“Yes, but he’s pretty sharp,” insisted Coulter.
“Humph! He never found out how he happened to get sick so suddenly the day we had the gymnastic contest and he fell from the flying-rings.”
“Oh, you said you’d tell me all about that some day,” said Coulter. “How did you manage it, Reff?”
“It was easy enough. If I tell you, will you keep it to yourself?”
“Sure.”
“Well, I got that French headache powder out of the medicine cabinet. I knew about how much to use to make Ruddy dizzy and dull.”
“Yes, but how did you manage to give it to him without his knowing it?” went on Coulter with interest.
“That was easy enough. I went down to the mess room just before the evening parade. I watched my chance, and when none of the waiters were looking, I slipped up to Ruddy’s seat and put the powder into the glass of water in front of his plate. Just as I hoped, he came in feeling dry, and he drank the stuff without knowing it. I think he did say something about a bitter taste, but that was all.”
“It was an all-right trick,” said Coulter. “Only it didn’t pan out just as you wanted.”
“But Jack Ruddy never found out about it,” answered Reff Ritter. “Say, I’m getting sleepy,” he added, with a yawn. “Let’s turn in, like the rest have done.”