CHAPTER XIX

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PARTY

It was a clear, bright evening when the boys drove over to the Stanhope

cottage. All were in high spirits and sang and joked to their hearts'

content. For the time being the trouble with Tad Sobber was totally

forgotten. So far nothing more had been heard of the bully, and all were

satisfied that he had left both Putnam Hall and Cedarville and perhaps

for good.

"One boy told me he used to live with an uncle in New York City," said

Larry. "He didn't know the uncle's name."

When the carryall arrived at the Stanhope place they found the cottage

well lit up. Dora had invited a number of her girl friends and these,

with her cousins, Grace and Nellie, were already on hand. The boys let

out a ringing cheer as they stopped at the horse-block, and the girls

came out to greet them.

"All here?" cried Dora.

"All here," was the answer.

"Good!" cried several of the girls.

"I guess we are a bit early," observed Dick. "But we wanted to make sure

we wouldn't be late, and it's a long drive over."

"You are not a bit too early," answered Dora, and gave him her dainty

hand which he squeezed ardently.

Soon the boys were piling out on the ground, and a general handshaking

followed. Those who did not know each other were introduced, and

everybody walked into the house, where a room upstairs had been prepared

for the cadets' reception.

"Now, everyone must feel perfectly at home," said Mrs. Stanhope, who was

being assisted by Mrs. Laning and Mr. Laning. The older folks prepared

the refreshments while the young people sat down in the parlor and the

sitting room.

At first, as at all parties, there was a little stiffness, but this was

soon broken by Tom asking in a solemn voice:

"Say, did anybody bring an iceberg in his pocket? If he did he will

please set it on the kitchen stove to thaw out."

"Oh, Tom!" shrieked Nellie, and all the girls giggled. Then the "ice was

broken" and everybody started to talk at once. Even William Philander

was pleased, for he had discovered a tall, willowy girl who exactly

suited him and who thought him charming.

At first they played half a dozen different games and gave out riddles,

and Songbird recited a poem written in honor of the occasion. The poem

was the best effort he had yet made in the verse line and of course

everybody applauded. Then Grace said he ought to have it published in

the Cedarville weekly paper, and this pleased the poet very much.

"Maybe you can get a dollar a line for it, Songbird," suggested Dick.

"If he can we'll let him divide up with us," added Tom, and this caused

a laugh.

Presently refreshments were announced, and the boys and girls paired off

and entered the dining room. Here a long table was spread, decorated

with autumn leaves and the Putnam Hall colors. There were six colored

candles on the table, each with an elaborate red shade, and the general

effect was warm and pleasing. There were plenty of good things to eat,

including ice-cream frozen into all sorts of forms. When the forms were

passed around, Dick got a drum major, Tom an Uncle Sam, and Sam an

airship. Hans got a fat Dutch boy, which tickled him immensely.

"Dot vos look chust like some poys by der Fadderlandt," he observed.

With the ice-cream came snapper bonbons, filled with all sorts of things

made of paper, and soon one boy was wearing an apron, another a

nightcap, and the like. Dora got a yellow jacket, and Nellie a baker's

cap, while Grace skipped around wearing a poke hat over a foot high.

There was plenty of laughter, and the old folks did not hesitate to join

in. Nuts and raisins followed the ice-cream, and then the young folks

went back to the sitting room and the parlor to finish their games and

have some music.

"Dora, you must play for us," said Dick, and led her to the piano. Then,

while some of the others gathered around the girl played "Waiting for

the Wagon," "Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party," and a number of other

favorites, and these the crowd sang lustily.

"Guess it is about time for us to leave," whispered Fred to Dick,

presently. "I know you'll like to have Dora play all night for you, but

it can't be done."

Dick looked at his watch.

"Phew! as late as this!" he exclaimed softly. "Yes, we'll have to go."

"Let us sing 'Home, Sweet Home,'" suggested one of the boys, and Dora

struck up the opening chords. They were in the midst of the first verse

when Dick chanced to glance towards one of the windows and stopped

short.

A man was outside peering in at the party.

[Illustration: A MAN WAS OUTSIDE PEERING IN AT THE PARTY.]

It was Merrick!

"Well, I never!" burst out the eldest Rover boy, and his sudden

exclamation caused Dora to look at him curiously and stop playing.

"What is the matter, Dick?"

"Did you see that man at the window? He is gone now."

"I didn't see anybody."

"Who was it?" asked Tom, quickly.

"It was that rascal Merrick!"

"Merrick!" ejaculated Sam. "The fellow who took Uncle Randolph's bonds?"

"The same."

"Oh, Dick, you must be mistaken."

"I was not mistaken--I saw him as plain as day. I am going to look for

him," added the eldest Rover, for the man had now disappeared.

He ran for the hall door, and the other boys followed. The girls

remained in the parlor, much frightened, for it was after midnight.

As Dick reached the piazza he saw a dark form stealing along a row of

bushes near the garden fence.

"There he is!" he exclaimed. "Stop!" he called out, loudly. "Stop, I

tell you!"

"Who did you say it was?" asked John Laning, as he came from the kitchen

with a stout cane in his hand.

"That rascal Merrick, one of the two men who stole my uncle's traction

company bonds," explained Dick.

"What can he be doing here?"

"I don't know. There he goes, over the fence!"

"He is running towards the side road!" exclaimed Sam. "Come on after

him!"

"Wait till we get our hats and coats," said Tom, and ran back to pick up

the articles mentioned. This took a couple of minutes, and by the time

he came back Merrick was out of sight.

The three Rovers ran to the side road, Fred Garrison and Mr. Laning with

them.

"I wish I had a pistol," remarked John Laning. "No telling how desperate

a character that villain may be."

"I'd like to know if he came on foot or with a horse," said Dick.

"Do you think he followed us to this place?" asked Sam.

"I am sure I don't know. The whole thing looks mighty queer to me."

There was no moon, but the stars were shining brightly, so they could

see fairly well on the road. As they reached a bend Tom pointed forward.

"There he is, just going into the bushes!"

"He had better not go that way," was Mr. Laning's remark, "unless he

knows the ground well."

"Why not?" asked Sam.

"Just beyond that patch of timber is Nixon's Swamp, as it is called--as

boggy and treacherous a spot as can be found for miles around. If he

don't look out he'll get stuck there and never get out."

"Do you know the swamp?" asked Dick. "I mean the good spots?"

"Fairly well--I used to come over here when I was a boy--to pick

huckleberries. They are plentiful on the other side of the swamp."

"Then supposing you lead the way and we'll follow."

They were soon in the woods and saw a well-defined path running to the

eastward. Beyond was Nixon's Swamp, and still further on another woods.

They were afraid they had lost track of the man they were after when

they heard a crack ahead of them, followed by a short yell of alarm.

Merrick had stumbled over a fallen log and pitched headlong into some

thorny bushes. It took him some time to extricate himself, and meanwhile

the pursuers drew closer.

"I see him!" cried Tom. "He is turning to the right!"

"He is headed for the worst part of the swamp," was Mr. Laning's

comment. "If he doesn't look out----"

A minute later a wild cry rang out from ahead. The cry was repeated

twice, and then all became as silent as the grave.

"He must have gone down into the swamp," exclaimed Dick.

"Yes, and more than likely he is drowning to death," added John Laning.