Of course the boys had known about the annual election for a long time, and there had been a good deal of wire-pulling over the question of candidates for the various offices. It was felt by many, including the Rovers, that Ralph Mason should remain the major of the school battalion, because he was so well liked and was such a thoroughly good officer. It was also felt that the captains of Company A and Company B should remain, and likewise several of the lieutenants.

"What we want most is a new captain for Company C," said Spouter.

"Yes, and we want two lieutenants for that company, too," put in Walt Baxter.

"And the whole company wants to be jacked up," added Don Soppinger.

"The way they have been drilling has been a disgrace to this school.

They don't do half as well as the other companies."

"Well, you must remember one thing," said Jack. "Company C was formed long after they had Company A and Company B. That company always got all the new fellows, and you can't expect new cadets to do as well as the old ones."

"Yes, but now that they are getting ready to form a Company D, the fellows in Company C ought to be jacked up," said Fatty Hendry. "They need it."

"Say, Fatty, do you want to become an officer of them?" queried Randy slyly.

"Well, I wouldn't mind the job," answered the stout cadet. "I think I could boss 'em around a little better than Phil Huber did." Huber had been the former captain, but he had left the school, and the command was now in charge of the first lieutenant, a fellow named Gabe Werner.

Now it chanced that Lieutenant Werner was not very well liked at Colby Hall. He was a tall, angular youth, with watery blue eyes and straw-colored hair, and he had a general manner about him which was anything but inviting. How he had ever gotten to be a lieutenant of the cadets was a mystery.

"I think they'll dump Lieutenant Werner," remarked Fred. "I don't believe anybody wants him for an officer again."

"I guess you're right," answered Dan Soppinger. "If anybody at all voted for Werner, it would be Bill Glutts."

"Well, Glutts isn't any better than Werner," was Jack's reply. "He's a regular blockhead, in my opinion."

Glutts was a youth who had come from the Middle West, and it was said that his father was in the wholesale butcher business. He was a broad-shouldered, beefy-looking youth, with prominent front teeth and a face that was far from inviting.

"Say, Jack, why don't you run for captain?" queried Gif. "I'm sure our whole crowd would stand by you."

"Oh, I don't know, Gif," returned Jack modestly. "I didn't expect to become an officer yet. Let some of the older cadets take hold. You might run yourself."

"No, I don't think I want the job," answered Gif.

"Maybe you'd like it, Spouter?" said Jack.

"No, I'll give it up in your favor, Jack," was the prompt response.

Spouter looked at the a.s.sembled crowd. "Say, fellows, what do you think of it? Shall we put up Jack Rover for captain of Company C?"

"Sure!"

"Jack will be sure to run well!"

So the comments ran on, and almost before he knew it, Jack had been nominated by his friends for the position of captain of Company C.

Then began an animated discussion over the other offices to be filled, and a little later Fred was nominated for a lieutenancy.

CHAPTER XV

THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS

"Jack, I hope you win out in that election," said Fred, after the conference had come to an end and the cadets had dispersed.

"I hope you win out, too, Fred," was the quick reply.

"I think if anybody has a job to get elected, it will be you, Jack,"

came from Randy. "You can bet your bottom dollar that Gabe Werner will make every effort to secure that office."

"Well, as he is acting captain now, perhaps he deserves it," answered Jack slowly.

"He deserves nothing!" came promptly from Andy. "He's a regular bear.

He never has any consideration whatever for the cadets under him. Why, only last week it made my blood boil the way he treated a couple of new fellows. Of course, they didn't know what he wanted, but that's no reason why he should howl at 'em the way he did. If he had done that to me, I'd have thrown my gun at his head."

What had been said about Gabe Werner's ambition to become the regular captain of Company C was true. The angular lieutenant was of the opinion that the place belonged to him, and he did not hesitate to tell this to all those with whom he was intimate.

Now that Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell had left Colby Hall for good, Henry Stowell had established himself as a satellite of Werner, doing all the mean little jobs the big cadet desired.

"Of course you'll be elected," declared Codfish to the lieutenant, when the talk over the coming election was rife. "The place belongs to you."

"Sure it does," answered Gabe Werner readily. "But I suppose I've got to work like the rest of the candidates if I want it," he added, heaving a deep sigh. Werner was lazy by nature, and he did not like the idea of electioneering, any more than he did the idea of studying.

"I'll tell you what you ought to do, Gabe," said Bill Glutts. "You ought to give the boys a spread, or treat them to an entertainment in town. That would nail the captaincy for you."

This idea pleased Werner, and, as a result, that night he invited all the cadets he dared to approach to the moving-picture theater at Haven Point. A crowd of about thirty accepted this invitation, and they not only went to the show, but later on dined at one of the restaurants at Gabe's expense.

"That sort of thing makes me tired," declared Spouter, when he heard of this. "Why, the poor fish is trying to buy votes!"

At first Dan Soppinger had said that he did not care to run for the captaincy, but a number of his friends insisted that he allow his name to be put up, and finally he consented. Others went to Walt Baxter and told him that he must run, too.

"You've simply got to do it, Baxter," said Ned Lowe. "If you don't, some of the fellows who might vote for you will go over to Werner, and he'll have a walkover from the start."

"All right then, if you want me to stand I'll do it," said Walt. "Just the same, I think Jack Rover ought to have it, and I'm going to vote for him."

The voting was to be held on the following Sat.u.r.day, and on Monday morning the cadets were to leave Colby Hall for Camp Barlight.

Consequently between getting ready to vote and preparing for the encampment, all of the students were unusually busy.

The election was held in the main hall of the school, and was presided over by Captain Dale and Professor Brice. It was announced that the total number of votes to be cast would be 111 and the number necessary for a choice would consequently be 56.

"We will ballot for the major and the three captains separately,"

announced Captain Dale. "Then we will have the balloting for the lieutenants."

The electing of a major for the next term proved easy. Ralph Mason obtained ninety-one votes on the first ballot and was consequently declared reelected.

"Hurrah for Major Ralph Mason!" cried one of the cadets, and the cheers were given with a will.

Then followed the balloting for the captain of Company A and the captain of Company B, and they were likewise reelected, and there was more cheering.