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

After this there came a spell of silence, during which Paxton and Mumps piled up as many nuts as they could.

“I want your names,” said the gentleman, taking out a note-book and a pencil.

“Mine is John Fenwick,” said the sneak, humbly. He felt there would be no profit in acting ugly.

“Now yours, young man?”

“Nick Paxton.”

“And now I want yours.”

“Perhaps I won’t give it to you,” returned the bully.

“Really! Mike, did you bring that horsewhip along?”

“I did that, sur,” answered the workman addressed.

“Don’t you dare to horsewhip me!” cried Baxter, and now for the first time he turned pale.

“Then give me your name.”

“Jerry Smoker.”

“Um! I believe I heard one of the others call you Dan,” said the gentleman, sharply.

To this the bully was silent.

“Come, give me your correct name – or it shall go hard with you.”

“Dan Baxter.”

“That’s better.”

“See here, if I help pick nuts will you let me off?” said the bully, after an awkward pause.

“No, it is too late now.”

This reply disconcerted the bully greatly, and he did not know what to say further. He had a vision of being taken to the Cedarville jail, and it caused him to shiver.

“That’s rough on Baxter,” whispered Jack, he and his chums having come closer during the conversation.

“Well, he brought it on himself,” answered Pepper. “The captain warned him not to go on private property.”

“He could easily do as Mumps and Paxton are doing,” put in Andy. “They are getting off easily enough.”

Not long after this the gentleman that owned the preserve told Paxton and the sneak of the Hall that they might quit gathering nuts.

“Let this be a lesson to you, John Fenwick and Nicholas Paxton,” he said, sternly. “I shall keep your names before me, and if I ever find you here again it shall go hard with you.”

“Can we go?” questioned Mumps, eagerly.

“Yes.”

“Come on, Nick.”

“Are you going to desert me?” cried Dan Baxter, in fresh alarm.

“I want them to go, and at once,” said the gentleman. “I can take care of your case without their aid.”

A little more talk followed, and then Paxton and Mumps shoved off, in the manner of two whipped curs, leaving the bully of Putnam Hall to his fate.

“Perhaps we ought to try to rescue Baxter,” whispered Jack to his chums. He was too generous-hearted to see any fellow cadet in trouble without trying to aid him.

“Don’t you attempt it,” put in Dale.

“But if Baxter is put in jail it will bring discredit to the whole school, Dale.”

“I’ll tell you what we can do,” came from Pepper. “To get to Cedarville, the owner of this place will have to take the Rumley Road. Let us get back to the Hall and tell the captain what is going on. Perhaps he can stop the party on the way to Cedarville and make a deal with the man who wants to have Baxter arrested.”

“That’s an idea! Come on!” cried Andy.

With their bags of nuts on their shoulders, Jack and his friends hurried away, down the hill and along the highway leading to Putnam Hall. Before they reached the school they had to take to a side road, and along this they fairly ran, so that they might not be too late with their news. As luck would have it, they came upon the master of the Hall just as the latter was returning from a visit to the gymnasium.

“Oh, Captain Putnam, we have news!” cried Andy. “Dan Baxter is in trouble, and a man is going to take him down to Cedarville to have him jailed.”

“Baxter in trouble?” repeated Captain Putnam. His face grew serious. “Tell me the particulars.”

As well as they were able, they did so. The master of the Hall took in what they said in silence and his face grew stem.

“You are sure Paxton and Fenwick were allowed their liberty?” he said at last.

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well; I’ll meet Mr. Ringwood, and see what I can do about this. I am glad you told me.”

“We didn’t wish to see any of the cadets put in jail,” came from Jack. “It would bring discredit to the whole school.”

“Right you are, Major Ruddy. I’ll go out to meet Mr. Ringwood at once, and you can go along if you wish.”

CHAPTER XX

OUT IN THE COLD

It was not long after this that our friends and Captain Putnam reached the main road leading from Top Rock Hill to Cedarville. Scarcely had they done so than they saw a carriage coming along the road, containing Mr. Ringwood, Dan Baxter, and two of the workingmen from the preserve.

“Here they come!” cried Jack, and the captain ran out in the middle of the road and motioned for the carriage to stop.

“Hullo, is that you, Captain Putnam?” called out Mr. Ringwood, in a far from pleasant tone.