“Yes, sir —­ quite the style now for a gentleman to have a ring.  Want them engraved, of course.”

“Yes.  Here is a paper with the sizes and what is to be engraved upon each.  How much will they be with the engraving?”

“Six dollars each, sir.”

“Six dollars!  Don’t you make a reduction on taking two?” asked Crabtree, who was a good deal of a miser.

“We can throw off a dollar on the pair,” answered the clerk, after consulting the proprietor of the shop.

“I didn’t expect to pay over ten dollars.”

“We can give you this style for ten dollars.”

“No, I want the latest —­ to please the lady.”

“Humph!” muttered Dick.  “You’ll never please Mrs. Stanhope with any ring.”

“Eleven dollars is the lowest we can take.”

“And when will the rings be ready for me?”

“Day after tomorrow.  We might do them quicker, but we have a great deal of engraving ahead.”

“Day after tomorrow will do, for I do not wish them until next week,” answered Josiah.  “Here is my card.  I am stopping at the American House in this city.”

“Yes, sir.  Do you want the rings sent?”

“No, I will call for them,” concluded the ex-teacher, and hurried from the place.  Sam and Tom saw him coming, and dodged out of sight around the comer.

Dick had taken in all that was said and had in the meantime picked out a cheap scarf pin which cost but ten cents.  As soon as Crabtree was gone he paid for the pin, shoved it into his pocket, and rejoined his brothers, to whom he told the particulars of what had occurred.

“He intends to marry Mrs. Stanhope next week,” he declared bitterly.  “I would give almost all I’m worth to stop that wedding.”

“Gracious, but you do think a heap of Dora!” said Tom slyly.  “Well, I don’t blame you.  She is a splendid girl —­ eh, Sam?”

“That’s right,” answered Sam.

“But, Dick, why not put up a job on old Crabtree?”

“What kind of a job?”

“Find out just when he wants to get married and then send him a letter from Yale or some other college, requesting him to come on at once if he wants a certain position.  That will cause another delay, and maybe Mrs. Stanhope will get sick of him.”

“Oh, if only we could do something like that!” cried his elder brother quickly.  “I wish I could send him away out West.”

“We’ll manage it somehow —­” put in Tom.

“Sam, what wonderful ideas you have for your years!”

“Oh; I take after my big brothers,” answered the youngest Rover modestly.

Late in the evening a telegram was received from Captain Putnam: 

“Remain in Ithaca over night, at the American House.  Will send word how to get here in the morning.”

“The American House!” ejaculated Dick.  “That is where old Crabtree is stopping.”

“If only we can have some fun with the old chap!” sighed Tom.