Part 5 (1/2)
”What do you want?”
”I want to visit the camp,” answered Lew Flapp.
CHAPTER IV
WHAT THE MORNING BROUGHT FORTH
Link Smith was much surprised by Lew Flapp's a.s.sertion that he wanted to visit the camp during the middle of the night and when practically everybody was asleep.
”What do you want to come in for?” he asked, feeling fairly certain that Flapp's mission could not be as upright and honest as desired.
”Oh, it's all right, Link,” answered the big bully, smoothly.
”But what do you want?”
”Well, if you must know, I want to talk to a couple of my old friends.”
”Why can't you talk to them to-morrow, after they leave school?”
”That won't do. I want them to do something for me before they leave the academy.”
”It's a strange request to make, Lew.”
”Oh, it's perfectly square, I a.s.sure you. You see, it's this way: I want them to get some proofs for me,--to prove that I am not as black as the follows reported to Captain Putnam.”
Now, it is possible that some other cadet would not have been hoodwinked in this fas.h.i.+on by the bully, but Link Smith swallowed the explanation without a second thought.
”Oh, if that's what you want, go ahead,” said he. ”But don't tell anybody I let you in.”
”I shan't say a word if you don't,” answered Lew Flapp. ”By the way,”
he went on, with a.s.sumed indifference, ”they tell me the Rover boys have cleared out and gone home.”
”No, they haven't,” was Link Smith's prompt answer.--They are right here.”
”Are you sure, Link?”
”Of course I am. They are bunking together in the last tent in Street B, over yonder,” and the feeble-minded cadet pointed with his hand as he spoke.
”Is that so! Well, I don't care. I don't want to see them again until I can prove to Captain Putnam that they are a set of rascals.”
”Are you going to try to get into the academy again, Lew?” asked Link, curiously.
”Not much! I'll be done with Captain Putnam just as soon as I can show him how he mistreated me and how the Rovers are pulling the wool over his eyes.”
”Everybody here thinks the Rovers about perfect.”
”That's because they don't know them as well as I and Rockley do.”