The six boys marched to the hotel in a body, told their story, and
showed the telegram to the clerk.
"All right," said the clerk. "We've had cadets stop here before.
I have a big room on the second floor, with two large beds in it.
Will that do?"
"That suits me," said Larry.
"Is Mr. Josiah Crabtree stopping here?" questioned Tom.
"Yes. He has the room next to the one I mentioned -- his is No.
13, and yours will be No. 14."
"All right; thanks," answered Torn dryly, and immediately began to
lay plans for playing a joke on the old teacher.
"We don't want to let Mr. Crabtree know we are stopping here," he
said to the clerk later on. "He is no longer a teacher at the
Hall, and we would rather not meet."
"Shall I put you in another room?"
"Oh, no; only don't tell him we are here."
"I'll remember that, sir."
As soon as the boys had been shown to the big room, Tom turned to
his fellows. "I want each of you to chip in ten cents," he said.
"What for?" came in a chorus.
"For the purpose of getting square with old Crabby."
"I don't see the connection," said Larry. "Kindly be a little
more definite."
"You'll see, or hear, the connection a little later on," answered
Tom.
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