The Putnam Hall Rebellion. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ didn’t you do that before?”

      With a long breath, Jack lowered his rifle and, turning faced the master of the school:

      “Captain Putnam,” he said in a low but firm tone. “I made a bull’s-eye that time because there was a bullet in the cartridge. I am satisfied now that my other two shots were blanks.

      CHAPTER IV

      THE BLANK CARTRIDGES

      For the moment after Jack spoke so positively there was a silence. Captain Putnam looked at the young officer thoughtfully.

      “Huh! that’s all tommy-rot!” observed Reff Ritter. “He missed and that is all there is to it.”

      “Of course he missed,” chimed in Coulter. “He isn’t a crack shot by any means.”

      “What makes you so certain that the first two shots were blanks, Major Ruddy?” asked the master of the school, somewhat sternly.

      “Well, sir, I think my record helps to prove it,” answered Jack. “At the hundred-yard target I made three bull’s-eyes; 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. Doesn’t it stand to reason, sir, that if those cartridges had not been blanks I would at least have made a two or a one?”

      “It is probable, yes,” answered the captain, thoughtfully. “But I did not know any blanks had been brought along, much less dealt out.”

      “I brought a case along by mistake,” put in Bob Grenwood. “But as soon as I discovered my mistake I put the case to one side. There it is, sir, on yonder rock.”

      “I see. You are sure you didn’t hand any blanks around? That particular box looks like the real thing.”

      “Yes, sir – I was very careful.”

      Captain Putnam strode over to the rock and shoved back the lid of the case.

      “Why, the top layer of cartridges is gone!” he cried. “Was the box full when you opened it?”

      “Why – er – yes, sir – I think so, sir,” stammered the quartermaster of the school battalion. “It looked full to me.”

      “Young gentlemen,” went on Captain Putnam, raising his voice. “Please to look over the cartridges you have left.”

      There was a hasty examination by over a score of cadets.

      “Mine are O. K., sir.”

      “So are mine.”

      “Here, I’ve got a blank!” cried Andy Snow, rushing forward and holding it up. “It’s one of the kind we used to have – those that looked so much like the ball cartridges.”

      “Hum! So it is – one of the kind made to represent ball cartridges,” mused Captain Putnam.

      “I’ve got two of them!” exclaimed Pepper, and held them up. “My other one is all right,” he added.

      “Two blanks and one good one,” said Jack. “That must have been just what I had!”

      “Quartermaster Grenwood, can you explain this?” demanded Captain Putnam, sternly.

      “N – no, sir. I – I am sure I didn’t deal out any of the blanks. I was very careful, sir.”

      “Then how do you account for the blanks being in use?”

      “I – I don’t account for it, sir. I am sure, though, I didn’t give them out.”

      “You gave out all the ammunition, didn’t you?”

      “Yes, sir.”

      “Then you must have given out the blanks. It was very careless on your part.”

      “No wonder I missed!” growled one of the cadets.

      “I think we ought to shoot over again,” added another.

      “It was a mean trick!” cried a third.

      “Quartermaster Grenwood, you have been grossly careless, and your carelessness has caused a great deal of trouble,” said Captain Putnam, sternly.

      “I wasn’t careless, I tell you, I – ”

      “Silence. I say you were careless, and I now ask you to resign your position as quartermaster of the school battalion.”

      “Resign!” gasped Bob Grenwood.

      “That is what I said. The battalion must have a quartermaster who can be relied upon at all times. Supposing we were going to have a sham battle and you dealt out ball cartridges instead of blanks, what would happen? Why some of the cadets might be killed! Do you resign or not?”

      “Captain Putnam, I – I – ”

      “If you refuse to resign I shall have to take the office away from you.”

      “All right, I’ll resign,” cried Bob Grenwood, bitterly. “All the same, I say you are treating me unjustly.” And with a red face and bowed head he stepped back into the crowd.

      “I don’t believe Bob did it,” whispered Stuffer to Hogan.

      “Sure, and I thought he was more careful meself,” answered the Irish-American cadet. “It’s a bad mess, so it is!” added.

      Captain Putnam now held a consultation with several of the others and then announced that for every shot fired which had not hit a target the cadet should have another try. In the meantime the blanks were collected and ball cartridges dealt out instead.

      “Now, Jack, show ’em what you can do!” cried Pepper, as his chum walked to the front once more.

      “Confound it, I guess our plan is busted,” whispered Paxton to Ritter.

      “Hush! Not a word of it!” whispered the bully, warningly. “If Captain Putnam ever finds it out, – well, he’ll make it mighty warm for us, that’s all!”

      With great care Jack took aim once more. Everybody watched him with interest, and a wild shout went up when the result was announced.

      “A bull’s-eye!”

      “There, what did I tell you?” cried Pepper. “I knew he could do it!”

      “Now another, Jack!” said Andy, enthusiastically.

      And the youthful major did make another bull’s-eye, amid the applause of his many friends.

      “That’s the highest score yet!”

      “Major Ruddy, I must congratulate you,” said Captain Putnam, holding out his hand. “I am now as convinced as you are that those other shots were blanks.”

      “Jack, that’s the highest score yet,” said Dale. “I rather think you take the prize.”

      “Didn’t know there was a prize, Dale.”

      “Well, СКАЧАТЬ