Tom Fairfield's Schooldays; or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall Read online

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  WITH GLARING EYES HE MADE A RUSH FOR THE CROWD OFSTUDENTS.]

  Tom Fairfield's Schooldays

  Or

  The Chums of Elmwood Hall

  BY

  ALLEN CHAPMAN

  AUTHOR OF "TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA," "TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP," "THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," "THE BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES," ETC.

  ILLUSTRATED

  NEW YORK CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY PUBLISHERS

  BOOKS FOR BOYS

  BY ALLEN CHAPMAN

  =TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES=

  12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.

  TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS Or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall

  TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA Or, The Wreck of the _Silver Star_

  TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP Or, The Secret of the Old Mill

  TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK Or, Working to Clear His Name

  =THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES=

  12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.

  THE DAREWELL CHUMS THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE CITY THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE WOODS THE DAREWELL CHUMS ON A CRUISE THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN A WINTER CAMP

  =BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES=

  12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.

  THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT TWO BOY PUBLISHERS MAIL ORDER FRANK A BUSINESS BOY'S PLUCK THE YOUNG LAND AGENT

  CUPPLES & LEON CO. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

  Copyrighted 1913, by Cupples & Leon Company

  Tom Fairfield's Schooldays

  Printed in U. S. A.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I. TOM HEARS STRANGE NEWS 1 II. THE DRIFTING BOAT 13 III. OFF FOR ELMWOOD HALL 20 IV. TOM MAKES AN ENEMY 27 V. TOM FINDS A CHUM 39 VI. AN ANGRY PROFESSOR 47 VII. BRUCE IS WORRIED 55 VIII. THE CALL OF THE PIGSKIN 62 IX. TOM'S TOUCHDOWN 68 X. A COWARD'S TRICK 78 XI. A CLASS WARNING 87 XII. A RUNAWAY ICEBOAT 98 XIII. THE SKATING RACE 107 XIV. WINNING AGAINST ODDS 113 XV. MORE TROUBLE 119 XVI. TOM'S DARING PROPOSAL 128 XVII. DEFIANCE 135 XVIII. THE STRIKE 144 XIX. NEGOTIATIONS END 151 XX. PRISONERS 157 XXI. THE ESCAPE 168 XXII. THE BURNING EFFIGY 177 XXIII. TOM'S FIND 183 XXIV. THE SAVING OF BRUCE 191 XXV. A MISSING PROFESSOR 201

  TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS

  CHAPTER I

  TOM HEARS STRANGE NEWS

  "Hi, Tom, give us a ride in your boat; will you?"

  "Take us across to the other side of the river."

  The request and the suggestion came from two lads who were walkingtoward a small boathouse, on the edge of a rather wide river. The youthto whom they spoke looked up from a small motorboat, the engine of whichhe was cleaning.

  "What do you want to go over to the other side of the river for, DickJones?" asked Tom Fairfield, of the lad who had made that suggestion.

  "Got to go on an errand for dad, and it's too far to walk away around bythe bridge. Take me over, will you?"

  "I will if I can get this engine to run."

  "What's the matter with it?" asked Will Bennett, the companion of DickJones. The two were chums, and friends of Tom Fairfield, all of themliving in the village of Briartown. Tom, whose parents were quite welloff, had recently bought a motorboat, not very large, but of sufficientsize to enable him to take out several of his chums. "What's the matterwith the engine?" asked Will again, as he and his chum walked out on thesmall dock, at the end of which the motorboat was made fast.

  "Matter with it? What isn't the matter with it?" asked Tom in somedisgust. "The cylinder is flooded with oil, that's what's the matter,and I don't know how many more things I'll find wrong before I getthrough. It's all that Dent Wilcox's fault."

  "How's that?" asked Dick, as he and his chum watched Tom trying to drainsome of the lubricating oil out through a small valve.

  "Oh, I took Dent out for a ride last night, and as I was in a hurry toget up to the house when I got back, I asked him to shut off the oilcups. But it's like everything else he does--he's too lazy, almost, tobreathe. He didn't turn off the oil, and all that was in the cups raninto the cylinder during the night. I've tried for the last half hour toget the engine started, but she won't run."

  "That's too bad," spoke Will sympathetically.

  "I'll never trust Dent to do anything for me again," went on Tom. "Iought to have seen to the oil cups myself, and I will next time. Waituntil I catch him!"

  "There he goes now!" exclaimed Dick, pointing to a lad crossing a fieldsome distance away. "Shall I run and tell him you want to see him?"

  "No, it isn't worth while," replied Tom. "Besides, he's so lazy hewouldn't walk down here. But I'll talk to him like a Dutch Uncle when Ido see him. Now let's see if the engine will work. If it does, I'll giveyou fellows a ride."

  Once more Tom turned the flywheel over several times, but, though theengine coughed, wheezed and spluttered, as though in apology at havingsuch poor health, it did not start.

  "Say, you haven't got your forward switch on!" suddenly exclaimed Will."There's no spark."

  "No wonder!" cried Tom. "I remember now, I had it on, and then, as Ididn't want to get a shock when I was cleaning the spark plug, I shutit off. Then I forgot to put it on again. Hop in, and close the switch,Will, and then maybe we can start. I guess most of the oil is out, now."

  The two chums got in the boat, and Will, making his way forward, closedthe connection. Then Tom, who had remained near the motor, again turnedover the flywheel. This time there was an explosion, and the engineworked rapidly. The propeller churned the water, and the painterstrained as the boat moved forward.

  "Hurray!" cheered Dick.

  "That's the stuff!" exclaimed Will, at the prospect of a ride.

  "Yes, I guess it's all right now," assented Tom. He shut off the engineby pulling out a switch near it, and added: "Wait until I get some moreoil from the boathouse, and I'll be with you."

  As Tom started up the dock toward the little building, which he hadbuilt, with the help of his chums, to house his boat, he saw, comingalong the road that ran near the river, a young man in a small autorunabout. The youth was well dressed, but on his face was a look ofsadness and worry, in contrast, Tom thought, to the cheerful expressionhe should have worn.

  "If I had a natty little car like that, I wouldn't look so glum,"reasoned Tom, as he opened the boathouse door. The runabout came nearer,and the lone occupant of it, bringing it to a stop opposite Tom, calledout:

  "Is there any place around here where I can hire a boat for a row of anhour or so?"

  "Not near here," replied Tom.

  The young man's eyes rested on Tom's own trim rowing craft.

  "Is that one to hire?" he asked, nodding toward it.

  "No," replied our hero. "But if you'd like to take it I've no objections.I've got a motorboat, and, if you like, I'll take you for a ride in that.Did you want to go anywhere in particular?"

  "No, I just want to get off by myself, and worry over my troubles," andthe newcomer laughed, but the laugh had no merriment in it.

  "Troubles?" questioned Tom, now that the other had given him an opening."You don't look as if you had troubles."

  "Well, I have--lots of 'em. I've acted like a blamed chump, and nowI've got to pay the piper. A man is trying to make trouble for me, andI guess he'll
succeed, all right. I'm too easy, that's the trouble. ButI'm not going to bother you with my woes."

  "Do you want to come for a ride with me?" asked Tom. "I'm going to takea couple of friends across the river."

  "No, thank you. I don't want to seem stiff, but really I'd be better offby myself for a time. So, if you really mean it, and will lend me yourboat, I'll go for a row alone. I was out on a little country run--I livein Camden--and when I saw this river, looking so calm and peaceful, Ijust felt as though I'd like to row on it, and forget my troubles."

  "You may take the boat, and welcome," went on Tom, looking at theother, and forming a liking for him at once.

  "Thanks. My name is Bennington--Bruce Bennington. I haven't a card, orI'd give you one."

  "My name's Tom Fairfield," spoke our hero, and the two shook hands.

  "Know how to row?" asked Tom, as the newcomer started toward where thesmall boat was moored.

  "Yes, I'm on the crew at Elmwood Hall. I'm a senior there," Bruceexplained.

  "Oh!" exclaimed Tom, for he had often heard of that place of learning."That's quite a school," he added. "I've often wished I could go there."

  "Yes, it's quite a place," admitted Bruce Bennington. "And we have apretty fair crew. You won't want your boat right away?"

  "No. And the reason I asked if you could row was because there are somestiff currents in the river. You're welcome to come in the motorboat ifyou like, though it isn't much of a craft."

  "No, thank you, I'd rather row off by myself, and do some good hardthinking. I've got to go back to school as soon as the fall term opens,which will be in about two weeks, and I'd like to find a way out of mytroubles before then, if I can."

  "It's too bad," spoke Tom sympathetically, for he had, somehow, cometo form a strange and sudden liking for this lad. Tom looked into theother's frank and pleasant face, and really wished he could help him.

  "Well, I guess I'll have to squirm out of it the best I can," went onBruce. "A good row, and a rest in the cool shadows, will calm me down,maybe, and I'll try to make some plans before I have to get back to thegrind. I'll take good care of your boat."

  By the manner in which he entered it, and took up the oars, Tom saw thatBruce knew how to handle the craft. The auto runabout had been left nearthe dock, and a little later the senior was sculling down the stream.

  "Who was that?" asked Tom's chums, as he rejoined them.

  He explained briefly, as he filled the empty oil cups, and soon he andthe two lads were puffing across the river in the motorboat. The rowingcraft had disappeared around a bend in the stream.

  "Troubles, eh?" mused Will. "I don't believe I'd let much trouble me ifI went to a cracker-jack school like Elmwood Hall, and had a runaboutlike that."

  "Me either," added Dick.

  "Well, you never can tell," spoke Tom, as he thought of the sad lookon the senior's face--a look that had returned several times during thetalk, in spite of the frequent smiles. "He seems like a nice sort ofchap."

  "Did he say what his trouble was?" asked Will.

  "No, and I didn't ask him. Said some man had it in for him. Look outwhere you're steering, Dick."

  "Why, what's the matter?" asked Dick, who had requested Tom to let himtake the wheel for a time.

  "There's a big rock somewhere out here," went on the owner of themotorboat. "I must mark it with a buoy, or I'll hit it myself somenight. Keep more to the left."

  Dick spun the wheel over, and the boys rode on, talking of many things.

  "Where do you think you'll go to school this fall?" asked Will of Tom.

  "Oh, back to the Academy, I suppose."

  "Why, you graduated from there in June!"

  "I know I did, but there's going to be a post-graduate class formed, Ihear. Going to take up first year college work, and dad talks of sendingme. I wish I could go to Elmwood Hall, though, or some place like that."

  "So do I!" cried Will.

  "Boarding school's the place!" affirmed Dick, with energy. "I'd like togo to one."

  They had reached the other side of the river now and Dick Jones, who hadbeen sent by his father to take a message to a lumberman, started offon his errand, Will and Tom promising to wait for him in the motorboat.When Dick returned on the run, Tom yielded to the request of the twolads, and took them for a run up the stream.

  "That is, unless you have something to do, Tom," spoke Will.

  "No, I'm going to have all the fun I can before school opens, that'sall. And it will do the engine good to run a bit and get rid of the oilthat chump Dent let run in."

  The boys were out in the motorboat for about two hours, and, on nearingthe dock on the return trip, Dick remarked:

  "That fellow's auto is gone."

  "Is my boat there?" asked Tom, who was tinkering with the motor of hiscraft.

  "Yes," replied Will, who was steering.

  "All right; I guess that fellow got tired of rowing, or maybe he thoughtof a way out of his troubles, and came in."

  When Tom had made fast his motorboat, he went to the rowing craft tosee if it was in good condition. He saw a piece of paper on one of theseats, held down by a little stone. Picking it up he read:

  "Many thanks for the use of your boat. I had a fine row, and I feel better, though I'm as much up a tree as ever. I hope to see you again, sometime. If ever you are near Elmwood Hall, look me up.

  "BRUCE BENNINGTON."

  "That was nice of him," remarked Will, as Tom showed him the note.

  "And he didn't damage your boat any," spoke Dick.

  "No, he knows how to handle 'em--he rows on the Elmwood Hall crew," saidTom. "Well, so long, fellows. I'm going for a long run to-morrow, ifyou'd like to come."

  "Sure!" they chorused.

  But Tom was not destined to take that long run on the morrow, for, whenhe reached his home, not far from the river, he heard strange tidings,that made quite a difference in his plans.

  As Tom entered the house he saw his father holding a letter, that he hadevidently been reading to his wife, and discussing with her. There was alook of concern on the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw Fairfield.

  "What's the matter?" asked Tom, quickly. "Any bad news?"

  "No, not exactly bad news, Tom," replied his father. "But it is news,and it's going to make quite a difference to us--to you also."

  "What is it?"

  "You remember that property in Australia, Tom, which was left to me byan uncle; don't you?" asked Mr. Fairfield.

  "Yes," replied our hero, for he had often heard the inheritancementioned. "What about it?"

  "Well, I've been trying to dispose of it, and have the money fromthe sale sent to me here, but it seems that some trouble has arisen,and I've got to go there to straighten it out. I tried to do it bycorrespondence, but I have just received a letter from a lawyer inSydney, saying that my personal presence is needed, or I may lose itall. So--"

  "Your father and I have decided to go to Australia!" suddenly broke inMrs. Fairfield, anxious to get the worst over. "Oh, Tom, I don't want togo at all, and leave you behind, but I've got to!"

  "What!" cried Tom. "Can't I go? You two going to Australia, and leavingme alone here? Oh, say, now--"

  "Wait, Tom," cautioned his father with a smile, "we're not going toleave you alone, exactly. Besides, there is your education to think of,and we may be gone for many months."

  "Oh, but I say--" began Tom again.

  "Now, dear son," began his mother in a gentle voice, "we have it allplanned out for you. You are to go to boarding school while we are away."

  "Boarding school!" Tom's eyes began to sparkle. After all, this might beas good as going to Australia.

  "Yes," said his father, "and we have picked out--"

  "Elmwood Hall!" broke in Mrs. Fairfield, unable to let her husband tellall the news.

  "Elmwood Hall!" cried Tom, thinking of the note in his pocket from BruceBennington.

  "Yes," spoke Mr. Fairfield, "though if you'd rather go to some otherplace
it may be arranged. But your mother and I picked out Elmwood Hall,and--"

  "Elmwood Hall!" cried Tom again. "Say, that's all right. I'm satisfied!That beats Australia. When are you going? When can I start for Elmwood?Have you got a catalog from there? Say, I've got something to tell you!"and Tom, overcoming a desire to stand on his head, pulled out the noteBruce had left in his boat.

  "Elmwood Hall!" exclaimed Tom again. "This is the best ever!"