clock, and as a general thing the meal was over inside of hal

r, Jack and the others watched Da

bout seven o'clock," said Pepper,

Reff Ritter. At a few minutes to seven the bully and his cronies started away

up a bit," said Dale, and

ked the bully, stoppin

e, and walked up slowly,

ght about it," p

heard to-day?" said

asked Baxter,

now, B

say I

said Hogan. "It's a queer tale, so it is!

t heard a

ave I," pu

on Dale. "He usually knows everything

ter, puzzled. "What in the

ey brought int

t see an

. "All painted with that red paint, too. Where did that pai

rse or any red paint either," gro

ale. "Say, you can put on

s tr

ame from Hogan. "Very innocent, so ye are, I must say!" An

ed Baxter. He was anxious to get away. "If yo

ll," whispered Dale, but in such a manner

nto it thin!" muttered the Irish cadet. He

at?" deman

after tel

old me no

w? Then so muc

ord," and he turned away, and his friends followed him. Dale and Hogan waited a minute and

said Dale. "I hope that help

ut way and hurried along the road leading to the Shepard farm. It

d Jack, presently. "Step back of th

ame up. On the seat driving was Amos Shepard

Pepper, when the farmer had

er had to drive slowly. Coming to a turn, the man in the carriage dismounted and

exclaimed Pepper. "Dan Baxter may

he contents. There were the stuffed turkey, nicely cooked, some fresh

biscuits and apples, and likewis

If you muss the turkey up Ba

enough," came from t

and vinegar Andy had procured on the sly from the academy kitchen. They had brought some napkins with them, a

doing that for

under the broken-down limb he placed the b

te!" laug

d been on the limb and it had brok

of sight and watc

ot five minutes later Dan Baxter, C

they heard the bully of the H

anybody," ans

" asked Coulter, gaz

und," said Baxter. "Too

with it, it was so he

down and st

around," said he. "And, say-some

ook it," suggested Coulter. "I t

to eat after a d

o occur to spoil the grandness of his proposed spread. To his cronies he had bo

o "pitch into" Amos Shepard when next they should meet. He and Coulter carried the basket and Ritter the jug of cider, and off they we

" said Pepper, as he and

or bedtime to come. Baxter tried to learn from Dale what the

ome other cadets, making a total of sixteen lads who were to participate. They we

ends undressed and then slipped on some warm coats over their night garments. Soon

red Pepper. "Baxter's cro

ve it, there was a room next to the Baxter dormitory that was vacant, the plaster ha

l came close to a door which comm

Dan Baxter say. "I'll carve the turkey and you, Coulter, can cut the cake, and Mu

anything hotter than that

merous preparations for the feast. Then the stuff was passed arou

turkey sandwich. "Say, wouldn't it make Jack Ruddy and his cr

etty warm," came from Pax

ick," answered the

uch! It's ful

from Mumps. "

tter with it?"

mething hard. Gues

ame from Ritter. "Say, Dan

ider. He made a wry face and ej

orst cider I

caught up a glassful. He took one

ed. "Oh, my insides are burning

s peppery, too!"

ull of

elery has got la

st sandwich I ev

e is full

is curran

omebody has play

e of the stuff. It

ed Mumps, turning pale. "I-

gasped Dan Baxter. He was so

d answer th

d it, I'll-I'll skin 'em a

the stuff was fixed up, and there will be no feast to-night, that

is," said Baxter, starting up. "An