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But he had hoped that during the term now opening at the school the bully of Putnam Hall would keep his distance. "I am not trying to dictate to you, Ritter," answered Jack, as calmly as he could. "But I don't propose to let you hit me with your suitcase." "Huh! It was an accident!" growled Reff. "Oh, come on, Reff!" put in Gus Coulter, the bully's close crony.
Do you know anything about his dealings with a certain man named Cameron Smith?" "Oh, do you know that fellow?" questioned the other cadet, and he stared wonderingly at Jack. "I know a little about him." "Don't you have anything to do with him, Jack! And don't you have much to do with Reff! They are both bad! Oh, you don't know how bad!" And Gus Coulter shook his head to emphasize his words.
I didn't know it at first, but I heard about it during the holidays, when he and Reff went off on what they called a good time." "Can you give me Smith's real address?" "He claims to come from Boston, but I know Reff once sent him a letter addressed to Springfield, care of the Excelsior Hotel." Having once opened his mind, Gus Coulter talked freely of his doings with Reff Ritter.
Reff Ritter had started for a summer in the Adirondacks, but unexpected word from home, of which more will be said later, had caused him to give up the outing. While Dale and Andy ran off to get the water, the other boys gathered around Jack. The young major still lay with his eyes closed, breathing faintly. "He got a bad crack on the head," remarked Fred Century.
"Well, if you won't fight, take that for your impudence!" cried Reff Ritter, and with a quick step forward, he slapped Jack on the cheek. The blow was but a light one, yet it seemed to sink deep into Jack's very heart, and on the instant all thoughts of prudence and rules were cast aside. His face went white and his eyes flashed fire.
I used to think Reff was a pretty good fellow, even though something of a bully, but I am learning that he is bad through and through. Paxton saw him sneaking through the dormitories at night, and he got afraid of him and cut him." "And what of Cameron Smith?" asked Jack. "You said he was bad?" "He is.
"I believe it was you, Ditmore!" he went on, turning an ugly look on Pepper. "That's one for tampering with our bicycles, Ritter," retorted Pepper. It was a chance shot, taken on the spur of the moment, but it told. Reff Ritter started and turned pale. "Who er told you I er tampered with your bicycles?" he stammered. "Never mind who told me, Ritter.
"I was thinking we might spoil their fun." "And get caught, as we did with the tar-barrels," grumbled Gus Coulter. "We'll take good care that nobody sees us this time." "What are you thinking of doing?" asked Coulter, curiously. "Come with me and I'll tell you," answered Reff Ritter, and took his crony by the arm.
"Oh, don't say that, Gus!" burst out Pepper. "But I will say it!" flared out Gus Coulter. "After this I am going to cut Reff Ritter! And I am going to tell what I know about him, too! And I am going to get Nick Paxton to tell what he knows, too!" "What do you know about him?" asked Jack, with sudden interest. "Oh, I know a good deal." "Coulter, answer me honestly.
"I wish I had forced him to give me his name and address." "That's true." "You can get that from Reff Ritter." "Providing Ritter will give it," added Jack. "He may be as backward about it as the man was himself." "Why should he be, if the man is honest?" "Perhaps he won't want it known that he met the man," said Pepper. "He came in here rather sneakingly." "Where did Ritter go?"
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