"They may have been skylarking and may have carried the watch and chain off by--accident, let us say," finished the captain, significantly.
"If anybody came in, nobody who sleeps in our room seems to be aware of it."
Captain Putnam and Jack passed up to the dormitory, followed by Josiah Crabtree. They were soon joined by Pepper and the other occupants of the apartment. Another search was made, but the gold watch and chain were not found, nor were any clues concerning the timepiece unearthed.
"What were the watch and chain worth?" asked Fred.
"I don't know; maybe fifty or sixty dollars," answered Jack.
"Then if they were stolen, the thief made quite a haul."
"Do you think they were stolen, Century?" demanded the owner of the school.
"Doesn't it look like it, sir?"
"But if they were stolen, who is guilty?" asked Josiah Crabtree, glaring around from one cadet to another.
For the moment nobody spoke.
"I don't suspect any of my roommates," said Jack, quickly. "I think it was done by some outsider."
"Some other cadet?" asked Crabtree.
"Possibly; or else by some of the help."
"Gracious, Ruddy, I--er--I hope you don't suspect me!" stammered the teacher.
"No, sir; I meant some of the servants."
"Ah, I see!" Josiah Crabtree looked relieved. "You may be right. Perhaps some of the new colored help took the watch," he went on, to Captain Putnam.
"I will start an investigation," returned the owner of the school.
Captain Putnam was as good as his word, and over an hour was spent in questioning the help, and the other cadets, but without results. The investigation was continued Monday morning. But not the first trace of the missing watch and chain was discovered anywhere.
"It assuredly is a mystery," said Captain Putnam at last. "What do you make of it, Mr. Strong?" he asked of his second assistant.
"It is a very unfortunate occurrence," answered George Strong. "If there is a thief in Putnam Hall we ought to locate him. As long as he remains undetected none of us will be safe."
"How are you going to catch him?"
"I don't know. We might try to trace up the watch and chain through the authorities."
"I hate to let the authorities know anything has been stolen in the school. It gives us a bad name in public." The two men were alone, so they could speak freely.
"It will give the school a worse name if we don't get the watch and chain back. I am afraid Major Ruddy can hold you for the worth of them."
"He can, and I expect to pay for them if we don't get them back. I will think it over, and perhaps I'll report the loss."
Later on, the authorities were notified that a watch and chain were missing. No details were given, but the police were asked to look out for the watch and chain in pawnbroking establishments and elsewhere.
"I shall also offer a reward," said the owner of the school, and the next day a bulletin was posted, offering a reward of ten dollars for information leading to the recovery of the timepiece and conviction of the thief.
"It's tough to go without your watch, Jack," said Pepper.
"Captain Putnam is going to loan me one for the present," was the young major's reply. "It's only a silver affair, but he says it keeps good time, and that's the main thing."
A day or two after the reward was offered, Jack, Pepper and Andy received an invitation to take dinner at Point View Lodge with the Fords and spend the evening there. The weather was now growing colder and the Fords expected before long to close up their summer home and move to the city for the winter.
"Say, this is all to the merry!" cried Pepper, as he read the invitation. "Of course we'll go."
"If Captain Putnam will let us," added Andy, anxiously.
"I think he will," returned Jack. "He is so cut up over this watch affair I think he will do almost anything for me."
The three went to the captain and showed the invitation, and were told that they could go to Point View Lodge, but that they must be back at Putnam Hall by ten o'clock.
"It's lucky we can go in our uniforms," said Pepper. "Otherwise I suppose we'd have to go in full dress, eh?"
"Sure thing."
"How are we going to get to the Lodge? We can't walk."
"Might hire a carriage for once."
"Too slow. The Lodge is so far off. We could make better time on our bicycles."
"But if it rains--or snows?"
"Then we'll have to take a carriage."
The three cadets watched the weather anxiously. It remained clear and cool up to the afternoon of the day they were going and then grew cloudy.
"Looks like rain or snow to me," announced Jack.
"Oh, don't croak!" cried Andy. "It's a bit cloudy, but that's all. I guess it will hold off until morning."
"Got your bicycle ready for the trip, Andy?" questioned Pepper.
"Sure, I oiled up this morning. How about you?"
"Ready since yesterday, and Jack's wheel is ready, too," was the answer.
"Oh, say, don't you anticipate a dandy time at Point View Lodge?"
"Yes, indeed! The Ford girls are just all right."
"Best ever!" chimed in Jack.