During their first term at Putnam Hall, the Rover boys had become well
acquainted with Dora Stanhope, who lived near the school with her
widowed mother, and, also, Nellie and Grace Laning, Dora's two
cousins, who resided but a short distance further away. It had not
been long before Dick and Dora showed a great liking for each other,
and, at the same time, Tom often "paired off" with Nellie, and Sam as
often sought the company of Grace. Then came the time when the boys
did a great service for Mrs. Stanhope, saving her from the wicked
plotting of Josiah Crabtree, a teacher at Putnam Hall. Crabtree was
exposed, and lost no time in leaving the school, threatening at the
same time that, sooner or later, he would "square accounts with the
Rovers."

But a few miles away from Brill College was located Hope Seminary, an
institution for girls. When the Rover boys went to Brill, Dora, Nellie
and Grace entered Hope, so the young folks met almost as often as
before. A term at Brill was followed by an unexpected trip Down East,
where the Rover boys again brought the rascally Crabtree to terms.
Then the lads became the possessors of a biplane, and took several
thrilling trips through the air. About this time, Mr. Anderson Rover,
who was not in the best of health, was having much trouble with some
brokers, who were trying to swindle him out of valuable property. He
went to New York City, and disappeared, and his three sons went at
once on the hunt for him. The brokers were Pelter, Japson & Company,
and it was not long before Dick and his brothers discovered that
Pelter and Japson were in league with Josiah Crabtree. In the end the
boys found out what had become of their parent, and they managed to
bring the brokers to terms. But, during a struggle, poor Tom was hit
on the head by a wooden footstool thrown by Pelter, and knocked
unconscious. Josiah Crabtree tried to escape from a garret window by