“I was thinking of something,” resumed Reff Ritter, slowly. “I wonder if we could manage it.”
“Manage to make a whole lot of trouble for Jack Ruddy and his crowd. It falls in with the first idea I had.”
“Same here,” added Coulter. “Only show us a safe and sure way.”
“You know how Ruddy keeps himself in the very best of condition all the time.”
“Well, supposing we spoilt that condition for him? Supposing we made his sword and its scabbard look rusty, his buttons dull, and his uniform full of spots? How would that strike those officers and Captain Putnam when that inspection came off?”
“I know one thing—Captain Putnam would be as mad as hops,” said Paxton. “More than likely he would reduce Ruddy to the ranks.”
“Yes, but you can’t work such a scheme,” said Coulter.
“Why not—if we can get hold of his things between now and to-morrow noon?”
“Because if he finds anything is mussed up he’ll do his best to clean up before he goes on the parade ground.”
“Yes, but what if he doesn’t find anything mussed up?” queried Reff Ritter.
“Yes, but—I don’t understand,” said Paxton. “He has eyes—he can readily see if anything is wrong.”
“Maybe not—if we fix him up in the right kind of a way.”
“Well, how are you going to do it?” demanded Coulter.
“I can do it easily enough, provided I can get down to the Cedarville drug store to-night.”
“I want several chemicals. Can I trust you to keep this a secret?” And Reff Ritter looked around the boat-house to see if any outsiders were in sight. No one seemed to be around.
“Yes,” said both Coulter and Paxton, promptly.
“Well, my plan is simply this: From the druggist I will get certain chemicals to be mixed with water. Then, on the sly, we’ll get hold of Ruddy’s outfit. All we’ll have to do is to apply the chemicals to his sword, scabbard, buttons, and clothing. We can dilute the chemicals so that they will act in two, three or four hours, just as we please. At first the chemicals will not show at all, but after the proper length of time they will turn everything they are on a sickly green. I know the action of the chemicals well, for I have used them in photography.”
“That’s a great idea!” cried Coulter. “Let us try it by all means. And we’ll put some on Andy Snow’s outfit, too!”