The Putnam Hall Rivals

Jack and Pepper were so amazed that they could not speak.

h things in our trunks and locker

inly do,

rst out Pepper. "A m

ick about it," answe

ered Jack. "I do not drink or smoke or play cards, an

gs hidden pretty well, but our search was thorough. After the fire I suspected you at once, for I saw the evidence of s

listen to me?" asked P

sh to conf

othing to

r of bad boys, and in the absence of Captain

as here he would lis

r," answered the teacher, coldly. A little b

ongdoing," said Jack, simply. "

ocent, too,"

to behave yourselves," resumed

en?" ask

make

d Pepper. "It's a beastly place a

all sta

st!" cri

you something more. Your conduct is unworthy of an off

e my majorship away f

es

ithin him. This was th

pper. "Jack, for two pins

tnam Hall," added

ared Josiah Crabtree. "If you make any mo

nt out, banging and lock

had done nothing wrong, and did not cons

e chilled. Growing desperate, Pepper began to ha

on the point of stopping the racket when Josiah Crabtree again appeared, follow

before they knew it, Jack and Pepper were handcuffed. Then t

h-handed procee

o the cold," said the tea

alf frozen," a

ovide you with a warmer

he three men, and so the boys marched out of the storeroo

ut us down in the c

k any more questions,

Down into the cellar went the party and walked along until they came

shoved them inside. "Now, if you make any more

two unfortunates. They heard the others hu

," said Pepper. "It's

it," was his chum's comment. "Phew! how hot

bakes us," muttered Pepper. "Oh,

" said Jack, when he felt certain nobody wa

to feel of the lock of the handc

u do it, Jack?"

and took the key from

for

n my bracele

tain

semi-darkness and the heat did not suit them at all. Besides this,

Crabtree in this pl

we can't ge

ood wil

rabtree's reach until Captain Putnam g

ow you are goi

ou got

y a

Start at the door. I'll go to the

stone walls with care. Nothing in th

the flooring abo

n we re

d this up on one end. Then Pepper boosted his

the floor," said he

now?" queri

then it suddenly disappeared.

ight also. It lasted about half a minute and then di

that of some storeroom or closet. Somebody opened the doo

the room or closet. Are

them and

was loose at one end. He worked at it and soon had an

e whispered to Pepper.

nd of the bench. Then both crawled through the opening abov

the flooring of the closet in which they now found themselves. It was partly filled

gradually breathed more freely. They tried

ext move?" asked Pe

t of this, that's cer

hemselves in the main hallway of the academy. Then t

back," observed Jack, after they had looked

nts returning to their classroo

per, with a sigh. "If only we had some of Dan Baxt

ow what I

el

Baxter put up

quor, cigarett

es

e mean enou

he was terribly angry o

he put up a job on us

g to do. No doubt he cov

nd then stole to the rear of the Hall and down a b

whispered Pepper. "I am going to try i

you," answe

of good things. There was a basket handy, and into it they put such things as they desired. Some maids came int

he kitchen and made for the stairs. In a few minutes they were on the

as if he saw two ghosts. "I

explained Jack. "You won't

he other cadet, reproach

n Captain Putnam

morrow morning

ack looked a

we do next?"

iding until the c

acant room on the top floor where they might

said he. "You can lock yoursel

d no heater, but the main chimney of the Hall was at one end, making it fairly c

said Dale, on departing. "I