“Maybe he is off on a lark,” said Ritter to himself. “Well, so much the better, although I’d like to put some of the money in the uniform he is wearing. When he is found out he’ll have to explain where he has been.”
As the tent was empty Ritter did not hesitate to light a candle he carried. By the rays thus afforded he found Jack’s dress-suit case and in it stuffed some of the paper money. Then he took the young major’s extra uniform and placed some of the bills in the pockets and lining of that. He placed the last of the bills under the sheet on the cot.
“Ritter, what are you up to?”
The question came so unexpectedly that the bully jumped as if shot. He was on the point of blowing out the candle when it was snatched from his grasp. Swinging around, he found himself confronted by Jack, just returning from the conference with Bert Field.
“Why, I—er—” stammered the bully. He was so dumbfounded he did not know what to say.
“What did you hide on my cot, under the sheet?” went on the young major.
“I—er—nothing.”
“I saw you put something there. What was it?”
“I didn’t put anything there,” answered Ritter stubbornly. “You let me go!” And he tried to brush past Jack.
“This is my tent and you have no right in it,” cried the young major. “You give an account of yourself,” and now he caught the bully tightly by the arm.