The Rover Boys Under Canvas Or The Mystery of the Wrecked Submarine Part 21

The boys had watched this scene and listened to the talk with much interest. They had recognized in the would-be customer Asa Lemm, the professor who previous to his discharge from that inst.i.tution had made life so miserable for them at Colby Hall.

"I'm glad the fellow didn't let him have the magazine," said Fred.

"Gee, I wish we could put one over on old Lemm!" whispered Andy.

"I wonder what he is doing in this town?" queried Randy.

"I think I can answer that," replied Jack. "I once heard that he had some relative--a brother I think--living at Clappville. Maybe he came from there, or is going over to that town in the stage."

Without allowing themselves to be noticed, Andy and Randy kept their eyes on Asa Lemm and saw him hurry over to one of the stores on the main street of the town, where a number of magazines were displayed in the window. He came out of the place, however, empty-handed, and looking more sour than ever. In the meantime Jack sauntered up to the keeper of the stand at the railroad station.

"Not a very pleasant sort of a fellow, that," he remarked.

"Say, that fellow makes me tired!" growled the newsstand man. "I have a run-in with him nearly every time he comes here. The last time it was over a plugged ten-cent piece he tried to pa.s.s on me. When I handed it back to him and told him I wanted a good one, he was as peppery as sin."

A minute or two later the driver of the auto-stage tooted his horn to show that he was about ready to start on the trip. At once several men and women came running from various directions and began to enter the stage. The last man to arrive was Asa Lemm. He had picked up a valise and a bundle from somewhere, and he had to stand in the rear, waiting for those ahead to enter the stage.

"I suppose there won't be any seat for me by the time I get aboard,"

he grumbled to the driver.

"Ain't my fault," answered the stage driver calmly. "If you don't want to stand, you can wait until the next trip."

"I haven't time to wait. I'll crowd in somehow," grumbled Asa Lemm.

While this was going on, Andy and Randy had come up close behind the professor. Both were wondering if they could not play some sort of trick on him before he departed.

The newsstand was similar to many of that kind, and on two sides of it were long rows of periodicals, fastened by clips to a wire held in place by small hooks. Watching his chance, Andy unfastened the end of one of these wires, and motioned to his twin to unhook the other end.

"Now I guess we'll fix Mr. Asa Lemm!" muttered Andy, and with a quick move he came up behind the former teacher of Colby Hall and twisted one end of the wire around a back b.u.t.ton of Asa Lemm's cutaway coat.

By this time all of the others had gotten into the stage, and, being somewhat in a hurry, the driver made a move as if to start away.

"Hi there! Wait till I get in!" shouted Asa Lemm and threw his bags and his bundle into the stage. Then he got on to the stage step and the driver started off.

"h.e.l.lo, look at that!"

"Say, what is that fellow dragging behind him?"

"Hi, Mr. Gasaway! That fellow is running away with your magazines!"

"Talk about the tail of a kite--this beats any kite tail I ever saw!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "TALK ABOUT THE TAIL OF A KITE--THIS BEATS ANY KITE TAIL I EVER SAW!" _Page 139_]

Such were some of the cries that rent the air as the stage started away from the depot. On the step, clutching the handrails, was Asa Lemm, and streaming out behind him was the wire, loaded with magazines and picture papers.

"Hi you! Come back here!" roared the stand keeper in bewilderment.

"What do you mean by running off with my stuff? Come back, I say!"

and, throwing up a flap of the counter, he ran out of his stand and after the auto-stage.

Asa Lemm did not know what to make of the hullaballoo. People were rushing toward the stage from all directions, and many were pointing their fingers at him. He felt a tug in the rear, but could not put his hand back to the b.u.t.ton on which the wire was fastened for fear of falling from the stage step.

"Stop that stage! Stop that stage, I tell you!" bawled the newsstand keeper. "He's running off with my magazines!"

And then the crowd set up a roar of laughter.

"I ain't got no time to waste. I'm behind time already!" yelled back the auto-stage driver. "What do you want, anyway?"

"Oh, my! did you ever?" screamed Martha, dropping several of the postcards she had purchased.

"Just look at all those magazines dangling after that man!" screamed Mary. And then, as she caught sight of Andy and Randy, both doubled up with laughter, she continued: "I'm sure those twins must have done it!"

Jack and Fred had also come up, and both were on a broad grin. In the meanwhile the stage moved on with Asa Lemm still dragging the wire and the periodicals attached to it behind him.

"Hurrah! he believes in loading up on information!" cried Andy gaily.

"He's what you can call a real live wire!" added his twin.

"Come back with those magazines, I tell you!" bawled the stand keeper, shaking his fist at Asa Lemm. "Come back, I say!" And then he set off on a run after the stage.

He could not catch up to the vehicle, but he did catch up to the end of the wire, and as he stepped on this there was a tearing sound from beyond, and away came the b.u.t.ton from Asa Lemm's coat, bringing with it a strip of cloth.

"Hurrah, he's got his magazines back!" exclaimed Randy.

"And a souvenir of Asa Lemm's coat to remember him by!" added his brother.

Just as Andy said this a train came rolling into the station.

"I hope that is our train," cried Fred.

The boys ran around to the other side of the station and found out from the conductor that the train which had come in was that for which they had been waiting. They at once called to the girls; and all lost no time in hurrying on board.

"Wait! I want to see the end of this!" cried Andy, and threw up a window. He stuck out his head, and as the train rolled away from Raymonton he was just in time to see Asa Lemm pulled from the step of the auto-stage by the irate man from the newsstand. Then the former Hall professor was tripped up and sent flat on his back in the dust of the road.

CHAPTER XIV

BACK TO COLBY HALL

"Well, that is where we got back at Asa Lemm!" cried Randy, after all of the Rovers had gazed out of the car windows as long as the scene near the auto-stage remained in view.

"I'll wager that stand keeper is mad," said Jack.

"And what a beautiful coat old Lemm has, with the tail torn to ribbons!" Fred added.