nced to look back and saw Tad
Sobber and Nick Pell come from the "museum," so called. The bully was
talking to a man connected with the show, a fellow who usually stood
outside, "barking" as it is called,--that is, asking folks to come up
and walk in and see the wonders inside.

"Sobber must know that fellow," was Dick's comment, but thought no more
of this until long afterwards. A little later they saw the bully embark
on the steamboat, and Nick Pell started back for Putnam Hall alone.

The boys purchased the things they wanted and returned to the school.
They did not see Nick Pell until the following day, and then the latter
paid no attention to them. Sobber did not return to Putnam Hall for the
best part of a week. Then he appeared very thoughtful and he eyed all of
the Rover boys in a crafty, speculative way.

"He has got it in for us," said Tom, but how much Tad Sobber "had it in"
for the Rovers was still to be learned.

The boys had not forgotten about the proposed feast, and it was arranged
that it should come off in the dormitory occupied by the Rovers and some
others on the following Tuesday night as soon as all the lights were
out. Word was passed around quietly, and the Rover boys thought that
only their intimate friends knew of what was going on, but they were
mistaken.

By pure accident Nick Pell overheard Larry Colby and Fred Garrison
speaking of the feast. It had been arranged that Larry and Fred should
contribute a big raisin cake and the two boys were wondering how they
could get it from the bake shop in Cedarville and up to the dormitory
without being seen.

"Never mind, we'll manage it somehow, if we have to use a rope," said
Larry.

"They are going to have a spread," said Nick Pell, running up to Tad
Sobber with the story. "We ought to tell Captain Putnam and spoil things
for them."

"That won't do us any good, Nick," answered the bully. "The captain
thinks too much of the Rovers--he wouldn't punish them much, especially
as this is their last term here. I'll think up something else. I want to
do something to 'em that they will remember as long as they live."

"You seem to be extra bitter against the Rovers since you got back from
Ithaca," said Pell, curiously.

"Am I? Well, I have good cause to be bitter," growled Tad Sobber. "Just
let me put on my thinking cap, and I'll fix 'em, and don't you forget
it!"

That night the bully asked for permission to go to Cedarville on
important busin