CHAPTER XVI
IN WHICH MORE VALUABLES VANISH
That night it snowed again, and in the morning the storm raged furiouslyaround Putnam Hall, so that the landscape on all sides was completelyblotted out. The cadets had to remain indoors, and it was hard work tokeep a path clear to the gymnasium and the stables.
"We'll be snowbound and no mistake," observed Andy. "Well, I don't caremuch; it will give me a chance to catch up in my lessons."
"Very far behind, Andy?" asked Jack.
"More than I like to think about, Jack. I want to graduate with honor,you know."
"Oh, we all want to do that."
"How's the head?"
"Still sore. But I guess I'll be all right again in a few days."
"How about you, Pepper?"
"I'll be all right, too, Andy. But it was a fierce crack!" addedPepper, as his hand went up gingerly to his plastered-up cut.
"Going to lodge a complaint against Ritter and Coulter?"
"What good would it do? We can't actually prove that they used stones?"
"Let it pass. If we make a complaint it will only stir up more badblood," said the young major. "But in the future I am going to watchRitter and Coulter pretty closely."
The boys were kept at the Hall for all of that week, getting no furtherthan the gymnasium for recreation. The wind blew furiously at times, sothat the snow was piled up into numerous drifts, one reaching almost tothe top of the carriage-shed, and another completely hiding the posts ofthe gate entrance.
"This must be tough on some of the farmers," observed Dale. "Think oftrying to get the milk to the station in such weather."
"Well, a farmer usually has enough to eat," answered Stuffer. "Thatcounts for a good deal. Now if a fellow was snowbound and didn't haveany grub----" He did not finish but shook his head dolefully. To Stuffersuch a fate was beyond words.
As was to be expected, Ritter and Coulter kept out of the way of Jackand Pepper. Once the young major met the pair on the stairs, but theysimply glared at him and passed on before he could say a word.
During all this time Captain Putnam had been doing his best to solve themystery concerning the disappearance of Jack's gold watch and chain.But, though all the hired help and the cadets and teachers were watchedand questioned, nothing of importance came to light. Peleg Snuggers saidhe had once seen a strange man near the stables, and Captain Putnamwondered if that individual could have sneaked into the school andcommitted the robbery.
"But if he did that, why didn't he take more?" he said, in speaking ofthe matter to George Strong.
"I am sure I don't know, sir," answered the teacher. "For the matter ofthat, why wouldn't any thief take more, if he had the chance?"
"I give it up, Strong. This thing makes me feel sick."
"Well, we must keep our eyes open," answered George Strong; and then theconversation changed to the lessons for the next day.
On Tuesday morning, Pepper chanced to go to a bureau-drawer in which hekept his collars, cuffs, neckties and jewelry. He commenced to look forsomething and ended by turning out everything in the compartment.
"What's wrong, Pepper?" asked Jack. "Lost some diamonds?"
"It's my ruby scarfpin, Jack. Did you see it?"
"No, not for some time. Did you have it in that drawer?"
"I did."
"When did you wear it last?"
"The night we took dinner with the Fords."
"Are you sure you put it back when you came home?"
"Positive. I keep it in this case," and Pepper held up an empty jewelrycase.
"Gracious! This is becoming interesting!" murmured the young major."First my watch and chain and now your scarfpin!" He looked pointedly athis chum. "Pepper, do you think----" He stopped short.
"Think what, Jack?"
"Oh, I'd hate to say it, Pepper," and the young major shrugged hisshoulders.
"Were you going to mention Ritter and Coulter?"
"I was. But maybe it wouldn't be fair. It's a terrible thing to thinkanybody a thief."
"That is true. But maybe they took them as a joke and hid them."
"That is past a joke."
Pepper continued to hunt around until it was time to go below. Then hemarched straight to Captain Putnam's private office.
The captain listened with a sinking heart to what the cadet had to say.It was terrible to think that a thief was at large in the school andcould not be caught.
"You are positive that you had the scarfpin when you came home,Ditmore?" he questioned.
"Yes, sir."
"And you put it in the case in the drawer?"
"I did."
"Was the drawer locked?"
"Part of the time. Sometimes I forgot and left the key in the lock."
"What sort of a scarfpin was it?"
"It was a sort of a clover effect, of gold, with a ruby and three smalldiamonds."
"And how much was it worth?"
"I believe my mother paid thirty-five dollars for it. It was a Christmasgift, so I am not sure about the value."
"Well, take another look for it and report to me again to-morrow,"answered Captain Putnam, with a heavy sigh. Then, of a sudden, he added:"Do you suspect anybody of taking the scarfpin?"
"I have no clue whatever to the theft," answered Pepper, slowly.
"But have you any suspicions, Ditmore?" And the master's voice grew atrifle stern.
"Only in a general way."
"Please explain yourself."
"I--er--I hardly know what to say, sir," stammered Pepper. "There may benothing in it at all."
"In what? Come, out with it."
"Why, you see, sir, some of the cadets in this school are not goodfriends with me and Major Ruddy, and maybe they thought they would playa trick on us by taking his watch and chain and my scarfpin."
"Humph! a mighty poor trick! Who are those cadets?"
"I don't want to accuse them, Captain Putnam."
"I understand. But who are the cadets?"
"Reff Ritter and Gus Coulter."
"Oh, yes, I remember now. You and Major Ruddy have had quite sometrouble with them in the past."
"Yes, sir. But I'd hate to think they did such a mean thing as this,"added Pepper, hastily.
"Well, take a look around and report again to-morrow," returned CaptainPutnam; and then closed his desk slowly and thoughtfully.
Pepper did take a look around, but it was of no use. Not a trace of themissing scarfpin could be found.
"This certainly beats the nation!" remarked Dale, when the cadets weretalking the affair over. "First Andy loses his jewelry, then Jack, andnow Pepper. Wonder if I hadn't better put my cuff-links in the captain'ssafe?" And he cut a wry face. "They cost me a dollar and a quarter."
"I'll wager Captain Putnam would give a good deal to catch the thief,"remarked Stuffer. "Say, Pep, I hope you don't suspect anybody in thisdormitory?" he added anxiously.
"No, Stuffer," was the quick answer. Then Pepper broke into a grin. "Ofcourse, if it was a doughnut, or a pie, I'd suspect you right off!"
"Huh! It's no crime to take something to eat!" grunted Stuffer.
"I'd hate to think any cadet was guilty," came from Emerald. "'Twouldblacken the character of the whole school, so it would!"
"Well, Jack and Pepper have some bitter enemies," said Dale,significantly. And all present knew to whom he referred.
"Well, you can't always tell," said Dale, and shrugged his broadshoulders.
At that moment Fred Century came hurrying into the dormitory.
"Have you heard the latest news?" he cried.
"No, what is it?" questioned Andy.
"Maybe we are going to have an extra holiday," suggested Pepper.
"Better yet, maybe old Crabtree has resigned," added Jack.
"Perhaps Fred is going to give us a spread," came from Stuffer. "I'dlike that first-rate."
"No, the news is more important than all that," came from Fred.
"Well, what is it, Fred?"<
br />
"Don't keep us on pins and needles any longer!"
"Well, the news is, that there have been more robberies committed here,"answered Fred.
"More robberies!" came from half a dozen throats.
"Yes. The teachers were going to keep the thing quiet, but it leaked outthrough Mumps and Nick Paxton.
"What has been taken now?" asked Jack, curiously.
"A watch, a scarfpin, and a five-dollar gold piece."
"And who was robbed?" burst out Andy.
"The watch was taken from Paxton, the scarfpin from Ritter, and Coulterlost the five-dollar gold piece."
"Is it possible!" murmured the young major, and then he lookedmeaningly at his chums. Here was news indeed!
"When did you learn of this, Fred?" asked Dale.
"Just a few minutes ago. Mumps told me, and Paxton told Frank Barringer.Ritter, Coulter and Paxton went to the office to report. Mumps saidRitter was as mad as hops. Ritter's watch was only a silver affair, buthe says it came down to him from his grandfather and was valuable as anheirloom."
"Well, this is certainly getting interesting," was Pepper's comment. "Ifthat thief isn't caught he'll end up by cleaning out the whole school."
"After this, I am going to hide my valuables," said Dale.
"Ditto here," cried Stuffer. "I haven't got much, but what I own I wantto keep."
A little later the cadets filed out of the dormitory, leaving Jack,Pepper and Andy together.
"Well, I am mighty glad I didn't accuse Ritter and Coulter," said theyoung major. "This puts something of a different light on the subject."
"But who is guilty, do you think?" asked Andy.
"I don't know what to think," answered the young major.
"This will drive Captain Putnam wild," came from Pepper. And he wasright; the master of the Hall was worried as he had never been worriedbefore. He made a rigid investigation, but it brought nothing new tolight. According to the stories told by Ritter, Coulter and Paxton thearticles stolen had been taken from their bureau-drawers, and that wasall those cadets could tell about the mysterious affair.
"We must set a strict watch, Captain Putnam," said George Strong.
"And we must catch that thief," added Josiah. Crabtree, sourly. "I--Ishall be almost afraid to go to sleep after this!" he added nervously.
"If these thefts keep on I don't know what I am going to do," saidCaptain Putnam, and his voice had a sound of despair in it.