CHAPTER XII
THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS
On the following morning all of the cadets but Harry Moss appeared inthe 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 themorning session could scarcely fix his mind on his studies.
"I hope the little fool don't blab on us," was his thought. "If he doesthere is no telling what the captain will do. He's altogether toostrict for comfort in some things."
No doctor was sent for, so it was finally agreed that Harry Moss wasnot as ill as had been supposed. But the young cadet did not enter theschoolroom for all of that day.
The sickness had frightened Captain Putnam, who was not yet over thescarlet fever scare, and he questioned Harry thoroughly about what hehad 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 heblurted out that he had taken a glass of liquor against his will and ithad 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 tohurt 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, CaptainPutnam," and after that Harry remained silent. As it was plain to seethat he was suffering, Captain Putnam did not push the matter. But hecalled Lew Flapp and Pender into his private office and interviewed theunworthy pair for fully half an hour.
"To do such a thing is outrageous," said the captain. "If I hear of itagain I shall dismiss you from the Hall at once."
On the following morning one of the assistant teachers made a briefannouncement 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 beingelected. The list has since been cut down to eighteen. Lew Flapp andAugustus Pender will not run."
At this announcement Dick and Powell looked at each othersignificantly. All of the other cadets looked around to find Flapp andPender, but the pair were absent, nor did they put in an appearance atall 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 theanswer.
"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 thevillage," 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 nosatisfaction.
"If I want to drop out I reckon I can do it," growled Flapp, and thatwas as much as either he or his crony would say.
With Flapp out of the race there was considerable curiosity to knowwho would be elected for the term. Each set of cadets had theirfavorite candidates and the spirit of rivalry ran high. But most of thecandidates were good-natured about it, and especially Dick and TomRover and George Granbury, Fred Garrison, and Larry Colby.
It had been decided that the cadets should first elect the major, thenthe three captains, and then the six lieutenants, all to be selectedaccording to the highest number of votes received.
The voting began on Monday immediately after breakfast. Captain Putnamhad slips passed around and on these each cadet wrote down his choicefor major.
"I will read the result," said the captain, a few minutes after thepoll 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 thepresent term, including the annual encampment."
"Hurrah for Major Larry Colby!" cried Tom, and a rousing cheerfollowed, while Captain Putnam strode over and shook hands with thenewly elected commanding officer.
"I must congratulate you, Major Colby," he said warmly. "I must say Iam 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 onCaptain Putnam. "Remember, the three standing highest on the list willbe declared elected respectively."
Again slips were passed around and again the students marked down thenames of their favorites, three upon each slip.
Counting up the vote for captains took longer than that for major, butsoon the captain had his statement ready and the cadets listened insilence 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 Garrisoncaptain of Company B, and Mark Romer captain of Company C, for thisterm 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 Putnamonce more offered his congratulations.
"Captain Rover, my hand," said Larry, coming up.
"Thank you, Major Colby," answered Dick, and then both gave a grip thatmeant 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 onCaptain Putnam, and once more the slips went the rounds, and the boysdid a lot of writing and speculating as each put down the six namesrequired.
This vote was rather a long one, and Captain Putnam had two teachershelp 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 wetold on him."
A bugle sounded, calling the cadets together, and once more CaptainPutnam 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 Merrickfirst lieutenant of Company B, Walter Durham first lieutenant ofCompany C, Thomas Rover second lieutenant of Company A, George Granburysecond lieutenant of Company B, and Raymond Hollbrook second lieutenantof Company C, for this term and during the annual encampment."
As this announcement was made there was a breathless silence. Then camea rousing cheer and the various successful ones were congratulated bythe captain and their friends.
"Well, Songbird, it seems you are to be my first lieutenant," said Dickas he shook hands with Powell. "That suits me first-rate."
"And I am to be second lieutenant," said Tom, coming up. "With Sam inthe 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. "Nomore skylarking, if you please, Lieutenant Rover."
"All right, Captain Rover," replie
d Tom, with a stiff salute that wasside-splitting.
Taking it all the way through the election was declared to be a popularsuccess. Of course some of the defeated candidates were bitterlydisappointed, but they did their best to hide their true feelings.William Philander Tubbs had declined to vote and Lew Flapp and GusPender had kept entirely out of sight while the voting was going on.The two cronies took themselves to the gymnasium and there declaredtheir hatred of Dick Rover.
"He is responsible for this," muttered Flapp, clenching his fists andgrating his teeth. "But for him I might at this minute be major of thebattalion, 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 onhim 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 youall I can," answered Gus Pender.