“I reckon I’ve seen enough,” he drawled. “It’s cold in here anyway. I’m going back to the school,” and he shuffled off, followed by Mumps.
“Andy, you are ten times better than he is on the bar and rings,” cried Pepper.
“Sure, an’ that Ritter is a big blow, so he is!” was Hogan’s comment. “I am glad that Andy took him down.”
“I don’t think he’ll like it much,” observed Andy.
The acrobatic youth was right. Reff Ritter was very bitter at heart.
“Where are Baxter and Coulter?” he asked of Mumps, as they hurried outside.
“Went down to the old boathouse,” and Mumps winked.
“Yes,” was the whispered answer. For, as my readers may imagine, smoking among the cadets was strictly prohibited.
“Think I’ll have a cigarette myself,” said Ritter. “Will you come along?”
Now, Mumps did not like to smoke, as it made him sick. But he did not wish to offend his new friend, and so he agreed to go along. They soon made their way to where Baxter and Coulter had taken themselves, and the toady gave a peculiar whistle.
It was answered a moment later, and Coulter appeared.
“Oh, it’s you,” he said. “All right, come in.”
They entered a section of the old boathouse that was but little used. It would have been cold, only the cadets had found a charcoal stove, and this was burning. Around it were Dan Baxter, Paxton, and Coulter, all smoking cigarettes.
“Hullo, glad to see you,” said Dan Baxter to Reff Ritter. “Sit down with us and enjoy yourself.”
Ritter sat down and drew from his pocket a package of imported cigarettes. He offered one to Mumps, and the toady lit it. Then Ritter lit one himself, inhaling the smoke and blowing it forth through his nose.
“Say, this is something like,” he observed. “Quite a cozy bunk you have.”
“It’s good enough for a smoking place in the winter time,” answered the bully of Putnam Hall. “In the summer time we can go anywhere.”
“Captain Putnam must be down on smoking.”
“I don’t see why,” said Paxton. “I’ve smoked ever since I was eight years old.” And his pinched face showed it.
“I love these imported Egyptian cigarettes,” went on Reff Ritter. “I get the genuine, you know.”
“I’ve got a treat for all hands,” said Dan Baxter, after a pause. He brought forth a big bottle from his overcoat.