“I heard that Lew Flapp was going to Cedarville,” said Powell, while on the way.  “Do you know, Dick, I don’t like that fellow at all.”

“Neither do I, Songbird.”

“It will make me sick if he is elected major of the battalion.”

“Nevertheless, the cadets have a right to elect whom they please.”

“I know that as well as you do.  But I can’t stand Flapp’s domineering ways.  And lie is bound to grow worse if he is put in authority.”

“As to that, I shall not stand being bullied,” came from Dick, with flashing eyes.  “I’ll let him go just so far, and if he goes any further he’ll have to beware.”

Both boys were excellent walkers and it was not long before Cedarville was reached.  Dick soon had the handkerchiefs wanted, and then Powell led the way to the bookstore, to obtain a volume of humorous verses he had ordered the week previous.

“I don’t see why you buy verses, since you can make them up so readily,” said Dick with a smile.

“Oh, I like to see what the other fellows are doing,” answered his friend.

“I saw some more of your cadets in town to-night,” said the bookseller, while wrapping up the book.

“Yes, I believe half a dozen or more came down,” returned Powell.

“Having a special celebration to-night?”

“Not that I am aware of.”

“Why do you ask?” put in Dick, who knew the bookseller well.

“Oh, I only thought some of the boys were flying their kite pretty high, that’s all,” and the man closed one eye suggestively.

“Where did you meet the fellows?”

“Well—­er—­I’d rather not say, Rover.  You see, I don’t want to make trouble for anybody.”

“Are they in town yet?”

“I presume they are.  But don’t say I mentioned it, please,” pleaded the bookseller.

No more was said, and having paid for the book Powell walked out, with Dick behind him.

“If those fellows are drinking it’s a jolly shame,” declared Dick, when they were out of hearing.  “What do you think about it, Songbird?”

“Exactly as you do, Dick.”

“Shall we hunt them up?”

“What good will it do?  Lew Flapp won’t listen to what you say, and I’m sure I don’t want to play the spy and report him.”

“But what if he is leading some innocent students astray?  He has had half a dozen young chaps dangling at his heels lately.”

“I know that.”  There was a pause.  “We might look into some of the places as we pass them.”

Very slowly they walked up and down the main street of Cedarville, a thing easy to do, since the stores extended only a distance of two blocks.  Then they passed to a side street, upon which two new places had recently been built.

One of the new places was a butcher shop, and this was dark and deserted.  Next to it was a new resort known as Mike Sherry’s Palace, and this was well lit up and evidently in full blast.