After that Nappy confined his gaze to his chum and to the lunch set before him. Never once did he allow his eyes to rove over to the table opposite. Jack had spoken with an intensity that showed his earnestness, and for once Nappy Martell was completely subdued.
“Those Rovers are getting to be a regular bunch of rough-necks,” he growled, after he and his crony had finished a somewhat hurried meal and gone back to the smoking car.
“Did he want to fight you?” queried Slugger.
“That’s what he had in mind to do—as if I would want to fight before that crowd of people! Why, we would all have been arrested!”
Jack’s meal had been spoiled for him, but he did not let the others know this. He, however, kept his eyes on Brown and Martell until they left the dining car. Then he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Gee! I’m glad they’re gone,” was Fred’s comment.
“You’re no more glad than I am,” answered his cousin. “I’ll teach him to stare at my sister! For two pins I’d have wiped up the floor with him!”
“I wish I’d have gotten the chance,” put in Andy, from across the aisle. “Wouldn’t I like to have peppered up their food good for them!”
In due course of time the young Rovers reached the Grand Central Terminal at Forty-Second Street, in New York City. They had sent a telegram, announcing their coming, and found Mrs. Dick Rover and Mrs. Sam Rover awaiting them, each with a touring car.
“Well, I see you got in on time,” said Mrs. Dick Rover, after the greetings were over. “I thought on account of so many soldiers being sent to the various camps, the train might be late.”