After that there was a great canvassing for votes. Dan Baxter was unusually active, and Jack and Pepper felt certain that he was trying one of his old tricks, namely, that of buying votes. Some of the poorer cadets had very little spending money, and it was a great temptation to them to have money offered for their ballots. Of course, buying votes was dishonorable, and Baxter had to work on the sly. Ritter also tried to buy votes, but soon found out that very few of the cadets would even listen to him, because of the way he had misled them in the past.
At last came the time to vote, and the ballot-box was placed on a table in charge of two cadets and George Strong, who had consented to act as judge of the election.
"This is for a new major only," announced George Strong. "You will step up and vote as your names are called."
It took but a few minutes to cast the eighty-three ballots. Then the vote was tabulated, while the boys stood around on the tiptoe of expectation.
"I will read the result," announced Captain Putnam, after receiving a paper from Mr. Strong, and he read as follows:
| "Whole number of votes cast, 83. |
| Necessary to a choice, 42. |
| Paul Singleton has 4. |
| Henry Lee has 5. |
| Harry Blossom has 7. |
| David Kearney has 9. |
| Reffton Ritter has 12. |
| Daniel Baxter has 18. |
| Bart Conners has 28." |
"Nobody is elected," said Pepper, in a disappointed voice.
"Boys, you will have to try it again," said Captain Putnam.
"I beg to withdraw my name from the list of candidates," cried Paul Singleton. "All who voted for me will kindly vote for Bart Conners, who is my choice."
"We must beat Ritter and Baxter!" said Andy, in a low voice.