y Bangs, Halliday, Sands, and that whole bunch;
and I don't believe he ought to be an officer."

A few minutes later came a commotion near the main entrance of the Hall.
A cadet named Gibson who was doing some electioneering for Glasby had
knocked Paul Halliday down, and there was every prospect of a fight when
the two cadets were separated by a number of friends.

"He offered to sell the Harkness vote if our crowd would vote later on
the way he wanted us to!" declared Gibson. "You would think he had half
the vote of the Hall in his pocket," and he glared at Halliday, who
thereupon lost no time in sneaking out of sight.

The report that Halliday, Sands, and even Brassy Bangs were trying to
sell the Harkness vote in exchange for some votes for a captaincy soon
spread, and a number of the cadets who had voted for the lieutenant
became disgusted and promptly said they were going to change. A lively
discussion followed, in the midst of which the bell rang for the second
ballot.

"Gee, Jack! if some of those fellows do change their votes I hope they
come to you," murmured Gif.

"Well, I must confess I'm hoping that myself," answered the young
captain, with a smile.

Once more the boys lined up and deposited their ballots. Then came some
anxious waiting, and finally Captain Dale announced the result:

"Total number of votes cast.....125 Necessary to a choice............63
Jack Rover has...................67 Louis Glasby has.................46
Darrell Harkness has..............9 Peter Floyd has...................3"

"Hurrah! Jack wins!" cried Fred enthusiastically, and was the first
person to grab his cousin by the hand and shake it warmly.

"That's great, Jack!" exclaimed Gif, slapping him on the shoulder. "Let
me congratulate you!"

"It's just the result I was looking for!" burst in Spouter, his face
wreathed in smiles.

Of course, Louis Glasby was much disappointed, but he took his defeat in
good part and came up bravely to shake Jack by the hand.

"It was a fair and square contest, Jack," he said. "And I congratulate
you." And then turning to the other cadets he called out: "Three cheers
for Major Rover!" They were given with a will; and then Colonel Colby,
Captain Dale, and many of the older persons came forward to congratulate
the newly-elected head of the school battalion.

"Speech! Speech!" came the cry from the students. "A speech from the new
major!" and almost before he was aware of it Jack was escort