And so--and so--and so------"

And so he kept on grinding there,
Gnashing his teeth and pulling his hair,"

finished Tom. "I know, for I've been there. Really, Songbird, that's
a dandy poem. You ought to have it framed and hung up in the gym."

"Do you really think so?" and the would-be poet looked pleased.

"I do. It would hit every fellow in Brill. And I think--What can that
fellow want?" added Tom suddenly, as a messenger boy from the town came
running up to him.

"Guess he's got a message for you," returned Songbird.

"For me? I trust it's no bad news," said Tom.

CHAPTER II

SOMETHING ABOUT THE PAST

"Is this Mr. Thomas Rover?" asked the messenger boy, as he came to a
halt.

"Yes, that's my handle," answered Tom. "What have you got for me, a
check for a thousand dollars or a bill?"

"Telegram," was the laconic answer, and the lad held it out. "Sign
here," he added, bringing his receipt book into evidence. "It's paid
fer."

"All right, son." Tom signed the book, fished up a dime from his
pocket and handed it to the lad, who took it with a broad grin.

"T'anks, mister. Any answer?"

"I'll see," said Tom, and tore open the envelope of the telegram. He
perused the yellow sheet inside with interest.

"It's from Dick!" he cried, to Songbird. "He's got to come to Casford
on business and he says he will make the trip in the auto and bring
Dora along. They'll be here to-morrow or the day after, and they'll
stop at Hope Seminary too. Say, this is great! I must tell Sam!" went
on Tom, his face brightening. "You can go," he told the messenger boy.

"Here comes Sam now," announced Songbird. "He's got Stanley and Spud
with him." And he pointed to one of the doors of the college building.

To my old readers the Rover boys will need no introduction. For the
benefit of others, allow me to state that the youths were three in
number, Dick being the oldest, fun-loving Tom coming next, and sturdy
little Sam being the youngest. When at "the old homestead," as they
called it, they lived with their father, Anderson Rover, and their
Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha on a farm called Valley Brook, in New
York State.

As related in the first volume of this series, entitled, "The Rover
Boys at School," the three lads had been sent to Putnam Hall Military
Academy, a well-known institution of learning presided over by Captain
Victor Putnam. There they had made many friends and also a few
e