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 CHAPTER XXIII.

BALLOTING FOR A SECOND LIEUTENANT.

"Back to Putnam Hall at last! How home-like the place looks!"

Sam uttered the words as he leaped from the sleigh and ran for the main entrance, where Captain Putnam stood to receive them. He had heard of the accident, and was fearful that one or another of his pupils might have been hurt.

"Thank Providence that no one was killed or seriously injured!" he observed, as he wrung each by the hand. "Welcome, lads, and I trust you have all had happy holidays."

"The same to you, Captain Putnam!" cried one after another, and then they passed inside, to be greeted by George Strong and the new assistant.

Cadets kept coming back for three days, and on the following Monday the regular spring term opened, to end in July. Soon the boys were as deep in their studies as ever before.

In the meantime Dick had concocted a scheme for sending Josiah Crabtree on a wild-goose chase to Chicago. Tom had a friend out Rh