Edward Stratemeyer

“ A bolt was made by many of the cadets for the Putnam Hall carryall, and soon a crowd was inside and on the front seat, talking, joking and cheering, as suited the mood of each individual. Jack, Pepper, Andy and Dale managed to crowd inside throwing their suitcases on the top. Gus Coulter got in also, but when he saw that Reff Ritter and Nick Paxton had been left, he scrambled out again, and his place was taken by Fred Century, another student.
"Hello, Peleg, old sport!" cried Pepper, gaily, to the driver of the turnout. "How have you been for the past fifty years?" ”

“ The Dauntless team wanted at least to make a field goal—to tie the score. But Putnam Hall held them back, and two minutes before the whistle blew made another touchdown and kicked the goal. When the game was ended the pigskin was on the Dauntless forty-five-yard line.
Putnam Hall had won!
What a cheering followed, and what a tooting of horns and sounding of rattles! The cadets cheered for their opponents and were cheered in return, and then all filed off the field.
"A dandy game!" cried Pepper to his chums. "Simply great!" And he fairly hugged Jack and Andy. ”

“ Soon the merry shouts of the cadets proved they were enjoying themselves thoroughly. Some started a race, while others formed sides for a hockey contest, with Dale Blackmore as captain of one five and Emerald Hogan as captain of the other.
"Let us go down the shore a bit," suggested Jack to Pepper and Andy, and the three joined hands for the spin. All felt like "letting out," as Andy expressed it, and they covered over a mile almost before they knew it.
"The ice is getting pretty rotten," said Jack, as his skate cut in so deeply that he would have fallen had not his chums supported him. ”

“ Jack, Andy, Hogan, and Bart Conners were in their usual places.
"And I want you, too, Pepper," said Dale.
"Oh, I can go on the sub-bench," was the answer, for Pepper did not care very much for football. "Give Fred Century and Bert Field a chance."
"I know what Pepper wants," said Andy. "He wants us to play, while he sits in the grandstand, having a good time with the girls."
"Sure thing," answered The Imp, coolly. "Somebody has got to entertain 'em."
"They ought to be entertained by the game," came from Dale.
"Girls make me tired when they are at a football game," put in the cadet named Brown. ”

“ The three cadets were soon on the way, Fred Century and Bert Field pelting them with snowballs as they left. It was cold but clear, and all were in the best of spirits.
"I see they've got a new man of all work around the school," observed Pepper, as the three trudged on. "I hope Captain Putnam doesn't think of discharging Peleg Snuggers."
"That new man is a sly kind of a fellow," came from Andy. "I was walking through the hallway last evening and he came up behind me as silently as a cat after a mouse." ”

“ Let the best fellows win."
"I think Reff Ritter would like to be a captain or major."
"He never will be—he can't get the support. Why, hardly any of the cadets go with Reff any more. Even Paxton seems to have dropped him. About the only close friend he has is Gus Coulter."
"Maybe the boys have dropped him because his father is no longer rich."
"No, I don't think that, for quite a number of the cadets are far from rich and yet they are considered good fellows. It's Ritter's ways. He is too domineering. The fellows won't stand for his bullying manner." ”

“ After the holidays came some fine skating on the lake, and also some iceboating.
Fred Century had had a new iceboat built at Cedarville. It was called the Skimmer, and he was exceedingly proud of the craft.
"You must come out with me," he said to Jack, Pepper and Andy, one Saturday afternoon. "The ice is as smooth as glass, and the wind is just right."
"All right!" cried Pepper. "A sail will suit me down to the ground."
Jack and Andy were also pleased to go, and the quartet of boys were soon down at the boathouse, where the Skimmer was tied up. ”

“ After the tug-of-war came a contest on the flying rings. Here Andy was in his element, and the acrobatic youth easily outdistanced all of his competitors.
"Very good, indeed, Snow," said the gymnastic instructor. "Really, you go at it as if you were a professional."
"Say, Andy, some day you can join the circus," suggested the young major.
"Maybe his folks came from a circus," sneered Nick Paxton. "It isn't fair to bring in a professional."
"Sour grapes, Paxton!" cried Stuffer. "You know that Andy Snow's father is a business man in the city. Andy just takes to gymnastic exercises, that's all." ”

“ CHAPTER XIX ABOUT A SET OF TEETH
"I am afraid we are in for it!" whispered the young major, as he saw the rush of the Pornell students, each armed with all the snowballs he could carry.
"Shall we run away?" asked Andy. "I guess we can run as fast as they can."
"Never!" replied Pepper. "I am going to the Hall and on this road."
"So am I!" added Jack.
"Then let us rush 'em?" suggested Andy. "We can't stand and fight nine of 'em—we'll be snowed under."
"Rush it is," returned the young major. "Wait till I give the signal." ”

“ CHAPTER VI CAPTAIN PUTNAM INVESTIGATES
"Reff Ritter has been knocked out!"
"My, what blows they were!"
"Well, he brought it on himself," said Pepper.
"That's what," added Fred. "He struck Jack after Jack told him he didn't believe in fighting."
"He couldn't save himself because he was too close to the wooden horse," came from Coulter, who felt bound to stick up for his crony. "It wasn't fair to run him up against the horse."
"Coulter, a poor excuse is worse than none," answered Dale. ”

“ For several days nothing was talked of at Putnam Hall but the mysterious disappearance of the students' watches and jewelry. The cadets could not get the matter off their minds, and as a consequence recitations became very poor.
"I shall offer a substantial reward," said Captain Putnam, and one afternoon a notice was posted in the school proper and in the gymnasium, offering one hundred dollars for information leading to the capture of the thief.
"Say, I shouldn't mind earning that reward!" murmured Dale.
"A fellow could have no end of a good time on a hundred dollars!" ”

“ CHAPTER XXV THE MAN AT POINT VIEW LODGE
At first it was an even race. Reff Ritter knew how to handle an iceboat to perfection and brought his craft up in the breeze in a manner that won considerable admiration.
"Take care that he doesn't beat you, Fred," said Pepper. "If he does, he will never get done crowing over you."
"This race isn't over yet," answered the owner of the Skimmer. "Wait till we round the bend yonder."
When the bend mentioned was gained the Rosebud was a good three lengths in the lead.
"Good-by!" shouted Coulter. "Here is where we leave you behind!" ”

“ I wanted to go in the carryall," grumbled Ritter.
"So did I," added Gus Coulter.
"Well, this is full, so you'll have to take the carriages," answered Peleg Snuggers. "Everybody hold fast!" he shouted, as he took up the reins.
"We are off!" shouted Pepper, gaily. "Farewell to Cedarville and ho! for Putnam Hall!" [Pg 7]
"Wish I had room, I'd turn a handspring for you," came from Andy, who was quite an acrobat.
"Now don't you cut up any monkey-shines," pleaded the driver of the carryall. "That new hoss won't stand for 'em." ”

“ He looked back at the crowd left on the dock. "Has anybody seen Bert Field?" he asked.
"Yes, I saw him last week," answered a student named Paul Singleton. "He'll be here to-morrow."
"How about Emerald?" asked Pepper.
"Coming to-night," answered Andy. "He went [Pg 8] to Ireland this summer, and his brogue is worse than ever."
"Never mind, Emerald is a good fellow," said Major Jack. "His heart is as big as a barrel."
"Say, but wasn't Reff Ritter mad!" came from Dale.
"Oh, he makes me tired," answered Pepper. "After all that happened last term wouldn't you think he'd behave himself better?" ”

“ I got a letter day before yesterday," answered the former major of the school battalion. He did not deem it necessary to say the letter was from Laura Ford.
"Let us telegraph to them," said Pepper. "But what about the thief? We ought to get right after him."
"We can tell Jed Plodders," said the farmer. "He's the Cedarville constable and pretty smart, too."
"Jed will never catch that fellow," answered Jack. "He'll be miles and miles away before the constable gets his badge pinned on to go after him."
"Oh, Jed is smart," cried the farmer. ”

“ Soon he was out of danger.
"Run for the nearest farmhouse!" cried Jack. "Put the sweater on if you want to," and he tossed the garment over.
"It was Coulter's fault," growled Reff Ritter. "He swung the sail the wrong way." And then he ran off as advised.
"Such meanness!" snorted Pepper. "And Coulter may be drowned!" [Pg 260]
"Ritter was always willing to lay the blame on somebody else," added Andy.
The chums skated as closely as possible to where the iceboat was drifting in a sheet of open water—a spot where some days before a farmer had been cutting ice. ”

“ The assembled cadets looked at each other. No one felt like saying a word.
"Ritter, have you been fighting?" went on the head teacher, noticing the bully's condition.
"I was—er—that is, Ruddy attacked me, and I—er—I defended myself," stammered the defeated one.
"Ruddy? Do you mean Major Ruddy?" questioned Josiah Crabtree, in astonishment.
"Yes, sir." [Pg 52]
"Mr. Crabtree, what Ritter says is untrue!" burst out Jack. "He hit me first."
"But you have been fighting? You, the major of the school battalion! Disgraceful!"
"Wouldn't you fight if somebody slapped you in the face?" ”

“ I'll wager he won't get away from me."
"You'll break your neck!" answered the carryall driver.
"Not at all. Peleg, let me do it. I'm used to horses!" pleaded Andy.
Now, if the truth must be told, Peleg Snuggers did not relish taking the runaway team back to the school alone. He was a little afraid of the new horse, remembering how he had been kicked in the morning.
"Well, if you want to go, I'll let ye!" he said at last. "But, remember, 'tain't my fault if ye come back killed."
"Don't you worry; no horse will ever get the best of me," answered Andy. ”

“ It was cold on the campus and growing darker rapidly. Only a few cadets were in sight.
"Come on now," he answered. "We'll see if the coast is clear."
They walked to the end of the gymnasium building, where, in a long room, the bicycles of the students were kept. It was pitch dark inside and not a soul was in sight.
"Now, you remain outside," said Ritter. "If you see anybody coming begin to whistle 'Yankee Doodle,' as loud as you can. Don't wait for me, for I'll go out the back way."
"All right. But let me know when you are through," answered Coulter, somewhat nervously. ”

“ The young major walked to one roommate after another and asked about his watch and chain. All denied knowing anything about the timepiece. Several had seen him place the watch on the stand at the head of the bed, but that was all.
"Well, it's a mystery what has become of it, that's sure," was Jack's comment. "It certainly couldn't walk off by itself."
"Well, a good watch knows how to run," re [Pg 107] marked Pepper, dryly, for he couldn't help having his joke. "But, seriously, Jack, do you think somebody stole the watch and chain?" ”

“ Slowly Andy arose to his feet. His face was pale, for both the blow on the chin and the kick in the side had been severe.
"You—you brute!" he gasped. "You dirty brute!"
"Hi, don't you call me a brute!" roared Ritter.
"You are a brute!" put in Pepper. "No fair-minded chap would kick a fellow when he was down." [Pg 224]
"Ditmore, you keep out of this," grumbled the bully.
"I'm going to see that Andy has fair play," returned Pepper.
The encounter had occurred after Captain Putnam and the teachers had disappeared, so there was little chance of an interruption by the Hall authorities. ”

“ On the campus were a score or more of cadets, who stared in amazement at the sight of the runaway horse with the boy clinging desperately to his back.
"It's Andy Snow!" cried Henry Lee, the captain of Company A.
"So it is," responded Bob Grenwood, the quartermaster of the school battalion. "How in the world did he get on that horse?"
"It's the one that was hitched to the carryall," [Pg 26] put in Billy Sabine, another cadet. "Something is wrong."
"Let's tell Captain Putnam," said another. ”

“ Fred worked quickly, assisted by all the others and the Skimmer was thrown out of her course. On rushed both of the iceboats and the Rosebud slid by the other with less than six inches to spare.
"Ritter, that wasn't fair!" shouted Fred. "I won't race with a fellow who won't sail fair!"
"You go to grass! I don't care about the race anyway!" howled the bully.
"You are beaten and you know it," cried Pepper.
"In a regular race such actions would disqualify you," was Jack's comment. ”

“ If we make a complaint it will only stir up more bad blood," said the young major. "But in the future I am going to watch Ritter and Coulter pretty closely."
The boys were kept at the Hall for all of that week, getting no further than the gymnasium for recreation. The wind blew furiously at times, so that the snow was piled up into numerous drifts, one reaching almost to the top of the carriage-shed, and another completely hiding the posts of the gate entrance. ”

“ During all this time Captain Putnam had been doing his best to solve the mystery concerning the disappearance of Jack's gold watch and chain. But, though all the hired help and the cadets and teachers were watched and questioned, nothing of importance came to light. Peleg Snuggers said he had once seen a strange man near the stables, and Captain Putnam wondered if that individual could have sneaked into the school and committed the robbery. ”