While the festivities of this Thanksgiving Eve were at their height, a sudden thought struck Dick.  Captain Putnam had given the cadets permission to go beyond bounds if any cared to do so, and he hurried away, his intention being to call upon Dora Stanhope and see how she was faring.  Although Dick would not admit it, he thought a great deal of Dora, and he was sorry, that she was in danger of having the detestable Josiah Crabtree for a stepfather.

It was a clear, moonlight night, and he hurried off in the best of spirits, taking a short cut by way of a road through the woods.  As he walked along he remembered how Tom had met in this vicinity the thief who had stolen the watch.

“I wonder if I’ll meet him,” he thought, but no tramp put in an appearance; indeed, he did not see a soul until the Stanhope homestead was reached.

A light was burning brightly in the sitting room, and the curtains were drawn down to within six inches of the bottom of the windows.  Dick was about to ascend the porch, when he changed his mind and walked softly to one of the windows.

“If they have a lot of company I won’t disturb them on a holiday like this,” he thought, and peeped under one of the curtains.

The sight that met his gaze filled him with astonishment and indignation.  Only two persons were present, Dora and Josiah Crabtree.  Crabtree had the girl by the left wrist, and had one hand raised as if to strike his prisoner.

CHAPTER XVII

DICK AT THE STANHOPE COTTAGE

“The villain!”

Such were the words which sprang involuntarily to Dick’s lips as he gazed at the scene before him.  He was filled with bitter indignation and could hardly resist the temptation to break in the window and leap to Dora’s assistance.

As he paused, he saw Dora push Crabtree back and leap to the opposite side of the center table.

“Don’t you dare to touch me, Mr. Crabtree!” came loud enough for Dick to hear quite, plainly.

“I want you to behave yourself, young lady,” stormed Josiah Crabtree.

“I know how to, do that without your advice.”

“No, you don’t.  You have set your mother against me.  If it hadn’t been for you, we would be married long ago.”

“I believe a daughter has a right to advise her mother concerning a stranger, Mr. Crabtree.”

“A stranger!”

“Well, an outsider —­ if you like that better.”

“I am no outsider.  I’ve known your mother for years.  I might have married her, instead of your father doing so, if he hadn’t played an underhanded trick which —­”

“Stop, Sir .  You shall not say a word against, my father.”

“Good for Dora!” thought Dick.  “She’s the right kind.”

“Your mother is quite willing to marry me, and as a dutiful daughter you should bow to her wishes.”

“Mother is not herself, Mr. Crabtree.  Ever since father died she has been upset by business matters, and you have pestered the life out of her.  If you would only go away for a month or so and give her time to think it over, I am sure she would end this matter between you.”