but presently he stopped short and looked upward in wonder.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, as he came closer.
“We are in trouble and we want you to help us,” answered Pepper. “Hurry up, before my friend tumbles down and kills himself.”
“Why, you are on a rope, aren’t you?” asked the person below, and now Pepper and Jack saw that he was a boy, very tall and thin.
“Yes, and I am caught fast,” answered Jack.
“How did you get there, this time of night? What do you want me to do?” fired back the tall boy.
“Come into the church, run up to the belfry, and unfasten the trap door!” called Pepper. “I am a prisoner, otherwise I’d go to my friend’s aid.”
“How can I get in?” asked the strange boy, noting that the church doors were closed.
“Climb through the side window which is open.”
The newcomer started for the side of the building, but suddenly halted.
“See here, this is a mighty queer proceedings,” he said slowly. “I don’t know but what you are thieves. Maybe I had better go for outside help.”
“We are not thieves – we are military school cadets, out on a lark,” answered Jack. “Can’t you see my uniform? Help me to get down and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Yes, I can see your buttons,” answered the tall boy, and without another word he ran for the window and disappeared inside the church. He knocked around in the darkness but soon found the way upstairs and to the belfry ladder. Then Pepper heard him fumbling at the fastening of the trap door. Soon the door came up with a bang.
“There you are!” cried the stranger. “Now, if you want to help your friend you had better be quick about it.”
“Thank you for opening the trap door!” answered Pepper. He started down the ladder after the other lad. “Will you help me? We’ll pay you well.”
“I don’t want any pay for helping to save a fellow’s life,” was the quick response.
It did not take either of the boys long to reach the yard beside the church. In the rear was a long shed, where horses were tied up during services. Pepper knew that the sexton kept a ladder in this shed and he mentioned the fact to the stranger. The ladder was found, and both boys ran with it to the side of the church and started to raise it up at the spot where Jack was still astride of the rope.
It was no mean task to raise the long and heavy ladder. But both Pepper and the stranger realized that Jack’s life hung in the balance and they worked with a strength born of despair. With a bang the top of the ladder struck the side of the church, directly under the young major’s legs.
“Can you reach it, Jack?” questioned Pepper anxiously.
“I – guess – so!” panted Jack, and let himself down at arms’ length on the rope. His feet struck the top rung of the ladder, and in a few seconds more he came down to the ground. He staggered as he struck the grass, and then, lurching into Pepper’s arms, he fainted dead away.
CHAPTER III
REFF RITTER’S CONFESSION
“He got down just in time,” said the strange boy, as he assisted Pepper in making Jack comfortable on the grass. “Is there a well handy? If there is I’ll get some water.”
“There is a well back of the church,” answered Pepper. “But I reckon my chum needs a chance to get back his wind more than anything else,” he added.
The strange youth ran off, to return presently with a large tin dipper full of water. With this he and Pepper bathed the young major’s face and gave him a drink. Jack soon opened his eyes and sat up.
“Did I – I fall?” he stammered.
“Not until you were on the ground,” answered Pepper.
“You held out just long enough and no longer,” said the strange boy, with a short laugh. “You were plucky to hold out as long as you did.”
“It was a terrible experience,” answered Jack soberly. “I thought at one time I’d surely lose my grip and break my neck!”
“You keep quiet awhile,” advised Pepper. “You need a chance to rest and get back your nerve, that’s all.”
“He certainly had nerve!” said the strange youth, with a grin. “But, say, you promised to tell me what it was all about. I know there is a military school near here called Putnam Hall? Do you go there?”
“Yes,” answered Pepper. “But – er – would you mind helping me put that ladder back before we talk? We don’t want to be spotted if we can help it.”
“Sure, I’ll help you,” cried the stranger, and soon he and The Imp had the ladder down and back to the shed. By this time Jack had recovered sufficiently to stand up. He was still a bit dizzy but his strength was coming back fast.
“I am Pepper Ditmore,” said that youth to the stranger. “And this is my chum, Jack Ruddy. I am only a private at the Hall but Jack is an officer.”
“And I am Bert Field,” said the stranger, and extended his hand, which both of the other boys shook. “I am just stopping in Cedarville for a day or two on business which – er – but that won’t interest you,” he added hastily. “It was a lark, eh, climbing into the belfry?”
“Yes, we intended to take away the bell clapper,” answered Pepper. “Some of the other cadets dared us to do it.”
“But how did you get locked in?”
“We think one of the other cadets – who is down on us – followed us and fastened the trap door. I suppose he thinks we are up there yet.”
“I want to thank you for what you did for me, Field,” said Jack, earnestly.
“Oh, that’s all right.”
“If you’ll – er – accept a gift, I’ll be pleased – ”
“No, thank you just the same, Ruddy. I don’t want a thing.”
“But we’d like to do something for you – to show you we appreciate your coming to our assistance,” put in Pepper.
“Maybe you’d like to visit our school?” suggested the young major.
“Thanks, but I haven’t time just now. But tell me, do you know a man living in these parts named Jabez Trask?” went on Bert Field, eagerly.
“No,” answered Jack, and Pepper shook his head.
“Never heard of him?”
“No,” said Pepper.
“Too bad! I thought maybe you boys knew about everybody living in this neighborhood.”
“Is it somebody you want to find?” questioned Jack.
“Yes, but – er – well, never mind. Don’t
