“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 reëlected.
“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 reëlected, 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 has20
Bart White has7.”
“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 wan
t 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.”
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