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.

"We will now ballot for a captain for Company C," announced Captain
Dale.

There was a murmur, and the cadets once more formed a long line and
marched up to the platform, where each deposited his ballot in a big
box, located there for that purpose.

There was a smug grin on the face of Gabe Werner when he dropped in
his vote. It seemed to show that he felt sure of being elected.

A few minutes of silence occurred, during which time the votes were
being tabulated, and then Professor Brice struck a bell to attract the
attention of the cadets, and, stepping forward, read the result:

"Total number of votes 111
Necessary to a choice 56
Gabe Werner has 32
Jack Rover has 32
Daniel Soppinger has 30
Walter Baxter has 17."

At this there was a murmur of voices, and all the cadets looked at
each other.

"As no candidate has received the required number of votes, I will
leave you for ten minutes to talk matters over among yourselves, and
then we will have another vote," announced Captain Dale.

"Say, Jack! what do you know about that?" cried Fred. "You and Werner
are tied for first place!"

At this moment Walt Baxter came up.

"Listen, Jack," he said in a low voice. "I voted for you, and I would
just as lief withdraw in your favor, but some of the fellows who voted
for me say if I withdraw they will vote for Werner, so I'll have to
stay on the ticket. But it's a blamed shame!" and Walt's face showed
that he meant what he said.

"Say, Bill, we've got to get a hustle on and get more votes," growled
Gabe Werner to his crony, as they walked over to a corner.

"I don't see how we're going to do it. I've talked to every fellow in
the school," said Glutts.

"I'm entitled to this captaincy, and if they won't give it to me I
don't want anything," growled Gabe Werner. It angered him to think
that in spite of all the money he had spent he could muster up only
thirty-two votes.

While this was going on, Dan Soppinger had been circulating among
those who had been support