The Eight-Oared Victors/Chapter 14
CHAPTER XIV
OFF FOR CAMP
"See you soon again, old man!"
"Yes, we'll get together in a couple of weeks. I've got to spend some time with the folks."
"I'll write when I have the camp site all arranged for."
"And don't forget to plan for plenty of grub!"
"I want a soft cot, anyhow."
"Say, what about the girls? I suppose there's no doubt about their going to Crest Island?" and Sid Henderson, who asked this question, interpolating it among half a dozen others, as well as amid numerous interjections, looked anxiously at Tom, as the four chums were saying good-bye preparatory to dispersing for the vacation.
"Of course they'll go," declared Tom. "I had a letter from Ruth to-day"
"You did?" cried Phil. "I'll have to have a little seance with Sis. She writes to you oftener than she does to me, of late. Tom, you rascal, take care!" and he shook a warning finger at his chum.
"And hark to Siddie, would you!" mocked Frank. "Sid's so anxious about the girls that he won't play if they don't come; will you Siddie?"
"I'll play my fist on your nose, you old allosaurus!" cried Sid, as he made an unsuccessful reach for his tormentor.
Books had been put away in the study of our heroes. The armchairs had been covered with dust-cloths, as had the creaking old sofa; the alarm clock had been wrapped in cotton, and put on the shelf. Its tick would not be heard until September. It would have a vacation, too.
Randall College began to take on a deserted air, but there was still some activity around the boathouse. The shells were to be kept ready for use—the eights, the fours and the singles. For Mr. Lighton had urged all, who could, to come, if only for an occasional spin on the river to keep in condition.
As we know, our friends had arranged to camp on Crest Island, and from there, as they had a boat, they could take a run down to Randall, and get in a four for practice. If they could get four others, and someone to act as cowswain, they would also row in the eight, they told the coach.
"An excellent plan," he declared. "It will give us a good crew for the eight in the Fall, I'm sure."
"The only drawback about Crest Island," said Phil, "is that Bossy is going there. He'll be an unmitigated nuisance, if I'm any judge of human nature."
"Especially if he does as he says he will, and takes to practicing in a single," added Tom.
"But the island is big enough," added Sid.
"Even if the cottage his folks have taken is near the Tylers'," put in Frank, with a grin.
"Is it?" asked Sid, eagerly.
"It sure is."
"Then he'd better look out!" declared Sid.
"What's the matter? Afraid he'll take your girl?" asked Tom, with a laugh. But Sid did not reply.
Nothing more had been discovered about the missing jewelry, nor had Tom and his chums been able to follow the clues which they had stumbled upon. The torn handkerchief, the empty jewelry box, the shreds of silk, had been put away, together with Boswell's card. Mendez, the Mexican, had been seen around Haddonfield several times since Tom and Ruth had met him on the island, and he seemed to be selling his wares, there being little need of his remaining on the island as caretaker all day. Whenever he met Tom, he was very polite, but our hero cared no more for the swarthy man than he had at first.
"He's altogether too nice," decided our hero, though he realized this was nothing against the man. Certainly there seemed to be nothing to point suspicion to him, any more than to Boswell, and the four chums did not dare make an untoward move. It was too risky, Frank said.
As for the Boxer Hall lads, though some might have held a faint thought that their Randall rivals were responsible for the loss of the cup trophies, no one said so in that many words. Still many Randallites felt that a grim suspicion hung over the college, caused by the unfortunate fact that Tom and his chums had been first on the ground when the articles were discovered to be gone from the wrecked boat.
"Hang it all!" exclaimed Tom, as he and his chums were about to separate for the vacation, to meet soon again, "I wish we could get on the trail of that stuff, and the man who took it!"
"So do I!" added Frank. "Well, maybe something will turn up this Summer."
As for Ruth, she had successfully kept her secret with Tom. If her girl friends noticed the absence of her old brooch they said nothing.
Mr. Farson, the jeweler, fretted much over his loss, but it did no good. He even increased the reward, to no more purpose. It all remained a mystery. He did not even know as much as the boys did about the affair, and, for their own reasons, the students kept silent.
Our four heroes dispersed to their homes, to meet warm welcomes there. Then came preparations for going camping on Crest Island. The Tyler cottage was opened by some of the servants and put in shape for Summer occupancy. Madge wrote to Ruth, Mabel and Helen, bidding them get ready to come when she sent word.
Tom spent a week or two at the shore, "recuperating," as he put it, from the hard study incidental to the examinations.
"I guess, more than likely, it's to rest from the hard work of pulling in that shell," said his father, grimly.
Frank Simpson went on a short trip to his beloved California, and Phil and Sid put in two weeks at various Summer resorts.
Finally the time came to go to camp. Tom, who was in charge of most of the arrangements, sent out letters to his chums bidding them assemble at his home, as he was nearest to Randall College.
And, one fine morning, with their baggage gathered, and with their camping paraphernalia sent on ahead, they departed.
"Off for Crest Island, and the mystery!" exclaimed Tom.
"Not so loud!" cautioned Frank.
"Say, rather," interpolated Sid, "off for Crest Island and—the girls!"
"Hark to the lady-killer!" mocked Phil. "Talk about your Beau Brummels!"
"Punch him for me, Tom," besought the badgered one.