“To-morrow morning, as soon as the school session begins,” answered Captain Putnam. “Give me the clapper. I’ll return it myself.” And the article was placed in his charge and he drove off with it. He left it at the home of the church sexton, and it was that evening restored to its original position in the belfry. “We are in for trouble to-morrow,” said Pepper, late that evening, as he came in from a visit to the school library. “On account of the clapper?” asked Jack. “Yes. Captain Putnam is going to conduct a strict investigation to-morrow morning, as soon as school opens.” “What will you do if he questions every cadet?” asked Dale. “I’ll face the music,” answered Jack promptly. “What do you think he’ll do if he finds out you took the clapper?” questioned Fred Century. “I don’t know, I’m sure. Cut off our holidays perhaps,—or reduce me to the ranks.” “I don’t want my holidays cut,” said Pepper. “And to have Jack’s official position taken from him would be too mean for anything.” All of the boys who had had a part in taking the clapper and putting it in Josiah Crabtree’s room were very much worried although they tried not to show it. It was one thing to play a joke and quite another to take the consequences. “How Reff Ritter and his crowd will laugh if we are found out and punished,” said Pepper to his intimate chums. “If they laugh too loud I’ll punch ’em,” answered Andy. “I believe what the captain does will depend upon what the church folks do,” put in Joe Nelson. “If they raise a big row he’ll have to investigate pretty thoroughly. It might be a good thing to smooth matters over with the church people.” “And how would you do that?” asked Pepper. “Oh, you might explain that it was only a bit of boyish fun, done on a dare—and you might propose to give the church an extra donation if the matter was dropped. I think Deacon Pelham would drop the matter if the extra donation was made—and he’s the head man in the church just now.” “Deacon Pelham!” cried Fred Century. You mean Isaac Pelham, who lives up the lake shore near Grape Creek?” “Yes.” “Why, I know him well. I took him out in my boat once,—when he was in a great hurry to get a doctor from across the lake. He was very thankful and wanted to pay me for my services, but I told him I wasn’t running the _Ajax_ for money. That was when I was a student at Pornell.” “Then you are the one to go to Deacon Pelham and smooth matters over,” cried Stuffer. “Go ahead, Fred; it may aid Pep and Jack a good deal.” “Fred needn’t to do it unless he feels like it,” said the young major of the Hall battalion. “I’ve got a plan,” came from Dale. “Fred needn’t to mention any names, only state that some of the boys would like to hush the matter up and also want to make a contribution.” The matter was talked over, and presently it was decided that Fred should pay the deacon a visit, accompanied by Dale. They carried with them a “contribution” amounting to six dollars.