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?" 
Who was the second teacher looking for?
Did he find them?
Right away?
Who was found first?
Where was he?
What was he using for cover?
Where was Coulter?
What was he doing?
Were they planning out a lie?
Who was doing the talking?
Who does he say threw the first punch?
Who else should tell this story?
Who came up with the story?
What is Crabtree's job?
Does he was to go to the meeting/
Did he go?
Why?
Who else is in the meeting?
Who did George want to exclude from the meeting?
What was Paxton doing when he was found?
Coulter and Paxton
I went after Coulter and Paxton, as you directed me," said the second assistant teacher
yes
 I located Paxton and then Coulter.
no
At first I could not find them
Paxton
 I located Paxton and then Coulter
under the window of the office
Paxton was under the window of the office
a bush
He was partly hidden behind a bush, so that nobody might see him
at another window
Coulter was at another window
talking to Ritter
Coulter was at another window, talking to Ritter.
yes
'Now, don't make a mess of it. Tell the story just as I told it,
Ritter
 I heard Ritter say,
Ruddy
Ruddy hit me first
NIck
 tell Nick to stick to that, too
Ritter
Tell the story just as I told it
teacher
"I do not care to intrude----" commenced the dictatorial teacher.
no
I do not care to intrude----" commenced the dictatorial teacher. 
yes
, but his curiosity got the better of him and he followed Captain Putnam and George Strong into another office. 
his curiosity got the better of him
 his curiosity got the better of him and he followed Captain Putnam and George Strong into another office. 
Captain Putnam and George Strong
 he followed Captain Putnam and George Strong into another office. 
the cadets
answered George Strong. "I did not desire any of the cadets present
listening
Paxton was under the window of the office, listening to all that was going on