CHAPTER XII
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE STAIRS
In a few days the Rover boys felt perfectly at home once more--indeed itwas as if they had never been away, so Sam said. The majority of thestudents were old friends, although there was a fair sprinkling of newboys.
It was not until the end of the week that Dick Rover came into contactwith Tad Sobber, a stocky youth, with a shock of black hair and eyeswhich were cold and penetrating. Sobber was with a chum named Nick Pell,and both eyed Dick in a calculating manner which was highly offensive.
"He's the fellow who does the hero act," whispered Sobber to Pell, in amanner meant to reach Dick's ears. "Wants to make a regular grand-standplay all the time."
Without hesitation Dick wheeled about.
"Was that remark intended for me?" he demanded, sharply.
His suddenness took Tad Sobber off his guard.
"What if it was?" he demanded in return.
"I don't like it, that's all."
"Humph! I don't care whether you like it or not," grunted Sobber.
"See here, Tad Sobber, let us have an understanding," said Dick, calmly."I understand that you are trying to bully everybody in this school.Now, this cannot be. We have had several bullies here and we have gottenrid of them all. We want no more."
"Humph! Trying to be the bully yourself, eh?" sneered Sobber.
"No, I am only giving you warning. The other boys have told me aboutyou."
"Tad has a right to act as he pleases," put in Nick Pell.
"No, he has not. Captain Putnam expects every student here to be agentleman."
"Oh, don't preach, Rover," cried Tad Sobber. "I can take care of myselfwithout your advice."
"Well, I warn you to keep your distance so far as I am concerned andkeep a civil tongue in your head," said Dick.
What this war of words might have led to there is no telling. Just atthat moment the school bell rang, and all of the students had to hurryto their respective classes.
It may be mentioned here that Sam, Tom and Dick were now in the samegrade. This may be wondered at, but the fact of the matter was that Sam,by hard work the term previous, had caught up to Tom, while Dick,because of being away on some business for his father at various times,had dropped a little behind.
"Had a little run-in with Sobber," said Dick to his brothers, when hegot the chance, and related the particulars.
"He said something about me behind my back," said Sam. "I don't knowwhat it was, but I am certain it was nothing complimentary."
"We must watch him," said Tom. "If we do not, he may try to play usfoul."
As this was to be their last term at Putnam Hall, all of the Roversdetermined to do their best in their studies, so they spent no time infooling while at their classes. Once or twice Tom found it hard toresist playing a joke, but a look from Dick usually made him turn to hisbooks again.
It was now the season for football, and several school teams had beenorganized. Tom and Dick were on one team, headed by Larry Colby. Therewas another team headed by Tad Sobber, and on this Nick Pell was aquarterback. How Sobber had ever gotten the captaincy of this team was amystery.
"They want to play us next Saturday," said Larry, one afternoon. "Whatdo you fellows say?" He put the question to his fellow members of theeleven.
"I don't care much to play Sobber and Pell," said Tom, promptly.
"Exactly the way I feel about it," added Dick. "But I'll play if therest want to."
Some demurred, but in the end the match was arranged, and it started onthe school grounds at two o'clock the following Saturday afternoon.
"I think it will be useless to try any mass playing," said Larry."Sobber and Pell and some of the others are too heavy for us. We'll haveto trust to some swift passes and quick runs."
In the first half of the game Sobber's eleven got ten points, whileLarry's team got nothing.
"Sobber is too brutal for me," said Tom. "He deliberately kicked me inthe shins."
"If he does it again, knock him down," advised Dick, promptly.
Larry's eleven went into the second half with vigor. They soon got agoal and followed it up by two more. Then Sobber claimed a foul, but itwas not granted.
"If anybody is fouling it is you," said Dick. "You fouled Tom twice. Ifyou do it again----"
"Never mind, Dick," interrupted Larry. "Go on and play, or give up," headded to Tad Sobber.
"I want Dick Rover to understand that he----" began Sobber, when anotherplayer pulled him back. Some hot words followed, and then the gameproceeded. Larry's eleven made another touchdown and kicked thegoal,--and thus won a substantial victory, much to Sobber's disgust andthat of his crony, Nick Pell.
"No use of talking, those Rover boys make me sick," said Sobber, when heand Nick Pell were alone. "Everybody in this school seems to toady tothem."
"If I had been you I'd have pitched into Dick Rover on the gridiron,"answered Pell.
"Well, I wanted to, but the others wouldn't have it. But I'll polish himoff some day--and polish off Tom, too," added Sobber, uglily.
Two of the small boys of the school had been taken sick, and in order tokeep them quiet they were removed to the top floor of the institution,and one of the colored waiters was ordered to carry their meals up tothem. Dick knew both of the lads, and he frequently went up to pay thema visit and cheer them up a bit.
One day he was just returning from a visit to the sick students when heheard a noise in the hallway on the second floor. He looked down thestairs and saw Tom and Tad Sobber near a landing, having a wordyquarrel. Nick Pell was approaching and so were Fred and Hans.
"For two pins I'd give you a good thrashing, Rover," the bully wassaying. "You can't lord it over me, understand that."
"Well, I want you to keep your distance, Tad Sobber," returned Tom. "AndI stick to it that you kicked me on purpose during the football game."
Both boys were walking to the stairs landing, and Dick and the otherswho heard the words followed. Then of a sudden the crowd that wasgathered saw Sobber catch Tom by the throat.
"Le--let go!" gasped Tom.
"Take that!" retorted the bully, and banged Tom's head against the wall.
There was a scuffle near the stairs, and both boys fell up against therailing.
"Look out, Tom!" cried Dick. "He'll throw you down the stairs!" And hetried to go to his brother's assistance. But before he could reach thespot the two contestants had separated.
"That for you!" roared Sobber, and aimed a blow for Tom's eye. Tomdodged, and then let out with his right fist. The blow landed on thebully's chin. He tottered backward, lost his balance, and pitched downthe stairs.
Just as the bully went backwards, a side door of the mess hall openedand the colored waiter who carried the food to the sick lads upstairscame out. He held a trayful of dainties in his hands. Crash! came Sobberinto the tray, and he and the dishes and the waiter went to the floor ina confused heap.
CRASH! CAME SOBBER INTO THE TRAY.]
"Fo' de lan' sake!" gasped the waiter. "What fo' you dun dat to me?"
"Oh!" groaned the bully, and tried to get up. On one cheek he had a dabof jelly and his hand and shirt front were covered with broth. The sightwas such a comical one that the boys on the landing could not help butlaugh.
"Yo' dun bust de whole dinnah up!" was the waiter's comment, as he aroseand surveyed the wreck. The food had been scattered in all directionsand half of the dishes were broken.
"It wasn't my fault!" growled Tad Sobber. "Tom Rover knocked me down thestairs."
"It was your own fault," cried Tom. "You started the fight, I didn't."
"Somebody's got to pay fo' dis smash," said the waiter. "I ain't gwineto do it. Why, I ought to sue yo' fo' damages, dat's wot!" he added,glaring wrathfully at Sobber.
"I'll fix Tom Rover for this!" exclaimed the bully, and looked up thestairs at the laughing students. "I'll make him laugh on the other sideof his face!"
And he ran up the stairs with the intention of attackin
g Tom again.