CHAPTER XVIII
IN WHICH TAD SOBBER DISAPPEARS
All standing near Nick Pell were amazed to see the boy fall to thefloor. Captain Putnam and Dick Rover raised him up. His eyes wererolling frightfully and his jaws opened and shut with a snap that wassickening.
"Something is certainly wrong with him," whispered Sam to Tom.
"Yes, he wouldn't act that way if he was simply frightened," was thereply. "And see his hand!"
"We will carry him up to one of the spare bedrooms," said CaptainPutnam. "And, Mr. Strong, see to it that we get a doctor here as soon aspossible. Tell him it is a case of snake poisoning, and ask him over thetelephone what we had best do."
Nick Pell was carried upstairs. By this time he had ceased to move andlay like a log in the hands of those who supported him.
Many had heard him mention Tad Sobber and all looked at the bullyinquiringly. Sobber was deadly pale, but managed to keep up a boldfront.
"I am not to blame," he said, in answer to a question from one of theteachers. "I didn't put the snake in Pell's desk."
"Did you bring the snake into the school?"
"Certainly not," answered the bully shamelessly. He made up his mind tokeep out of "hot water" even if it was necessary to lie to do it.
A hurry call was sent to Doctor Fremley of Cedarville and he came asquickly as his mare could bring him. Only the teachers and the physicianwere allowed in the bedroom with Pell, so the cadets did not know whattook place.
"It's as plain as day," said Dick to his brother and his chums. "Sobbergot the snake and put it in the box. That is why Pell said he was toblame."
"But Sobber told a teacher he did not bring the snake into the Hall,"answered Songbird.
"I do not believe him," came from Tom.
"Nor do I," added Sam. "He's a bad egg, if ever there was one."
The poisoning of Nick Pell cast a damper over the whole school, andneither the teachers nor the pupils could settle down to lessons. Thedoctor remained with the sufferer for two hours, and when he went awayhe looked very grave.
"He is by no means out of danger," announced the physician. "But let ushope for the best. I think his parents ought to be notified."
This was done, and Mr. and Mrs. Pell came on the very next day to seetheir son. They found him in something of a fever and out of his mind,crying continually for Sobber to take the snake away.
"Richard, I want to see you," said Captain Putnam that evening, and ledDick to his private office. There he demanded to know what the eldestRover knew of the snake incident.
"Captain Putnam, I will tell you everything from beginning to end,"answered Dick. "If I am to suffer I'll take my punishment, and Tom andSam say they stand ready to do the same." And thereupon Dick related theparticulars of the trouble with the bully and Pell, and of how he andhis brothers and Songbird and Hans had seen Sobber and Pell at themuseum where the snakes had been. Then he told of the feast, and how thesnake had been discovered in the box.
"I have kept the box," he added, "and you can look at the writing if youwish. I think it is in Tad Sobber's hand, although somewhat disguised."
The address on the box was investigated by the master of the Hall, whosent for several compositions Tad Sobber had written. The bully was muchdisturbed when he had to give up the compositions to George Strong.
"What's that for?" he asked, with a scowl on his face.
"Captain Putnam wants them," answered the teacher, and would say nomore.
With anxious eyes the bully watched the first assistant disappear intothe office with the compositions. Then, looking to make sure that he wasnot observed, he stole up to the door and applied his ear to thekeyhole. What he heard filled him with increased alarm.
"It is Sobber's handwriting beyond a doubt," said Captain Putnam, aftercomparing the compositions with the address on the box cover. "I wonderif he knew that the snake was a poisonous one?"
"Perhaps Nick Pell can tell that--after he gets over his trouble,"returned Dick.
"Provided he does get over it, Richard."
"Don't you think he'll recover?" cried Dick, in consternation.
"He may not. It is a very serious case, so Doctor Fremley informs me."
"What does Mr. Pell say about it?"
"He wants me to investigate. He says he may have somebody arrested forthis--and I can hardly blame him. It was a vile thing to do--bring apoisonous snake into the school."
At the mention of arrest Tad Sobber shut his teeth hard.
"I guess it's about time I made myself scarce," he muttered. "Perhaps Ihad better leave and join Uncle Sid." And he walked away silently and upto his room. He remained there about ten minutes, then stole forth anddown a back way, a fair-sized bundle under his arm.
At the conclusion of the interview in the office Captain Putnam sent forTad Sobber. One of the monitors went on the errand and came back inquarter of an hour with the information that the youth could not befound.
"Did he have permission to leave the grounds?" asked the captain of theteachers.
"Not from me," said one instructor after another.
Then Peleg Snuggers was sent out to hunt the bully up and soon came backwith the information that Sobber was not around the grounds, but hadbeen seen by two of the cadets walking in the direction of Cedarville.Sobber had given one of the cadets a note for the master of the Hall.This ran as follows:
"Must go to the village on a matter of great importance. Will explain when I return.--T. Sobber."
"Maybe he has gone to find out about that snake," suggested Tom.
"How could he?" came from his younger brother. "The museum keeper hasmoved away."
"Tad may know where he moved to," put in Larry.
A whole day passed and the bully did not show himself. Then CaptainPutnam drove over to the village and attempted to hunt him up, butwithout success. He learned that the museum man had shipped his outfitto Boston.
"He has run away," said the master of the Hall to Mr. Pell and GeorgeStrong. "I am satisfied now that he was guilty. But as Nick knew of it,he must have had something to do with it," he added.
"I trust my son recovers," answered Mr. Pell, with a deep sigh. But thedays went by and Nick Pell still remained in bad shape, very weak andout of his mind for the greater part of the time. During his lucidintervals he told how Sobber had purchased the snake for five dollars,the owner saying it was sick and liable to die in the near future. Headded that the bully had said he hoped the snake would bite one of theRovers.
"I didn't want him to use the snake," said the sufferer, "but heinsisted, and told me to keep my mouth shut about it." After that poorNick began to rave again and had to be given some medicine to keep himquiet. During one of his good spells he was removed to a house locatedabout half a mile from Putnam Hall, where he could get the benefit ofabsolute quietness. His father went back to business, but his motherremained behind to nurse her boy.
The Thanksgiving holidays were now at hand, but the Rover boys decidedto remain at the Hall and not go home until Christmas. Besides, theywere preparing for the party at the Stanhope cottage, which was to comeoff on the following Wednesday evening. They had seen Dora, Nellie andGrace several times, and all had prepared for "the best time ever," asthe girls put it. Captain Putnam gave the boys permission to take thecarryall and allowed them to leave the school on the day of the party atsix o'clock.
"Whoop! here we go!" cried Tom, as he took the whip and cracked itloudly. "Hold on, everybody! Peleg, don't let the team lag," he went on,to the driver.
"An' don't you go for to make 'em run away, Master Tom," answered thedriver, grimly.
"It's a pretty long drive and we don't want to be late," said Dick. "Sopush ahead as fast as you can."
"Say, Tubby, where's your stovepipe hat?" asked Sam of the dude cadet,who formed one of the party.
"I--ah--thought it would not be--ah--quite appropriate," lisped WilliamPhilander. "Not--ah--being full dress, you know."
"He was
afraid of having it mashed," said Fred. "Hurrah! We're off! Nowfor a good night's fun!"
They were to have a good night's fun--and a most unusual adventure withit.