The boy, who happened to be in charge of the office, no doubt thought that the intruder had gone crazy all on a sudden; but he sat down to his desk without making any comments, and told the excited young colonel to go ahead.
“J. H. Taylor, Bordentown,” shrieked the telegraph, following Mack’s hurried and rather incoherent dictation. “Stop that dinner; it is a fraud. Choke off those boys. Kick them out of doors. The whole thing is an outrageous swindle.”
While Mack was wondering what earthly good it would do him and the rest of the boys if these instructions were obeyed, he dictated another dispatch to his friend Don Gordon, which ran as follows:
“That villain Lester Brigham has got the weather-gauge of us. He and his crowd have stolen our dinner and carried it off to Bordentown with the intention of eating it themselves.”
By this time Mack had so far recovered from his rage and excitement that he could write out and pay for these two dispatches, after which he went down stairs to see what the class thought about it. The members had broken ranks and were gathered in a body around their captain and president, who had just brought them the news. If we were to say that they were amazed and angry, we should not begin to tell how they felt. As they could not say anything that would do the subject justice, the most of them kept still; but they clenched their fists and nodded their heads at one another, and if Lester and his crowd had been within reach at that moment, it is doubtful if their officers could have restrained them.
“I would give up my chances for graduating at the end of the term, if I could have just one minute’s private interview with Lester Brigham,” said one of the students, who was walking about wringing his hands as if he were in great bodily distress. “I don’t think his mother would know him when I got through with him.”
“I wish there was some way for us to get to Bordentown,” exclaimed another. “Wouldn’t we drive those fellows away from that table and out of the windows in short order? Great Scott! Just think how many of our friends have traveled hundreds of miles at our invitation, only to be disappointed!”
These words drove even the cool-headed ones among the students almost frantic. There was no loud talking, no riotous demonstration, and a stranger might have passed close by them without knowing, from their words and actions, that there was anything the matter with them. The military discipline to which they had so long been subjected, restrained them in some measure; and besides, as much as they wanted to fight, they could see nothing to oppose them. If Lester and his company of adherents had entered the depot at that moment, it is probable that the sight would have had a very demoralizing effect upon them. Just then one of their number, who had been holding an earnest conversation with one of the railroad men, came hurrying up.
“I say, fellows,” he exclaimed, “if Lester and his party leave Bordentown at all during the next twelve hours, they will have to take the three o’clock train, which will bring them in here in time for the lightning express.”
“Good!” cried all the boys, in a breath. That was all they said, but it was plain that they understood one another. Their captain, who happened to overhear these remarks, understood them also, and he at once hurried away to lay the matter before his superior officer.