"There may be a good deal in this, and there may be nothing at all,"
were Tom Rover's words, after he had listened to the story the boys
had to tell. "This may be a perfectly legitimate business transaction,
although, as I have said before, Nelson Martell has been known to go
into more than one shady transaction here in Wall Street. Generally,
however, he just manages to escape falling into the clutches of the
law."

"Yes, but Dad! you must remember how Mr. Brown tried to treat old
Barney Stevenson," broke in Randy.

"Yes, I remember that," answered his father. "And I have heard that
Brown is no more reliable than is Martell. But to know a fact is one
thing, to prove it in a court of law is another."

"And those two strangers were certainly Germans," said Andy.

"I'll look into this a little further as soon as I get time," said Tom
Rover, after a moment of thought. "And perhaps I'll speak to one of
the Secret Service men about it. It certainly will do no harm to have
these men watched for a few days."

A little later Tom Rover was through with his labors at his office,
and then he and the boys returned to the homes on Riverside Drive. The
father of the twins had to go out in the evening, and the boys spent
the time at home with their mothers and the girls.

"We can't go straight through to Haven Point this morning," announced
Jack, on the following day, when they had arrived at the railroad
terminal. "They are shipping some soldiers and some naval supplies,
and the road is somewhat balled up. The gateman told me we should have
to make two changes."

All of the mothers had come down to see the young folks off. Jack and
Fred, as well as their sisters, felt particularly sorry for their
parents, now left entirely alone so far as their own families were
concerned.

"But never mind, Ma," said Martha. "The term at Clearwater Hall will
soon be at an end, and then we'll be home again."

"And don't forget that we are to pay a visit to Camp Huxwell if the
authorities will permit it and dad is still there," added Mary to her
parent.

"Sure! we'll all go," cried Fred.

Owing to war conditions, there was no parlor car on the train, but the
boys and girls managed to get seats together, for which they were
thankful. They made themselves as comfortable as possible, and then
settled down to read their newspapers and magazines, or gaze out of
the window at the scenes which were flashing by.

There was no dining car on this train, but from the conductor the
young folks learned that they would have to change at a place called
Raymonton, and they would there have half an hour in which to get
lunch.

"I can get all I want in less time than that, provided it's to be
had," said Fred. "We can go to the lunch room just as soon as the
train gets in."

Raymonton was nothing but an overgrown village containing but a
handful of stores, a church, a garage, and a canning factory, with the
houses occupying half a dozen straggly-looking streets. There was only
a small and not an altogether inviting-looking lunch room, and here
the bill-of-fare was decidedly meagre.

A tall, angular Irish girl waited on them. She was pleasant enough,
and smiled broadly at the twins' jokes. She served them with
sandwiches, cake, pie, and hot chocolate, and they also purchased from
her a bag of grapes and pears.

"I told you we'd have plenty of time," remarked Fred, looking at a
clock on the wall. "We have still ten minutes to spare."

"I think I'll get a shoe-shine," said Jack. "I saw a bootblack outside
roaming around doing nothing. If I give him work it may keep him out
of mischief."

At the end of the railroad platform was a stand devoted to the sale of
newspapers and periodicals, chewing gum and candy. There was also a
rack with postcards, and the girls busied themselves at this, picking
out such cards as they desired. Not far from where the stand was
located stood a long auto-stage, marked "_Raymonton to Clappville.
Fare 10 Cents._" On the seat of the stage sat an elderly driver,
smoking, and the bus contained one or two men and several women and
children, evidently waiting for the stage to start on its journey.

Jack had just finished having his shoes polished when he and the other
boys noticed a man at the newsstand talking to the proprietor. Both
men appeared to be out of sorts.

"Sorry, Sir, but you can't have that magazine!" they heard the stand
keeper exclaim.

"I'd like to know why not!" demanded the would-be customer. "I am
ready to pay for it."

"That's all right--but you can't have it! I get only two copies of
that magazine, and one is for the hotel and the other for Doctor
Johnson's daughter. They both take it regular."

"Humph! I guess you don't want any customers," growled the other man
savagely. "Well, if you don't want to sell me any of your old
magazines you can keep them! I guess I can get all the magazines I
want elsewhere." And the man stalked off in haughty anger.

The boys had watched this scene and listened to the talk with much
interest. They had recognized in the would-be customer Asa Lemm, the
professor who previous to his discharge from that institution had made
life so miserable for them at Colby Hall.

"I'm glad the fellow didn't let him have the magazine," said Fred.

"Gee, I wish we could put one over on old Lemm!" whispered Andy.

"I wonder what he is doing in this town?" queried Randy.

"I think I can answer that," replied Jack. "I once heard that he had
some relative--a brother I think--living at Clappville. Maybe he came
from there, or is going over to that town in the stage."

Without allowing themselves to be noticed, Andy and Randy kept their
eyes on Asa Lemm and saw him hurry over to one of the stores on the
main street of the town, where a number of magazines were displayed in
the window. He came out of the place, however, empty-handed, and
looking more sour than ever. In the meantime Jack sauntered up to the
keeper of the stand at the railroad station.

"Not a very pleasant sort of a fellow, that," he remarked.

"Say, that fellow makes me tired!" growled the newsstand man. "I have
a run-in with him nearly every time he comes here. The last time it
was over a plugged ten-cent piece he tried to pass on me. When I
handed it back to him and told him I wanted a good one, he was as
peppery as sin."

A minute or two later the driver of the auto-stage tooted his horn to
show that he was about ready to start on the trip. At once several men
and women came running from various directions and began to enter the
stage. The last man to arrive was Asa Lemm. He had picked up a valise
and a bundle from somewhere, and he had to stand in the rear, waiting
for those ahead to enter the stage.

"I suppose there won't be any seat for me by the time I get aboard,"
he grumbled to the driver.

"Ain't my fault," answered the stage driver calmly. "If you don't want
to stand, you can wait until the next trip."

"I haven't time to wait. I'll crowd in somehow," grumbled Asa Lemm.

While this was going on, Andy and Randy had come up close behind the
professor. Both were wondering if they could not play some sort of
trick on him before he departed.

The newsstand was similar to many of that kind, and on two sides of it
were long rows of periodicals, fastened by clips to a wire held in
place by small hooks. Watching his chance, Andy unfastened the end of
one of these wires, and motioned to his twin to unhook the other end.

"Now I guess we'll fix Mr. Asa Lemm!" muttered Andy, and with a quick
move he came up behind the former teacher of Colby Hall and twisted
one end of the wire around a back button of Asa Lemm's cutaway coat.

By this time all of the others had gotten into the stage, and, being
somewhat in a hurry, the driver made a move as if to start away.

"Hi there! Wait till I get in!" shouted Asa Lemm and threw his bags
and his bundle into the stage. Then he got on to the stage step and
the driver started off.

"Hello, look at that!"

"Say, what is that fellow dragging behind him?"

"Hi, Mr. Gasaway! That fellow is running away with your magazines!"

"Talk about the tail of a kite--this beats any kite tail I ever saw!"

[Illustration: "TALK ABOUT THE TAIL OF A KITE--THIS BEATS ANY
KITE TAIL I EVER SAW!" _Page 139_]

Such were some of the cries that rent the air as the stage started
away from the depot. On the step, clutching the handrails, was Asa
Lemm, and streaming out behind him was the wire, loaded with magazines
and picture papers.

"Hi you! Come back here!" roared the stand keeper in bewilderment.
"What do you mean by running off with my stuff? Come back, I say!"
and, throwing up a flap of the counter, he ran out of his stand and
after the auto-stage.

Asa Lemm did not know what to make of the hullaballoo. People were
rushing toward the stage from all directions, and many were pointing
their fingers at him. He felt a tug in the rear, but could not put his
hand back to the button on which the wire was fastened for fear of
falling from the stage step.

"Stop that stage! Stop that stage, I tell you!" bawled the newsstand
keeper. "He's running off with my magazines!"

And then the crowd set up a roar of laughter.

"I ain't got no time to waste. I'm behind time already!" yelled back
the auto-stage driver. "What do you want, anyway?"

"Oh, my! did you ever?" screamed Martha, dropping several of the
postcards she had purchased.

"Just look at all those magazines dangling after that man!" screamed
Mary. And then, as she caught sight of Andy and Randy, both doubled up
with laughter, she continued: "I'm sure those twins must have done
it!"

Jack and Fred had also come up, and both were on a broad grin. In the
meanwhile the stage moved on with Asa Lemm still dragging the wire and
the periodicals attached to it behind him.

"Hurrah! he believes in loading up on information!" cried Andy gaily.

"He's what you can call a real live wire!" added his twin.

"Come back with those magazines, I tell you!" bawled the stand keeper,
shaking his fist at Asa Lemm. "Come back, I say!" And then he set off
on a run after the stage.

He could not catch up to the vehicle, but he did catch up to the end
of the wire, and as he stepped on this there was a tearing sound from
beyond, and away came the button from Asa Lemm's coat, bringing with
it a strip of cloth.

"Hurrah, he's got his magazines back!" exclaimed Randy.

"And a souvenir of Asa Lemm's coat to remember him by!" added his
brother.

Just as Andy said this a train came rolling into the station.

"I hope that is our train," cried Fred.

The boys ran around to the other side of the station and found out
from the conductor that the train which had come in was that for which
they had been waiting. They at once called to the girls; and all lost
no time in hurrying on board.

"Wait! I want to see the end of this!" cried Andy, and threw up a
window. He stuck out his head, and as the train rolled away from
Raymonton he was just in time to see Asa Lemm pulled from the step of
the auto-stage by the irate man from the newsstand. Then the former
Hall professor was tripped up and sent flat on his back in the dust of
the road.




CHAPTER XIV

BACK TO COLBY HALL


"Well, that is where we got back at Asa Lemm!" cried Randy, after all
of the Rovers had gazed out of the car windows as long as the scene
near the auto-stage remained in view.

"I'll wager that stand keeper is mad," said Jack.

"And what a beautiful coat old Lemm has, with the tail torn to
ribbons!" Fred added.

"Oh, I think you boys are simply dreadful!" cried Mary, but she smiled
as she spoke.

"Don't you think you were rather hard on the professor?" questioned
Martha dubiously.

"No, I don't!" answered Andy promptly. "He treated us as mean as dirt
while he was at Colby Hall. He was more than stern--he was thoroughly
unreasonable! That's why Colonel Colby discharged him."

"And please to remember how he backed up Slugger Brown's father on
Snowshoe Island," added Randy. "He was perfectly willing to swindle
old Barney Stevenson out of his property. He deserves no sympathy."

The remainder of the journey to Haven Point passed without special
incident. The boys and the girls had sent word ahead that they were
coming, and when they reached the town they found Bob Nixon there with
one of the Colby Hall turnouts, and also a driver with a stage from
the girls' school.

"Well, here is where we part and get back to the grind," said Fred,
after he and Jack had placed their sisters' baggage in the proper car.

"Good luck to both of you girls!" cried Jack.

The girls were soon started off in one direction, and then the boys
started off in the other. The latter were still some distance from
Colby Hall when they saw Spouter Powell and Gif Garrison approaching
on foot.

"Glad to see you back!" cried Spouter, as he climbed into the machine.

"We've got great news," announced Gif, his eyes beaming.

"Our fathers have volunteered for the war!" broke out Spouter.

"Really?" came from the Rover boys.

All were much interested, although Andy and Randy looked a trifle
disturbed. The fact that their own father would have to remain behind
while all of the others were going to the front was continually in the
minds of the twins. They felt much disappointed.

"When did you get the news?" questioned Jack.

"It came in by the first mail this morning," returned Spouter. "I got
a letter, and so did Gif. My father and Mr. Garrison are both going to
do their best to join the crowd from Putnam Hall and Brill College."

Of course the Rovers wanted to know more particulars, and they were
given so far as Spouter and Gif knew them.

"And we've got more news, too," announced Gif. "They've finally
settled on the place where we are to have our annual encampment."

"And where will that be?" asked Randy eagerly.

"We're to go to Barlight Bay on the Atlantic coast. It's quite a
distance from here."

"Barlight Bay!" exclaimed Jack. And then he looked inquiringly at
Fred. "Isn't that in the vicinity of Camp Huxwell?"

"Sure it is!" answered Fred. "They are almost side by side."

"I asked about that," said Spouter; "and Captain Dale told me that our
camp and the government camp will be not very far apart. There is a
thick belt of timber and some rocky land between."

"Why then, we'll be close to our fathers!" cried Fred joyfully. "This
suits me right down to the ground!" and his face showed his delight.

"Gee, I wish we were going under canvas to-morrow!" sighed Jack.

The next day found the Rovers deep in their studies. The examinations
previous to the annual encampment were now close at hand, and all were
anxious to make a good showing.

"Because, you see, it's this way," said Jack to his cousins, and
especially to the fun-loving twins. "We didn't come here merely to cut
up and have a good time. Our folks sent us to Colby Hall so that we
would settle down and get good educations. If we don't make a good
showing, you know how disappointed every one of them will be."

"Oh, I'm going to study like an Indian," answered Andy quickly. "I'm
going to cut out every bit of horseplay until after the examinations
are over."

"And so am I," added Randy.

And, strange as it may seem, the twins kept their word, and as a
result, when the examinations were held for the term, both came
through with markings which were exceedingly gratifying.

Jack and Fred likewise did very well, for which they were thankful.
They telephoned the results to their sisters, and got back word from
Clearwater Hall that Martha and Mary were also coming through finely.

"And what about Ruth and May?" questioned Jack, who was on the 'phone,
with Fred beside him.

"Ruth is at the head of the class," announced Martha, over the
telephone. "May will stand third or fourth."

"Then give them both our congratulations," said Jack.

"And also our best regards," added Fred, crowding his cousin to one
side.

"Hold the wire a minute and you can talk to them yourselves," said
Martha. And a minute later Jack was talking to Ruth and later still
Fred managed to get in a few words with May.

Following the examinations, Colonel Colby called the entire school
together, and then announced that he was going to take his departure
for Camp Huxwell and would leave the scholars in charge of Captain
Dale and Professors Grawson and Brice.

"I am sorry to leave you," announced the colonel, "but I have accepted
the call of our country and shall go to the training camp without
further delay. But you all know Captain Dale very well, and I feel
sure that you will be glad to learn that he will have charge during
the annual encampment. He will be assisted by the professors and some
others, and all arrangements have been perfected for making this
outing a great success.

"With talk of war filling the air, we shall try to show what Colby
Hall can do in the way of first-class military training. Captain Dale
will see to it that you are given an opportunity to show what you can
do at target and bayonet practice, and in marching and other camp
activities. There will, of course, be the usual athletic contests, and
as you are going down to the coast, you will likewise have an
opportunity to make use of the water."

Here the colonel paused, and there was a faint handclapping, quickly
followed by a generous round of applause.

"Evidently you all like the idea of going in camp near the water,"
said Colonel Colby, smiling.

"It's dandy!" called out Andy, and at this there was a general laugh.

"Before you depart for Camp Barlight, as the place will be called,
Captain Dale will hold the annual election of officers. As the old
cadets here know, no cadet who has not been at this school for at
least six months can hold any office in the battalion. Apart from that
rule, the cadets can make up their tickets to suit themselves. You
will first vote for a major, then for three captains, one each for
Companies A, B, and C, and then for two lieutenants for each company.
The other officers, including the quartermaster, will be selected by
Captain Dale and the professors.

"And now, young gentlemen, I must bid you good-bye, and I trust that
you have a good time during the encampment. As I expect to be at Camp
Huxwell for some weeks at least, I shall probably have the opportunity
from time to time of coming over to see how you are getting along."

Colonel Colby bowed and stepped back, and again there was a round of
applause. In the midst of this Major Ralph Mason arose and walked to
the front.

"Colonel Colby," he said in a loud voice, as soon as the applause had
subsided, "in the name of the battalion which I have the honor to
command, I wish to thank you for all your kindness to us as students
here, and we trust you will accept our best wishes for good luck to
you in the course you are taking. We feel sure that with such men as
you in our army Uncle Sam is bound to help very materially in winning
this World War.

"And now, sir, as a token of our esteem, and also as a reminder of
what we hope you will do to the enemy, allow me, sir, in the name of
all the cadets of Colby Hall, to present you with this."

As the young major concluded he drew from behind him a leather case
which he sprung open as he presented it to the astonished master of
the institution. There, in the case, rested a very fine automatic
pistol, its polished handle engraved with Colonel Colby's name and
also the fact that it was presented to him by the school, with the
date. The hat had been passed around among the boys for contributions
to this gift, and every cadet had given something.

Though the colonel was much astonished, he was likewise greatly
pleased at this evidence of their friendliness and interest in him,
and he accepted the gift in a few words which showed his emotion.

"If I ever get to France this automatic shall go with me," he
announced. "And you can rest assured that if ever the opportunity
comes, the weapon shall render a good account for itself." And
following these remarks there was another round of applause, and then
the school was dismissed.

Of course the boys had known about the annual election for a long
time, and there had been a good deal of wire-pulling over the question
of candidates for the various offices. It was felt by many, including
the Rovers, that Ralph Mason should remain the major of the school
battalion, because he was so well liked and was such a thoroughly good
officer. It was also felt that the captains of Company A and Company B
should remain, and likewise several of the lieutenants.

"What we want most is a new captain for Company C," said Spouter.

"Yes, and we want two lieutenants for that company, too," put in Walt
Baxter.

"And the whole company wants to be jacked up," added Don Soppinger.
"The way they have been drilling has been a disgrace to this school.
They don't do half as well as the other companies."

"Well, you must remember one thing," said Jack. "Company C was formed
long after they had Company A and Company B. That company always got
all the new fellows, and you can't expect new cadets to do as well as
the old ones."

"Yes, but now that they are getting ready to form a Company D, the
fellows in Company C ought to be jacked up," said Fatty Hendry. "They
need it."

"Say, Fatty, do you want to become an officer of them?" queried Randy
slyly.

"Well, I wouldn't mind the job," answered the stout cadet. "I think I
could boss 'em around a little better than Phil Huber did." Huber had
been the former captain, but he had left the school, and the command
was now in charge of the first lieutenant, a fellow named Gabe Werner.

Now it chanced that Lieutenant Werner was not very well liked at Colby
Hall. He was a tall, angular youth, with watery blue eyes and
straw-colored hair, and he had a general manner about him which was
anything but inviting. How he had ever gotten to be a lieutenant of
the cadets was a mystery.

"I think they'll dump Lieutenant Werner," remarked Fred. "I don't
believe anybody wants him for an officer again."

"I guess you're right," answered Dan Soppinger. "If anybody at all
voted for Werner, it would be Bill Glutts."

"Well, Glutts isn't any better than Werner," was Jack's reply. "He's a
regular blockhead, in my opinion."

Glutts was a youth who had come from the Middle West, and it was said
that his father was in the wholesale butcher business. He was a
broad-shouldered, beefy-looking youth, with prominent front teeth and
a face that was far from inviting.

"Say, Jack, why don't you run for captain?" queried Gif. "I'm sure our
whole crowd would stand by you."

"Oh, I don't know, Gif," returned Jack modestly. "I didn't expect to
become an officer yet. Let some of the older cadets take hold. You
might run yourself."

"No, I don't think I want the job," answered Gif.

"Maybe you'd like it, Spouter?" said Jack.

"No, I'll give it up in your favor, Jack," was the prompt response.
Spouter looked at the assembled crowd. "Say, fellows, what do you
think of it? Shall we put up Jack Rover for captain of Company C?"

"Sure!"

"Jack will be sure to run well!"

So the comments ran on, and almost before he knew it, Jack had been
nominated by his friends for the position of captain of Company C.
Then began an animated discussion over the other offices to be filled,
and a little later Fred was nominated for a lieutenancy.




CHAPTER XV

THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS


"Jack, I hope you win out in that election," said Fred, after the
conference had come to an end and the cadets had dispersed.

"I hope you win out, too, Fred," was the quick reply.

"I think if anybody has a job to get elected, it will be you, Jack,"
came from Randy. "You can bet your bottom dollar that Gabe Werner will
make every effort to secure that office."

"Well, as he is acting captain now, perhaps he deserves it," answered
Jack slowly.

"He deserves nothing!" came promptly from Andy. "He's a regular bear.
He never has any consideration whatever for the cadets under him. Why,
only last week it made my blood boil the way he treated a couple of
new fellows. Of course, they didn't know what he wanted, but that's no
reason why he should howl at 'em the way he did. If he had done that
to me, I'd have thrown my gun at his head."

What had been said about Gabe Werner's ambition to become the regular
captain of Company C was true. The angular lieutenant was of the
opinion that the place belonged to him, and he did not hesitate to
tell this to all those with whom he was intimate.

Now that Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell had left Colby Hall for good,
Henry Stowell had established himself as a satellite of Werner, doing
all the mean little jobs the big cadet desired.

"Of course you'll be elected," declared Codfish to the lieutenant,
when the talk over the coming election was rife. "The place belongs to
you."

"Sure it does," answered Gabe Werner readily. "But I suppose I've got
to work like the rest of the candidates if I want it," he added,
heaving a deep sigh. Werner was lazy by nature, and he did not like
the idea of electioneering, any more than he did the idea of studying.

"I'll tell you what you ought to do, Gabe," said Bill Glutts. "You
ought to give the boys a spread, or treat them to an entertainment in
town. That would nail the captaincy for you."

This idea pleased Werner, and, as a result, that night he invited all
the cadets he dared to approach to the moving-picture theater at Haven
Point. A crowd of about thirty accepted this invitation, and they not
only went to the show, but later on dined at one of the restaurants
at Gabe's expense.

"That sort of thing makes me tired," declared Spouter, when he heard
of this. "Why, the poor fish is trying to buy votes!"

At first Dan Soppinger had said that he did not care to run for the
captaincy, but a number of his friends insisted that he allow his name
to be put up, and finally he consented. Others went to Walt Baxter and
told him that he must run, too.

"You've simply got to do it, Baxter," said Ned Lowe. "If you don't,
some of the fellows who might vote for you will go over to Werner, and
he'll have a walkover from the start."

"All right then, if you want me to stand I'll do it," said Walt. "Just
the same, I think Jack Rover ought to have it, and I'm going to vote
for him."

The voting was to be held on the following Saturday, and on Monday
morning the cadets were to leave Colby Hall for Camp Barlight.
Consequently between getting ready to vote and preparing for the
encampment, all of the students were unusually busy.

The election was held in the main hall of the school, and was presided
over by Captain Dale and Professor Brice. It was announced that the
total number of votes to be cast would be 111 and the number necessary
for a choice would consequently be 56.

"We will ballot for the major and the three captains separately,"
announced Captain Dale. "Then we will have the balloting for the
lieutenants."

The electing of a major for the next term proved easy. Ralph Mason
obtained ninety-one votes on the first ballot and was consequently
declared reГ«lected.

"Hurrah for Major Ralph Mason!" cried one of the cadets, and the
cheers were given with a will.

Then followed the balloting for the captain of Company A and the
captain of Company B, and they were likewise reГ«lected, and there was
more cheering.

"We will now ballot for a captain for Company C," announced Captain
Dale.

There was a murmur, and the cadets once more formed a long line and
marched up to the platform, where each deposited his ballot in a big
box, located there for that purpose.

There was a smug grin on the face of Gabe Werner when he dropped in
his vote. It seemed to show that he felt sure of being elected.

A few minutes of silence occurred, during which time the votes were
being tabulated, and then Professor Brice struck a bell to attract the
attention of the cadets, and, stepping forward, read the result:

    "Total number of votes      111
     Necessary to a choice       56
     Gabe Werner has             32
     Jack Rover has              32
     Daniel Soppinger has        30
     Walter Baxter has           17."

At this there was a murmur of voices, and all the cadets looked at
each other.

"As no candidate has received the required number of votes, I will
leave you for ten minutes to talk matters over among yourselves, and
then we will have another vote," announced Captain Dale.

"Say, Jack! what do you know about that?" cried Fred. "You and Werner
are tied for first place!"

At this moment Walt Baxter came up.

"Listen, Jack," he said in a low voice. "I voted for you, and I would
just as lief withdraw in your favor, but some of the fellows who voted
for me say if I withdraw they will vote for Werner, so I'll have to
stay on the ticket. But it's a blamed shame!" and Walt's face showed
that he meant what he said.

"Say, Bill, we've got to get a hustle on and get more votes," growled
Gabe Werner to his crony, as they walked over to a corner.

"I don't see how we're going to do it. I've talked to every fellow in
the school," said Glutts.

"I'm entitled to this captaincy, and if they won't give it to me I
don't want anything," growled Gabe Werner. It angered him to think
that in spite of all the money he had spent he could muster up only
thirty-two votes.

While this was going on, Dan Soppinger had been circulating among
those who had been supporting him. Dan was gratified over the showing
he had made, but he did not want the position. Now he came up and
announced that he was going to withdraw.

"I'm withdrawing in favor of Jack Rover," he declared in a loud voice,
and went around the hall repeating this statement. "I want everybody
who voted for me to vote for Jack."

"Not much we won't!" cried one cadet. "If you won't run, we'll vote
for Walt Baxter."

"We want Bart White to run!" put in another cadet.

"All right, suit yourselves," said Dan, with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Just the same, I'm out of it, so I don't want anybody to vote for me
again."

It was not long after this that the call came for the next ballot, and
once again the cadets filed up and placed their slips of paper in the
box. Then the counting began and was soon finished. Both Captain Dale
and Professor Brice seemed to be much disturbed over something that
had occurred, and the bell for silence rang out sharply.

"This ballot cannot be counted!" declared Captain Dale, in a stern
voice. "There are but one hundred and eleven cadets present, but one
hundred and fifteen votes have been cast, showing that some person or
persons voted more than once. You will immediately prepare new votes
and stand in one long line, handing each vote to me as you come up."

"Gee! what do you know about that?" whispered Randy.

"I wager some of the Werner crowd did that," remarked his twin.

"How foolish to do anything of that sort," said Jack. "They ought to
have known they couldn't get away with it."

"Maybe they thought because Dan Soppinger retired some of the fellows
wouldn't vote," suggested Fred.

"Well, if they thought that, they got left."

The next vote proved correct so far as numbers went, and once more the
figures were announced:

    "Number necessary to a choice      56
     Jack Rover has                    54
     Gabe Werner has                   30
     Walter Baxter has                 20
     Bart White has                     7."

"Hurrah, Jack, you're going up!" cried Fred enthusiastically.

"You're only two votes shy of a choice," said Randy.

"I guess you would have been elected if Bart White hadn't gone on the
ticket," returned Spouter.

At that moment both Walt Baxter and Bart White came rushing up to
Jack.

"I'm going to retire in your favor, Jack," said Walt.

"So am I," declared Bart.

"Well, now, I didn't expect this," stammered Jack, hardly knowing what
to say.

"I can't get it anyway," declared Walt, "and as Werner is falling
behind, I think it's perfectly safe now to withdraw."

"And I only went in to keep the votes from going to Werner," declared
Bart.

Both of these cadets hustled around among their supporters and let all
in the Hall know that they were withdrawing from the contest.

In the meantime Gabe Werner and his cronies circulated among the
crowd, and it was afterwards said that Werner even went so far as to
attempt to buy some votes, but without avail.

Then the next ballot was called for, and it was quickly cast.

"We have at last reached a result," announced Captain Dale. "And I am
glad of it." And then he read the figures.

    "Total number of votes cast      111
     Necessary to a choice            56
     Jack Rover has                   81
     Gabe Werner has                  30."

"Hurrah! Jack Rover is elected captain of Company C!" and a great
cheer went throughout the hall.

"He got all the votes that were cast for Baxter and White!" cried
Fred.

"Right you are!" added Gif. "Gabe Werner did not get a single vote
more than he had before."

"And that was two less than he got at the start," added Spouter.

"I hereby declare Jack Rover duly elected captain of Company C for the
ensuing term," said Captain Dale. "Captain Rover, if you will come
forward, I shall be glad to shake hands with you," he added. And then,
as Jack walked to the platform to grasp the instructor's hand, there
was a great burst of applause.

"Never mind, Gabe. We'll make you lieutenant again, anyway," declared
Bill Glutts, while this scene was being transacted.

"I don't want to be lieutenant again!" howled Gabe. "If they don't
want me for a captain, they needn't have me for anything. I'll decline
to run!" And thus speaking, Gabe Werner marched out of the room in
great disgust.

"He sure is a sweet one!" was Gif's comment.

A little while later it was announced that the balloting for
lieutenants would begin. The names of eight aspirants were put up,
including that of Fred Rover. There was a good deal of wire-pulling,
and it took nine ballots to decide the various choices. But in the end
Fred became the first lieutenant of the company of which Jack had been
made captain.

"Good for you, Fred! I congratulate you!" cried Jack, catching his
cousin by the hand.

"I guess we'll all do that," declared Randy.

"Three cheers for Lieutenant Fred Rover!" exclaimed Spouter, and the
cheers were given with great heartiness, for Fred had made himself a
favorite throughout the school.

"And now to get ready to go to Camp Barlight" said Andy. "My, but
won't we have the best times ever while we are under canvas!"

"I hope we do," answered Jack.

But a little later the newly-elected captain became somewhat doubtful
of this. As he and Fred, followed by the twins, went upstairs to their
rooms they passed Gabe Werner and his cronies in the main corridor.
The angular ex-lieutenant did not say a word, but he glared at Jack in
a baneful way that boded no good.

"Werner has got it in for you, Jack," remarked Andy, when the four
Rovers were in their rooms and the doors had been closed.

"I guess you're right," was Jack's reply. "Well, I'm not going to
worry. I think I can take care of myself."




CHAPTER XVI

OFF FOR THE ENCAMPMENT


As was the usual custom at Colby Hall, all of the old officers and
those newly elected were invited to participate in a dinner given by
Captain Dale. This was held in a private dining room of the school,
and was usually a function looked forward to with much pleasure by
those to take part.

"Now we've got to look our prettiest," announced Fred to Jack. "Of
course, we'll wear our new officers' uniforms."

The dinner proved to be one long to be remembered by the two Rover
boys, and they were sorry to think the twins had not been present to
see what took place. There were some speeches and a good deal of
merrymaking, and the two Rovers were congratulated over and over again
on having been elected.

"I'm mighty glad to think you're going to be at the head of Company C,
Captain Rover," said Major Ralph Mason. "And glad, too, that your
cousin Fred is going to be a lieutenant of that company. I shall
expect great things from both of you."

"Well, I intend to do the best I can," announced Jack modestly.

There was but one drawback to the affair. Gabe Werner did not show
himself, nor did he send any letter of regret to Captain Dale.

"Gabe is sore, all right enough," declared one of the under officers.
"When I asked him if he was coming to the spread, he merely shook his
head and looked like a thundercloud."

Sunday proved rather a busy day for all of the cadets, yet the Rovers,
along with a number of others, went to Haven Point where they met some
of the girls. All attended services at one of the local churches. Then
the young folks paired off, the boys walking with the girls to
Clearwater Hall.

"Oh, Jack, you can't think how proud I am to know they have made you a
captain!" said Ruth, who was walking beside the newly-elected officer.
"And I think you ought to be very proud yourself."

"I admit it makes me feel pretty good, Ruth," he answered.

"But you'll have to be careful," went on the girl anxiously. "Randy
told me on the way to church that a cadet named Werner is very angry
because you cut him out of one of the captaincies."

"I'm not afraid of Werner or any of his crowd!"

"Yes, but he may try to make trouble, Jack. Don't forget how Brown and
Martell acted--and are acting still."

"I won't forget, Ruth." And then, making sure that none of the others
was noticing, he pressed the girl's fingers tightly within his own.
"It's awfully nice to have you so interested," he whispered. And,
although she did not answer to this, she gave him a bright look that
lingered in his memory for many a day afterward.

In the meantime Fred was walking along with May Powell, and had also
been congratulated on attaining a lieutenancy. May was full of fun,
and her eyes showed it.

"I suppose some day it will be Major Fred Rover!" she exclaimed. "My,
won't you look grand with a whole lot of gold lace, and a cockade hat,
and all that sort of thing!"

"No gold lace for mine, May!" he laughed.

Spouter and Gif were walking with Martha and Mary, and soon the whole
crowd reached Clearwater Hall. Here the boys had to say good-bye to
the girls, and this was rather a lingering process, since the young
folks did not know exactly when they would get together again.

"But don't forget we expect to march past here to-morrow morning about
ten o'clock," said Jack. "If you are really patriotic you'll be
watching for us and have your flags out."

"Don't you worry about that," answered Ruth. "We're going to ask Miss
Garwood for a special recess in honor of the occasion."

The evening was spent by the boys in packing their things and in
otherwise getting ready for the encampment. There was, however, the
usual song service at eight o'clock in the assembly room of the Hall,
on this occasion presided over by a minister who had stopped at the
Hall to visit his two nephews, who were pupils there. The minister was
a good speaker, and he made an address which the cadets listened to
with close attention.

Early in the morning came a sound that told all the cadets that the
annual encampment was now at hand. Instead of the school bell ringing,
there were the notes of two bugles ringing through the corridors. Then
from outside came the vigorous rattle of several drums.

"Hurrah! No more studying! From now on we are soldier boys!" exclaimed
Andy, and he bounced out of bed. "Get up, you sleepyheads!" And in the
exuberance of his spirits he threw a pillow at his twin's head. Randy
returned the compliment by throwing a shoe at him, hitting Andy in the
stomach.

"Hi! What's this?" exclaimed Fred, scrambling up at the confusion.

"Over the top at the Huns!" shouted Andy, charging on Randy and
sending him backward into a stand loaded with books. "Forward, the
light brigade, and on to the gas attack!"

"Hi! You fellows are making altogether too much noise," came from
Jack. "Attention, company! Line up! Eyes right!"

"My! but don't the bugles and drums sound fine?" was Fred's comment,
as he hurried into his new uniform, of which, it may be said
privately, he was exceedingly proud.

"I suppose we won't have a bit of fun at this outing, with a captain
and a lieutenant keeping their eyes on us," grumbled Andy; but, of
course, he did not mean what he said.

"Sure, I'll make you line up and toe the chalk mark," answered Jack,
with a grin. "You won't dare to call your souls your own. If you
infringe one fixed rule the sixteenth of an inch, I'll place you in
the guardhouse."

"Yes, and we'll feed you on nothing but dry bread and dry water,"
added Fred.

"Good-night!" came solemnly from Randy. "Please lead me to the
dungeon at once! What's the use of looking at the sunshine and trying
to smile!"

It had been decided that the cadets should march to Barlight Bay,
which was about thirty-five miles distant. They were to take two days
for the journey, stopping over night on the outskirts of the village
of Rackville, where Captain Dale had already rented a farm field for
that purpose. All of their belongings were to be transported in
several motor trucks, engaged for that purpose, these trucks being
under orders from the battalion quartermaster.

Of course, it must be understood by my young readers that Colby Hall
was only a military school for boys, and that the military matters
there, while conducted somewhat on the lines of those at West Point,
were by no means so strict. The officers, from the young major down,
were expected to do their duty the same as if they were at a
government camp, but all were under the supervision of Captain Dale
and the Hall professors.

More than this, the boys did not pretend to do any of the camp cooking
or any of the menial camp labor, this being accomplished by hired
helpers. And again, the officers were only officers while on parade or
during special hours of duty--otherwise they were just like the
other cadets and were treated accordingly.

There was the usual morning roll call, and also the drill and
inspection, this time the latter being unusually severe, for Captain
Dale wanted to make sure that everything was right before the cadets
left the Hall. The parade around the grounds, however, was omitted,
and the lads went in to their breakfast half an hour earlier than
usual. Then it was announced that they would leave the Hall at exactly
nine o'clock.

At the roll call and inspection it was a new thing for Jack to take
command of Company C, and for Fred to fill the position of a
lieutenant; but both acquitted themselves creditably, and for this
received a nod of approval from Captain Dale.

On Sunday evening it had been rumored about that Gabe Werner had
decided not to attend the encampment. This rumor had its foundation in
the fact that the angular ex-lieutenant had sent a telegram to his
father explaining the situation and stating he wanted to come home. In
return, however, Mr. Werner commanded his son to remain at Colby Hall,
and so, much against his will, Gabe was on hand when the cadets were
ready to march away.

"But I ain't going to do anything that I don't want to do," growled
Gabe to Bill Glutts. "You just wait and see!"

"Maybe you'll get a chance to make it warm for Jack Rover and his
bunch," suggested the wholesale butcher's son.

"You bet!" answered Werner laconically.

The cadets were all assembled on the parade ground, and the motor
trucks, piled high with all of their belongings, as well as the
camping paraphernalia, had already left the grounds. There was a final
rattle of drums to call any cadets who might still be missing.

"Battalion attention!" commanded the young major, after he had
received his orders from Captain Dale.

At once the three companies came to attention.

"Shoulder arms!" came the command a few seconds later.
"Forward--march!"

Boom! Boom! Boom, boom, boom! went the drums, and the Colby cadets
stepped off gaily, while the professors and helpers left behind at the
Hall cheered loudly and waved their hands. From the big flagstaff on
the campus floated a large American flag, this being run up every
morning at sunrise and taken down at sunset.

Soon the drums gave a preliminary rattle, and then the shrill fifes
struck up into a lively marching air, and one company after another
passed out of the Hall grounds and on to the road leading to Haven
Point.

"Hay foot, straw foot!" murmured Andy jokingly to Randy, who was
marching by his side. "I wonder how our feet will feel after we have
covered the eighteen miles we have to do to-day?"

"Oh, that will be all right, I think," answered his twin. "I've done
more than eighteen miles in a day, and so have you."

It did not take long for the cadets to reach the outskirts of Haven
Point. Their coming was expected, and quite a crowd of town folks were
out to see the parade. Some few had put out flags, for all were proud
to have such an institution as Colby Hall in that vicinity.

The moving-picture theater was decorated with flags from top to
bottom, and across the street the enterprising manager had hung a big
banner inscribed with the words:

           _Good-bye
          COLBY HALL
    Have a good time, boys_

Captain Dale was marching beside Major Mason, and as the school came
in sight of this banner the major whispered a few words to the
elderly military man, who nodded in approval. Then the young major
turned and, walking backward, cried:

"Battalion attention! Three cheers for Mr. Felix Falstein!"

The cheers were given with a right good will, and a number of the
cadets swung their caps at the manager of the moving-picture theater,
who stood in the doorway, smiling at them. The cheer had been totally
unexpected, and Mr. Falstein grew exceedingly red in the face. But he
bowed and smiled, and kept on bowing, in the meantime waving his hat
at the cadets, until they had passed up the street.

Leaving Haven Point behind, and with a generous following of small
boys, the cadets continued their march by taking to the road leading
past Clearwater Hall. Here another surprise awaited them. The girls of
the school had strung long lines of colored paper across the roadway,
and had decorated the entire front of the school grounds with small
flags. More than this, all of the girls were out in a long line facing
the roadway, and many of them carried flags and wore red, white and
blue ribbons.

"Good-bye! Have a good time!" called out Ruth.

"Don't forget to write!" came from Martha.

"Oh, but you do look nice!" called May.

And then there was such a babble of exclamations that hardly a word of
what was said could be understood. And in the midst of this the cadets
gave a rousing cheer for Clearwater Hall and everybody connected with
that school.

"Oh, but don't they look lovely!" cried May, when the boys had passed.
"Did you see Jack at the head of the third company?" she asked of
Ruth.

"Why, of course! And he certainly looked every inch a captain."

"I wish I were a boy and could go along!" sighed Mary.

"Oh, I guess we all wish that," declared Ruth. "But come--let us give
them another cheer!" And this rent the air just as the cadets reached
a turn in the road and passed out of sight.




CHAPTER XVII

A NIGHT ON THE ROAD


"This is the life, boys!"

"Ho for a life under canvas!"

"Beats rooming in a school all hollow, doesn't it?"

"Exactly so! And think--we haven't any studying to do. Oh, boy!" and
Andy, who was the speaker, felt so light-hearted that he turned
several cartwheels on the grass.

"Say, you look out, Andy, or somebody will grab you and put you in the
circus," was Spouter's comment.

The Colby Hall cadets had finished their first day's march and were
now in camp on the outskirts of Rackville. They had made the hike
without mishap, stopping at noon for lunch along the roadside.

The encampment consisted of three long lines of tents, one for each
company. As was the usual practice, the cadets had erected the
canvases themselves, doing it with real military precision. They were
in the center of a large, sloping field, one end of which bordered the
road running into Rackville. The field was a pasture lot belonging to
a large farm owned by a man named Oliver Appleby. Appleby owned a
dairy farm, and employed about a dozen hired hands.

"I know one thing we'll get here," remarked Fred, after a look around.
"We'll probably get all the milk we want to drink."

And in this surmise he was correct. Captain Dale had made the
necessary arrangements with Oliver Appleby, and that evening and the
following morning the cadets were furnished with the best of cream and
also all the fresh milk they desired.

After the setting up of the tents came supper, and my readers can rest
assured that none of the boys were "backward about coming forward," as
Randy expressed it. All were as hungry as wolves, and the amount of
food they stored away was simply astonishing. But Captain Dale had
received orders from Colonel Colby that the students should be well
treated, so everybody got all he wanted.

"Gee! this is so different from a school I used to attend," remarked
Fatty Hendry, with a sigh of satisfaction. "At that place we only got
about half enough to eat, and many a time I had to go down to the
village and buy something extra to keep from starvation."

Having spent so many of their vacations at the old Rover homestead at
Valley Brook, the Rovers were much interested in the Appleby place,
and after the evening meal Jack and Fred took a stroll up to the cow
barns to inspect the herd. Oliver Appleby had a number of prize
cattle, of which he was very proud.

"They are certainly beautiful cows," remarked Fred, when they were
walking through the shed which housed the best of the herd. "They must
have cost a mint of money."

The two young officers were on the point of leaving the cow sheds
when, quite unexpectedly, they ran into Jed Kessler.

"Hello! I thought I'd see some of you fellers," cried the old dockman.
"Out for your annual encampment, I understand."

"Yes," answered Jack. "How are you these days? Have you got over the
effects of that explosion?"