up and cast a slip of paper with his favorite's name on it in the box. The line will march in single file, one pace from man to man. Forward!"
The captain stood by the ballot box, and up came the file, Major Conners first and Captain Blossom following. In a few minutes all of the eighty-seven ballots were in the box, and then began the sorting out.
"I will now read the result of the first ballot," announced Captain Putnam, holding up a paper with the figures, and amid a dead silence he began:
| "'Whole number of votes cast . . . . | 87 |
| Necessary to a choice . . . . . . . . | 44 |
| Fred Garrison has . . . . . . . . . . . | 32 |
| Richard Rover has . . . . . . . . . . . | 28 |
| George Granbury has . . . . . . . . . | 15 |
| John Fenwick has . . . . . . . . . . . | 12' |
Consequently, nobody is elected. Another vote will be taken immediately after dinner," and then the companies were re-formed and marched into the mess hall.
"Fred Garrison is ahead!" came in a whisper from every side. "Good for you, Fred!"
"Mumps only got a dozen votes," came from one of the little boys. "He won't get my vote next time."
"Nor mine," chimed in his chum.
"Don't worry, Dick," whispered Tom. "The final result isn't reached yet. Somebody has got to drop out first."
The dinner finished, the boys gathered in little knots to talk the question over. Soon the line was re-formed for a second ballot.
At that moment Fred Garrison stepped forward.
"Fellow students!" he cried. "One word before you vote. I wish to withdraw from the contest, doing so in favor of two of my friends, Dick Rover and George Granbury. I thank those who voted for me before from the bottom of my heart."
"Hurrah for Fred!" came from a score of throats, and a cheer rent the air. "We won't forget you next time, old man!"
Soon the second ballot was cast, and amid another silence Captain Putnam read it off:
| "'Number of votes cast . . . . | 87 |
| Necessary to a choice . . . | 44 |
| John Fenwick has . . . . . . . | 7 |
| George Granbury has . . . . | 23 |
| Richard Rover has . . . . . . | 57' |
Richard Rover is declared elected second lieutenant of Company A for the balance of this term."
A cheer broke forth, and many of the cadets came up to shake Dick by the hand. Among the number were Fred and George Granbury. "You beat me fairly, Rover," said Granbury, a whole-souled fellow. "I am satisfied — so long as such a cad as Mumps doesn't get an office."
"Mumps was badly left," put in Tom. "See, he is sneaking off to his room. I rather guess he wishes he hadn't run."
"I thank you all very much," said Dick, his face glowing. "I shall try to do my best as second lieutenant. Three cheers for all of the cadets of Putnam Hall!" And the cheers broke forth with renewed vigor.
"Dick, you must do the square thing to-night," said Frank some time later.
"What do you mean?" asked the elder Rover.
"When a fellow is elected to an office he is supposed to treat his friends. All of the cadets will be sneaking up to your dormitory some time between ten and twelve o'clock to-night."
"Indeed!" Dick mused for a moment. "All right — I'll be ready for them, Frank; but mum is the word."
"You will treat?"
"I'll treat every cadet who shows himself and doesn't make any noise."
"Good for you! Then I can spread the word that it is all right? "
"Yes — but, Frank."
"Well?"
"Beware of Mumps. If he heard of what was going on I think he would try to spoil our game."
"I'll be careful," answered Frank, and hurried off in one direction, while Dick hurried off in another.
Both had scarcely disappeared than Mumps same forth from behind a hall rack which stood close at hand.
"How lucky to overhear their talk," said the sneak. "Will I spoil their game? Well, just wait and see, that's all!"
CHAPTER XXIV
PREPARING FOR A MIDNIGHT FEAST
Dick was in a quandary as to how he was to treat all of his friends, and called Sam and Tom to him for consultation.
"I've got a dollar and a quarter," said Sam; "you can use that, and welcome."
"And here is a dollar and ten," added Tom, passing over the amount in ten cent pieces and nickels. "Haven't you any money of your own?"
"I have two dollars and thirty cents," answered Dick.
"That makes four dollars and sixty-five cents," said Tom, summing up. "That's enough for a pretty fair blow-out."
"So it is, Tom, but where is the stuff to come from? Mrs. Green won't sell it to me."
"That's true."
"And she has her pantries all locked up."
"Oh, pshaw! you don't want to treat the boys on school stuff," said Sam. "Get 'em something from Cedarville — some bottled soda, candies, nuts, and things like that."
"That's the talk, Dick. Let us sneak off after dark and go to Cedarville!" cried Tom. "That would just suit me."
"I'll think it over," answered his big brother slowly.
After supper found most of the cadets indoors, for the night promised to be cold. About half of the boys remained in the library, while the others betook themselves to their rooms.
"Well?" queried Tom, as he approached Dick on the stairs.
"I'm ready, Tom," answered his brother. "But be careful, or we'll be spotted."
Like a pair of ghosts they glided up the front stairs, along the broad hallway, and down the stairs in the rear. The door was unlocked, and they passed into the yard.
"Let us take Peleg Snuggers into our confidence," whispered
