"Now then, fellows, for the greatest snowball battle of the age!"
"Here is where Company A smothers Company B!"
"Rats! You mean that Company B will bury Company A out of sight!"
"Hi, Major Ruddy! What side are you going on?" queried Bart Conners, who still commanded Company B.
"He is coming on our side!" answered Henry Lee, the captain of the other company.
"Well, I can't fight on both sides," answered the young major with a laugh.
"Go with the company that wins!" suggested Pepper, with a grin.
"Toss up a cent for it," suggested Andy.
"All right, I'll toss up," answered Jack, and did so, and it was decided that he should fight with Company B.
"Good enough!" cried Pepper, who was in that command. "Now Company A is licked, sure!"
"Not much!" was the answer from Stuffer Singleton. "We'll win, sure!"
"We will, unless you stop to eat a doughnut!" put in Joe Nelson, and at this remark a general laugh went up, for Stuffer had once lost a long-distance running race because he stopped on the way to devour some cookies he had in his pocket.
It was after school hours, and the cadets had gathered on the field where, during the summer, corn had been raised. It was to be a battle between the two companies of the school battalion, with the company captain as leader on each side.
The preliminary rules were speedily arranged. Lines were drawn at either end of the field, about five hundred feet apart. In the center, about a hundred feet apart, two other lines were drawn. Along the latter lines the cadets arranged themselves.
"Now then, fighting will begin when the school-bell rings out four!" cried the cadet who had been made referee. "The company that chases the other company over its back line wins the contest. No fighting with anything but snow allowed. Anybody using his fists, or a stone, or a lump of ice, will be ruled out of the contest."
With all possible speed the young soldiersstarted to supply themselves with snowballs, and soon each had ten to twenty in his hands and pockets and under his arms or at his feet.
"Get ready!" shouted Bart, as he glanced hastily at his watch.
"Give it to 'em hot when the bell rings!" came from Henry Lee.
Half a minute more and the Hall bell commenced to toll out the hour. The bell had not yet ceased to ring when there came a grand shower of snowballs from each company. The shower was so thick that a few of the snowballs hit each other.
"Forward!" shouted Captain Bart.
"Forward!" echoed Captain Henry.
And then the two long lines of cadets rushed forward over the snow-covered field until they were within thirty or forty feet of each other. Then came another shower of snowballs.
"Wow!" yelled one cadet. "Oh, my nose!"
"Cæsar's helmet! That hit me in the eye!" came from another.
"Say, don't try to knock out all my teeth!" added a third.
"Charge!" yelled the captain of Company A. "Charge! Get 'em on the run right now!"
"Stand firm!" came from the commander of Company B. "Now then, fire!"
The rush of Company A was met with an extraheavy volley of snowballs. The cadets staggered under the onslaught and then came to a halt.
"Now then, up and at 'em!" yelled Captain Bart. And yelling like wild Indians, his command charged on Company A. The snowballs flew thick and fast, and slowly but surely Company A was forced to give ground until it stood on the line from which it had started. But by that time Company B was out of ammunition and had to pause to manufacture more snowballs.
In the ranks of Company A were Ritter, Coulter and Paxton. Paxton had of late somewhat dropped the others, but Reff and Gus were as thick as ever. They were now standing side by side.
"Say, I'd like to give it to Ruddy and those others," muttered Coulter.
"So would I," whispered Ritter in return. "Confound 'em, I'd like to know if they really know the truth about the bicycles."
"I don't see how they found out; nobody was around when you fixed 'em up."
"Maybe somebody was spying; that sneak of a Mumps, for instance."
"If he was, and told on us, I'll fix him for it."
Both cadets were making snowballs near a hollow. As Ritter scraped the snow up he uncovered several jagged stones.
"Say, look here!" he whispered, and pointed atthe stones. "Let's fix up some special snowballs for Ruddy & Company!" he added with a knowing look at his crony.
"All right; but be careful you are not caught," answered Gus Coulter.
Both cadets got down close to the jagged stones and adroitly slipped several of them into the snowballs they were making.
"Wait till we are pretty close," directed Ritter. "Then let drive for all you are worth."
"Who will you aim at?"
"Ruddy and Ditmore."
"All right, I'll aim at Snow; and I'll let Ruddy have one, too."
Again came a ringing war-cry, and in a moment more the battle was continued. Back and forth swayed the lines of cadets, first towards one end of the field and then towards the other. It was plainly to be seen that the commands were about evenly matched.
"How long is this battle to last?" questioned Joe Nelson.
"Half an hour," answered Fred Century, who was beside him.
"Time is almost up, then," came from Bert Field, who had been fighting so hard he was almost out of breath.
"Five minutes more!" came from the referee."Now then, if either side is going to do something, pitch in!"
"Forward!" came simultaneously from both captains, and forward plunged Company A and Company B, and the snowballs commenced to fly as thickly as before. Neither side would give ground, and at last the two lines were within fifteen to twenty feet of each other, right in the center of the field.
The time was almost up, and each command was getting rid of the last of the snowballs, when Jack saw a snowball leave Coulter's hand and sail swiftly towards Pepper. The Imp did not see it until it was quite close to him and failed in his attempt to dodge. The snowball hit him full in the temple and over he went as if struck with a club.
"Pepper!" cried the young major in horror, and started to rush to his chum's assistance, when another snowball came flying through the air. It struck Jack over the ear, and he, too, went down, all but knocked unconscious.
A bugle blew, and the great snowballing contest came to an end.
"A tie! A tie!" was the cry. "Neither side wins!"
"Let the two captains shake hands and call it off!" said one cadet.
"I'm willing!" cried Bart, readily.
"So am I," added Henry, and then the pair shook hands, while a great cheer rolled up from both sides. But the cheer came to an abrupt end when Fred Century cried out:
"Pepper Ditmore is hurt!"
"And so is Major Ruddy!" came from Emerald Hogan.
A crowd quickly gathered around each wounded cadet. Pepper had a nasty cut over the left eye and Jack had a lump behind his right ear.
"They must have been hit with soakers," was Dale's comment, as he bent over Pepper.
"Looks as if Pepper was hit with a stone," came from Andy.
"A stone!" cried Bart Field.
"Yes, a stone! That cut was never made by a snowball, or a piece of ice, either!"
"Shall I get a doctor?" asked Stuffer, anxiously.
"Oh, are they as bad as that?" asked Bob Grenwood.
"I don't know," answered Bert, soberly. "Wait a minute and we'll see if they come around."
"Oh, what a crack!" murmured Jack, and then he sat up and stared around him. Pepper was also stirring and he slowly put one hand to the cut on his temple.
"Let us carry 'em to the Hall," suggested Bert."It's getting too cold out here and besides, they are all in a sweat from the snowballing."
When Pepper was picked up, Andy saw something lying beneath him in the snow. He picked it up.
"Hello! look here!" he called out, and held the object up.
"A stone!"
"Where did it come from, Andy?"
"It was under Pepper's body. I believe it was in the snowball that hit him!"
"Who would be so mean?"
"I rather guess I know," answered Pepper, and looked around for Ritter and Coulter, but the bully and his crony had disappeared.
Pepper and Jack were carried tenderly into the Hall and placed in easy chairs in the reception room. Presently both had recovered consciousness fully, and each had his head bound up in bandages.
"Phew, but that was a crack I got!" sighed The Imp. "I thought a rock had hit me!"
"It was Coulter who threw that snowball," said the young major. "I saw him do it, and I was running to help you up when I got struck myself, and went down."
"And I am pretty sure Ritter hit you, Jack,"came from Andy. "Anyway, I saw him aiming for you just before you staggered and fell."
"Andy, those fellows must have hit us with stones!" muttered The Imp.
"I feel sure they did. Ritter struck me with a snowball, on the hand, and it left a deep scratch. Now, no ordinary snowball would do that. Besides that, I picked up a sharp stone from where Pepper was lying."
"It was against the rules of the contest to use stones," put in Dale, who was near.
"Sure it was!" cried Stuffer. "If those chaps really used stones they ought to be punished for it."
The news quickly went the rounds, as was to be expected. When Henry Lee heard it he quickly sought out Captain Bart.
"I hope you don't think I allowed any such underhand work," he said anxiously.
"Not for a minute, Henry!" cried the captain of Company B. "If Ritter and Coulter did it, they did it on their own responsibility. I think them just mean enough, too, for they are down on Major Ruddy and Pepper Ditmore."
"If they are guilty, I'd like to have them court-martialed!" muttered the commander of Company A. "Such underhand work is a disgrace to Putnam Hall!"
"Wait and see if it can be proven," answered Bart Conners. "Then, if it is proven, we'll read Ritter and Coulter a lecture they won't forget in a hurry!" he added significantly.
That night it snowed again, and in the morning the storm raged furiously around Putnam Hall, so that the landscape on all sides was completely blotted out. The cadets had to remain indoors, and it was hard work to keep a path clear to the gymnasium and the stables.
"We'll be snowbound and no mistake," observed Andy. "Well, I don't care much; it will give me a chance to catch up in my lessons."
"Very far behind, Andy?" asked Jack.
"More than I like to think about, Jack. I want to graduate with honor, you know."
"Oh, we all want to do that."
"How's the head?"
"Still sore. But I guess I'll be all right again in a few days."
"How about you, Pepper?"
"I'll be all right, too, Andy. But it was a fiercecrack!" added Pepper, as his hand went up gingerly to his plastered-up cut.
"Going to lodge a complaint against Ritter and Coulter?"
"What good would it do? We can't actually prove that they used stones?"
"Let it pass. If we make a complaint it will only stir up more bad blood," said the young major. "But in the future I am going to watch Ritter and Coulter pretty closely."
The boys were kept at the Hall for all of that week, getting no further than the gymnasium for recreation. The wind blew furiously at times, so that the snow was piled up into numerous drifts, one reaching almost to the top of the carriage-shed, and another completely hiding the posts of the gate entrance.
"This must be tough on some of the farmers," observed Dale. "Think of trying to get the milk to the station in such weather."
"Well, a farmer usually has enough to eat," answered Stuffer. "That counts for a good deal. Now if a fellow was snowbound and didn't have any grub——" He did not finish but shook his head dolefully. To Stuffer such a fate was beyond words.
As was to be expected, Ritter and Coulter kept out of the way of Jack and Pepper. Once theyoung major met the pair on the stairs, but they simply glared at him and passed on before he could say a word.
During all this time Captain Putnam had been doing his best to solve the mystery concerning the disappearance of Jack's gold watch and chain. But, though all the hired help and the cadets and teachers were watched and questioned, nothing of importance came to light. Peleg Snuggers said he had once seen a strange man near the stables, and Captain Putnam wondered if that individual could have sneaked into the school and committed the robbery.
"But if he did that, why didn't he take more?" he said, in speaking of the matter to George Strong.
"I am sure I don't know, sir," answered the teacher. "For the matter of that, why wouldn't any thief take more, if he had the chance?"
"I give it up, Strong. This thing makes me feel sick."
"Well, we must keep our eyes open," answered George Strong; and then the conversation changed to the lessons for the next day.
On Tuesday morning, Pepper chanced to go to a bureau-drawer in which he kept his collars, cuffs, neckties and jewelry. He commenced to look forsomething and ended by turning out everything in the compartment.
"What's wrong, Pepper?" asked Jack. "Lost some diamonds?"
"It's my ruby scarfpin, Jack. Did you see it?"
"No, not for some time. Did you have it in that drawer?"
"I did."
"When did you wear it last?"
"The night we took dinner with the Fords."
"Are you sure you put it back when you came home?"
"Positive. I keep it in this case," and Pepper held up an empty jewelry case.
"Gracious! This is becoming interesting!" murmured the young major. "First my watch and chain and now your scarfpin!" He looked pointedly at his chum. "Pepper, do you think——" He stopped short.
"Think what, Jack?"
"Oh, I'd hate to say it, Pepper," and the young major shrugged his shoulders.
"Were you going to mention Ritter and Coulter?"
"I was. But maybe it wouldn't be fair. It's a terrible thing to think anybody a thief."
"That is true. But maybe they took them as a joke and hid them."
"That is past a joke."
Pepper continued to hunt around until it was time to go below. Then he marched straight to Captain Putnam's private office.
The captain listened with a sinking heart to what the cadet had to say. It was terrible to think that a thief was at large in the school and could not be caught.
"You are positive that you had the scarfpin when you came home, Ditmore?" he questioned.
"Yes, sir."
"And you put it in the case in the drawer?"
"I did."
"Was the drawer locked?"
"Part of the time. Sometimes I forgot and left the key in the lock."
"What sort of a scarfpin was it?"
"It was a sort of a clover effect, of gold, with a ruby and three small diamonds."
"And how much was it worth?"
"I believe my mother paid thirty-five dollars for it. It was a Christmas gift, so I am not sure about the value."
"Well, take another look for it and report to me again to-morrow," answered Captain Putnam, with a heavy sigh. Then, of a sudden, he added: "Do you suspect anybody of taking the scarfpin?"
"I have no clue whatever to the theft," answered Pepper, slowly.
"But have you any suspicions, Ditmore?" And the master's voice grew a trifle stern.
"Only in a general way."
"Please explain yourself."
"I—er—I hardly know what to say, sir," stammeredPepper. "There may be nothing in it at all."
"In what? Come, out with it."
"Why, you see, sir, some of the cadets in this school are not good friends with me and Major Ruddy, and maybe they thought they would play a trick on us by taking his watch and chain and my scarfpin."
"Humph! a mighty poor trick! Who are those cadets?"
"I don't want to accuse them, Captain Putnam."
"I understand. But who are the cadets?"
"Reff Ritter and Gus Coulter."
"Oh, yes, I remember now. You and Major Ruddy have had quite some trouble with them in the past."
"Yes, sir. But I'd hate to think they did such a mean thing as this," added Pepper, hastily.
"Well, take a look around and report again to-morrow," returned Captain Putnam; and then closed his desk slowly and thoughtfully.
Pepper did take a look around, but it was of no use. Not a trace of the missing scarfpin could be found.
"This certainly beats the nation!" remarked Dale, when the cadets were talking the affair over. "First Andy loses his jewelry, then Jack, and now Pepper. Wonder if I hadn't better put my cuff-links in the captain's safe?" And he cut a wry face. "They cost me a dollar and a quarter."
"I'll wager Captain Putnam would give a good deal to catch the thief," remarked Stuffer. "Say, Pep, I hope you don't suspect anybody in this dormitory?" he added anxiously.
"No, Stuffer," was the quick answer. Then Pepper broke into a grin. "Of course, if it was a doughnut, or a pie, I'd suspect you right off!"
"Huh! It's no crime to take something to eat!" grunted Stuffer.
"I'd hate to think any cadet was guilty," came from Emerald. "'Twould blacken the character of the whole school, so it would!"
"Well, Jack and Pepper have some bitter enemies," said Dale, significantly. And all present knew to whom he referred.
"Well, you can't always tell," said Dale, and shrugged his broad shoulders.
At that moment Fred Century came hurrying into the dormitory.
"Have you heard the latest news?" he cried.
"No, what is it?" questioned Andy.
"Maybe we are going to have an extra holiday," suggested Pepper.
"Better yet, maybe old Crabtree has resigned," added Jack.
"Perhaps Fred is going to give us a spread," came from Stuffer. "I'd like that first-rate."
"No, the news is more important than all that," came from Fred.
"Well, what is it, Fred?"
"Don't keep us on pins and needles any longer!"
"Well, the news is, that there have been more robberies committed here," answered Fred.
"More robberies!" came from half a dozen throats.
"Yes. The teachers were going to keep the thing quiet, but it leaked out through Mumps and Nick Paxton.
"What has been taken now?" asked Jack, curiously.
"A watch, a scarfpin, and a five-dollar gold piece."
"And who was robbed?" burst out Andy.
"The watch was taken from Paxton, the scarfpin from Ritter, and Coulter lost the five-dollar gold piece."
"Is it possible!" murmured the young major,and then he looked meaningly at his chums. Here was news indeed!
"When did you learn of this, Fred?" asked Dale.
"Just a few minutes ago. Mumps told me, and Paxton told Frank Barringer. Ritter, Coulter and Paxton went to the office to report. Mumps said Ritter was as mad as hops. Ritter's watch was only a silver affair, but he says it came down to him from his grandfather and was valuable as an heirloom."
"Well, this is certainly getting interesting," was Pepper's comment. "If that thief isn't caught he'll end up by cleaning out the whole school."
"After this, I am going to hide my valuables," said Dale.
"Ditto here," cried Stuffer. "I haven't got much, but what I own I want to keep."
A little later the cadets filed out of the dormitory, leaving Jack, Pepper and Andy together.
"Well, I am mighty glad I didn't accuse Ritter and Coulter," said the young major. "This puts something of a different light on the subject."
"But who is guilty, do you think?" asked Andy.
"I don't know what to think," answered the young major.
"This will drive Captain Putnam wild," came from Pepper. And he was right; the master ofthe Hall was worried as he had never been worried before. He made a rigid investigation, but it brought nothing new to light. According to the stories told by Ritter, Coulter and Paxton the articles stolen had been taken from their bureau-drawers, and that was all those cadets could tell about the mysterious affair.
"We must set a strict watch, Captain Putnam," said George Strong.
"And we must catch that thief," added Josiah. Crabtree, sourly. "I—I shall be almost afraid to go to sleep after this!" he added nervously.
"If these thefts keep on I don't know what I am going to do," said Captain Putnam, and his voice had a sound of despair in it.
For several days nothing was talked of at Putnam Hall but the mysterious disappearance of the students' watches and jewelry. The cadets could not get the matter off their minds, and as a consequence recitations became very poor.
"I shall offer a substantial reward," said Captain Putnam, and one afternoon a notice was posted in the school proper and in the gymnasium, offering one hundred dollars for information leading to the capture of the thief.
"Say, I shouldn't mind earning that reward!" murmured Dale.
"A fellow could have no end of a good time on a hundred dollars!" murmured Stuffer. "Think what a spread he could give!" And his eyes sparkled in anticipation.
"It would be a bad thing for Stuffer to get the reward," came from Andy.
"Why, I'd like to know?" demanded that cadet.
"Because you'd eat yourself into a state of acute indigestion."
"Rats! I don't eat any more than you do," grumbled Stuffer.
"Well, I don't see any chance of your getting the reward," was Jack's comment. "That thief had hidden his tracks well."
With the deep snow on the ground, drills had to be held in the gymnasium, and several contests were also arranged. The cadets got up a tug-of-war between one team headed by Pepper and another headed by Dale, and the excitement over this contest waged so high, that the thefts were, for the time being, forgotten.
The tug-of-war was held late one afternoon in the gymnasium. A line was drawn on the floor and the long rope laid across this. On either side wooden cleats were nailed down, so that the contestants might brace their feet.
The two teams consisted of eight cadets each. With Pepper were Andy, Jack, and Fred Century, while on Dale's side were Bart Field, Bart Conners and some other cadets already introduced.
"Now, then, Pepper!" cried one of his friends. "See what you can do!"
"Don't give him a chance, Dale! Yank him right over the line!" cried one of Dale's friends.
"I'll bet Pepper Ditmore loses," said NickPaxton, who was present. Ritter and Coulter had said they did not consider a tug-of-war between such teams worth witnessing.
Frank Barringer was timekeeper and referee, and at the appointed hour he made both teams line upandcatch hold of the rope.
"All ready?" he asked.
There was a moment of silence.
"Drop!" was the cry, and on the instant both teams tightened their holds on the rope and dropped down on the wooden cleats.
"Hold them, Pepper!"
"Don't let 'em haul you up, Dale!"
"Glue yourself down, Jack!"
"Stone foundation, Fred! Stone foundation!"
So the cries ran on, as the two tug-of-war teams held on to the long rope like grim death, each team determined not to give in an inch.
For fully five minutes the rope remained as when the teams had first dropped. Then, of a sudden, Dale gave a hiss and up came his men, to haul in on the rope several inches and then drop as before.
"Hurrah! that's the way to do it!"
"Every inch counts, boys!"
"Watch your chance for another!"
"Get it back, Pepper! Get it back!"
There followed another tense strain. Then Dale's team came up once more and brought rope in another six inches.
"That's the way to do it! Now then, a good, stiff pull and you'll have 'em over!"
"Wake up, Pepper! It's time you and your men got on the job!" cried Henry Lee.
"I knew Dale's team would win," said Paxton.
Hardly had Paxton spoken when Dale's team came up for another haul. But this time Pepper and his men were on the alert, and in a twinkling they commenced to haul in—six inches, a foot, a foot and a half and then two feet—and then they dropped, the strain being as much as they could stand.
"Hurrah! Look at that!"
"They got back all they lost and more!"
"Hold 'em, Dale! Stone foundation!"
A great many cries arose. Dale and his supporters braced back as well as they could. Then Dale gave the word to come up for another haul.
Back and forth went the rope, the center knot first on one side of the line and then on the other. For several minutes it looked as if Dale's team might win. But then the tide turned again, and with a strength that was surprising, Pepper's team gave "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together," and brought the center knot over the winning line.
"Hurrah! Pepper Ditmore's team wins!"
"Say, that was a great tug, wasn't it?"
"My foot slipped!" said one of Dale's supporters.
"So did mine," same from a cadet on the other side.
"It was a fair contest," said Frank Barringer. "Pepper Ditmore's team wins. My private opinion is, both sides did well," he added.
"They certainly did," was Mr. Strong's comment. He had watched the contest with interest.
After the tug-of-war came a contest on the flying rings. Here Andy was in his element, and the acrobatic youth easily outdistanced all of his competitors.
"Very good, indeed, Snow," said the gymnastic instructor. "Really, you go at it as if you were a professional."
"Say, Andy, some day you can join the circus," suggested the young major.
"Maybe his folks came from a circus," sneered Nick Paxton. "It isn't fair tobringin a professional."
"Sour grapes, Paxton!" cried Stuffer. "You know that Andy Snow's father is a business man in the city. Andy just takes to gymnastic exercises, that's all."
"Humph! I don't think such an exhibition much!"
"Just the same, Paxton, you'd give a good deal to do as well," retorted the youth who loved to eat, and turned his back on the other cadet.
Thanksgiving came and went in another storm. The snow was so deep that getting away from the Hall was out of the question, so those who had planned to go home for the holiday were somewhat disappointed. But Captain Putnam provided good cheer in abundance, with plenty of turkey and cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and nuts. For the evening the boys got up an entertainment in the assembly room, with monologues and dialogues, and also some singing by the school Glee Club, and some very good violin and mandolin playing. Pepper, Jack and Andy took part in the entertainment, and everybody but Josiah Crabtree enjoyed the exhibition. Crabtree did not believe in such "tomfoolery," as he expressed it, and told Captain Putnam the cadets should have given a Shakespearian recital, or something like that, instead.
"Perhaps so, Mr. Crabtree," answered the master of the Hall. "But as the boys are virtually snowed in, I thought I'd let them have a little fun."
After Thanksgiving the cadets settled down tothe grind once more, counting the days to Christmas, when they could go home for two weeks.
"I've got to go to Cedarville," said Jack, one afternoon, after the snowstorm had cleared away. "Who will go along? I am going to walk it, just for the exercise."
"I'll go!" cried Pepper.
"So will I!" added Andy. "Where are you going?"
"To the shoe shop and the postoffice."
The three cadets were soon on the way, Fred Century and Bert Field pelting them with snowballs as they left. It was cold but clear, and all were in the best of spirits.
"I see they've got a new man of all work around the school," observed Pepper, as the three trudged on. "I hope Captain Putnam doesn't think of discharging Peleg Snuggers."
"That new man is a sly kind of a fellow," came from Andy. "I was walking through the hallway last evening and he came up behind me as silently as a cat after a mouse."
"I've got my own idea about that man of all work," said the young major, with a faint smile.
"What do you mean, Jack?"
"If I tell you, will you keep it to yourself, both of you?"
"Sure!" was the prompt answer.
"Well, I don't think John Smith is a man of all work at all."
"He isn't?" cried Andy. "Then what is he?"
"I think he is a private detective."
"Oh, Jack! can that be possible!" ejaculated Pepper. "But it must be so, for I watched the fellow last evening, and he didn't do much work, and he didn't seem to like it that I had an eye on him."
"Of course, if he is a detective, Captain Putnam has engaged him to clear up this mystery of the robberies," said Andy. "Well, I don't blame the captain, for this is surely going to give the school a bad name."
"Don't breathe a word of this to any one," went on Jack. "Of course, if the thief knew a detective was so near he'd be more on guard than ever."
"I only hope he gets the rascal, whoever he is."
"Wonder if it can be one of the cadets?" mused Andy.
"I don't know. It is either some cadet or else one of the hired help. But it is an awful state of affairs," answered Jack.
"By the way, Jack, how about the new election of officers?" said Pepper, a little later. "Going to try for the majorship again?"
"No. Why should I? I've been major longenough. I believe in giving the other fellows a show."
"Who, for instance?"
"Well, I'd like to see Bart Conners made major. He's one of the best soldiers we have, and he keeps Company B up to the scratch."
"Bart is all right. But what about the other fellows?"
"Well, I am not so anxious about the captaincies. Let the best fellows win."
"I think Reff Ritter would like to be a captain or major."
"He never will be—he can't get the support. Why, hardly any of the cadets go with Reff any more. Even Paxton seems to have dropped him. About the only close friend he has is Gus Coulter."
"Maybe the boys have dropped him because his father is no longer rich."
"No, I don't think that, for quite a number of the cadets are far from rich and yet they are considered good fellows. It's Ritter's ways. He is too domineering. The fellows won't stand for his bullying manner."
"When does the election take place?"
"The tenth day of December—a week from next Wednesday."
"And you are sure you don't want to run again, Jack?"
"Yes, quite sure, Pepper. You can run if you want to." And the young major smiled broadly.
"Not for me!" cried The Imp. "I'd rather have my fun. And, by the way, I've got an idea for some fun with old Crabtree," he added suddenly.
"What is it?" questioned Andy, eagerly.
Pepper closed one eye suggestively.
"Just you wait and see," he answered. "Crabtree is going to wake up to a big surprise some morning—and when he does, well, maybe he'll stop chewing his victuals for awhile!"
As the cadets were good walkers it did not take them long to cover the distance to Cedarville. They stopped at a shoe store, and at a candy store for some chocolates, and then started for the postoffice.
"I guess Jack is looking for a letter from his best girl," remarked Pepper, with a grin.
"Maybe you're looking for a letter yourself," returned the young major.
"No such luck," and The Imp heaved a deep sigh. "None of the girls ever write to me."
"Rats!" came from Andy. "I saw you get a letter from Flossie Ford only a few days ago."
"I am looking for a check from dad," said Jack. "I want it to buy Christmas presents with."
"So early?"
"Better early than too late."
"That's true."
The three cadets entered the local postoffice. Asthey did so they came face to face with a big cadet, who was carrying a dress-suit case.
"Why, see, it's Dan Baxter!" cried Andy.
"Hello, Baxter, coming back to Putnam Hall?" queried the young major.
"I am," was the short answer of the bully.
"Been away quite awhile," put in Pepper.
"Yes," answered Baxter, shortly, and without another word he hurried out of the postoffice.
"Not very sociable," remarked Jack, dryly.
"He acts as if he had something on his mind," said Pepper.
"I wonder if he will be as bullying as he used to be," mused Andy.
"If he is, he'll get punched," answered Pepper. He had not forgotten his former encounters with Dan Baxter.
"It's queer that Baxter and Ritter don't hit it off better," said Pepper, while Jack was asking about letters. "They seem to be two of a kind."
"They are in some ways," answered Andy. "But, somehow, I think Ritter is the worse of the two."
In a moment the young major came up. He was smiling broadly.
"Here's the letter from dad, and what do you think? He sent me a check for ten dollars more than I asked for! Isn't that fine?"
"Best ever," answered Pepper.
"I'd like the same kind of a check," returned Andy.
"While you are wishing, make it double the amount—it doesn't cost any more," chattered The Imp.
From the postoffice the cadets strolled down the main street of the village, and then turned a corner near which were some new buildings.
"There is another cadet!" cried Jack, pointing ahead. "Hello, where is he going?"
He and his chums looked and saw the boy in the uniform of a Putnam Hall student enter an unfinished building. He was accompanied by a heavy-set man wearing a long overcoat and a soft hat. The two were in earnest conversation.
"That looked like Reff Ritter to me," cried Pepper.
"It was Ritter," answered Andy.
"Who was the man?" asked the young major.
"That is what I want to know!" cried Andy. "Say, I'm going to follow them!"
The acrobatic youth was plainly excited, and his chums could not help but notice it.
"What are you going to follow them for, Andy?" asked Jack.
"I want to see that man."
"Do you know him?"
"I don't know—yet. I want to find out."
"If we follow them Ritter will think it mighty queer," was Pepper's comment.
"I don't care—I want to get a good look at that man," answered Andy, doggedly.
The acrobatic youth led the way and his chums felt compelled to follow. Ritter and the stranger had passed between two buildings. They found a side doorway of one structure wide open, and stepped into a lathed but unplastered hallway. Andy bounded up on an unfinished front piazza and stepped through an open casement into a lathed but unplastered parlor.
"Shall we follow?" asked Pepper of Jack.
"Might as well," returned the young major. "Andy may get into trouble with Ritter, and if so we want to be on hand to help him."
Ritter and the man were talking in a low tone, so that what was said could not be overheard. They had stepped into the house to get out of the keen wind that had sprung up. Andy tiptoed his way across the unfinished parlor and applied his eye to a crack where a lath was missing. He watched until the man shoved back his soft hat and turned his face around. Then he uttered a low cry.
"See anything, Andy?" whispered Pepper.
"That man—he's the same fellow—I feel sure of it!" gasped the acrobatic youth.
"What are you talking about?"
"That man! Don't you remember how the horse ran away with me and I got caught in the tree and was knocked unconscious? Don't you remember my telling how I had seen a man ahead of me just before the accident? Well, that is the man!"
"Are you sure?"
"I think so. Of course, I didn't get a very good look at him—I had my hands full with the horse. But I think that is the man."
"Then maybe he robbed you, Andy!"
"Maybe he did."
"Don't say that unless you are sure of it," warned Jack. "It's a serious accusation and may get you into trouble."
"Oh, I know enough to go slow," answered the acrobatic youth.
Ritter and the stranger had turned to the rear of the house and the watchers saw something passed between them. Then, a minute later, Ritter turned and hurried off by a back way, while the stranger turned to leave by the way he had come.
Andy was undecided what to do, and while hestill hesitated the man came through to the front of the house.
"Hello!" he cried, as he caught sight of the three cadets. "What are you doing here?"
"Perhaps we might ask the same question," returned Jack, as he saw that Andy did not know what to say.
"Have you been following me?" demanded the man, suspiciously.
"Why should we follow you?" asked Pepper.
"No reason at all, so far as I know. I only asked the question," and now the man tried to speak as carelessly as possible.
"I saw you come in here a few minutes ago and I followed, because I want to speak to you," said Andy, shoving to the front and eyeing the fellow closely.
"What do you wish to speak about?"
"Haven't I met you before?"
At these words the man started, but quickly recovered.
"I don't think so," he answered slowly, looking Andy straight in the eyes. "You see, I am a stranger in Cedarville."
"Didn't I meet you in September, on the road back of Putnam Hall school?" asked the acrobatic youth, sharply.
"In September?" The man shook his headslowly. "No, I wasn't here in September—I was in Boston."
"You are sure about that?" demanded Andy.
"Certainly I am sure," growled the man. "Do you doubt my word?"
"If it wasn't you it was a man who looks very much like you," said Andy, pointedly. "Will you tell me your name?"
"It's none of your business, boy! I never met you, and that settles it. I'm in a hurry now, I've got to get to Ithaca, so I'll thank you to let me pass." And so speaking the stranger brushed forward. Andy put out his hand, as if to detain him, but then changed his mind. In a moment more the man was hurrying down the street. He turned the nearest corner without looking back.
"I believe he is the same fellow, and I believe he robbed me!" cried Andy.
"Possibly he is, but you are not sure of it," answered the young major. "And it would be foolhardy to have him arrested when you have no evidence against him."
"He acted as if he was scared," came from Pepper. "That growl of his was all put on."
"I wish I had forced him to give me his name and address."
"That's true."
"You can get that from Reff Ritter."
"Providing Ritter will give it," added Jack. "He may be as backward about it as the man was himself."
"Why should he be, if the man is honest?"
"Perhaps he won't want it known that he met the man," said Pepper. "He came in here rather sneakingly."
"Where did Ritter go?"
"To the Hall, most likely. It's time we got back, too."
The three cadets left the vicinity of the unfinished buildings and were soon on the way to the school. As they trudged along they talked over what had happened, and also discussed the arrival of Dan Baxter.
"Baxter will try to stir things up," said Jack. And he was right, the bully did stir up the whole school, but it was not until the next term, after the young major had left.
About half the distance to Putnam Hall had been covered when the three cadets discovered a crowd ahead of them.
"Who are those fellows?" asked Pepper.
"Pornell Academy lads," announced Andy. "And see, they have spotted us!"
He was right, the other crowd, nine strong, were students from Pornell. They were led by Roy Bock and a fellow named Grimes. They hadbeen good-naturedly snowballing each other, but now they stopped.
"Three Putnam Hall cadets!" cried Bock. "Come on, fellows, here's a chance for sport."
"Let's snowball 'em good and proper!" exclaimed Grimes.
"Everybody on the jump!" yelled another Pornell youth.
"Let's surround 'em," was the suggestion offered.
"We'll hammer the daylights out of 'em," came from one lad, who could only be brave when backed up by a crowd.
"Yes, surround 'em, don't let 'em get away!" cried Bock. "Come on!" And he led the way on the run, making snowballs as he moved.
"I am afraid we are in for it!" whispered the young major, as he saw the rush of the Pornell students, each armed with all the snowballs he could carry.
"Shall we run away?" asked Andy. "I guess we can run as fast as they can."
"Never!" replied Pepper. "I am going to the Hall and on this road."
"So am I!" added Jack.
"Then let us rush 'em?" suggested Andy. "We can't stand and fight nine of 'em—we'll be snowed under."
"Rush it is," returned the young major. "Wait till I give the signal."
On came the enemy, and soon the snowballs were flying at a lively rate. It was growing dark, but the aim of the Pornell students was good and the chums were hit several times. They threwsnowballs in return, hitting Bock in the breast and Grimes in the chin.
"Come on, throw 'em over!" roared Bock. "Roll 'em in the snow!"
"And stuff some snow down their backs!" added Grimes.
"Now then, all together!" cried Jack. "Keep as close as possible! One, two, three!"
Side by side the three chums bounded forward, straight for the line of Pornellites. They came on swiftly and took the enemy by surprise. Jack bumped into Bock, hurling him flat, and Pepper bowled over Grimes. Andy bent low and caught another student by the legs, sending him over into a fourth, and both went flat. Then the three cadets caught a fifth and ran him along the road and into a hollow, where he went into snow up to his waist.
"Stop 'em! Stop 'em!" was the cry, but the Putnam Hall boys could not be stopped. Turning, they delivered a parting shower of snowballs, and then ran on, in the direction of the school.
"I guess the Pornell fellows will remember that for awhile," panted Pepper, when they felt safe.
"And just think of it—three to nine!" chuckled Andy.
"They thought they had us dead to rights,"came from Jack. "Well, I guess we showed them a trick or two they won't forget right away."
"Are they following us?" asked the acrobatic youth, looking back.
"I reckon not," replied Pepper, "Must have had enough," and he smiled broadly.
The three cadets were tired out from their long walk and the contest on the road, and when the school was reached all were glad enough to sit down and rest previous to having supper. Andy looked around for Reff Ritter, but that cadet kept himself out of sight.
"I'll see him after supper," said the acrobatic youth.
It was not until nearly bedtime that he got a chance to question the bully. He followed Ritter up to his dormitory, which chanced just then to be unoccupied.
"Reff, I want to talk to you," he said, when the bully was on the point of closing the door in his face.
"What do you want, Andy Snow? I'm not feeling well to-night, and I am tired out from a walk I took to Cedarville."
"I won't keep you long, Reff. I want to ask you about the man you met in Cedarville? What's his name?"
Reff Ritter stopped short and showed that the question took him by surprise.
"Man I met?" he stammered.
"Yes, the man you met at the new buildings in Cedarville."
"Who said I met any one?"
"We saw you, I and Major Ruddy and Pep Ditmore."
"Huh! Been spying on me, eh?" And Reff Ritter's face took on its old look of sourness.
"It was an accident. But I want to know who that man was."
"What for?"
"I have my reasons."
"I don't see that I am called on to answer your questions, Andy Snow. If I want to meet anybody I'll do it."
"Then you refuse to tell me who the man was?"
"Tell me why you want to know and maybe I'll tell you who he is," answered the bully, after studying the acrobatic youth's face for a moment.
"Very well. Do you remember the time the horse ran away with me and left me unconscious on the road?"
"I heard about it."
"Well, just before I was knocked unconscious I saw a man on the road ahead of me."
"Well?"
"I think it was the man you met this afternoon."
"That man?" cried the bully, and now he showed a sudden interest.
"Yes, and that is why I want to know his name, and where he comes from."
"You must be mistaken, Snow. That man doesn't belong around here."
"Where is he from?"
"I think he comes from Boston, but I am not sure."
"And his name?"
"Why do you ask these questions? Do you think he had something to do with your being thrown from the horse?"
"No, not with being thrown from the horse, Reff. But, if you'll remember, when I came to my senses my watch was gone, also my stickpin and eight dollars in bills."
"And you think that man took them?" questioned Reff Ritter, in a voice that sounded strained.
"I won't say that until I know more about the man. If you say he is a good, honest man, why then I'll be bound to believe I am mistaken."
"I don't know much about him, but I don't think he is a thief," answered the bully, slowly. "His name is Smith, Cameron Smith, and he is acommercial traveler. I only met him twice, once about two weeks ago and to-day. He knows my—er—my uncle, and is doing some business for him, and he wanted to see me about it, that's all. But I am sure you are mistaken about his robbing you."
"I didn't say he robbed me,—in fact, I am not positive he was the man I saw on the road."
"I don't think he was near Cedarville at the time. He spends most of his time around Boston. Is that all you want to know? If it is, I'm going to lie down and try to get some sleep," went on Reff Ritter, passing his hand over his forehead.
"Yes, that's all," answered Andy, shortly. "Much obliged." And he left the dormitory.
He was not at all satisfied with the way Reff Ritter had acted. Evidently the bully was much put out over the fact that his meeting with Cameron Smith was known.
"He didn't say much about what business he had with the man," mused Andy. "It all sounds rather fishy to me. Wish I had some way of finding out more about this Cameron Smith. Guess I'll write to some of my friends in Boston and see if they can find out anything about him." And Andy sent a letter the very next morning.
On this same day Pepper had a sharp wranglewith Josiah Crabtree. The dictatorial teacher accused Pepper of copying an example in algebra from another cadet, and a bitter altercation followed.
"I didn't do it, and I don't want you to say so!" flared up Pepper, his cheeks aflame.
"Ditmore, be silent!" roared Josiah Crabtree. "Not another word, or I'll send you to Captain Putnam!"
"I don't care—I didn't copy!" muttered Pepper. "It's a shame to say I did!"
"You'll stay in after school," commanded Crabtree, majestically.
The accusation, and the fact that he had to stay in when the others were allowed to go out and have their fun, did not suit The Imp at all. While he sat in the classroom all alone, he thought again of something that had come into his mind before.
"I'll do it!" he said firmly. "I'll do it to-night! I'll show him that he can't accuse me for nothing."
Since the fall term at Putnam Hall had opened Josiah Crabtree had been making frequent trips to Ithaca, to a well-known dentist located in that city. Although many of the cadets did not know it, a few, and among them Pepper, were aware that the teacher was having a new set of false teeth made. Now the teeth were finished, andJosiah Crabtree was wearing them with great satisfaction and not a little pride. He fancied that the new teeth added not a little to his personal appearance.
It was Pepper's plan to get hold of these teeth and hide them. How the trick was to be accomplished he did not yet know, but he resolved to watch his chances.
That evening, as luck would have it, Josiah Crabtree retired early. As was his custom, he placed his false teeth in a glass of water on a stand in his room. Watching through a keyhole, Pepper saw him do this, and then calmly waited for the teacher to go bed and fall asleep.
The door was locked, but The Imp was equal to the emergency. The room next to that occupied by Crabtree was vacant, and he entered this and threw open the window. The window of the teacher's apartment was less than three feet away, and the sash was pulled down a few inches to let in fresh air.
Pepper was not such an acrobat as Andy, but he quickly raised the next window and moved into the teacher's apartment. In a trice he had secured the new set of teeth, and then he retired as quickly as he had come, leaving both windows as he had found them.
"Now what shall I do with the teeth?" thecadet asked himself. He was strongly tempted to tell Jack and Andy of the trick, but decided to keep the matter to himself.
At last another idea came into The Imp's head and after everybody had apparently gone to bed he stole downstairs and entered the assembly room of the school. He had previously tied the set of teeth to a bit of fishing line having a sinker at the other end. He now took aim at the central chandelier and by good luck sent the sinker and line whirling around one of the pendants, leaving the set of teeth dangling below a foot or more.
"Won't there be a surprise when they see 'em up there!" he muttered. "And won't Crabtree have a job getting them down!"
"Oh, my, what a thing to do!" came a voice from out of the darkness. Pepper whirled around quickly, but the speaker had vanished, banging a door after him.
"Who was that?" was the question Pepper asked himself. He could not place the voice, and was much disturbed. Would the intruder, who had seen his actions, expose him?
"I'll have to chance it," he told himself rather dubiously. "I can't get the teeth down anyway. Too bad! I thought I was alone!" And then he hurried off to bed in anything but a comfortable frame of mind.