The Putnam Hall Cadets: or, Good Times in School and Out. Stratemeyer Edward

believe Pepper tells the truth,” came from Jack, eying Baxter boldly. “He caught you in the act.”

      “Of course you’d say so, Jack Ruddy, you’re so anxious to be elected!”

      “Well, I don’t want to be elected,” came from Pepper.

      “And neither do I,” put in Andy. “I saw it as well as Pepper.”

      “It’s false! Absurd!” roared Baxter, and then, as there seemed nothing more to say, he walked off with his head held high in the air.

      “He makes me tired,” came from Dale Blackmore. “I’d never vote for him, even if he hadn’t started to bribe the fellows.”

      The voting began directly after dinner. There was a large ballot box, and the cadets were given slips of paper and pencils, so that they might put down the names of their candidates.

      “There are seventy-seven students present,” said Captain Putnam. “Consequently it will take thirty-nine votes for a choice. We will now take the vote for the majorship.”

      There was a moment of silence, during which the students put down the names of their candidates, and then the line filed past the ballot-box, and each youth deposited his ballot. Without delay the captain and George Strong tabulated the vote.

      “I will now read the result of the first ballot,” announced Captain Putnam, and at once the cadets became silent.

      “Number of votes cast, 77;

      Necessary to a choice, 39;

      Bart Conners has 21,

      John Ruddy has 21,

      Henry Lee has 14,

      Harry Blossom has 9,

      Daniel Baxter has 7,

      David Kearney has 3,

      Andrew Snow has 1,

      Paul Singleton has 1.”

      “Hullo, Bart and Jack are a tie!” exclaimed Pepper.

      “And I’ve got one vote,” put in Andy.

      “Guess you must have voted for yourself,” put in Gus Coulter, sarcastically.

      “If I did, I didn’t have to bribe myself to do it,” retorted Andy. He raised his voice: “Whoever voted for me, will kindly vote for Jack Ruddy on the next ballot.”

      “I also wish to withdraw in favor of Jack Ruddy,” came from Dave Kearney. “I don’t believe I can fill the position of major just yet,” he added, by way of explanation.

      “Please cross me off the list,” sang out Paul Singleton, a fat youth, who went by the nickname of Stuffer because he was always hungry.

      After this came a little more electioneering, and Henry Lee said he would withdraw and give Jack his support if Jack’s friends would vote for him for captain.

      “Yes, we’ll do that, Henry,” cried Andy.

      The second ballot was soon cast, and resulted as follows:

      Number of votes cast, 77;

      Necessary to a choice, 39;

      For John Ruddy, 48;

      For Bart Conners, 20;

      For Harry Blossom, 5;

      For Daniel Baxter, 4.

      “Hurrah! Jack is elected!” cried Pepper, and rushing forward he caught his chum by the hand.

      “I congratulate you, Major Ruddy,” said Captain Putnam, with a smile.

      “I move we make the election of Jack Ruddy unanimous!” called out Bart Conners. “I voted for him, and I want all of you to do the same.”

      “Hurrah! That’s the way to talk!” sang out a student. “Bart, you’re a good fellow.”

      “Three cheers for Major Ruddy, Captain Putnam, and Bart Conners!” came the cry, and the cheers were given with a will. But Dan Baxter and his cronies did not join in.

      “They sold me out!” muttered the bully to Mumps. “Some of the fellows who said they’d vote for me didn’t vote for me at all.”

      “I’d square up with them for it,” returned the sneak.

      “I shall – and I’ll square up with Jack Ruddy too,” added Dan Baxter, bitterly.

      CHAPTER V

      OFF ON A PICNIC

      As soon as the excitement attending Jack’s election had subsided, Captain Putnam announced that they would proceed next to the election of two captains, one for Company A, and one for Company B. For this purpose each student was allowed to put down two names, making the total number of votes cast one hundred and fifty-four.

      True to their promise, many who had supported Jack voted in favor of Henry Lee, and as a consequence he was made captain of the first company. Bart Conners became captain of Company B. Later still, Harry Blossom became first lieutenant, and Dave Kearney a second lieutenant. For all of these positions Dan Baxter received not more than six votes, much to his disgust.

      “It’s a put-up job,” he growled. “But just wait – I’ll fix them!” And then he and his cronies said no more.

      After the voting was over, Captain Putnam called the newly elected officers together and gave them their instructions.

      “I shall leave the battalion in your hands from now on,” he said to them. “On parade and during drill you must see to it that every cadet does his duty. Of course, during school hours and off hours, you will have no more authority than any of your fellow pupils.”

      “I understand,” said Jack, “and I don’t want any authority excepting on parade and during drill.”

      That evening the battalion celebrated on the campus of the Hall, with a big bonfire and singing. There was also a fancy drill and a short parade, and all enjoyed it excepting Baxter and his cronies. As soon as possible the latter sneaked off in a little crowd by themselves.

      “I’m satisfied that Ruddy and his crowd cooked this whole thing up against you, Dan,” said Coulter. “Look at Lee. He sold out the majorship just to get a captaincy.”

      “And Dave Kearney sold out so he could be sure of becoming a lieutenant,” put in Paxton. “It makes me sick.”

      “Well, some of the others sold me out,” growled the bully. “I know twelve fellows who said they’d vote for me, and the most votes I got were seven!”

      “Jack Ruddy must have bought them up,” put in Mumps. “He’s a slippery one, he is!”

      The majority of the cadets, however, were well satisfied over Jack’s election, and they told the newly elected major so. All shook him by the hand, and wished him the best of success in his position. He was called on to speak and made a neat speech.

      “I thank you all for electing me,” said he. “I trust we shall all be friends, and that our relations with one another will be pleasant from beginning to end. I am going to try to do my duty, and I know you will try to do yours. And because you have made me major, don’t forget that – during school hours and off hours – I am one of you anyway.”

      “That’s the way to talk!” called out a cadet. “Jack’s the right kind of a major.”

      “Three cheers for Major Ruddy,” was the cry, and they were given loudly, and a tiger followed.

      A number of the boys, including Pepper and Andy, had worked hard to elect Jack and he felt that he ought to do something for them in return. He thought the matter over carefully and then decided to ask a dozen of the cadets to go off on a picnic with him on the following Saturday afternoon, which would be a half-holiday.

      “Just the thing, Jack,” said Pepper, when the thing was mentioned. “We can have a jolly time, in the woods and along the lake shore.”

      “Do we take any grub along?” came from Stuffer