“I’ll break that fellow the minute I am colonel,” said Tom, as he hurried along the hall. “He sha’n’t be an officer any longer.”
Arriving at the principal’s apartment, he pounded loudly upon the door; and, after a few moments’ delay, a voice from the inside bade him enter. The new student opened the door, and found himself in the presence of the principal, who greeted him with:
“Newcombe, this is a very unusual hour for a student to visit me. You ought to be at work at your lessons.”
“I know it, sir,” replied Tom; “but I have something very important to say to you.”
The principal did not exhibit the curiosity that the new student had imagined he would, for he answered:
“I will listen to you this time, but hereafter, when you wish to see me on business, you must do so when I visit your dormitory in the morning. But what were you going to say?”
Tom’s expectations were considerable dampened by the stern, dignified demeanor of the principal, and, for a moment, he wished that he had never envied the colonel, for he began to fear that, perhaps, his success was rather doubtful after all. But it was too late to retreat; and, summing up all his courage, Tom replied:
“I have been informed, sir—the fact is, the lieutenant-colonel says your milk-man puts water in the milk.”
The principal was evidently very much astonished at this revelation, for he settled back in his chair, and looked at the new student without speaking.