“Yours truly,

“Andrew N. Bluff, LL.D., President.”

“If that doesn’t make old Crabtree hustle then I miss my guess,” said Tom after reading the communication.  “He loves money too well to let that two thousand slide —­ marriage or no marriage.  Even if he wants to wed, he’ll go West to try and fix it up to hold the position anyway.”

The letter was posted to the friend in Chicago that very night.  On the letter to Josiah Crabtree was placed an address in Cedarville which, was certain to catch him.

On the following day Captain Putnam, announced an election for second lieutenant of Company A.  “Lieutenant Darman will not be here any longer, as his family have moved to England,” he said.  “I trust you elect the best cadet possible to the office.  The election takes place next Wednesday at noon.”

At once a lively discussion took place.  There were half a dozen pupils who wanted the position, and among them were Dick, Fred, and Mumps.

“I ought to have that place,” said Mumps, and on the quiet he started to buy up votes where he could not influence them in any other way.  This move succeeded among the smaller lads, but the big boys turned from him with scorn.

It must be confessed that Dick was exceedingly anxious when the time for balloting arrived.  Would he succeed or fail?

Just before dinner Captain Putnam brought out a square box into which ballots might be cast.

“The cadets will stand up in a row to be counted,” he said.  “Major Conners, will you will kindly count your command.”

“Eighty-seven, including myself,” announced the youthful major, after he had gone down the line and back with care.

“Are any cadets absent?”

“No, sir.”

“Very well then, we will proceed to vote by having each cadet come up and cast a slip of paper with his favorite’s name on it in the box.  The line will march in single file, one pace from man to man.  Forward!”

The captain stood by the ballot box, and up came the file, Major Conners first and Captain Blossom following.  In a few minutes all of the eighty-seven ballots were in the box, and then began the sorting out.

“I will now read the result of the first ballot,” announced Captain Putnam, holding up a paper with the figures, and amid a dead silence he began: 

Whole number of votes cast 87
Necessary to a choice 44
Fred Garrison has 32
Richard Rover has 8
George Granbury has 15
John Fenwick has 12

“Consequently, nobody is elected.  Another vote will be taken immediately after dinner,” and then the companies were re-formed and marched into the mess hall.

“Fred Garrison is ahead!” came in a whisper from every side.  “Good for you, Fred!”

“Mumps only got a dozen votes,” came from one of the little boys.  “He won’t get my vote next time.”