" he asked later on of the Rovers
and their dormitory fellows.

"It came in this box," answered Dick, and brought forth the pasteboard
box in question. "Somebody knocked on the door and when we opened it the
box was on the floor."

Captain Putnam looked at the box and the inscription.

"Your lady friends must have peculiar tastes," he said, smiling.

"Of course that was a trick--just to get us to take the box and open
it," answered Tom.

"Do you suspect anybody, Thomas?"

"Well--not exactly," said the fun-loving Rover, slowly.

"What have you to say, Samuel?"

"I'm sure I can't imagine who could send that box."

"Richard, what can you tell of this?"

Dick paused and took a long breath.

"I can't tell you anything, just now, Captain Putnam," he answered
slowly. "But I've got something of an idea of how that box got here. But
I'd hate to accuse anybody unless I was sure of it."

"Mr. Strong said the snake was at least three feet long."

"It was certainly all of that."

"Was it a poisonous snake, do you think?"

"It was not a rattlesnake, nor was it any kind of a snake such as are
usually found in this part of our country, of that I am sure."

"You got a good look at it then?"

"Yes."

"I certainly had no idea snakes of such size could be found close to the
school."

"I am pretty sure that snake was never found around here. During my
travels I have studied snakes a little, and that variety was a stranger
to me."

"I see." The master of Putnam Hall mused for a moment. "Well, it is very
queer. But, as the snake has disappeared, I think we may as well retire
once more. I do not imagine we have anything to fear."

It was a good hour before the school was quiet. Many of the boys were
afraid to go to bed, and the teachers could not blame them. The Rovers
and their chums got together to discuss the situation in whispers and at
the same time remove all traces of the feast which had been so curiously
interrupted.

"Dick, what do you make of this?" asked Tom.

"I think Tad Sobber is guilty, Tom--but I didn't want to tell Captain
Putnam so."

"You think he got the snake out of that museum?"

"I do."

"I think that myself," put in Sam. "Don't you remember how he was
talking to that barker, just as if they were friends? It was surely
Sobber who played that trick."

"If it was Sobber we ought to pay him back," came from Songbird, grimly.
"A snake! Ugh, it makes me creep to think of it."

"Don't you