with whom Songbird had of late been quite smitten.
The messages for the Lanings and Mrs. Stanhope were soon despatched, and the Rovers also sent word to their folks, saying when they might be expected home. Then the crowd divided, and Tom, Dick, Sam and Songbird took to the road leading past the Sanderson cottage.
“Remember how we pitched into Flockley and Koswell here?” remarked Sam, as the farm came into view.
“Indeed I do,” answered Dick. He turned to Songbird. “You can ride ahead if you wish. We’ll go on slowly.”
“All right,” answered the other. “I won’t be long. I only want to leave a volume of ‘Poems of Love’ I picked up in a bookstore yesterday,” and away Songbird pedaled towards the Sanderson house.
“He’s got ’em sure,” said Sam, with a grin. “Well, Minnie is a nice girl.”
“Huh! I suppose Songbird has as much right to be soft on her as you have to be soft on Grace!” was Tom’s blunt comment.
“Not to mention you and Nellie,” retorted his younger brother.
The three Rovers rode past the house and then stopped to rest under a wide-spreading tree. Some June apples were handy, and they munched on these until Songbird reappeared, about a quarter of an hour later.
“Say, it took more than two minutes to deliver that book,” remarked Dick. “We were just getting ready to go on without you.”
“Don’t forget we want some supper,” added Sam.
“I – er – I just stopped to point out several poems of special interest,” explained Songbird. “One was on ‘Her Eyes So Blue and True.’ It’s a grand poem, and – ”
“Let me see, Miss Sanderson’s eyes are blue, aren’t they?” questioned Sam, gravely.
“I wasn’t speaking of her eyes – I meant the poem’s – that is – those spoken of in the poem,” stammered Songbird. “By the way,” he added, hastily, to hide his confusion, “I just heard strange news. Minnie and her father were down in Ashton a couple of days ago and they saw Dudd Flockley at the depot, and he was talking with Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur.”
“Koswell and Larkspur!” exclaimed Dick. “I didn’t think they would dare to show themselves around here.”
“Just what I thought, but Mr. Sanderson and Minnie were both sure they saw the pair. They were talking very earnestly to Flockley, as if trying to get him to do something, and Minnie says Flockley said, ‘I’ll see about it – maybe I can go.’”
“Humph! Flockley promised that he would drop Koswell and Larkspur,” said Sam.
“He’d better – if he knows where he is well off,” added Tom.
“What became of Koswell and Larkspur?” questioned Dick.
“Minnie says they took the night train for the East.”
“The through train?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then they must be a good many miles from Ashton – and I am glad of it.”
“Speaking of Flockley puts me in mind of one thing – I mustn’t forget to pay for that hat I smashed,” said Tom.
“Better see him tonight and settle up,” said Dick. “And I’ll go with you. I want to speak to Flockley,” he added, thoughtfully.
When the boys returned to the college they found their classmates just finishing supper. Professor Blackie looked at them rather severely, but Sam explained that they had permission from the Head to be late, so nothing was said further.
From one of the other students Dick and Sam learned that Flockley had gone for a walk behind the gymnasium, where a path led to the river. As soon as they had finished eating Tom got some money, and he and his brother set off to find the dudish student.
“There he is!” cried Dick, after quite a long walk, and he pointed to Dudd Flockley, seated on a rustic bench, smoking a cigarette. The student was alone, and looked to be in a thoughtful mood.
“Flockley, I want to settle with you for that hat,” said Tom, as he came up. “And let me tell you honestly that I am sorry I mashed it.”
“I think you did it on purpose,” grumbled the dudish student. “You Rovers think you can do just as you please at Brill. I suppose you’ll feel more important than ever – after that affair of the burning steamer,” he added, bitterly.
“Dudd, let Tom pay you for the hat and then let me talk to you,” said Dick, quietly. “How much did it cost?”
“Five dollars.”
“Here you are then,” came from Tom, and he passed over a five-dollar bill. “I didn’t mash it on purpose, no matter what you think.”
“All right – have your own way about it, Rover,” and Dudd pocketed the bill carelessly.
“Dudd, you met Koswell and Larkspur the other day,” went on Dick, sitting down on the rustic bench.
“Did Minnie Sanderson tell you that?”
“She told Songbird Powell and he told us.”
“Well, what of it? They came to Ashton on business – they had to get their stuff away from the college.”
“Did you meet them by accident?”
“What business is that of yours?” And Dudd Flockley’s voice grew aggressive.
“Perhaps it is none of my business, Dudd. But, just the same, I am going to talk to you about it. You know all about what happened in the past. Koswell and Larkspur are bad eggs – and if they can drag you down with them they will do it. Now, you promised to turn over a new leaf and on the strength of that we went to Doctor Wallington and persuaded him to give you another chance. It isn’t fair for you to go back on your word, and take up with Koswell and Larkspur again.”
“Are you going to tell the doctor that I met them?” asked Flockley, in alarm.
“No – at least, not for the present. But I want you to promise to drop that pair.”
“I have dropped them – that is, as much as I can.”
“Then why do you meet them?”
“I’ll tell you why!” burst out the dudish student, bitterly. “Because I can’t drop them altogether. They know everything of what happened as well as I do, and they said if I dropped them entirely – refused to help them – they would expose me to the whole world! If they should tell my folks – ” Flockley did not finish, but his head sunk on his breast, and Dick and Tom understood.
“It’s too bad – a burning shame!” murmured Tom. “Flockley, I am sorry from the bottom of my heart!”
“I don’t think I would take their threats too seriously,” said Dick. “They are down and out, and, of course, very bitter. But they don’t dare to come out against you openly.”
“Yes – but
