er nobody," grumbled
the general utility man, and walked off. Then he turned to gaze at the
cadets. "You do anything like that again an' I'll tell Captain Putnam on
ye, see if I don't. I ain't going to be no merry-go-'round, or spinnin'
top fer nobody!" And then he hurried for the stables and disappeared.

CHAPTER XXIII

HOLIDAYS AT THE FARM

Almost before they knew it, the mid-winter holidays were at hand, and
the Rover boys went home to enjoy Christmas and New Year. On their way
they stopped at several stores in Ithaca, where they purchased a number
of Christmas presents. Some of these they mailed at the post-office.
Dick sent a nice book to Dora, and Tom and Sam sent books to Grace and
Nellie. The boys also united in the gift of a stick pin to Mrs. Stanhope
and another to Mrs. Laning, and sent Mr. Laning a necktie. Captain
Putnam was not forgotten, and they likewise remembered George Strong.
The rest of their purchases they took home, for distribution there.

A number of the other students had come as far as Ithaca with them, and
here the crowd had dinner at one of the hotels,--the same place where
Tom had once played his great joke on Josiah Crabtree.

"By the way, who knows anything about Nick Pell?" asked one of the
students, while dining.

"He has been removed to his home in the city," answered George Granbury.

"Is he better?" questioned Dick.

"They say he is better some days, but at other times he is worse. The
poison somehow affected his mind."

"What a terrible thing to happen," murmured the eldest Rover, and then
shuddered to think what might have ensued had the snake bitten him.

"Any news of Tad Sobber?" asked another cadet. He looked at each of the
others, but all shook their heads.

"It's queer where he went to," said Songbird. "Wonder if Captain Putnam
tried to communicate with his folks?"

"He has only an uncle, and the captain couldn't find him," answered
another youth who was present.

As the dinner progressed the boys warmed up, and at the conclusion they
sang several songs. Then the Rovers had to rush for their train and they
caught it just as it was pulling out of the station.

"Hullo!" cried Sam, as he dropped into a seat, and he pointed out of the
car window.

"What's up now?" queried Tom.

"I saw a fellow on the depot platform who looked like Tad Sobber!"

"Are you sure it was Sobber?" demanded Dick.

"No, I am not dead certain--but the fellow looked a good deal l