CHAPTER X
AN ADVENTURE IN CEDARVILLE
On the same evening that Lew Flapp and his particular cronies went downto Cedarville to have a good time in a very questionable way, DickRover and Songbird Powell also visited the village, one to buy somehandkerchiefs, and the other to invest in a book he had ordered fromthe local bookseller and newsdealer.
"I heard that Lew Flapp was going to Cedarville," said Powell, while onthe 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 domineeringways. And he is bound to grow worse if he is put in authority."
"As to that, I shall not stand being bullied," came from Dick, withflashing eyes. "I'll let him go just so far, and if he goes any furtherhe'll have to beware."
Both boys were excellent walkers and it was not long before Cedarvillewas reached. Dick soon had the handkerchiefs wanted, and then Powellled the way to the bookstore, to obtain a volume of humorous verses hehad ordered the week previous.
"I don't see why you buy verses, since you can make them up soreadily," said Dick with a smile.
"Oh, I like to see what the other fellows are doing," answered hisfriend.
"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 prettyhigh, 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 maketrouble for anybody."
"Are they in town yet?"
"I presume they are. But don't say I mentioned it, please," pleaded thebookseller.
No more was said, and having paid for the book Powell walked out, withDick behind him.
"If those fellows are drinking it's a jolly shame," declared Dick, whenthey 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'msure I don't want to play the spy and report him."
"But what if he is leading some innocent students astray? He has hadhalf a dozen young chaps dangling at his heels lately."
"I know that." There was a pause. "We might look into some of theplaces as we pass them."
Very slowly they walked up and down the main street of Cedarville, athing easy to do, since the stores extended only a distance of twoblocks. Then they passed to a side street, upon which two new placeshad recently been built.
One of the new places was a butcher shop, and this was dark anddeserted. Next to it was a new resort known as Mike Sherry's Palace,and this was well lit up and evidently in full blast.
"If Flapp is drinking he is evidently in this place," remarked Dick."But I don't see anything of him," he added, after peering through theswinging doors.
"They tell me this Sherry has a room upstairs, also for drinkingpurposes," returned Powell. "Maybe Flapp and his friends are up there.They wouldn't want to be seen in public, you must remember."
"That is true. But how do they get upstairs--through the saloon?"
"There may be a back way. Let us look."
They walked around to the rear of the building and here found a doorleading into a back hall. But the door was locked.
"This is the way up, I feel sure," said Dick. "Somebody has locked thedoor as a safeguard."
"Then, I'm afraid, we'll have to give it up."
"Not yet, Songbird." Dick had been looking over toward the rear of thebutcher shop. "See, the painters are at work here and have left one oftheir ladders. Wonder if we can't move it over and put it up under oneof those windows?"
The matter was talked over for a minute, and then the two boys tookhold of the long ladder and did as Dick desired.
"This may be a wild goose chase," was Powell's comment. "And if it is,and Mike Sherry discovers us, he'll want us to explain. Maybe he'lltake us for burglars."
"You can keep shady if you want to, Songbird. I'm going up," and sospeaking Dick began to mount the ladder.
The window under which the ladder had been placed was open from the toponly, and a half curtain over the lower portion hid what was beyondfrom view. So, in order to look over the curtain, Dick had to climb tothe very top of the ladder and then brace his feet on the window sill.
He could now hear voices quite plainly, and presently heard Lew Flappspeak.
"I'm on the right track," he called softly to Powell. "They are in theroom next to this one, but the door between is wide open."
"Shall I come up?"
"Suit yourself. I'm going inside."
As good as his word, Dick slipped over the top of the lowered windowsash, and an instant later stood in the room, which was but dimly lit.Then he tiptoed his way behind a door and peeped into the room beyond.
Seven cadets were present, including Lew Flapp, Ben Hurdy, and theirparticular cronies Jackson, Pender, and Rockley. The others were twoyoung cadets named Joe Davis and Harry Moss.
On the table in the center of the room stood a platter of chickensandwiches and also several bottles containing beer and wine, and a boxof cigars. Evidently all of the crowd had been eating and drinking, andnow several were filling the apartment with tobacco smoke.
"Come, smoke up, Moss," cried Lew Flapp, shoving the box of cigarstoward one of the younger cadets. "Don't be afraid. It won't kill you."
"Thank you, Flapp, but I--I guess I won't to-night," pleaded Harry Moss,whose face was strangely flushed.
"Why not?"
"I--I--don't feel well. The drinking has made me feel sick."
"Oh, nonsense! Here, take this cigar and smoke up. It will brace yournerves. And you, Davis, have another glass of something to drink," wenton Lew Flapp, pouring out a glassful and handing it to the oneaddressed.
"Thank you, Flapp, but I don't want any more," answered Joe Davis. Helooked as ill at ease as did Harry Moss.
"Don't you want to be sociable?" demanded the tall boy.
"It isn't that, Flapp. I--I guess I've had enough already."
"Oh, don't be a sissy, Davis. Here, I'll drink with you, and then I'llsmoke a cigar with Moss. If you are going to be men you want to startright in. Eh, Rockley?"
"That's right, Lew," answered Rockley, as he lit a fresh cigar.
"What you need is another glass, Davis," came from Pender. "It will actas a bracer. Just try it and see."
"I--I don't want to get--get--" faltered Davis.
"Get what?"
"Intoxicated--really I don't--"
"Who said anything about that?" demanded Lew Flapp in apparent anger."Don't be a fool. One more glass won't hurt you. Here, take it," and healmost forced the liquor to Joe Davis's lips.
But before he could accomplish his wicked design Dick Rover leapedquickly into the apartment and hurled the glass from the big boy'shand.
"For shame, Flapp!" he cried. "For shame!"
"And that's what I say, too," came from Powell, who was close behind Dick.
Every cadet in the room was astonished, and all leaped to their feet.
"What's up?" cried Rockley.
"They have been spying on us!" came from Jackson.
"Talk about meanness! This is the limit!" added Pender.
"I want you to leave Joe Davis and Harry Moss alone," went on Dick, ascalmly as he could. "It's an outrage to get them to drink and smokeagainst their will."
"Are you two alone?" asked Lew Flapp, glancing nervously over thenewcomers' sh
oulders.
"We are."
"What right had you to come here?"
"Well, we took the right."
"Then you enjoy playing the spy?"
"No, Flapp," said Dick boldly, "but I do enjoy doing Davis and Moss afavor."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I am going to stand by them, so you shall not get them todrink any more or smoke."
"Humph! What right have you to interfere?"
"Maybe he's going to squeal to the captain," put in Jackson.
"If he does that I'll punch his head for him!" roared Lew Flapp, whohad been drinking just enough to make him ugly and unreasonable.
"I did not come here to squeal on anybody," answered Dick.
"I know you did--and I'm going to pound you well for it!" howled LewFlapp, and on the instant he leaped forward and aimed a savage blowwith his fist at Dick's head.