The Rover Boys Down East Part 14

"Putty good," returned the station master. The cigars had cost Tom ten cents each and they were better than those Ricks usually smoked.

A carriage had rolled up to the station and the boys saw Jack Ness coming towards them. He shook hands and then went off to get their trunks and bags, to be placed in a farm wagon driven by a neighbor's boy.

Ricks entered his ticket office and then walked to the back platform of the station, where several farmers were congregated, sitting on some empty milk cans, talking crops. The boys continued to watch him.

"Hullo, where did ye get the smoke?" asked one of the farmers.

"Ricks is gittin' high-toned," said another. "Fust thing you know--"

He got no further, for just then Ricks caught sight of the smoking end of his cigar and his eyes stared wildly.

"What's th-that!" he gasped, and took the cigar from his mouth.

"By gosh! Are ye raisin' snakes, Ricks?" cried one of the farmers.

"Reckon he's struck a nest o' worms!" commented another.

"Wha-what do yo-you think it is?" groaned Ricks. He was so amazed that he could do little but stare at the cigar, from the end of which a snake-like curl was issuing, larger and larger.

"Where did you buy that cigar?" asked one of the farmers.

"Didn't buy it-Tom Rover gave it to me!" answered Ricks. "Say, this is a put-up job!" he roared, and dashed the cigar to the ground. "Where is that imp, anyway?"

"Good-bye, Mr. Ricks!" sang out Tom from the carriage. "Hope you enjoy that smoke."

"You come back here!" stormed the station master. "Just you let me get my fingers on you, that's all!" And he shook his fist at the fun-loving youth.

"It's a trick cigar, that's what it is," announced one of the farmers, and commenced to edge away. "Maybe it will blow up soon."

"If that's so, I'm going to get out!" cried another, and slid from the milk cans in a hurry.

"Say, you don't suppose he put dynnymite in it, do you?" asked Ricks, fearfully. "He might blow up the whole station. He blew up a fire once I was building," he added, referring to a joke Tom had once played on him, the particulars of which have already been set forth in "The Rover Boys at School."

"Better put the cigar in a pail of water," suggested one farmer.

"You do it, Snell."

"Do it yourself, if you want it done," answered Snell, and very gingerly Ricks gathered up the cigar and its "worms" on a shovel and cast them into a tub of rain water that was handy. The others gathered around, joked the station master unmercifully and he vowed that he would get square with Tom sooner or later.

In the meantime the Rover boys lost no time in leaving the railroad station. They had Jack Ness urge on the team, and soon they were crossing the Swift River and driving through the village of Dexter's Corners.

Several folks of the village saw them and waved them a welcome, for the lads were great favorites. Then they started along the country road leading to Valley Brook farm.

"And how are all the folks, Jack?" asked d.i.c.k.

"All fairly well, sir," answered the hired man. "Your uncle, he got 'em rather bad last week."

"What do you mean?"

"Some of his new bees stung him-and they stung me, too."

"Too bad!" murmured d.i.c.k. "Any other news?"

"I don't know of none. The hay crop is going to be heavy, so they say."

"Well, we need hay for the stock."

"We miss you boys, so we do," went on the hired man. "When you are away the farm is like as if we was havin' a funeral."

"Oh, we'll warm you up," cried Tom. "Eh, Sam?"

"We'll try to, anyway," answered the youngest Rover.

"We are going to have a great Fourth of July celebration," said Tom. "I ordered some fireworks for home at the same time I had those sent to the college," he added, to his brothers.

"Yes, we'll have to celebrate in fine style," answered d.i.c.k.

They went on, and soon a turn of the road brought them in sight of the farmhouse nestling so cozily among the hills.

"Home again!" sang out Tom. "Let's give them a call!" And he set up a cheer, in which the others readily joined.

"I see dad!" cried Sam, a moment later, as his father appeared around a corner of the house and waved his hand.

"And there is Uncle Randolph, down among his bee hives," added d.i.c.k.

"And Aunt Martha is on the piazza!" came from Sam. "And there is Aleck Pop!" he continued, as the ebony face of a smiling negro showed itself from between the trees.

"Boys, I am glad to welcome you home again!" cried Anderson Rover, as the carriage rolled up and the lads leaped out in a bunch.

"And we are glad to see you, dad!" they answered in a chorus, and shook hands. Then Tom made one leap for the piazza and fairly lifted his aunt from her feet. "How are you, Aunt Martha!"

"Oh, Tom, yo-you bear!" gasped Mrs. Rover, but with a beaming face. "My boy, how big you are getting!" And then she kissed him heartily, and kissed the others.

"Back again! and welcome!" said Randolph Rover, as he walked up quickly.

Then he, too, shook hands; and all went into the house.

CHAPTER IX PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY

It was a great home-coming. As was to be expected, Aunt Martha had had the cook prepare a most elaborate supper, and, to this the lads did full justice. The long ride on the cars had tired them, yet they remained up long enough to tell about affairs at college, and learn what their father and their other relatives had to say.

"Say, this is like old times!" exclaimed d.i.c.k, as he entered his bedroom.

"Looks as natural as it ever did."

"Anyt'ing I can do fo' yo' young gen'men?" asked a voice from the doorway, and Aleck Pop showed himself, his mouth on a grin from ear to ear. Indeed Aleck had not stopped grinning since the boys had appeared.

"Not that I know of, Aleck," answered d.i.c.k. "How have you been since we went away?"