The Rover Boys on the River | Page 9

soon as he heard from his parents."
Captain Putnam had expected to begin the march to the Hall by
half-past eight, but there were numerous delays in packing the camping
outfit, so the battalion was not ready for the start until over an hour
later.
The cadets were just being formed to start the march when several men
appeared at the edge of the field.
"There's them young soldiers now!" cried one. Come on and find the
rascals!"
"What do you want, gentlemen?" demanded George Strong, who
happened to be near the crowd.
"Who is in charge of this school?" asked one of the men.
"Captain Victor Putnam is the owner. I am his head assistant."
"Well, I'm Josiah Cotton, the constable of White Corners."
"What can I do for you, Mr. Cotton?"
"I'm after a feller named Dick Rover, and his two brothers. Are they
here?"
"They are. What do you want of them?"

"I'm goin' to lock 'em up if they did what I think they did."
"Lock them up?" cried George Strong, in astonishment.
"That's what I said. Show me the young villains."
"But what do you think they have done?"
"They broke into my shop an' stole some things," put in another of the
men.
"That's right, they did," came from a third man. "Don't let 'em give ye
the slip, Josiah."
"I ain't a-goin' to let 'em give me the slip," growled the constable from
White Corners.
"When was your shop robbed?" demanded George Strong, of the man
who had said he was the sufferer.
"I can't say exactly, fer I was to the city, a-buying of more goods."
"Mr. Fairchild is a jeweler and watchmaker, besides dealing in paints,
oils, glass, an' wall paper," explained the constable. "He carries a putty
considerable stock of goods as are valuable. Yesterday, or early last
night, when he was away, his shop was broken into and robbed."
"And what makes you think the Rovers are the thieves?" asked George
Strong.
"We got proof," came doggedly from Aaron Fairchild. "We're certain
on it."
By this time, seeing that something was wrong, Captain Putnam came
to the scene. In the meantime the battalion was already formed, with
Major Colby at the head and Dick in his proper position as captain of
Company A.
"I cannot, believe that the Rover Boys are guilty of this robbery," said

the master of Putnam Hall after listening to what the newcomers had to
say. "What proof have you that they did it?"
"This proof, for one thing," answered Josiah Cotton, and drew from his
pocket a memorandum book and the envelope to a letter. In the front of
the memorandum book was the name, Richard Rover, and the envelope
was addressed likewise.
"The thief dropped that," went on the constable.
"Where did you find these things?"
"On the floor of the shop, in front of the desk."
"Anybody might have dropped them."
"See here, Captain Putnam, do you stand up fer shieldin' a thief?"
roared Aaron Fairchild. "To me this hull thing is as plain as the nose on
my face."
As Aaron Fairchild's smelling organ was an unusually large one, this
caused the master of Putnam Hall to smile. But he immediately grew
grave again.
"This is a serious matter, Mr. Fairchild. I do not wish to shield a thief,
but at the same time I cannot see one or more of my pupils unjustly
treated."
"Are ye afraid to have 'em examined?"
"By no means. I will call them up and you can talk to them. But I
advise you to be careful of what you say. The Rover boys come from a
family that is rich, and they can make it exceedingly warm for you if
you accuse them wrongfully."
"Oh, I know what I'm a-doin' and the constable knows what he's a-doin',
too," answered Aaron Fairchild.
George Strong was sent to summon Dick, Tom, and Sam, and soon

came up with the three brothers behind him.
"Something is wrong, that is certain," murmured Dick.
"Those men look mad enough to chew us up," answered Tom.
"Now, boys, keep cool," cautioned George Strong. "I think some
terrible mistake has been made."
"What's it all about, Mr. Strong?" asked Sam.
"I'll let them explain," returned the head assistant.
Josiah Cotton had heard Captain Putnam's words of caution to Aaron
Fairchild, and as he had a great regard for persons who were rich, and
did not want to get himself into trouble, he resolved to move with
caution.
"I'd like to ask you three young gents a few questions," said he, as the
boys came up. "Fust, which one of you is Richard Rover?"
"I am Richard, commonly called Dick," was the ready reply. "This is
my brother Tom, and this is Sam."
"Very well.