vely there was a silence. Captain Putnam

served Reff Ritter. "He missed

med in Coulter. "He isn't

two shots were blanks, Major Ruddy?" asked

; at the two-hundred-yard target I made two bull's-eyes and a four; now I have made a bull's-eye and two blanks. Does

thoughtfully. "But I did not know any blanks

ood. "But as soon as I discovered my mistake I put th

nd any blanks around? That particu

I was very

r to the rock and shoved

ges is gone!" he cried. "Was t

ammered the quartermaster of the scho

tnam, raising his voice. "Please to l

examination by ove

re O. K

are

rd and holding it up. "It's one of the kind we used to h

d made to represent ball cart

d Pepper, and held them up. "My

ne," said Jack. "That must

n you explain this?" demand

dn't deal out any of the bla

ccount for the bla

, sir. I am sure, though,

ll the ammuniti

s,

out the blanks. It was v

sed!" growled on

to shoot over agai

an trick!" c

areless, and your carelessness has caused a grea

reless, I te

I now ask you to resign your position a

gasped Bob

imes. Supposing we were going to have a sham battle and you dealt out ball cartridges instead

n Putna

I shall have to take th

ll the same, I say you are treating me unjustly." And with

b did it," whispere

meself," answered the Irish-American ca

that for every shot fired which had not hit a target the cadet should have another

an do!" cried Pepper, as his ch

ur plan is busted," whi

rningly. "If Captain Putnam ever finds it out,-we

rybody watched him with interest, and a wild

ll's-

l you?" cried Pepper.

ck!" said Andy,

e another bull's-eye, amid the

e highest

n Putnam, holding out his hand. "I am now as convin

ore yet," said Dale. "I rath

there was a

aphoricall

Ritter and that's a

e a high score and made him content. Andy and Dale also did well, while Bart Conne

e," grumbled Paxton, a

at was only your carelessness

said the school sneak lamely. "I

s at an end the cadets were

alf a dozen went off in one direction while Reff Ritter and his cronies we

d Jack. "Even if he did deal out the bl

rship," said Dale. "After the captain made hi

sk him to reinstate Grenwood?" questioned Pepper,

ngly," came from se

t Conners. "Wait a few days-until his temper has a

have you heard the n

t ne

eacher i

ou that?" a

about it. It seems Mr. Strong has got to go away on b

ed several, for they were always an

was Pepper's comment. "If he is I'l

out him, excepting that h

The Imp. "Wonder if he'l

ntist," went on Joe Nelson. "One of

nutes for this, ten minutes for that, and so on, all day long. And

nd," answered Jack. "He m

g is one teacher out of a

be a cinch," added Andy, slangily. "He's the dearest man who ever tr

ike Mr. Strong as we do under old Josiah Crabtree,-althoug

oll of the drum hastened back to the pasture. When the two

Hall alone," said one of the students. "I can't say that I b

scene, Captain Putnam took to another road than that pursued in the morning. This was nearly a mile long

n came rushing out of the school holding up

!" he gasped. "Come quickly! So