Several days later, while some of the cadets were down at the cove clearing off a portion of the ice for skating, Mrs. Stanhope’s man-of-all-work came over with a note for Dick from Dora.  The Rover boys all read the note with deep interest.

“I have good news [so ran the communication].  Mr. Crabtree has gone to Chicago, and the marriage has been postponed until next summer.  You do not know how glad I am.  Of course there will be trouble when Mr. Crabtree learns how he has been fooled, but mother has promised me to remain single until August or September, and I know she will keep that promise.  I thank all of you very much for what you have done.  Yesterday I saw Dan Baxter, who seems to be hanging around this neighborhood a good deal.  He wanted to speak to me, but I did not give him the chance.  I wish he would go away, for he looks to me like a very evil-minded person.  It is strange, but Mr. Crabtree thinks a good deal of him, and has told my mother so.  He says it is nonsense to put Mr. Baxter down as a criminal.”

“Baxter stopping around here...” mused Dick.  “What can he be up to?”

He had better clear out,” said Sam.  The matter was discussed for some time, but nothing came of it.

Skating lasted for nearly a month, and then both the ice and the snow melted away as if by magic.  Soon spring was at hand, and the early flowers began to show themselves in Mrs. Green’s little garden, which was the housekeeper’s one pride.

Dick had seen Dora once in that time.  The girl had told him about how Josiah Crabtree had searched in vain for the college mentioned in the bogus letter.

“He said I played the trick,” were Dora’s words.  “He wants mother to send me to some strict boarding school.”

“And are you going?” had been Dick’s question.

“No, I shall remain with mother.  After she is married again I do not know what will become of me,” and as Dora’s eyes filled with tears Dick caught her hand.

“Don’t worry, Dora,” had been his words.  “I will help you, and it is bound to come up right in the end.”

As soon as summer was at hand, the Putnam Hall baseball club received a challenge from the Pornell club to play them a game at either school grounds.

“They want to square accounts for the football defeat,” said Fred.  “Well, the only thing to do is to accept the challenge,” and the acceptance was sent without delay, the game to be played on the Putnam Hall grounds, Captain Putnam having promised the cadets his aid in building a grandstand.  The lumber came out of a boathouse that had been torn down to make place for a new structure, and as many of the cadets took to carpentering naturally, the grandstand was quite a creditable affair.

Frank Harrington was captain and catcher for the Putnam Hall team.  Tom was pitcher, while Larry played first base, Dick second, and Sam was down in center, to use those nimble legs of his should occasion require.  Fred was shortstop, and the balance of the club was made up of the best players the school afforded.