Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days; Or, The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son Part 15

A few days later Grit arrived, and he was probably the happiest dog living, as d.i.c.k took him out of the s.h.i.+pping crate. The animal bounded about, and fairly leaped over his master's head in the excess of his joy.

Grit made friends with such few chums as d.i.c.k had among the freshmen, and they were not many, for Dutton's influence seemed even to extend to them. The advent of the bulldog appeared to further arouse the ire of the young captain.

"I expect our millionaire cadet will be having a private menagerie next," he said with a sneer. "But I tell you one thing, Hamilton, if I catch the brute around my quarters I'll kick him out."

"I shouldn't advise you to try it," said d.i.c.k coolly. "It might not be healthy--for you."

"Do you mean that you'd attack me?" asked Dutton, taking a step toward d.i.c.k.

"No, but Grit might; eh, Grit, old boy."

The dog growled in a menacing manner, and Dutton, turning on his heel, made off up the campus, but the scowl he gave d.i.c.k augured anything but well for the young millionaire.

It was about a week after this when, one evening, d.i.c.k, who was sitting in his room, studying with Paul, suddenly exclaimed:

"There, I've left my algebra out under the three elms. I was studying there this afternoon."

The three elms were a clump of giant trees on the campus, and a recognized stamping ground for the freshmen, who frequently studied there, when it was too hot in their rooms.

"Better go out and get it," advised Paul. "It looks like rain, and you know it means a demerit to have soiled books."

"Guess I'll slip out and get it," decided d.i.c.k. "I'll have just about time enough before taps."

He started down the long corridor, but he had not taken a dozen steps before taps was sounded on the bugle, the plaintive call of "lights out"

vibrating clearly on the night air.

"Better come back," advised Paul, from the open door of their room, as he prepared to turn out the electric lamp.

"No, I think I'll chance it," decided d.i.c.k. "No one is likely to see me, and I might as well get a demerit for this as for having a rain-soaked algebra. Leave the door open so I can find the place in the dark."

He kept on, stealing quietly down the hall. Paul went to bed, and was just dozing off when he was startled by the loud report of the cannon used for firing the sunrise and sunset guns. The echoes thundered among the academy buildings, and were re-echoed from the distant hills. Paul arose. Clearly some of the cadets were up to a trick, and had fired the gun.

A few minutes later d.i.c.k came running into the room.

"Did you get the book? Who fired the gun?" asked Paul in a whisper.

"Yes, I got the algebra, and, just as I did the gun went off. I saw some of the fellows running, and of course I was running too, but, just as I was coming in, Stiver, who is doing guard duty, saw me."

"What did he say?"

"Called to me halt, but I didn't."

"He'll report you, and you may be blamed for--"

An instant later the tramp of feet was heard in the corridor.

"It's inspection!" gasped Paul. "Undress quick, and get into bed!"

CHAPTER X

d.i.c.k HAS A FIGHT

But it was too late. The door of d.i.c.k's room was pushed open, and, in the light of the incandescent that burned in the hall, the two cadets could see Captain Hayden and several of the instructors looking in.

"Hamilton--Drew--are you here?" asked Captain Hayden sharply.

"Yes, sir," replied d.i.c.k, but an instant later the light revealed him fully dressed, whereas he should have been in bed at taps.

"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. "This will bear investigation. Why aren't you in bed, Hamilton?"

"I went down to get my algebra, which I left under the elms."

"Did you have anything to do with firing the saluting gun?"

"No, sir."

"I will have to investigate. Report in my room in ten minutes."

Captain Hayden marched on, and the two cadets could hear distant sounds that indicated a general inspection of quarters.

"I guess you're in for it, d.i.c.k," said Paul.

"I can prove what I went out for."

"Maybe. But I wonder who fired that gun?"

"I don't know. Some of the older cadets likely. Well, I s'pose I've got to go to Captain Hayden's room."

d.i.c.k found several other students gathered in the reception apartment of the head master. They were lads who had been found still up when their rooms were hurriedly entered after the blowing of taps, and the firing of the gun.

"Who was captain of the guard?" asked Captain Hayden, when he came in and faced a rather frightened lot of cadets.

"I was, sir," replied John Stiver.

"What did you see?"

"I was on duty, sir, near the main entrance of the south barracks, and the first I knew I saw the flash of the gun, and heard it go off."

"What else did you see?"

"I saw a cadet run from the campus into the barracks. He would not halt when I called to him."

"Who was it?"