"It's all right," said Ned, when he returned. "Codfish was sitting by the window in his room wondering what he was going to do. He was suspicious at first, thinking there was some trick about the ice-cream or the cake, but when he found it was all right he felt better, and he has promised to keep quiet. But just the same, we'll have to keep quiet ourselves in here, or we'll get into trouble. I just heard the professors going around giving orders that the celebration was now over and everybody would have to turn in."

With such healthy appet.i.tes as all of the cadets possessed, the good things to eat and drink disappeared as if by magic. Some of the boys wanted to sing, but this had to be tabooed. Spouter, however, was called on to make a little speech, much to his delight.

"It's a grand occasion," he began. "A grand and glorious occasion, and one which will live long in the memory of those attending this school.

In years to come we can point with great pride to our baseball a.s.sociation and how, in spite of the fact that our opponents possessed a pitcher whose renown had traveled for many miles, and an outfield which was cla.s.sed as second to none in this district, yet our invincible heroes----"

"Hurrah! Hurrah! That's the stuff, Spouter!" interrupted Andy.

"Did you say invisible heroes?" queried Randy.

"I did not," snorted Spouter. "I said our invincible heroes. And as I was about to further remark, our invincible heroes covered themselves with a glory which will ever remain as a bright guiding star to this glorious school, and when in days to come----"

"How do you know the days are to come?" questioned Andy. "Maybe the days will go."

"Stop your interrupting!" cried the young speechmaker. "And in the days to come----" he repeated, "and in the days to come--er--we shall, in the days to come----"

"Great Caesar, Spouter! how long are those days coming?" queried Randy.

"Say, how can a fellow make a speech if you're going to interrupt him all the time?" cried Spouter. "If you want to listen to what I've got to say----"

At this moment came another interruption, but not from any of the others present. There was a loud knock on the door, something which brought all of the cadets to their feet in alarm.

CHAPTER IX

A TELEGRAM FROM HOME

"I'll bet it's one of the professors!" whispered Fred.

"Just our confounded luck!" grumbled Andy.

"And when we were having such a dandy time!" added his twin.

"Say, you fellows get that stuff out of sight, and be quick about it!"

commanded Jack in a low tone of voice. "Take everything into the other rooms."

With alacrity the cadets removed all traces of the spread, placing the empty soda-water bottles and ginger-ale bottles and other things in a closet and in the adjoining rooms.

"Now you outside fellows get into the other rooms, and hide in the closets if necessary," said Jack. "I'll stay here with my cousins."

The knock on the door had been repeated several times, and Jack had answered in a sleepy voice that he was coming. Then, when all was ready, he threw the door open--to find himself confronted, not by one of the professors, as he had expected, but by Bob Nixon, a fellow who was employed as a chauffeur and a general man of all work around the school.

"You must sleep pretty sound," announced Nixon good-naturedly. "I thought I'd have to knock the door down to make you hear."

"I told you I was coming, Nixon," answered Jack. "What do you want?"

"Got a telegram for you," answered the man curtly. "Professor Brice asked me to bring it up to you. Say, you fellows certainly did trim up Hixley High to-day, didn't you?" the chauffeur went on, grinning.

"You're right we did!" answered Jack. He was immensely relieved to think it was not one of the professors come to spoil their feast.

"Where is the telegram?"

"Here you are," and Nixon held it forth.

"Any charges?"

"No; it's a prepaid telegram. It was delivered with another one for Colonel Colby. He signed for it, thinking you might be asleep. I hope you haven't got any bad news."

"I hope so myself," answered Jack. His heart had given a little jump on first receiving the news, thinking that possibly something had happened at home. He lost no time in opening the envelope, and while he did this Fred and the twins crowded around him.

The telegram was from Jack's father, and read as follows:

"Your Uncle Sam and I have volunteered for the army. We have both received commissions. Tell Fred of this and break the news gently to Mary and Martha. Uncle Tom will manage business and remain head of Liberty Loan Committee. Colonel Colby will tell you more.

"RICHARD ROVER."

"What is it?" queried Fred.

"It's great news, Fred; especially for you and for me," answered Jack, whose eyes had traveled swiftly over the telegram.

Then he read the message aloud. Bob Nixon had retired, and Randy had closed the door after him.

"Well, what do you know about that!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Fred. "My father in the army! Good for him!"

"And to think my father is going, too!" remarked the oldest of the Rover boys. "And he also has a commission." He looked at Andy and Randy and wanted to go on, but somehow could not.

"And they are going to make our father remain at home and take care of the business," remarked Randy soberly. "That's what I call tough luck!"

"It sure is!" declared his twin emphatically. "I'll wager he wanted to go to the front just as much as anybody."

"Why, of course he did," answered Jack readily.

"Uncle Tom is just as brave as anybody! We all know that!" burst out Fred. "It was only that somebody had to stay in New York and take care of The Rover Company."

"Of course our dad was never as much of a soldier as your fathers,"

continued Randy. "He never became an officer at Putnam Hall. Just the same, I'll wager he'd like to have a chance to put one over on the Huns."

By this time the other cadets had come from their various hiding places and were listening with much interest to what was being said.

"It certainly is great news!" declared Gif Garrison. "I wonder if my dad will want to go, too?" He knew that his parent and the older Rovers had been great chums.

"They leave us to break the news to Mary and Martha," said Fred. "That isn't going to be a very nice job. I'm afraid the poor girls will be all broke up."

"I can't see it that way," answered Jack. "They ought to feel proud to think our fathers are brave enough to volunteer."

"The telegram says that Colonel Colby will tell you more about this,"

said Randy. "Why don't you go over and interview him?"