Leaving those who had accompanied him at the door so that none of the cadets present might escape, Snopper Duke strode into the room and looked around suspiciously, even going so far as to glance into the bathroom and the clothing closet. As was the custom during the school term, the cadets had put the beds and the cots in order, and also arranged the chairs and other furniture.
“Professor Duke, I’d like to ask something. Do you know we have no heat in here?” questioned Jack.
“Growing boys like you don’t need too much heat—it makes them lazy,” responded the teacher tartly. “You will be warm enough after you have had your breakfast.”
“Can we go downstairs now and get it?” asked Andy quickly.
“No. You are to have it up here. I have had it brought up for you,” was the answer. And then Professor Duke motioned for the two waiters to come in.
They carried two trays covered with napkins, and these they deposited on the table.
“Has Colonel Colby come back yet?” questioned Spouter.
“You will know quickly enough when he comes,” was the teacher’s reply. And then he motioned the waiters out of the room.
“Professor, do you think——” began Bob Nixon. But the teacher caught the Hall chauffeur by the arm and pushed him out into the hallway.
“Never mind now, Nixon,” he broke in hastily. “We’ll talk matters over downstairs.” And thereupon he closed and locked the door once again, and the cadets heard him and all of the others go below.