The Putnam Hall Rivals

“Never mind. You tell him we insist upon seeing him,” put in Pepper.

Peleg Snuggers placed the breakfast on a stand and withdrew, locking the door as before.

“Rather a slim meal,” observed the young major, looking at what had been brought.

“He is going to starve us as well as keep us prisoners,” was the Imp’s answer.

As both boys were hungry it did not take them long to stow away everything in sight. Then both began to walk around the cold cell, in order to keep warm.

“This is outrageous!” cried Pepper, at last. “I am not going to stand it another minute!” And going to the door he began to hammer upon it loudly. Jack, also out of sorts, did the same.

The racket was soon heard in the classrooms, and presently Josiah Crabtree came rushing to the place, a heavy switch in his hand.

“Hi! hi! stop that noise!” thundered the assistant teacher. “Stop it, I say!” And he threw open the door and confronted the pair, with snapping eyes and with a face red from indignation.

As soon as the door was opened Jack and Pepper stopped kicking and pounding. Both faced the instructor fearlessly.

“What do you mean by such a noise?” demanded Josiah Crabtree, after an ominous pause.

“We wanted to attract attention,” answered Pepper, calmly.

“I want you to keep quiet!”

“Mr. Crabtree, will you tell us why we are prisoners here?” asked Jack.

“You are prisoners because you have disobeyed the rules of this institution,” snapped the instructor, and there was a certain gleam of triumph in his eyes.

“How have we disobeyed the rules?”

“You know well enough.”

“We don’t know,” came from Pepper.

“Don’t contradict, Ditmore! Captain Putnam and myself have found you out.”

“Won’t you please explain?” asked Jack, as calmly as he could.

“Well, in the first place, you are responsible for the fire at the boathouse.”

“No! no!” came from both boys.

“We have made a rigid investigation,” returned Josiah Crabtree. “It is useless to deny it,” he continued. “But that is not the worst of it, in the eyes of myself and Captain Putnam.”

“Well, what is the worst?” asked Jack, curiously, and wondering what was coming.

“Both of you went down to the old boathouse to smoke and drink.”

“I deny that flatly,” said the young major.

“So do I,” added Pepper.

“Denials will do you no good. We have the evidence,” returned Josiah Crabtree, and once again his rather fishy eyes showed a gleam of triumph.

“What evidence have you?” demanded Jack.

“After we locked you up here, I suggested to the captain that we search your dormitory. This was done, and we have uncovered your secrets. The captain is amazed, and so am I. We did not dream that any cadet at this school would be guilty of such a thing.”

“Guilty of what?” asked Jack and Pepper, in a breath.

“Guilty of such bad habits. We went into your lockers and your trunks, and we discovered two bottles of liquor, eight packages of cigarettes, and three packs of playing-cards, all belonging to you two students. You know our rules. You have broken them, and you must either be punished or else be dismissed from this school!”

CHAPTER X

FROM CELLAR TO ATTIC

For the moment after Josiah Crabtree made this declaration Jack and Pepper were so amazed that they could not speak. They stared at the teacher as if they had not heard aright.

“Do you mean to say you found such things in our trunks and lockers?” asked the young major, at last.

“I certainly do, Ruddy.”

“It’s a – a trick!” burst out Pepper. “A mean, rascally trick!”

“No, there was no trick about it,” answered Josiah Crabtree.

“But, Mr. Crabtree, there must be some mistake,” faltered Jack. “I do not drink or smoke or play cards, and neither does Pepper. Surely you have made a mistake.”

“No mistake about it, I tell you. I found the things as plain as day, and Captain Putnam saw them too. You had the things hidden pretty well, but our search was thorough. After the fire I suspected you at once, for I saw the evidence of smoking and drinking around the burnt building. You may as well confess. It will do no good to put on an innocent front.”

“Mr. Crabtree, will you listen to me?” asked Pepper, half desperately.

“If you wish to confess, yes.”

“I have nothing to confess.”

“Then I do not care to listen. You are a pair of bad boys, and in the absence of Captain Putnam I am bound to make an example of you.”

“If Captain Putnam was here he would listen to us,” said Jack.

“I am capable of taking charge of this affair,” answered the teacher, coldly. A little brief authority always made him strong-headed.

“I repeat, I am guilty of no wrongdoing,” said Jack, simply. “There is some mistake somewhere.”

“And I am innocent, too,” added Pepper.

“After this, I want you two boys to behave yourselves,” resumed Josiah Crabtree. “If you don’t – ”

“What then?” asked Jack.