The mystery of Clanhammer Hall, at Woodcrest Military Academy,
interested Don and Jim Mercer and their friend Terry Mackson from the
moment of their arrival at Woodcrest. But their curiosity about the old,
empty building faded into the back of their minds as they became
involved in the mysterious disappearance of their headmaster, Colonel
Morrell, whom they had never seen. With initiative and ingenuity the
Mercer boys, aided by Cadet Vench, did a little detective work and
uncovered a fantastic story of crime. An exciting story of adventure for
modern boys.
Other titles in _The Mercer Boys Series_:
THE MERCER BOYS' CRUISE IN THE LASSIE
THE MERCER BOYS AT WOODCREST
THE MERCER BOYS ON A TREASURE HUNT
[Illustration: Dennings made Colonel Morrell a prisoner.]
_The Mercer Boys_
AT WOODCREST
_by CAPWELL WYCKOFF_
[Illustration: Falcon Books]
THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY
CLEVELAND AND NEW YORK
Falcon Books
_are published by_ THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY
_2231 West 110th Street · Cleveland 2 · Ohio_
W 3
COPYRIGHT 1948, BY THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
_CONTENTS_
1. Terry Makes a Mistake 7
2. Life at Woodcrest 17
3. Disturbing News 26
4. The Sunlight Message 34
5. The Man with the Key 42
6. Rapid Developments 54
7. Jim Makes an Enemy 66
8. The Fall Offensive 75
9. Under Fire 83
10. Rebellion 90
11. Vench Breaks Silence 99
12. The Paper Chase 108
13. Vench Is Astonished 118
14. The Postscript 126
15. The Journey in the Night 134
16. Vench Learns Something 143
17. In Clanhammer Hall 152
18. Don Meets the Colonel 161
19. Vench Is Mysterious 171
20. The Major Makes a Move 182
21. The Surprise Attack 191
22. The Man on the Ice 199
23. The End of the Mystery 205
_1. Terry Makes a Mistake_
"Pardon me," said the red-headed boy with a grin, "but what is that old
jalopy over there?"
The tall young man on the station platform turned and looked with a
slight frown at the battered station wagon across the street. He was
dressed in a gray uniform and wore a tall military hat. The letters W.
M. I. in gold showed plainly on the hat. It meant Woodcrest Military
Institute, and Lieutenant Sommers was an important part of that
institution.
Two boys who had just stepped from a train at Portville station grinned
and nudged each other. They were nice-looking young boys, with sandy
hair, freckles, and lean faces browned by exposure to the wind and sun.
Don Mercer whispered to his brother:
"Terry's at it again. He's forever fooling around and playing jokes on
someone."
Jim Mercer laughed. "Looks like he's trying to get a rise out of that
cadet officer. Golly, Don, is it possible we'll be wearing uniforms like
that soon!"
Lieutenant Sommers turned to look coldly at the genial-looking boy with
the mop of red hair. "That," said he with precision, "is the school
station wagon."
"I see," murmured Terry. "And those things in the front are headlights,
aren't they?"
"That's what I've always called them," retorted the Lieutenant, growing
still colder.
"Thanks. Is the school far away? I mean, could I walk it?" Terry
pressed.
"Not very well. Why should you want to walk it?"
"That station wagon looks like it's ready to fall apart and I don't care
for the wild tilt of that chassis. Look at the way it leans to one side!
I was just thinking----"
"Don't," cut in the lieutenant, a faint spot of red showing in his
cheek. "Judging by appearances, thinking would make a wreck of you
physically and mentally!" He turned to the six or seven boys, all in
civilian clothes, who had listened with ill-concealed delight to the
conversation. "All those who are bound for Woodcrest please follow me."
Turning on his heel he walked toward the station wagon.
Terry chuckled and started off. But at that moment two pairs of strong
hands clutched him.
"Hold on there, Chucklehead!" commanded Don Mercer.
"Where are you off to in such a rush, kid?" called Jim.
The three boys shook hands heartily. They were the best of friends and
had spent the previous summer on a cruise down the coast of Maine.
During that time they helped capture a gang of marine bandits who had
been pilfering the coast for some time. Don and Jim were sons of a
wealthy lumberman of Bridgewater, Maine, and Terry, who had only a
mother and sister, lived in a town near them. They had been school
friends and Terry had won a scholarship to Woodcrest Military Institute
during the previous spring. Both Jim and Don had no future plans, and
wishing to be with their cheerful comrade, whose bobbing red head had
earned him the name of Chucklehead, they had enrolled in the same
school. Now, after an exciting summer, details of which were related in
the first volume of this series, _The Mercer Boys' Cruise in the
Lassie_, they had met on the platform of the Portville station in New
York State, ready to begin school again.
"It's swell to see you guys," greeted Terry. "Were you on the train I
came in on?"
"No, we just arrived on the later one," offered Jim. "What were you up
to with that lieutenant?"
"Oh, nothing," confessed Terry. "He was so dignified looking that I
couldn't help leading him on a little, that's all. Hey, let's go. If we
don't get a move on he'll court-martial us as soon as we get to the
school. He had me with that last crack, didn't he?"
The boys picked up their suitcases and climbed into the station wagon,
the three friends sitting in the first seat back of the driver. The
driver was a little man with scant gray hair who took no particular
notice of them, but drooped unemotionally in the forward seat. After
seeing that all of the new members were safely in, the correct-looking
lieutenant climbed up beside the driver.
"Let's go, Ashley," he directed.
The driver stepped on the starter but the car stalled before lurching
down the road toward the distant hills and woods. The three friends had
plenty to talk about, but the rest of the boys were silent. Most of them
were making their first trip away from home and all were strangers, so
they sat in silence and watched the scenery. The boys on the first seat
gradually grew quiet too and enjoyed the magnificent view unfolded in
the sweeping hills and rolling woods from which the academy had derived
its name.
The seats of the station wagon were plain board planks and the legs of
the boys dangled in plain view beneath them. Right in front of Terry
were the gray-clad legs of the lieutenant, and the boy's eyes wandered
more than once to them. A thoughtful look came into his gray eyes and he
began to feel in the lapel of his coat. From it he drew two pins and
then leaned over to Don.
"Got a piece of string with you?" he whispered.
Don shook his head and Terry repeated his question to Jim. The younger
Mercer unwound one which had been twisted around the handle of his
suitcase and handed it to Terry.
"What do you want with it?" he asked.
Terry winked but did not reply. He looked once searchingly at the back
of the lieutenant and then bent the pins, much like primitive fish
hooks. Then, taking the string, he tied it from one pin to the other.
The boys watched him intently.
The two pins having been joined together by an eighth-inch length of
string, the red-headed boy leaned down and passed one hook carefully
through the sharply creased trousers of the cadet in front of him. It
dangled there, and Terry sat back to look for danger. Nothing happened,
and he once more bent down, this time to lift the cuff of the trousers
and slip the second pin into it. The operation was accomplished without
accident, and the lieutenant had one leg of his trousers drawn up for a
space of four or five inches.
The boys in the station wagon grinned broadly when they saw what Terry
was driving at, but the red-headed boy looked calmly away to the hills.
Totally unconscious of the fact that he was the object of their mirth
the important young officer stared straight ahead of him. Out of the
side of his mouth Terry spoke to Don.
"It will be tough, if one of those pins sticks his leg."
Nothing of the sort happened. The attention of the boys was now drawn to
the view that suddenly unfolded as they topped a final rise of ground.
Before them, at the top of the ridge, against the dark background of the
surrounding woods, was Woodcrest Military Academy itself, with its
ivy-covered central hall, its two dormitories and its gymnasium and
boathouse. Back of the school a single large sheet of beautiful silver
water showed, the Lake Blair so often spoken of in the catalogue which
the boys had. On all sides trees and hills spread out until they were
lost in the distance.
"That's beautiful," breathed Jim, enthusiastically.
"I'll say it is," agreed Don, and Terry nodded. Don went on, "That
center hall must be Locke Hall, and the one to the right of it either
Inslee or Clinton. We got our rooms in Locke, on the second floor. Where
will you be located, Terry?"
"For the present I'm in Inslee," returned Terry. "I didn't know where
you fellows would go, so I didn't say anything. After a day or so I'll
try to see if I can't be transferred."
Nothing more was said until they drove up to the lawn before Locke Hall
and then the station wagon came to a stop. The lieutenant jumped out and
faced the new boys.
"Step down out of there!" he commanded. "On the double, now!" They
obeyed and faced him, casting furtive glances at his hiked-up trouser
leg. The lieutenant looked them over slowly and then once more addressed
them. "You are now to become students at this institution, and I would
like to say that from now on you'll have to give up some of the soft
things that you have been used to. Among them, some of your pet
foolishness." Here he looked straight at Terry, who returned the look
with bland interest. "You will acquire a measure of dignity and poise
that will make new men out of you. I am representative of the efficiency
and discipline of this school, and I hope we may expect as much from
each one of you. What are you laughing at?"
The question was addressed to the entire number of boys, so no one took
the responsibility of answering. The lieutenant turned away.
"Report at Locke Hall and register," he snapped, and strode off, the one
leg ridiculous in the extreme. The newcomers watched him with interest.
A brother lieutenant came out of Locke Hall and they saluted, and once
past him the other turned to look at the upraised trouser. Then he
grinned until, seeing the new boys looking, he composed his face and
passed them. Still unheeding the lieutenant went on until he met an
instructor, also in uniform, whom he saluted and would have passed,
except that the instructor stopped him.
"What has happened to your trousers, Sommers?" the boys heard the
instructor ask.
Sommers looked down at his right leg and then stooped and savagely tore
the pins and string out. With a savage glance he looked back at the
interested group of boys and his eyes blazed. Hastily saluting his
superior he hurried on, and the teacher, with a faint smile on his face,
resumed his walk.
"Well," sighed Terry. "That's over. Worked better than I thought it
would."
"You're lucky," laughed Don, as they made their way to the office. "I
wouldn't be surprised if he took it out on you later on."
Don and Jim registered first and then went off to their rooms, which
were on the floor above. Terry registered and awaited his orders.
"Inslee Hall," nodded the clerk, with an engaging smile. "Room 17,
second floor." He pointed out of the door. "Go to your left along the
path and you can't miss it. Supper at six o'clock. Next!"
Terry picked up his suitcase and went out of the screen door and out
onto the well-kept driveway. A wide expanse of lawn spread out before
him and off in the distance he saw the hall which was to be his
dormitory. Just beyond it he could see the roof of another building that
they had not been able to see from the main road. Terry was not sure
which of them was Inslee Hall, especially as the path ran, after a
split, to both of them.
"Must be the one in the rear," he thought, and started toward it. After
skirting a clump of high bushes and a fringe of fine trees he saw the
hall before him, an old wooden building with three chimneys and broad
windows. The path which ran to it was not as well kept and Terry
wondered at that. Drawing nearer to the place he was amazed at the
neglected appearance of the place. Close to the building weeds grew in
careless profusion, and the steps were covered with brushwood and dirt.
Terry was frankly puzzled.
"I'll want to get a transfer from this place in a hurry," he murmured.
"Funny, there doesn't seem to be anyone around."
He stepped up on the stone steps and looked in the narrow windows that
flanked the main door. At once he saw his mistake.
"This isn't the place," he decided. "This place is deserted. Wonder what
kind of a place it is?"
He pressed his face close to the glass and looked in. The main hall of
the old building was before him, and a desk, two chairs and a bookcase
stood there. Thick layers of dust covered everything. In the back of the
hall a curving flight of stairs ran up to the second floor.
"This place hasn't been used for years," thought Terry, about to turn
away. Just at that moment a white door at the far end of the downstairs
hall opened slowly and an old man appeared. In his hand he had a tin
tray, upon which were two plates of meat and potatoes. Steam rose from
the tray, and as the old man shuffled slowly forward Terry noticed that
he held a lighted candle in his hand.
"Somebody does live in the place," he thought. "Wonder they wouldn't
clean up a bit."
At that moment the old man looked up and saw him. With an expression of
terror he blew out his candle, at the same time stepping into a doorway
and out of sight. Terry stared in amazement.
"Well, what do you know about that!" he gasped. "Poor old guy must have
thought I was a ghost or something. Well, I'm in the wrong place, I can
see that." He stepped back and looked up at the front of the building.
On a board sign, its letters almost rubbed out by the elements, was a
name painted in white. It said "Clanhammer Hall."
"Clanhammer Hall," mused Terry, turning away. "According to my
catalogue, that was the original building of Woodcrest School. Well, it
isn't much of a place now, I can tell you. I wonder why that old man
ducked out of sight when he saw me?"
_2. Life at Woodcrest_
He had no further trouble finding Inslee Hall and once there room 17 was
easy to find. Two newcomers were already there, young fellows by the
name of Harlow and Murray, and Terry got acquainted with them before he
left to go to Locke Hall. He stowed his belongings away and then went
over to the main hall to look up his friends. He found them in room 21,
a large pleasant room in the front of the main building. They were
arranging things around the room when he entered and he sat on the extra
bed and watched them.
"Just saw something awfully queer," he informed them, when they had
finished.
In answer to their inquiries he told them of his experience at
Clanhammer Hall. Both of the boys were interested but treated the matter
lightly.
"They must use the place for something special," Don suggested.
"That's all well and good, but that doesn't explain why that old guy
ducked into the doorway the way he did. No, I feel that there is
something more in it than that. However, perhaps we had better keep it
to ourselves, at least until we are a little better acquainted around
here."
The Mercer brothers agreed that this plan was best. Just at that moment
a knock sounded on the door. Jim called, "Come in."
The door opened to admit a fine-looking fellow in full uniform with
stripes of a cadet captain. He had a nice smile and the newcomers felt a
friendliness toward him at once.
"How do you do, boys?" greeted the cadet. "I am Captain Rhodes of the
senior class, and I've come to look in on you. One of the traditions of
the seniors here is to make fourth class men feel at home, and so I've
come to introduce myself. I'm not intruding, I hope?"
"Not at all, Captain Rhodes," replied Don. "Very glad to have you, and
we appreciate your tradition. I am Don Mercer, and this is my brother
Jim. This is Terry Mackson."
"Glad to know you all," nodded the captain, shaking hands with them. "Is
this the fellow who pinned up Sommers' trousers?"
"My fame has run before me!" murmured Terry, smiling.
"Yes, Terry's the culprit," laughed Don. "A bad boy all around, always
into something, but he means well, Mr. Rhodes."
"I don't doubt it," returned the cadet. "You may drop the mister,
Mercer. Speaking of Terry's well-meaning attempt on Mr. Sommers, I can
safely say that no harm was done except a temporary bruising of the
lieutenant's feelings. He is our prize dignitary, but underneath a very
nice fellow. Nothing mean about him, but simply filled with a spirit of
military efficiency. Well, how do you think you are going to like
Woodcrest?"
The boys assured him that they thought they would like it very much.
Rhodes went on to tell them a few things about the school and to praise
their colonel.
"Colonel Morrell is a fine man," he said. "We all look up to our
headmaster. He isn't here yet, but will be in a day or so. At present we
are in the charge of his assistant, Major Tireson. The colonel is a
little short, fat fellow, full of good humor and every inch a man. Have
you seen the grounds yet?"
"We've been busy unpacking," replied Jim. "But Terry saw some of them.
He's rooming over at Inslee."
"I didn't see much," put in Terry. "I did see that old dormitory in the
back, Clanhammer Hall. Isn't the place used any more?"
"No, and it hasn't been for a number of years. It was the original hall
of the school, in fact, the only building when the school was first
started, but it was condemned some years ago as a fire trap and hasn't
been used since. Colonel Morrell is going to have it cleaned out this
year and opened up as a sort of memorial of the original school. As far
as I know no one has been in it for years."
"No one in it now?" asked Terry, quickly.
"Oh, no. No one ever goes in it. I don't know who has the key for it." A
bell sounded loudly in the hall and the senior got up. "That is warning
bell for supper," he explained. "You have ten minutes to wash and report
at the dining hall, downstairs. I'll see you after supper, perhaps."
"You notice that Rhodes said no one had been in that hall for years,"
reminded Terry a few minutes later, as they walked down the stairs.
"Yes," said Don. "There seems to be some sort of a mystery there."
The boys were assigned places at the table and enjoyed their first meal
at the academy. After the meal the boys were free to roam, and they
walked all over the place, visiting the gymnasium, the boathouse, and
the other dormitories. They walked along the margin of the beautiful
lake and on the way back they passed Clanhammer Hall, dimly seen in the
dusk.
"It certainly looks deserted now," commented Jim.
"Yes," said Terry. "It did when I first saw it. Suppose we ought to look
in the windows?"
"I wouldn't," declared Don. "We're new here, and have no right to snoop.
Perhaps we will later on."
Before retiring they sat around their room and Rhodes paid them a brief
visit, bringing with him two other senior class men, Merton and Chipps.
Merton was a tall blond fellow; Chipps was small and energetic. They
talked of sports and Rhodes asked them if they planned to come out for
football.
"I hardy think so," answered Don. "During this first year we want to pay
particular attention to our studies, though we don't expect to neglect
athletics. But we have all been on track teams at home, and we expect to
go out for that here."
"That's a good idea," approved Chipps. "Most of our veterans of last
year have returned this year and the best you fellows could probably do
would be to get places on the scrub team. I think you'd do well to put
in a year training on the track team or the crew, and take up football
later on."
A warning bell sent the seniors back to their rooms and Terry departed
for Inslee. At ten o'clock the lights went out and the boys were in bed.
"Well, Don," commented Jim, as he lay in bed. "Tomorrow we'll get into
harness."
"Yes," his brother returned. "I guess we'd better get in a good night's
sleep. Bet you a dollar that we'll be ready for bed by this time
tomorrow night."
"I won't take you up," Jim retorted. "I have a sneaking idea you'll win.
'Night."
At seven o'clock in the morning a bugle pealed out and the Mercer
brothers woke to find the sunlight streaming in their windows. They
jumped out of bed, washed quickly and then went to chapel, meeting Terry
in the hall. When all of the cadets had been seated a thin man in the
uniform of a major came out on the platform and opened the session with
a prayer. After it was over he addressed them briefly, in a rather
sharp, precise voice.
"The second, senior and third classes will resume work as usual," he
announced. "The new members, those of the fourth class, will report for
lesson instructions, medical examination, uniform measurements, and
drill after dinner. Fourth class lessons will begin officially tomorrow
morning at eight-fifteen. I may say briefly that Colonel Morrell will
arrive either tomorrow or the day following, and until he does, you will
refer all questions to me, Major Tireson. That will be all for this
morning, boys. Report to the dining hall for breakfast."
After the morning meal the new boys found plenty to keep them busy. They
reported at five different classes and obtained books, went under a
rigid medical examination, and were then measured for their uniforms.
Before dinnertime the three friends walked out on the lawn, resplendent
in neat gray uniforms and black hats.
"By thunder mighty, as old Captain Blow used to say," commented Terry,
looking proudly at his sleeves. "I feel like the last word in
dressed-upness. Can't one of you guys get a full length mirror and hold
it up for me to see myself?"
"You saw yourself in the glass inside," laughed Jim.
"That wasn't enough," said Terry. "I want to look at me forever!"
After the noon meal they assembled on the parade ground and were lined
up in squads of eight. Under first, second and third class lieutenants
they were drilled.
"Oh, boy, look who we got!" whispered Terry, who was flanked on either
side by his two friends.
Lieutenant Sommers was their drill instructor and he was a thorough one.
But when they were finished Terry could not find any fault with the man.
He was not a bully nor even revengeful; he recognized Terry at once, but
he did not press him any more than the others. He was every inch a young
soldier and did his work with snap and precision, leaving completely
personal feeling out of it. Terry agreed with Rhodes' statement that
Sommers was a good fellow beneath his dignity.
After drill the boys were at liberty to do whatever they chose until
five-thirty and, with others whose acquaintance they had made by now,
they elected to go swimming in Lake Blair while it was yet warm enough
to do so. Terry went off to see about changing his dormitory.
"See if you can't get somewhere in Locke," Jim said, just before he
left. "We have an extra bed in our room, but I think someone is coming
to claim it in a day or so."
Terry came back and joined them in the boathouse, where the boys changed
into their trunks. Don and Jim, dripping wet, came out of the water as
he was changing into his trunks.
"What luck?" yelled Don.
"I got a place in Locke," said Terry, carelessly, pulling on his trunks.
"Whereabouts?" asked Jim.
"Room 21," answered Terry, innocently.
"Why, that's our room!" exclaimed Don.
"Sure it is! I found out that the boy who was to room with you isn't
going to turn up, so I got it. I'll bring my stuff over later on."
The boys were overjoyed at the prospect of being together and after an
invigorating swim in Lake Blair they helped Terry fix up his corner of
the dormitory room. After supper they had an hour to themselves and then
they began to study. Just before warning and taps they were visited by a
few friends.
"Well Jim, how do you feel about what I said last night?" asked Don, as
he got into bed.
Jim yawned with enthusiasm. "Just as I told you, you win, hands down. I
feel like a good sleep. That business of holding your little finger
against the seam of your trouser and making your back as straight as a
board is somewhat strenuous. But it certainly will straighten us up
some, though I never could lay any claim to being the least bit
round-shouldered. But I like the life here first rate. Let me have your
pillow."
Before Don could reply Jim took his pillow and hurled it at Terry who,
clad in a pair of blue pajamas, was staring out into the blackness of
the night. The red-headed boy turned and looked grimly at Jim. Then he
stooped down and scooped up the pillow.
"Cut it out, you two," ordered Don. "I hear that an Officer of the Day
looks in on us every night at this time to see if everything is okay
before the lights go out. I don't want to get called down because I
haven't a pillow on my bed. Let's have it, Terry."
The pillow was delivered through the air, with considerable force. Jim
grumbled.
"I just threw it at him to wake him up. What were you dreaming about
then?"
"I was just wondering about that old hall, and what is going on in
there," Terry replied, getting into bed.
"Oh, to heck with that old hall!" snorted Jim. "Forget it!"
A third classman, Officer of the Day, looked in the door and around the
room. "Okay, gentlemen," he said quietly and withdrew. The lights went
out suddenly. For a minute all was silent. Then, from Terry's bed:
"Forget nothing! There is something wrong there, and I'd like to find
out what it is!"
_3. Disturbing News_
A week passed and the boys settled without difficulty into the routine
life of Woodcrest Military Institute. They began to enjoy their classes
and the drill, which each day seemed to become less burdensome and
rigorous. In the afternoons they reported for track work. The evening,
while mostly devoted to study, gave them plenty of time for visiting
friends and having some good wholesome fun, and at the week's ending
they found that they thoroughly enjoyed their life at the institute.
Colonel Morrell had not as yet appeared at the academy and the boys from
Maine were anxious to see him. No one seemed to know precisely what the
trouble was, and even Major Tireson seemed to have something on his
mind. Not that the routine was at all broken by the colonel's absence.
Things went along as smoothly as they did when the headmaster was
present, and aside from a few statements of wonder, expressed by the
cadets, nothing was thought about the matter until one evening during
their second week at school.
Don and Jim had gone to their room and had been studying for about
fifteen minutes when Terry burst into the room.
"What's the big rush?" asked Jim, looking up from his book with a slight
frown.
"You guys heard the news?" Terry blurted out. "Of course you haven't, or
you wouldn't be sitting there calmly studying."
"We haven't heard anything but your mad rush in the door," said Don,
laying down his book. "Suppose you tell us what's up?"
"What do you think? Our colonel has disappeared!"
"What?" cried the Mercer boys, in a breath.
Terry bounced onto the bed. "Yes, sir. The news leaked out tonight. I
didn't get all of the details, but he was on his way down here and
suddenly disappeared. Just vanished into thin air, if Colonel Morrell
could do that. I've heard he is pretty husky, so maybe he didn't just
float away, but he's gone!"
"Where did you hear this?" inquired Don, study forgotten.
"Down at the office. I went down there to get some supplies and a
detective was talking to Major Tireson. The detective talked in a loud
voice, and three or four of us heard every word he said. The colonel's
brother hired detectives and they are searching for him. Major Tireson
was saying that he had received a telegram from Colonel Morrell just
before he left for the school here, and that was all that he knew. From
the expression on the major's face I could see that he didn't want us to
know it and would like to have kept it quiet, but it's out now."
Before the boys could reply to this astonishing piece of news a knock
sounded on the door and a moment later Rhodes, Merton and Chipps came
in. The three upper classmen had become quite friendly with the fourth
class men during their short period of time at the school and were in
the habit of dropping in evenings to talk over school topics with them.
It was evident that the same subject was on their minds.
"Well," remarked Rhodes after one look at their faces. "I see you
fellows have heard the news, too."
Jim nodded. "Yes, we have, and we're terribly sorry to hear it, too.
Terry was down in the office and heard it there."
"You'd be even sorrier if you knew the colonel as we do," put in Cadet
Merton, seating himself on Jim's bed. "Charlie, here, has the latest.
Tell them about it, Rhodes."
"The major called in the cadet captains," began Rhodes. "And he told us
the news. I don't think he would have allowed the cadet body to know
what had happened if some of the boys hadn't heard it in the office. He
told us to keep things running in our respective classes much the same
as usual, and he was confident that everything would turn out all right
in the end. The details are these: Colonel Morrell started for the
school here last Wednesday, on the afternoon train. He lives up in
Rockwood, New York, and he should have arrived at Portville at about
seven o'clock. He had previously wired the major that he would be here
at that time, so he was expected. We fellows didn't know it, and of
course it wasn't until the last couple of days that we began to notice
that he wasn't here and to wonder why. The major must have been looking
for him all the while, but he kept it to himself, although he told us
that he was very much worried. He felt that if the cadets didn't know
anything about it, it would be better.
"As I said, the colonel started for here on the afternoon train, and he
was supposed to come straight through. But for some unexpected reason he
did not. Instead, he got off at a way station about sixteen miles from
here, a little village called Spotville Point, and from that time to the
present he hasn't been seen! At least, not by anyone who ever told of
it. The conductor on the train remembers that he got off there and that
he had either a letter or a telegram in his hand, and that was the last
ever heard of him. His brother wrote to him once or twice and then
learned from Major Tireson that he hadn't arrived here, so he got the
police and detectives into action at once, so far without any result.
That's the whole story, and it's a very queer one."
"A queer one, and a distressing one," murmured Chipps. "I hope nothing
happened to our colonel."
"We're all with you on that," returned Rhodes.
"He had a letter or a telegram with him, you say?" inquired Don.
"That is what the conductor said. I suppose the colonel was pretty well
known, for he travels the railroad a couple of times a year, and has for
the last number of years. But his brother declares that he didn't have
any letter or telegram with him when he left the house, and they have
learned that he didn't get any at the station or postoffice on his way
down. Apparently there was nothing on his mind when he left his brother,
either, so it certainly does make a mysterious case."
"It surely does," agreed Jim. "And he stopped off at Spotville Point?"
"Yes, and that's a mystery in itself. I've been to Spotville Point
myself. In fact, we've all passed through it on our way to summer
encampment. Nothing to it except a dozen houses, most of them mere
shacks, with one or two good-sized estates and the one station. Not even
a postoffice."
"Then he couldn't have received a letter there," said Terry.
"No. Besides, he had it when he got off the train. He simply must have
had some reasonable excuse for getting off at a place like that. After
he did get off no one saw which way he went. The man in the little
station doesn't even remember having seen anyone on that afternoon."
Don glanced at the calendar. "That was last Wednesday, you say. That was
October third, wasn't it? Well, we've never seen Colonel Morrell, but
from what we hear, he must be a very fine man, and we sincerely hope
they find him quickly."
"My only regret," drawled Chipps, "is that they don't turn the whole
cadet corps loose to hunt him up! I'll venture to say that we'd find him
if we had to scour the whole country to do it!"
"If wanting to find him would accomplish anything, we'd find him in
short order," said Merton.
"If he should not turn up we'd have Major Tireson for headmaster, I
suppose," ventured Jim.
Rhodes nodded, but not cheerfully. "Yes, and I'm sure the fellows
wouldn't like that. Not that Major Tireson is a tyrant or anything like
it, but he simply isn't in the same class with the colonel. You can't
get close to him, if you see what I mean. Why, any guy in the corps
could walk up to the colonel and talk to him without fear of being
frowned down on, but the major is pretty much aloof. I personally like a
man you can feel respect for and yet know him in a friendly way, but you
can't do that with the major. So here's hoping our beloved colonel turns
up safely."
"We won't think of any other possibility," maintained Merton, stoutly.
"If we don't think of getting in some studying pretty soon," reminded
Chipps, who stood at the head of all of his classes, "we'll all do growl
duty tomorrow."
The new boys knew that "growl duty" meant remaining in after hours to
brush up on lessons. The three upper classmen departed for their rooms,
leaving the Mercers and Terry alone.
On the following morning the school buzzed with subdued excitement and
the cadets lost no time in assembling in the chapel. When Major Tireson
appeared on the platform he looked rather tired and worried and he was a
little sharp in his tone as he led the morning exercises. When they were
over he addressed the eager boys.
"You have all heard the story of what happened to Colonel Morrell," he
began. "I am sorry to say that it is true, but hasten to assure you that
there need be no cause for excitement or worry over it. There is always
some good reason for even the most mysterious things, and I'm sure that
some day we will know just why Colonel Morrell went away as he did. In
conclusion I want to say that I feel the colonel would want things to go
on as usual, so see to it that all matter of routine is carried out with
the same efficiency as when the colonel is here. Until he is here I will
be in complete charge. Remember that. Assembly is dismissed."
"He didn't have to lay so much stress on efficiency," grumbled
Lieutenant Sommers, as they made their way to the breakfast hall. "We
have a spirit of the corps in this school, if he doesn't know it!"
Classes lagged that day, for the boys all had their minds on the missing
colonel and his possible fate. Drill was carried through with its
accustomed snap, justifying the statement of Lieutenant Sommers. In the
evening the boys talked a good deal and several frequented the vicinity
of the office, to be on hand in case anything new turned up. But nothing
did, and when taps sounded the cadets went reluctantly to bed.
_4. The Sunlight Message_
The week drifted on with no word of the colonel and the cadets ceased to
talk about his disappearance. Each one of them thought constantly of the
missing man but the subject had been talked out, especially since there
were no additional details. On Saturday the cadets always enjoyed a half
holiday, and on that day Don, Jim, Rhodes and Terry went rowing on Lake
Blair.
Inspection took up most of Saturday morning, but there was no drill and
no athletic training, although all of the football games and baseball
games were played on Saturday afternoons. In between seasons the cadets
spent Saturday afternoons amusing themselves as they saw fit, some of
them going to town, or swimming when it was warm enough to swim, or
finding other amusements. The four friends had been to the village and
had bought some things, and now, upon their return to the school, Don
proposed that they go rowing.
"Can't keep you off the water, I see," Terry grinned.
Don shrugged his shoulders. "I do love it, to tell you the truth.
However, going rowing will be slightly different than sailing the
_Lassie_, if that is what you are referring to."
"That's what," nodded Terry. "I haven't been on the water as much as you
have, but I won't be sorry to go out myself."
They went down to the boathouse on the lake and dragged out a large
flat-bottomed rowboat which the cadets used whenever they liked. After
launching it Rhodes and Jim took the oars and the other two sat in the
stern. The two at the oars sent the boat out from the shore.
"Where away?" inquired Rhodes, looking at the two in the stern.
"I don't care," returned Don, lazily. "You might as well row around the
lake and back. We haven't seen all of it yet."
"Do you expect to sit back and see me do all the work?" demanded Jim.
"Hadn't thought much about it!" grinned Don. "Aren't you?"
"Like heck I am," retorted Jim.
They rowed down the lake to the point where it narrowed into a mere
creek and then started up the opposite side, across from the school.
Lake Blair was a body of blue water about three miles long and a half
mile wide, deep only in the center, and it made a fitting setting for
the old school. Thick trees ran down to the shore, and now that autumn
was at hand the leaves on the trees had turned a multitude of brilliant
colors.
"This is certainly one swell place," commented Terry enthusiastically.
"Yes," nodded Rhodes. "I love it. I don't think there is any place I'd
rather be."
"Then you'll be sorry to graduate," observed Don.
Rhodes smiled. "No, I won't. I'll let you fellows in on a little secret
of mine. After I have graduated Colonel Morrell, provided everything is
all right, is going to make me permanent drill commander. So I will stay
here for some years to come."
"That's great," said Jim, heartily. "I hope, for your sake, that the
colonel turns up all right."
"I hope he turns up all right for his own sake. You fellows like this
lake? Well, so do I, but even as beautiful as it is now, there is a time
when I like it better. I like it in the winter, when it is a sheet of
ice, and we have the best skating in the world. At night we build big
bonfires along the shore and have a heck of a good time. That's when you
will like it."
When they had rowed to the other end of the lake, which was little more
than a brook, the boys changed places and Don and Terry took the oars.
They rowed back toward the boathouse, keeping over near the further
shore, away from the school. On the bank directly opposite the boathouse
a fine tree bent over the water, and the boat drifted under this. The
boys pulled in the oars and sat there talking.
The sun was going down in the west and the back of Woodcrest was bathed
in a reddish-yellow light. All three of the main halls and old
Clanhammer shared the light of the declining sun, and a pretty picture
was created. After they had admired it for a time and had talked of many
things, Rhodes looked at his watch.
"It isn't exactly what you would call late, but maybe we had better be
getting back. We can take our time about it and maybe get in a little
fun in the gymnasium before suppertime. Shall we go?"
"All right," agreed Jim, picking up an oar.
But Don held up his hand. "Wait a minute, you guys. Don't pull out from
under these trees, yet."
"Why not?" inquired Rhodes. "What's up?"
"Look toward Clanhammer Hall," returned Don, who had been looking in
that direction. "Look at that upstairs window, over to the right."
The boys looked in the direction indicated by their chum. For a second
they did not see anything, then suddenly a flash of light came from the
window which Don had mentioned. It disappeared immediately and a second
came, which was steadier than the first, then other flashes followed.
"Wonder what that is?" asked Terry.
"Don't ask me," shrugged Rhodes. "I thought there was no one in that
place."
Don turned to Jim. "Doesn't that look to you like the Morse code?" he
asked.