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"Make it double that and the machine is yours," returned Dick.
"No, it wouldn't be worth six hundred dollars to me," answered the young aviator.
A discussion lasting the best part of half an hour ensued. The aviator went up to four hundred dollars and then to four hundred and fifty. Finally, Dick said he would accept five hundred dollars cash; and the bargain was concluded at that figure. The money was paid over, and the Rover boys gave the purchaser a bill of sale, and he departed without delay, stating he wished to make arrangements for shipping the wrecked biplane away.
"Not so bad, after all," declared Dick, when the brothers were alone.
"It's very good," put in Tom.
"That's the end of the Dartaway," came from Sam, mournfully. "Well, we had some pretty good times in her while she lasted."
Chapter VIII
A Box Of Candy
"Say, I've got to have some fun or bust!"
It was Tom who uttered the words. For over a week everything had run along smoothly at Brill College. The boys had settled down to their studies. They had sent letters home, and to the girls, and had received several communications in return. They had been congratulated on their escape from the wrecking of the biplane, and Dora had written to Dick urging him to give up flying.
"I'm going to give it up for a while, at least," Dick had answered. During those days the search had been kept up for Josiah Crabtree, but so far nothing had been heard of the fugitive from justice. That the man had left the neighborhood was quite probable.
"What sort of fun do you want, Tom?" asked Sam, throwing down the book he had been studying.
"Oh, anything," was the answer. "I feel as if I was getting musty and rusty, and I've simply got to do something. Wish there was a hazing on, or something like that," and the fun-loving Rover gazed moodily out of the window.
"Now don't you get yourself into trouble, Tom," warned Dick. "Better get at that theme you've got to write on 'Educational Institutions of the Revolutionary Period'."
"Hang the themes, Dick! I've got to have some fun -- and I'm going out for it!" answered Tom, and catching up his cap he passed out of the dormitory.
"Guess I'll go, too," added Sam, and quickly followed. Soon Dick came also, not wishing to be left behind if anything unusual was to take place.
In the lower hallway the boys found several men at work, cleaning and oiling the hardwood floor. They had a box of wax polish with them, and this immediately gave Tom an idea.
"I'd like to buy a little of that," he said, to the head workman, and a bargain was quickly struck, and the fun-loving Rover walked away with half a box of the wax polish.
"What are you going to do with it?" asked Sam.
"Don't know yet -- but I'll do something," was the reply.
"Looks like maple sugar candy," said Dick, gazing at the wax.
"Wait! I've struck it!" cried Tom. "Just the thing! Hurray!" And his face brightened.
"What is it, Tom?" asked both of his brothers.
"I'll make William Philander Tubbs a present of this," was the reply. "Come on, and watch how I do it."
"William Philander has gone to see that new, girl of his," answered Sam.
"Not just yet -- but he'll be on the way soon. I'll have to hurry, if I want to do something."
Tom led the way up a back stairs and to the room occupied that term by Tubbs and some other students. They met the dudish student, half dressed, going to the lavatory to wash up.
"Quick!" cried Tom. "I hope I can find the box."
"What box?" asked Dick, as he and Sam followed Tom into Tubbs' room.
"The box of candy he bought for Miss Ruggles. It was a dandy -- but maybe we can improve it just a little," and Tom grinned broadly.
All looked around and presently found the box of candy on a dresser. It was tied up with a blue ribbon, but this Tom slipped off with ease. Inside of the box were chocolates and bonbons and some candied fruit.
"Hold the box, Sam," said Tom, whipping out his knife. "We've got to move mighty quick!"
On the instant he was at work with his pocket-knife, cutting the floor wax into various shapes to resemble candy. He took out some of the candied fruit and substituted the wax. Then he felt in his pocket.
"This will help," he said, bringing forth a soapstone slate pencil, which he cracked into tiny lengths. "The candy that lasts!" he cried softly, as he dropped the bits into the box.
"Rather rough on the girl," declared Dick.
"Not at all, Dick," said Sam. "I was introduced to her last week and the very next day she passed me on the road with a stare as if she had never seen me."
"And Stanley says she is stuck up to the last degree," added Tom. "Maybe this will take her down a peg -- anyway I hope so."
Sam was searching his pockets. He brought out several dried beans and a heavy rubber elastic.
"The remains of a slingshot and ammunition I confiscated from a Freshy who was taking shots at me," he explained.
"Drop the beans in -- they'll look like jelly beans!" cried Tom. "And cut up that rubber band into pieces for jujube-paste!"
Dick was at the door on guard, and presently he gave a low whistle, to notify the others that Tubbs was coming back. Instantly Tom shut the candy box, put back the paper covering and ribbon; and then he and Sam slipped out of the dormitory by a side door, so that the dudish student might not see them.
Such a joke as had been played Tom could not keep to himself, and when the Rovers went downstairs he told Stanley, Songbird and Spud Jackson.
"Fine!" cried Stanley. "That Miss Ruggles deserves it, too. She thinks, just because her father has rocks, that she is too good to even recognize any of us. The only fellow she tolerates is Tubby -- I guess because he's such a dude."
Tom wanted to follow William Philander Tubbs when he went to see the young lady, who was stopping with an aunt who lived not far from Brill. The others were willing, and all hung around the campus until the stylish student made his appearance.
"She's crazy for candy -- Tubby told me so himself," said Spud. "Eats about a barrelful a week, so I understand. That's why he got her the box, I guess."
"If she eats that boxful she'll be a good one," was Tom's dry comment.
It was not long before Tubbs appeared. The stylish student was faultlessly attired, in light trousers, dark Prince Albert coat, white vest, spats, and a silk hat. In one hand he carried a cane and in the other the box of candy.
"My, but we are some swell!" murmured Sam.