As Sam and Tom wished to converse with the Laning girls a bit longer, d.i.c.k went on ahead, telling them to follow him when they chose.

It did not take d.i.c.k long to reach the Stanhope homestead. As he approached he heard loud talking on the front piazza.

"I want nothing to do with you, Dan Baxter, and I am astonished that you should come here to see me," came in Dora Stanhope's voice.

"That's all right, Dora; don't get ugly," was the reply from the former bully of Putnam Hall. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"I want you to go away and leave my mother and me alone."

"Will you come and see Mr. Crabtree, as he wanted?"

"No. If, Mr. Crabtree wants to see me let him come here."

"But you told him you didn't want him here," said Dan Baxter.

"Neither I do--to see mamma. But I won't go to see him; so there! Now please leave me."

"You're a strong-minded miss, you are," sneered Dan Baxter. "You want taking down."

"What's that you say?" demanded d.i.c.k, as he strode up. "Baxter, you deserve to be knocked down for insulting this young lady."

"Oh, d.i.c.k, is that you?" burst out Dora, her pretty face brightening instantly. "I'm glad you came."

"d.i.c.k Rover!" muttered the bully, and his face fell. "What brought you here?"

"That is my business, Baxter, So Josiah Crabtree sent you to annoy Miss Stanhope."

"It's none of your affair if he did."

"I say it is my affair."

"Do you want to get into another row with me, d.i.c.k Rover?" And Dan Baxter clenched his fists.

"If we fought, the battle would end as it did before--you would be knocked out," answered d.i.c.k. "You have no right to come here if these people want you to stay away, and you had better take yourself off."

"I'll go when I please. You can't make me go--nor the Stanhopes neither," growled Dan Baxter.

At these words d.i.c.k grew white. Dora, as old readers know, was his dearest friend, and he could not stand having her spoken of so rudely. For a moment the two boys glared at each, other; then Baxter aimed a blow at d.i.c.k's face.

The elder Rover ducked and hit out in return, landing upon Baxter's neck. Dora gave a scream.

"Oh, d.i.c.k! Don't fight with him!"

"I won't--I'll run him out!" panted d.i.c.k, and leaping behind the bully, he caught him by the collar and the back. "Out you go, you brute!" he added, and began to run Baxter toward the open gateway. In vain the bully tried to resist. d.i.c.k's blood was up, and he did not release his hold or relinquish his efforts until the bully had been pushed along the road for a distance of fifty yards.

"Now you dare to come back!" said d.i.c.k, shaking his fist at the fellow. "If you come, I'll have you locked up."

"We'll see about it, d.i.c.k Rover," snarled Dan Baxter. He paused for an instant. "He laughs best who laughs last," he muttered, and strode off as fast as his long legs would carry him, in the direction of the lake.

When d.i.c.k returned to Dora he found that the girl had sunk down on the piazza steps nearly overcome.

"Don't be afraid, Dora; he's gone," he said kindly.

"Oh, d.i.c.k, I'm so afraid of him!" she gasped.

"Was he here long before I came up?"

"About ten minutes. He brought a message from Mr. Crabtree, who wants to see me in Cedarville. I told him I wouldn't go--and I won't."

"I shouldn't either, Dora. Perhaps Crabtree only wants to get you away from the house so that he can come here and see your mother."

"I never thought of that."

"Where is your mother now?"

"Lying down with a headache. She is getting more nervous every day. I wish Mr. Crabtree was--was--"

"In Halifax, I suppose," finished d.i.c.k.

"Yes, or some other place as far off. Every time he comes near mamma she has the strangest spells."

"He is a bad man--no doubt of it, Dora. I almost wish we had him back to the Hall. Then I could keep my eye on him."

"I'm glad you are back, d.i.c.k," said the girl softly. "If there is any trouble, you'll let me call on you, won't you?"

"I shall expect you to call on me, Dora--the very first thing,"

he returned promptly. "I wouldn't have anything happen to you or your mother for anything in the world."

By this time Sam and Tom were coming up, and they had to be told about Dan Baxter.

"He and his father are a team," said Sam.

"I wonder if he knows what his father has done. If I meet him I'll ask him."

d.i.c.k had expected to pay his respects to Mrs. Stanhope, but now thought best not to disturb her. All the boys had a short chat with Dora, and then set out on the return to school.

On the way the three boys discussed the situation, but could get little satisfaction out of their talk.

"Something is in the wind," was d.i.c.k's comment. "But what it is time alone will reveal."

And he was right, as events in the near future proved.

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIRE AT THE HALL