"That medal was issued to Corporal William Handlee, a number of years ago." "Corporal Handlee--the missing soldier--Captain Handlee's son?" "The very same." "Why, how--where did Toots get it, I wonder? Is it possible that he----" "We must ask him. I will question him to-night, and let you know the result. Hark, there he comes now." Someone was coming down the corridor, whistling the lively strains of "Yankee Doodle." "That's Toots," said Dick with a smile. "I wonder how he came to have Handlee's medal. Can he possibly be----" But at that instant there came a series of excited shouts from outside. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" Dick and the major rushed to the window. "Fire! Fire!" shouted Toots, as he ran back along the corridor. Dick saw a black pall of smoke, through which shot red tongues of flame. "It's the society house of the Sacred Pig," he cried. And it was from the windows of the meeting place of the cadets' society that the flames were shooting. CHAPTER XXXI DICK WRITES A CHECK--CONCLUSION As Dick, followed by the major, rushed from the barracks to go to the fire, the housekeeper thrust an envelope into the young millionaire's hand. "It is a telegram that just came for you," she explained. Dick shoved it into his pocket without opening it. Then he joined the throng of excited and alarmed students that had gathered about the burning society headquarters. A small fire department was maintained at the academy, but as the buildings of the school were all fireproof, the brigade was not a very large one, and was only equipped with chemical apparatus. "We must telephone for the town fire department," cried Dutton. "They won't get here in time to do much," said Major Webster. "Better save what you can inside, boys." They saw that what he said was true. There was a stiff wind blowing, fanning the flames to furnace heat. The blaze had started on the upper floor, and had already eaten its way through the roof. No one knew what had caused the fire, as there was no one in the place when it started, and it had burned for some time before breaking out. Fortunately, the structure was well away from any of the academy buildings, and there was little danger to them. "Let's save what we can!" cried Dick, and the boys began running in, carrying out such of the trophies as they could find on the lower floor. But it soon became too hot for them, and Major Webster, fearing someone would get hurt, ordered the work of salvage to cease. "Too bad!" observed Russell Glen, as he and others watched the handsome brick and stone building crumbling into ruins. "And we counted on having such sport there next term." "Well, it's insured, isn't it?" asked Dick. "We can collect the money, and build a better one." "Insured!" suddenly cried Dutton. "There, I meant to attend to that, but it slipped my mind!" "What did?" asked Allen Rutledge. "The insurance. It expired the day before yesterday." "And do you mean to say you forgot to get it renewed?"