CHAPTER XII
THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS
On the following morning all of the cadets but Harry Moss appeared in the messroom.
"Joe Davis says Harry is quite sick," said Powell to Dick.
"That's too bad. Have they sent for a doctor?"
"I don't know."
When Lew Flapp heard that Harry was sick he grew pale, and during the morning session could scarcely fix his mind on his studies.
"I hope the little fool don't blab on us," was his thought. "If he does there is no telling what the captain will do. He's altogether too strict for comfort in some things."
No doctor was sent for, so it was finally agreed that Harry Moss was not as ill as had been sup posed. But the young cadet did not enter the schoolroom for all of that day.
The sickness had frightened Captain Putnam, who was not yet over the scarlet fever scare, and be questioned Harry thoroughly about what he had been doing, and about what he had been eat ing and drinking.
At first the young cadet did not dare to tell the truth, but finally he blurted out that he had taken a glass of liquor against his will and it had turned his stomach in a most painful manner.
"Where did you get the liquor?" demanded Captain Putnam sternly.
"I—I—oh, must I tell you, sir?"
"Yes, Harry."
"I—that is, Lew Flapp—Oh, sir, I don't want to be a tattle-tale."
"Did Lew Flapp give you the liquor? Answer me at once."
"Yes, sir, he and another cadet named Pender. But, sir, I don't want to hurt them. I—I" and here Harry burst into tears.
"Where was this?"
"Down in Cedarville, sir. But, I—I—I shan't say any more, Captain Putnam," and after that Harry remained silent. As it was plain to see that he was suffering, Captain Putnam did not push the matter. But he called Lew Flapp and Fender into his private office and interviewed the unworthy pair for fully half an hour.
"To do such a thing is outrageous," said the captain. "If I hear of it again I shall dismiss you from the Hall at once."
On the following morning one of the assistant teachers made a brief announcement that filled the entire school with curiosity.
"On next Monday you are to have an election of officers for the term," said he. "As you know, twenty cadets were selected as worthy of being elected. The list has since been cut down to eighteen. Lew Flapp and Augustus Pender will not run."
At this announcement Dick and Powell looked at each other significantly. All of the other cadets looked around to find Flapp and Pender, but the pair were absent, nor did they put in an appearance at all until the next school session.
"The captain found it out in some way," said Dick to Powell.
"Shouldn't wonder if Harry Moss let the cat out of the bag," was the answer.
"It's queer about Flapp and Pender," declared Tom to his older brother. "Do you know why they were dropped?"
"Yes, Tom, but I don't want you to say anything about it."
"There's a report around that they were found cutting loose in the village," put in Sam.
"Well, as I said before, I don't want to speak about it," went on Dick.
A few of the boys dared to question Flapp and Pender, but got no satisfaction.
"If I want to drop out I reckon I can do it," growled Flapp, and that was as much as either he or his crony would say.
With Flapp out of the race there was considerable curiosity to know who would be elected for the term. Each set of cadets had their favorite candidates and the spirit of rivalry ran high. But most of the candidates were good-natured about it, and especially Dick and Tom Rover and George Granbury, Fred Garrison, and Larry Colby.
It had been decided that the cadets should first elect the major, then the three captains, and then the six lieutenants, all to be selected according to the highest number of votes received.
The voting began on Monday immediately after breakfast. Captain Putnam had slips passed around and on these each cadet wrote down his choice for major.
"I will read the result," said the captain, a few minutes after the poll was declared closed. And he read as follows:
"Whole number of votes cast—96.
"Lawrence Colby has 67.
"The next highest student has 19.
"Lawrence Colby is declared elected major of the battalion for the present term, including the annual encampment."
"Hurrah for Major Larry Colby!" cried Tom, and a rousing cheer followed, while Captain Putnam strode over and shook hands with the newly elected commanding officer.
"I must congratulate you, Major Colby," he said warmly. "I must say I am well satisfied with the choice of our students."
"Thank you, sir," answered Larry, and blushed in spite of himself.
"We will now proceed to the election of the three captains," went on Captain Putnam. "Remember, the three standing highest on the list will be declared elected respectively."
Again slips were passed around and again the students marked down the names of their favorites, three upon each slip.
Counting up the vote for captains took longer than that for major, but soon the captain had his statement ready and the cadets listened in silence as he proceeded to make his announcement:
"Whole number of votes cast, 288.
"Richard Rover has 82.
"Fred Garrison has 67.
"Mark Romer has 59.
"The next highest student has 28.
"Richard Rover is elected captain of Company A, Frederick Garrison captain of Company B, and Mark Romer captain of Company C, for this term and during the annual encampment."
"Hurrah for Dick Rover!"
"Hurrah for Fred Garrison and Mark Romer!"
And then the students cheered as wildly as ever, while Captain Putnam once more offered his congratulations.
"Captain Rover, my hand," said Larry, coming up.
"Thank you, Major Colby," answered Dick, and then both gave a grip that meant a good deal.
"We seem to be right in it," observed the newly elected major.
"That's true," answered Dick.
"We shall now proceed to the election of six lieutenants," went on Captain Putnam, and once more the slips went the rounds, and the boys did a lot of writing and speculating as each put down the six names required.
This vote was rather a long one, and Captain Putnam had two teachers help him in tabulating the result.
"This contest must make Flapp feel sick," whispered Powell to Dick, while the students were taking it easy on the parade ground.
"Well, he brought it on himself," was the brief reply.
"I'll wager he tries to square up with us, especially if he thinks we told on him."
A bugle sounded, calling the cadets together, and once more Captain Putnam read the result:
"Whole number of votes cast, 576.
"John Powell has 83.
"William Merrick has 76.
"Walter Durham has 71.
"Thomas Rover has 68.
"George Granbury has 51.
"Raymond Hollbrook has 43.
"The next highest cadet has 38.
"John Powell is declared first lieutenant of Company A, William Merrick first lieutenant of Company B, Walter Durham first lieutenant of Company C, Thomas Rover second lieutenant of Company A, George Granbury second lieutenant of Company B, and Raymond Hollbrook second lieutenant of Company C, for this term and during the annual encampment."
As this announcement was made there was a breathless silence. Then came a rousing cheer and the various successful ones were congratulated by the captain and their friends.
"Well, Songbird, it seems you are to be my first lieutenant," said Dick as he shook hands with Powell. "That suits me first-rate.
"And I am to be second lieutenant," said Tom, coming up. "With Sam in the company as private this begins to look like a family affair."
"Oh, I'm going to make you fellows toe the mark now," laughed Dick. "No more skylarking, if you please, Lieutenant Rover."
"All right, Captain Rover," replied Tom, with a stiff salute that was side-splitting.
Taking it all the way through the election was declared to be a popular success. Of course some of the defeated candidates were bitterly disappointed, but they did their best to hide their true feelings. William Philander Tubbs had declined to vote and Lew Flapp and Gus Pender had kept entirely out of sight while the voting was going on. The two cronies took themselves to the gymnasium and there declared their hatred of Dick Rover.
"He is responsible for this," muttered Flapp, clenching his fists and grating his teeth. "But for him I might at this minute be major of the battalion, or one of the captains. Oh, but won't I square up some day!"
"What will you do?" questioned Pender. "Remember, I'm just as down on him as you are."
"I don't know yet, Gus. But I'll do something."
"All right; when you are ready to act, let me know, and I'll help you all I can," answered Gus Pender.