“Yes, the marriage is to come off next week, Thursday, unless something prevents it,” said Nellie.  “Dora is fairly sick over the prospect.  What Aunt Lucy can see in Mr. Crabtree is more than any of us can understand.”

“He must have hypnotized her,” observed, Dick.  “It’s a shame!  I wish old Crabtree was in Jericho!”

“So do all of us!” laughed Grace, and then Sam took her off for a quiet chat, while Tom, monopolized Nellie.

“Those Rover boys think a great deal of the Lanings and Stanhopes,” observed Larry to Fred.  “Well, it’s all right —­ they are awfully nice girls, every one of ’em!”

CHAPTER XXIII

BALLOTING FOR A SECOND LIEUTENANT

“Back to Putnam Hall at last!  How home-like the place looks!” Sam uttered the words as he leaped from the sleigh and ran for the main entrance, where Captain Putnam stood to receive them.  He had heard of the accident, and was fearful that one or another of his pupils might have been hurt.

“Thank Providence that no one was killed or seriously injured!” he observed, as he wrung each by the hand.  “Welcome, lads, and I trust you have all had happy holidays.”

“he same to you, Captain Putnam!” cried one after another, and then they passed in to be greeted by George Strong and the new assistant.

Cadets kept coming back for three days, on the following Monday the regular school opened, to end in July.  Soon the were as deep in their studies as ever before.

In the meantime Dick had concocted a scheme for sending Josiah Crabtree on a goose chase to Chicago.  Tom had a friend in that city, and he was requested to mail without delay a certain letter which Tom enclosed with his own.

This letter was composed by Dick.  It was written on a large letter-head upon which Dick printed the advertisement of the “Mid-West National College, Incorporated,” doing the work on a small printing press used by some of the boys in getting out a school monthly.  To make the letter even more imposing, Dick printed the body of it on a typewriter which was used by one of the classes taking a business course.  The letter ran as follows: 

“Josiah Crabtree, A. M., Cedarville, N.,Y.

“CHICAOO, January 1, 189-.

“Dear Sir:  You have been recommended to us by a New York scholastic employment agency as a first-class teacher in mathematics, history, and other branches.  We are in immediate need at the opening of this term of such a teacher, and will pay two thousand dollars per year.  Will you come on at once, at our expense, with a view to closing with us?  Our institution is a new one, but we already have eighty pupils, of the best families of the Middle West, and are certain to have fifty more before the end of the year.  We understand that you are a bachelor, which state just suits our wants.  Kindly wire us and come on before Thursday the 10th, if possible.  The two thousand per year is, of course, exclusive of board and suite of rooms, which, we provide for all of our instructors.