"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 corner.
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.
The six boys marched to the hotel in a body, told their story, and showed the telegram to the clerk.
"All right," said the clerk. "We've had cadets stop here before.
I have a big room on the second floor, with two large beds in it.
Will that do?"
"That suits me," said Larry.
"Is Mr. Josiah Crabtree stopping here?" questioned Tom.
"Yes. He has the room next to the one I mentioned--his is No.
13, and yours will be No. 14."
"All right; thanks," answered Tom dryly, and immediately began to lay plans for playing a joke on the old teacher.
"We don't want to let Mr. Crabtree know we are stopping here," he said to the clerk later on. "He is no longer a teacher at the Hall, and we would rather not meet."
"Shall I put you in another room?"
"Oh, no; only don't tell him we are here."
"I'll remember that, sir."
As soon as the boys had been shown to the big room, Tom turned to his fellows. "I want each of you to chip in ten cents," he said.
"What for?" came in a chorus.
"For the purpose of getting square with old Crabby."
"I don't see the connection," said Larry. "Kindly be a little more definite."
"You'll see, or hear, the connection a little later on," answered Tom. "Quick, shell out and I'll promise you your money's worth, or return the amount with legal interest."
The fifty cents was quickly collected, and, adding ten cents of his own, Tom ran from the hotel. "No fish market open at this time of night," he said to himself.
"I'll have to try a restaurant," and hurried into the first place which came into sight.
"Have you any crabs?" he asked, of the waiter who came to him.
"Yes, sah; very fine, sah. Want some soft-shell, sah?"
"I don't care whether they are soft-shell or as hard as rocks. I want live crabs, the most active kind you have in stock."
The waiter stared in amazement, then called the owner of the restaurant.
"You want live crabs?"
"I do--strong, active, go-ahead crabs, and I want them in a box."
"Is this a joke?"
"It will be--when the crabs get to work," answered Tom with a wink.