CHAPTER III REFF RITTER'S CONFESSION
"He got down just in time," said the strange boy, as he assisted Pepperin making Jack comfortable on the grass. "Is there a well handy? Ifthere is I'll get some water."
"There is a well back of the church," answered Pepper. "But I reckon mychum needs a chance to get back his wind more than anything else," headded.
The strange youth ran off, to return presently with a large tin dipperfull of water. With this he and Pepper bathed the young major's face andgave him a drink. Jack soon opened his eyes and sat up.
"Did I--I fall?" he stammered.
"Not until you were on the ground," answered Pepper.
"You held out just long enough and no longer," said the strange boy,with a short laugh. "You were plucky to hold out as long as you did."
"It was a terrible experience," answered Jack soberly. "I thought at onetime I'd surely lose my grip and break my neck!"
"You keep quiet awhile," advised Pepper. "You need a chance to rest andget back your nerve, that's all."
"He certainly had nerve!" said the strange youth, with a grin. "But,say, you promised to tell me what it was all about. I know there is amilitary school near here called Putnam Hall? Do you go there?"
"Yes," answered Pepper. "But--er--would you mind helping me put thatladder back before we talk? We don't want to be spotted if we can helpit."
"Sure, I'll help you," cried the stranger, and soon he and The Imp hadthe ladder down and back to the shed. By this time Jack had recoveredsufficiently to stand up. He was still a bit dizzy but his strength wascoming back fast.
"I am Pepper Ditmore," said that youth to the stranger. "And this is mychum, Jack Ruddy. I am only a private at the Hall but Jack is anofficer."
"And I am Bert Field," said the stranger, and extended his hand, whichboth of the other boys shook. "I am just stopping in Cedarville for aday or two on business which--er--but that won't interest you," he addedhastily. "It was a lark, eh, climbing into the belfry?"
"Yes, we intended to take away the bell clapper," answered Pepper. "Someof the other cadets dared us to do it."
"But how did you get locked in?"
"We think one of the other cadets--who is down on us--followed us andfastened the trap door. I suppose he thinks we are up there yet."
"I want to thank you for what you did for me, Field," said Jack,earnestly.
"Oh, that's all right."
"If you'll--er--accept a gift, I'll be pleased----"
"No, thank you just the same, Ruddy. I don't want a thing."
"But we'd like to do something for you--to show you we appreciate yourcoming to our assistance," put in Pepper.
"Maybe you'd like to visit our school?" suggested the young major.
"Thanks, but I haven't time just now. But tell me, do you know a manliving in these parts named Jabez Trask?" went on Bert Field, eagerly.
"No," answered Jack, and Pepper shook his head.
"Never heard of him?"
"No," said Pepper.
"Too bad! I thought maybe you boys knew about everybody living in thisneighborhood."
"Is it somebody you want to find?" questioned Jack.
"Yes, but--er--well, never mind. Don't you bother your head about it."
"The postmaster might be able to tell you where this Jabez Trask lives,"said the young major. "Why not ask him?"
"Well,--er--I don't want to ask too many questions in public," stammeredBert Field. "You see I--that is--can I trust you with my secret? You'vetrusted me with yours."
"Certainly," came from both of the Putnam Hall cadets.
"Well then, I want to find this Jabez Trask without his knowing anythingabout it."
"Why, what in the world----" began Pepper, for he scented a mysteryconnected with the youth with whom he and his chum had just becomeacquainted.
"I can't explain it--or at least I don't wish to, now," answered BertField, quickly. "Please don't say anything about it to anybody." Hepulled a silver watch from his pocket. "Phew! after ten o'clock! I'llhave to be going! Goodbye! Maybe we'll meet again!"
"Good-bye!" answered Pepper.
"Much obliged!" added Jack. And then the tall, thin boy turned out ofthe churchyard and hurried along the country road, some bushes and treessoon hiding him from view. The young major gazed after him curiously andso did Pepper.
"That's a strange fellow," was Jack's comment. "But he certainly did usa good turn."
"He sure did," answered Pepper. "Wonder what he wants of this JabezTrask?"
"Something important, you may be certain of that, or he wouldn't be sosecret about it."
The two cadets walked to the roadway and then both stopped short andlooked at each other. The same thought had occurred to each.
"We came for that clapper and we might as well have it," declaredPepper. "I'll go back and get it, Jack. You can rest behind the bushes,where nobody will see you."
"All right--and I'll watch out,--that nobody comes up to fasten thattrap door again."
"By jove! that's so! Maybe the Ritter crowd is hanging around yet!"
"If they are, it was mighty mean of them not to come to my assistancewhen I was in peril of my life!"
"Maybe they were too scared and ran away."
Jack found a convenient spot behind some bushes and Pepper disappearedonce more inside the church. In less than ten minutes The Imp reappearedwith both the bell clapper and the battered lantern.
"I shoved the broken glass into a corner with my foot," he said. "And Ipulled the rope back into the belfry. The lower end came loose easilywhen I pulled it up."
"To be sure," answered Jack. "A knot was caught in a crotch and that iswhy it held when the pull was downward. But come on, we'd better begetting back, or we'll have trouble getting into the Hall."
"I am not going to carry this busted lantern," said Pepper, and threwthe thing behind some bushes. Then, with the clapper of the bell done upin a newspaper he had brought along, he struck out for Putnam Hall, withJack beside him.
"There will be a big row when they find the clapper gone, that'scertain," mused the young major.
"Maybe they'll lay it to the Pornell fellows," answered Pepper, with abroad grin. "Hope they do! It will pay back Roy Bock and his crowd fortheir meanness to us."
Jack had now fully recovered his strength and both boys kept up a rapidgait until more than half the distance to Putnam Hall had been covered.Then, of a sudden, the young major called a halt.
"What's the trouble?" demanded his chum.
"Somebody is coming! Maybe some of the teachers!"
Both of the cadets leaped from the roadway to some convenient bushes. Itwas after hours and they well knew that to be caught by Captain Putnamor any of his assistants would mean severe punishment. Jack might evenbe reduced to the ranks, something that would have hurt the major'sfeelings exceedingly.
A whistle arose on the air, a peculiar whistle, thrice repeated. Pepperanswered it at once, and he and Jack stepped back to the roadway. In amoment they were confronted by Andy Snow and Stuffer Singleton.
"Did you get it?" demanded Andy, eagerly.
"What kept you so long?" added Stuffer. "We made up our minds somethinghad gone wrong and we were coming to find out."
"Something did go wrong," burst out Pepper. "Somebody locked us in thebelfry." And then he and his chum told their story.
"It must have been Ritter and his crowd," declared Stuffer. "None of usdid it. I was with Dale and the others all the time, and Andy was on hiserrand for Captain Putnam."
"If I was certain it was Ritter I'd give him a piece of my mind!"declared Jack. "It was a mean piece of business on his part--after whatI did for him a few weeks ago. He might have been expelled from thisschool if I had not asked the captain to give him another chance."
"Oh, you can't rely on Ritter," came from the cadet who loved to eat."Why, yesterday, I had an extra piece of pie hidden in a closet, to eatafter lessons, and he cam
e along and gobbled it down! He ought to havethe daylights hammered out of him!"
"Well, we got the clapper anyway," said Pepper, grimly. "And it's up toyou, Stuffer, to treat to that ice-cream, and for Dale to find thatapple pie that was promised."
"I'll keep my promise the first time we go to town, never fear,"answered Stuffer. "But just now I think the best thing all of us can dois to sneak into the school and get to bed, before we are found out."
"And before Ritter plays some more of his dirty tricks," added Andy.
The four cadets walked in the direction of the school, but beforearriving at the campus turned into a side road bordering the lake.
"No use of going in by the regular entrance," said Jack. "We'd be sureto be spotted--especially if Ritter or his cronies have told one of theteachers that we are out."
"I know where Snuggers keeps his key to the kitchen door," said Andy."Maybe I can get that." He referred to Peleg Snuggers, a general utilityman around Putnam Hall, who divided his time between the school buildingand the stables.
"Where is the key?" asked Pepper.
"On a nail in the washshed. I saw him put it there one evening."
"Then we had better go in by the back way--if we can get the key," saidStuffer.
With caution the boys skirted the edge of the lake. As they passed theboathouse they heard a murmur of voices. They were about to set off on arun, thinking some teachers were in the building, when Jack called ahalt.
"It's Reff Ritter talking!" he cried, in a low voice, and a few secondslater there issued from the boathouse the forms of the school bully andhis two particular cronies, Gus Coulter and Nick Paxton. As soon as thethree saw the other cadets they started to walk away rapidly.
"Stop, Ritter! I want to talk to you!" cried Jack, in a low but steadytone.
"What do you want?" snapped back Reff Ritter, coming to a halt andwheeling around. It was after hours, so he did not take the trouble tosalute the young major.
"I want to talk to you,--and I want to talk to Coulter and Paxton, too."
"What about?" and now the seven students came together close to the sideof the boathouse. "Don't give me any of your long-winded speeches,Ruddy, for I am sleepy and want to get to bed."
"Ritter, you and your gang played a mean trick on me and Ditmoreto-night."
"Did we?" sneered the bully.
"You did."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Yes, you do."
"Maybe you think you weren't seen near the church?" put in Pepper,meaningly.
"Say, who--er--who saw us?" faltered Coulter.
"Ha, so you admit you were at the church!" cried Jack.
"Coulter, can't you hold your jaw?" demanded Reff Ritter, angrily.
"Ritter, answer me straight," said Jack, in a determined voice. "Wereyou at the church to-night or not."
"Well, since you want to know so badly, I was," answered the bully. "Nowthen, what of it?"
"You fastened the trap door of the belfry, did you?" put in Pepper.
"I did."