“You have—and it is useless for you to deny it.”
“Wh—what—er—do you mean?”
“I am speaking of how you took those blank cartridges and used them, and of how you dosed Major Ruddy with those French headache powders.”
“Captain Putnam, I didn’t——”
“Stop, Ritter, don’t add falsehoods to your other faults. I am positive that you are guilty. And as I said before, I have a good mind to expel you here and now.”
“Don’t! Please don’t!” cried the bully, breaking down. “I—I didn’t mean any harm—it was only done in fun, sir! I—er—I’ll never do such things again! Please don’t expel me!”
“You might have killed Ruddy!”
“I—er—I thought the powders would make him a little sick—so he—er—he wouldn’t want to compete with me—for I was afraid of being beaten. And the blanks——”
“Made me take Greenwood’s office away from him. But he shall be restored.”
“Please, please, Captain Putnam, don’t expel me!” groaned Ritter.