"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 assembled 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