“I gave you all I had left—just as I promised,” answered Pepper with a grin, and walked away, leaving the sneak much crestfallen.
Pepper lost no time in hunting up Jack and some of the others and relating all he had heard.
“We must be on our guard to-night,” said the young major.
“What do you make of this talk about starch?” asked Andy.
“I know that to-day is wash day and the wash-women in the laundry are using a lot of starch,” answered Jack. “Maybe Ritter and his gang think to steal some and use it.”
“Gracious! if they do that I know what I’ll do!” cried Pepper, struck by a sudden idea.
“What?”
“If they try to starch us why can’t we blue them? We can get some of the blueing balls from the laundry, and——”
“Good? Just the cheese!” cried Dale. “Blueing is better than starching any day!” And he laughed gleefully.
The boys laid their plans with care, and retired to their dormitory at an early hour. They had a little studying to do and got through with their lessons as speedily as possible.