“Hurrah for Dick Rover!”

“Hurrah for Fred Garrison and Mark Romer!”

And then the students cheered as wildly as ever, while Captain Putnam once more offered his congratulations.

“Captain Rover, my hand,” said Larry, coming up.

“Thank you, Major Colby,” answered Dick, and then both gave a grip that meant a good deal.

“We seem to be right in it,” observed the newly elected major.

“That’s true,” answered Dick.

“We shall now proceed to the election of six lieutenants,” went on Captain Putnam, and once more the slips went the rounds, and the boys did a lot of writing and speculating as each put down the six names required.

This vote was rather a long one, and Captain Putnam had two teachers help him in tabulating the result.

“This contest must make Flapp feel sick,” whispered Powell to Dick, while the students were taking it easy on the parade ground.

“Well, he brought it on himself,” was the brief reply.

“I’ll wager he tries to square up with us, especially if he thinks we told on him.”

A bugle sounded, calling the cadets together, and once more Captain Putnam read the result: 

“Whole number of votes cast, 576.

“John Powell has 83.

“William Merrick has 76.

“Walter Durham has 71.

“Thomas Rover has 68.

“George Granbury has 51.

“Raymond Hollbrook has 43.

“The next highest cadet has 38.

“John Powell is declared first lieutenant of Company A, William Merrick first lieutenant of Company B, Walter Durham first lieutenant of Company C, Thomas Rover second lieutenant of Company A, George Granbury second lieutenant of Company B, and Raymond Hollbrook second lieutenant of Company C, for this term and during the annual encampment.”

As this announcement was made there was a breathless silence.  Then came a rousing cheer and the various successful ones were congratulated by the captain and their friends.

“Well, Songbird, it seems you are to be my first lieutenant,” said Dick as he shook hands with Powell.  “That suits me first-rate.”

“And I am to be second lieutenant,” said Tom, coming up.  “With Sam in the company as private this begins to look like a family affair.”

“Oh, I’m going to make you fellows toe the mark now,” laughed Dick.  “No more skylarking, if you please, Lieutenant Rover.”

“All right, Captain Rover,” replied Tom, with a stiff salute that was side-splitting.

Taking it all the way through the election was declared to be a popular success.  Of course some of the defeated candidates were bitterly disappointed, but they did their best to hide their true feelings.  William Philander Tubbs had declined to vote and Lew Flapp and Gus Pender had kept entirely out of sight while the voting was going on.  The two cronies took themselves to the gymnasium and there declared their hatred of Dick Rover.