The Putnam Hall Rivals

“Wha – er – what?”

“They did not run away.”

At this announcement the jaw of the assistant instructor dropped.

“If they didn’t run away where are they?”

At that moment came another knock on the office door.

“Come in,” said the captain, and Jack entered, followed by Pepper.

“Well, I never!” murmured Josiah Crabtree. “Where did you come from, you young villains!”

“Gently, Mr. Crabtree,” interposed the captain.

“Mr. Crabtree, I am not a villain and I don’t want you or anybody else to call me one,” said Jack, hotly.

“Ha! don’t talk to me!” spluttered the assistant teacher.

“Mr. Crabtree, I will examine the two young gentlemen in private,” said Captain Putnam, decisively. “I will thank you to take charge of the classes for the present. I will send word when I wish to see you again.”

This was a strong hint that he was not wanted, and with rather bad grace the assistant teacher retired.

“Now, Ruddy, tell me your story,” went on Captain Putnam. “Tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

“I will, sir,” answered Jack; and in a plain, straightforward manner told how Pepper had come to him with the strange note, and how they had hurried down to the old boathouse. Then he related how they had seen the fire start up and found themselves locked in, and how they had gotten out and given the alarm.

“We saw those cigarette butts there once before, and also an empty liquor bottle,” he added. “But I do not remember that we saw any playing-cards.”

“Have you anything to add to this story?” asked the captain of Pepper.

“No, sir, excepting to say that Jack has told the exact truth, Captain Putnam. We had nothing to do with the fire and nothing to do with the cigarettes or drink.”

“What about the cigarettes, cards, and liquor that were found in your belongings?”

“If they were found there, they were put there by somebody who wanted to do us harm.”

“Most likely the same party who got Pepper to go to the boathouse with me,” added Jack.

“Have you any idea who that party can be?”

“Yes, sir, but I should not like to speak of that,” answered Jack, firmly.

CHAPTER XIII

A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Captain Putnam looked at both cadets sharply.

“Both of you suspect somebody, is that it?” he said, slowly.

“We do,” said Pepper.

“But you are not certain?”

“We are not certain, and therefore it would not be right for us to mention any names,” said Jack.

“Now tell me the truth of your trouble with Mr. Crabtree,” pursued the captain, after a thoughtful pause.

Thereupon, the two boys told how they had been taken from the cold storeroom and placed in the cellar, and how they had escaped through the clothing closet above. At the recital the captain had to turn away his face, to conceal a smile that hovered around his mouth.

“We didn’t think it was fair at all,” went on Jack. “So when we got out we determined to hide until you got back and then come to you. And that is just what we have done.”

The captain was silent and nodded slowly to himself several times. Then he took a deep breath and rubbed his chin reflectively.

“Boys!” he exclaimed, decisively. “I am going to take you at your word. You can return to your studies and forget what has passed. Does that suit you?”

“It suits me!” exclaimed Jack, and his heart gave a bound.

“Suits me, too,” added Pepper. “I am much obliged, sir.”

“There is some mystery here, and some day perhaps we shall get at the bottom of it. I expect you to help me all you can to clear it up.”

“Captain Putnam, am I to – re – to – ” Jack could not go on.

“To what, Ruddy?”

“Mr. Crabtree said I was to – er – to give up being major of the battalion – ”

“You will take your place as formerly, Major Ruddy.”

“Oh, thank you!” And now the youthful major’s face fairly beamed.

“I will attend to this matter so far as it concerns Mr. Crabtree,” went on the master of the Hall. “You may go.”

“Thank you!” cried both cadets, and ran off with hearts as light as air.

“Hullo, glad to see you back!” whispered Andy, as they took their seats. “How did you get out of it?”

“I’ll tell you after school,” said Jack, and Pepper said the same.

Josiah Crabtree tried to question them, but they referred the assistant teacher to Captain Putnam. Later in the day the master of the Hall and Crabtree had a long session together, but what was said none of the students ever learned. But after that Josiah Crabtree was decidedly meek for a long while to come.

“I think he got a calling-down,” said Pepper, to Jack.

“Well, don’t you think he deserved it?” returned the young major.

After this affair Dan Baxter and his cronies were more bitter than ever against Pepper, Jack, and the others. Of course the plot to injure the boys had been gotten up by the bully, to pay them back for spoiling the proposed feast.