brook farm that afternoon.

"Off ag'in, eh?" said Ricks, when they bought their tickets. "I don't see why you boys can't settle down fer awhile."

"Smoking any cigars now, Mr. Ricks." asked Tom, dryly.

"If I am, 'tain't none o' your business!" snapped the old station agent.

"I just heard of a new cure for smoker's jim-jams," went on the fun-loving youth. "You take a squash and boil it in lard, and then cut it into thin slices, and--"

"I don't want none o' your cures!" roared Mr. Ricks savagely. "I ain't got no smoker's jim-jams, nor nuthin'. I--"

"But you saw things, Mr. Ricks, you said you did. Worms, and snakes, and strange things--"

"I didn't! I didn't!" howled the old station agent, growing red in the face. "Now you shet up, do you hear? The boys has been pokin' fun enough at me as it is! Everywhere I go they ask me about my smokin'! I'm sick o'

hearin' about it, an' I ain't goin' to stand it, I ain't!" And he shook his fist in Tom's face.

"Sorry you feel so bad about it, Mr. Ricks," said Tom coolly. "I only wanted to do you a favor. Now this squash cure is warranted to--"

"Didn't I tell you I don't want to hear about it!" shrilled the station agent. "You mind your business, Tom Rover! I know you! Some day I'll fix you, yes, I will!"

"Oh, Mr. Ricks, I only want to be of service. Now, if you will only listen. This squash cure is warranted--"

"Stuff and nonsense! I won't listen, do you hear? I won't listen!" The station agent was fairly dancing up and down. "I-I-There's the train. Go on with you, and good riddance!"

"Oh, Tom, you'll be the death of Ricks!" laughed Sam, as all of the lads climbed up the steps of the cars.

"Not much! Nothing like that will ever kill him," answered the fun-loving Rover. "He's too tough!"

"He'll get even with you some day," said d.i.c.k.

"Let him-I'm willing," answered Tom, calmly. He was so fair-minded that he was willing to take as well as give, when it came to practical jokes.

The train rolled on, and for the time being the boys had little to do but talk over the situation. At a junction point Fred left them. He promised to write and asked them to send him the particulars of what they did.

Just before Ithaca was reached, the train was delayed. As a consequence they missed the last boat for Cedarville that night.

"That's too bad," said d.i.c.k. "Now we won't be able to get to the Stanhope place until eleven o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Well, we can send a telegram to dad at Cedarville," said Sam. "And maybe we can telephone," he added.

At Ithaca Hans left them.

"I keeps mine eyes open for dot Dad Sobber," said he. "Of I finds him I let you know."

"That's the talk, Hans!" cried Tom. "You play detective and some day perhaps you'll win a great big leather medal."

"Yah, dot's so," answered the German youth, complacently.

At the telegraph office they sent a message to their father, who had engaged a room at the new Cedarville Hotel. They mentioned that they would go to the Axtell House in Ithaca, and asked him to communicate with them there by telephone.

At the Axtell House a surprise awaited them. Seated in the reading room they found Dan Baxter, the one-time bully of Putnam Hall, but who had reformed and who was now a commercial traveler for a large jewelry concern.

"Why, Dan, you here!" cried d.i.c.k, as Baxter, on seeing them, rushed up to shake hands.

"I am," returned the young commercial traveler. "But I didn't think to have the pleasure of seeing you," he added. "Thought you'd be off on a summer vacation somewhere."

"We were off camping, but we came this way on business," answered Sam.

"How have you been?"

"First-rate. Don't I look it?" and Dan Baxter smiled openly.

"You certainly do," put in Tom. "Traveling must agree with you."

"It does."

"And business is good?" asked d.i.c.k.