THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS
On the following morning all of the cadets but Harry Moss appeared in
the messroom.
"Joe Davis says Harry is quite sick," said Powell to Dick.
"That's too bad. Have they sent for a doctor?"
"I don't know."
When Lew Flapp heard that Harry was sick he grew pale, and during the
morning session could scarcely fix his mind on his studies.
"I hope the little fool don't blab on us," was his thought. "If he does
there is no telling what the captain will do. He's altogether too
strict for comfort in some things."
No doctor was sent for, so it was finally agreed that Harry Moss was
not as ill as had been supposed. But the young cadet did not enter the
schoolroom for all of that day.
The sickness had frightened Captain Putnam, who was not yet over the
scarlet fever scare, and he questioned Harry thoroughly about what he
had been doing, and about what he had been eating and drinking.
At first the young cadet did not dare to tell the truth, but finally he
blurted out that he had taken a glass of liquor against his will and it
had turned his stomach in a most painful manner.
"Where did you get the liquor?" demanded Captain Putnam sternly.
"I--I--oh, must I tell you, sir?"
"Yes, Harry."
"I--that is, Lew Flapp--Oh, sir, I don't want to be a tattle-tale."
"Did Lew Flapp give you the liquor? Answer me at once."
"Yes, sir, he and another cadet named Pender. But, sir, I don't want to
hurt them. I--I--" and here Harry burst into tears.
"Where was this?"
"Down in Cedarville, sir. But, I--I--I shan't say any more, Captain
Putnam," and after that Harry remained silent. As it was plain to see
that he was suffering, Captain Putnam did not push the matter. But he
called Lew Flapp and Pender into his private office and interviewed the
unworthy pair for fully half an hour.
"To do such a thing is outrageous," said the captain. "If I hear of it
again I shall dismiss you from the Hall at once."
On the following morning one of the assistant teachers made a brief
announcement that filled the entire school with curiosity.
"On next Monday you are to have an election of officers for the term,"
said he. "As you know, twenty cadets were selected as worthy of being
elected. The list has since been cut down to eighteen. Lew Flapp and
Augustus Pender will not run."
At this announcement Dick and Powell looked at each other
significantly. All of the other cadets looked around to find Flapp and
Pender, but the pair were absent, nor did they put in an appearance at
all until the next school session.
"The captain found it out in some way," said Dick to Powell.
"Shouldn't wonder if Harry Moss let the cat out of the bag," was the
answer.
"It's queer about Flapp and Pender," declared Tom to his older brother.
"Do you know why they were dropped?"
"Yes, Tom, but I don't want you to say anything about it."
"There's a report around that they were found cutting loose in the
village," put in Sam.
"Well, as I said before, I don't want to speak about it," went on Dick.
A few of the boys dared to question Flapp and Pender, but got no
satisfaction.
"If I want to drop out I reckon I can do it," growled Flapp, and that
was as much as either he or his crony would say.
With Flapp out of the race there was considerable curiosity to know
who would be elected for the term. Each set of cadets had their
favorite candidates and the spirit of rivalry ran high. But most of the
candidates were good-natured about it, and especially Dick and Tom
Rover and George Granbury, Fred Garrison, and Larry Colby.
It had been decided that the cadets should first elect the major, then
the three captains, and then the six lieutenants, all to be selected
according to the highest number of votes received.
The voting began on Monday immediately after breakfast. Captain Putnam
had slips passed around and on these each cadet wrote down his choice
for major.
"I will read the result," said the captain, a few minutes after the
poll was declared closed. And he read as follows:
"Whole number of votes cast--96.
"Lawrence Colby has 67.
"The next highest student has 19.
"Lawrence Colby is declared elected major of the battalion for the
present term, including the annual encampment."
"Hurrah for Major Larry Colby!" cried Tom, and a rousing cheer
followed, while Captain Putnam strode over and shook hands with the
newly elected commanding officer.
"I must congratulate you, Major Colby," he said warmly. "I must say I
am well satisfied with the choice of our students."
"Thank you, sir," answered Larry, and blushed in spite of himself.
"We will now proceed to the election of the three captains," went on
Captain Putnam. "Remember, the three standing highest on the list will
be declared elected respectively."
Again slips were passed around and again the students marked down the
names of their favorites, three upon each slip.
Counting up the vote for captains took longer than that for major, but
soon the captain had his statement ready and the cadets listened in
silence as he proceeded to make his announcement:
"Whole number of votes cast, 288.
"Richard Rover has 82.
"Fred Garrison has 67.
"Mark Romer has 59.
"The next highest student has 28.
"Richard Rover is elected captain of Company A, Frederick Garrison
captain of Company B, and Mark Romer captain of Company C, for this
term and during the annual encampment."
"Hurrah for Dick Rover!"
"Hurrah for Fred Garrison and Mark Romer!"
And then the students cheered as wildly as ever, while Captain Putnam
once more offered his congratulations.
"Captain Rover, my hand," said Larry, coming up.
"Thank you, Major Colby," answered Dick, and then both gave a grip that
meant a good deal.
"We seem to be right in it," observed the newly elected major.
"That's true," answered Dick.
"We shall now proceed to the election of six lieutenants," went on
Captain Putnam, and once more the slips went the rounds, and the boys
did a lot of writing and speculating as each put down the six names
required.
This vote was rather a long one, and Captain Putnam had two teachers
help him in tabulating the result.
"This contest must make Flapp feel sick," whispered Powell to Dick,
while the students were taking it easy on the parade ground.
"Well, he brought it on himself," was the brief reply.
"I'll wager he tries to square up with us, especially if he thinks we
told on him."
A bugle sounded, calling the cadets together, and once more Captain
Putnam read the result:
"Whole number of votes cast, 576.
"John Powell has 83.
"William Merrick has 76.
"Walter Durham has 71.
"Thomas Rover has 68.
"George Granbury has 51.
"Raymond Hollbrook has 43.
"The next highest cadet has 38.
"John Powell is declared first lieutenant of Company A, William Merrick
first lieutenant of Company B, Walter Durham first lieutenant of
Company C, Thomas Rover second lieutenant of Company A, George Granbury
second lieutenant of Company B, and Raymond Hollbrook second lieutenant
of Company C, for this term and during the annual encampment."
As this announcement was made there was a breathless silence. Then came
a rousing cheer and the various successful ones were congratulated by
the captain and their friends.
"Well, Songbird, it seems you are to be my first lieutenant," said Dick
as he shook hands with Powell. "That suits me first-rate."
"And I am to be second lieutenant," said Tom, coming up. "With Sam in
the company as private this begins to look like a family affair."
"Oh, I'm going to make you fellows toe the mark now," laughed Dick. "No
more skylarking, if you please, Lieutenant Rover."
"All right, Captain Rover," replied Tom, with a stiff salute that was
side-splitting.
Taking it all the way through the election was declared to be a popular
success. Of course some of the defeated candidates were bitterly
disappointed, but they did their best to hide their true feelings.
William Philander Tubbs had declined to vote and Lew Flapp and Gus
Pender had kept entirely out of sight while the voting was going on.
The two cronies took themselves to the gymnasium and there declared
their hatred of Dick Rover.
"He is responsible for this," muttered Flapp, clenching his fists and
grating his teeth. "But for him I might at this minute be major of the
battalion, or one of the captains. Oh, but won't I square up some day!"
"What will you do?" questioned Pender. "Remember, I'm just as down on
him as you are."
"I don't know yet, Gus. But I'll do something."
"All right; when you are ready to act, let me know, and I'll help you
all I can," answered Gus Pender.