CHAPTER VII 

PEPPER MAKES A DISCOVERY 

"You do not--er--wish me present?" came rather awkwardly from Josiah Crabtree. 

"Oh, that won't matter, Mr. Crabtree," answered George Strong. "I did not desire any of the cadets present, that was all." 

"I do not care to intrude----" commenced the dictatorial teacher. 

"As you please," answered Mr. Strong, with a shrug of his shoulders. 

At first Josiah Crabtree was inclined to stand on his dignity and walk off, but his curiosity got the better of him and he followed Captain Putnam and George Strong into another office. 

"I went after Coulter and Paxton, as you directed me," said the second assistant teacher, when they were alone, and the door had been closed. "At first I could not find them, but at last I located Paxton and then Coulter. Where do you suppose they were?" 

"I have no idea," answered Captain Putnam. 

"Paxton was under the window of the office, listening to all that was going on. He was partly hidden behind a bush, so that nobody might see him." 

"Indeed! That is not to his credit. And Coulter?" 

"Coulter was at another window, talking to Ritter. Ritter was giving him some instructions, and as I came up unnoticed I heard Ritter say, 'Now, don't make a mess of it. Tell the story just as I told it, and be sure to stick to it that Ruddy hit me first, and tell Nick to stick to that, too.' Those were his very words." 

"Is it possible! And what did Coulter say?" 
What was Paxton doing when he was found?
Paxton was under the window of the office, listening to all that was going on