interested everybody in the sitting room:

"Next week I am to pack my trunk and go to Putnam Hall Military
Academy [wrote Larry Colby]. Father says it is a very fine
military, school, and he has recommended it to your uncle."

"Putnam Hall Military Academy!" mused Tom. "I wonder where it
is?"

"It is over in Seneca County, on Cayuga Lake," replied Randolph
Rover, and something like a smile appeared on his face.

"On Cayuga Lake, uncle!" cried Sam. "Why, that's a splendid
location, isn't it?"

"Very fine."

"And is that where we are to go?" put in Tom eagerly.

"Yes, Thomas; I might as well tell you, although I wanted to
surprise you. You are to go to Putnam Hall, and there you will
have with you Lawrence Colby, Frank Harrington, and several other
lads with whom you are all acquainted."

"Hurrah, Uncle Randolph!" came from Sam, and rushing up, he caught
his relative around the shoulder. "You're the best kind of uncle,
after all."

"Putnam Hall is an institution of learning that has been
established for some twenty years," went on Mr. Rover, pushing