[Illustration: SOME CADETS CAME INTO VIEW, EACH CARRYING A BUCKET OF
WATER.
_The Mystery of Putnam Hall_--_Frontispiece._ (Page 95)]
THE MYSTERY AT
PUTNAM HALL
_Or_
_The School Chums' Strange Discovery_
BY
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD (Edward Stratemeyer)
AUTHOR OF THE FAMOUS "ROVER BOYS SERIES," ETC.
_ILLUSTRATED_
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
Made in the United States of America
BOOKS FOR BOYS
BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
* * * * *
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated
* * * * *
THE PUTNAM HALL CADET SERIES
THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL
THE RIVALS OF PUTNAM HALL
THE CHAMPIONS OF PUTNAM HALL
THE REBELLION AT PUTNAM HALL
CAMPING OUT DAYS AT PUTNAM HALL
THE MYSTERY AT PUTNAM HALL
* * * * *
THE FIRST ROVER BOYS SERIES
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR
THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA
THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR
* * * * *
THE SECOND ROVER BOYS SERIES
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, New York
COPYRIGHT, 1911, under the title of
_The Putnam Hall Mystery_
GROSSET & DUNLAP
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. AN ENCOUNTER ON THE ROAD 1
II. THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL 11
III. SOMETHING ABOUT A RUNAWAY 19
IV. A FRUITLESS SEARCH 29
V. THE FIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM 39
VI. CAPTAIN PUTNAM INVESTIGATES 49
VII. PEPPER MAKES A DISCOVERY 59
VIII. THE FOOTBALL ELEVEN 69
IX. THE FOOTBALL GAME 79
X. PUTTING OUT A LIVELY BLAZE 89
XI. A MYSTERIOUS HAPPENING 99
XII. AN INVITATION ACCEPTED 109
XIII. THE WORK OF THE ENEMY 119
XIV. AT THE FORD MANSION 129
XV. THE SNOWBALL BATTLE 139
XVI. IN WHICH MORE VALUABLES VANISH 149
XVII. THE TUG-OF-WAR 159
XVIII. A CURIOUS MEETING 169
XIX. ABOUT A SET OF TEETH 178
XX. PEPPER A PRISONER 187
XXI. A GRAVE ACCUSATION 196
XXII. THE MYSTERY GOES ON 205
XXIII. AN ELECTION OF OFFICERS 214
XXIV. ANDY SHOWS HIS COURAGE 223
XXV. THE MAN AT POINT VIEW LODGE 231
XXVI. WHAT THE CONSTABLE THOUGHT 239
XXVII. LOOKING FOR CLUES 247
XXVIII. TO THE RESCUE 255
XXIX. A REAL HERO 263
XXX. THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED--CONCLUSION 271
INTRODUCTION
MY DEAR BOYS:
This story is complete in itself, but forms the sixth volume in a line
issued under the general title of "Putnam Hall Series."
As mentioned several times, this line was started because many young
folks wanted to know what happened at Putnam Hall Military School
previous to the arrival at that institution of the Rover boys, as
already related in my "Rover Boys Series."
To gratify this curiosity I wrote the first volume of this series,
called "The Putnam Hall Cadets," showing how Captain Putnam organized
his famous school, and how it was Jack Ruddy and Pepper Ditmore came to
be among his first pupils.
In the second book, entitled "The Putnam Hall Rivals," I gave the
particulars of several contests on the field of sports, and also told
about a thrilling balloon ride and of an odd discovery in the woods.
Following the second book came a third, "The Putnam Hall Champions,"
with more bitterly-contested games, in one of which young Major Ruddy's
enemies played him a foul trick.
From the opening of the school there had been dissatisfaction with one
of the teachers, and when another was engaged who proved to be a man of
peculiar whims, the boys went into open revolt, as related in another
volume, called "The Putnam Hall Rebellion." The cadets literally ran
away, and did not return to the Hall until Captain Putnam came upon the
scene to straighten matters out.
The rebellion was followed by a grand outing, as related in "The Putnam
Hall Encampment." The cadets marched far away from the school, to the
shore of a beautiful lake, and there our heroes managed to have a good
time in spite of the mean work of several of their enemies.
In the present volume are related the particulars of a most puzzling
mystery which at one time threatened to bring disaster to the whole
school. How the mystery was at last solved I leave for the pages which
follow to explain.
Again I thank both young and old for all the nice things they have said
about my books. I hope the reading of the volumes affords all both
pleasure and profit.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
THE MYSTERY AT PUTNAM HALL
CHAPTER I
AN ENCOUNTER ON THE ROAD
"Here we are again, as the clown says in the circus!"
"Right you are, Pepper. And I'll be glad to get back to Putnam Hall once
more," responded Major Jack Ruddy, as he followed his chum from the lake
steamer to the Cedarville dock.
"Hello, there is Andy!" cried Pepper Ditmore, as he caught sight of a
familiar face in the crowd of cadets, "Andy, where have you been? Why
didn't you come on the boat with us?"
"I got in last night," answered Andy Snow. "How are you, anyway?" And he
shook hands cordially.
"Oh, I'm as fine as a new-tooth comb," answered Pepper Ditmore, with a
grin. "Ready for study and fun."
"Especially fun, I'll wager. How about it, Jack?"
"Oh, Pepper usually manages to get his share," came from the young major
of the Putnam Hall battalion. "But, Andy, did you---- Hi, look where you
are going, will you, Ritter!" cried Jack, rather angrily.
A tall youth, carrying a big dress-suit case, had forced his way through
the crowd, hitting Jack in the knee with his baggage.
"What do you want to block the way for?" demanded Reff Ritter, sourly.
"Think you own the dock?"
"I've got as much right here, Ritter, as you have!" retorted the young
major, sharply. "Don't you knock me again like that."
"I will--if you get in my way."
"If you do, you'll take the consequences."
"Bah! Don't you try to dictate to me, Jack Ruddy!" growled Reff Ritter.
"You got the best of me last term, but you'll not get the best of me
this term, I'll tell you that!"
"Phew! Ritter is somewhat peppery!" whispered Andy Snow.
"I guess I know the reason," came from a student named Dale Blackmore.
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you later--too much of a crowd here," rejoined Dale.
About twenty cadets, all bound for Putnam Hall Military Academy, had
arrived on the boat from Ithaca, and these, along with some others who
had come down to the dock to see the boat come in, gathered around Jack
Ruddy and Reff Ritter to see the outcome of the unexpected encounter.
Jack Ruddy had good cause to consider Reff Ritter his enemy. But he had
hoped that during the term now opening at the school the bully of Putnam
Hall would keep his distance.
"I am not trying to dictate to you, Ritter," answered Jack, as calmly as
he could. "But I don't propose to let you hit me with your suitcase."
"Huh! It was an accident!" growled Reff.
"Oh, come on, Reff!" put in Gus Coulter, the bully's close crony. "Let
us get good seats in the carryall."
"That's the talk! Let us get in before the others take the seats!" came
from Nick Paxton, another crony.
He pushed ahead, and his elbow caught Pepper Ditmore directly in the
ribs.
"Not quite so swift, Paxton!" cried Pepper, and he gave the cadet a
quick shove backwards. Paxton bumped into Reff Ritter, lost his
footing, and fell over the dress-suit case in the bully's hand.
"Hurrah! One down!" cried Andy Snow. "How many yards to gain for a
touchdown, Nick?"
"What do you mean by knocking me down!" roared Nick Paxton, as he
scrambled to his feet. "I'll not stand for it."
"Then sit down again," answered Pepper, merrily. "And next time keep
your elbow out of my ribs," he added. "Come on, we don't want to get
left!" he added to his chums.
A bolt was made by many of the cadets for the Putnam Hall carryall, and
soon a crowd was inside and on the front seat, talking, joking and
cheering, as suited the mood of each individual. Jack, Pepper, Andy and
Dale managed to crowd inside throwing their suitcases on the top. Gus
Coulter got in also, but when he saw that Reff Ritter and Nick Paxton
had been left, he scrambled out again, and his place was taken by Fred
Century, another student.
"Hello, Peleg, old sport!" cried Pepper, gaily, to the driver of the
turnout. "How have you been for the past fifty years?"
"Oh, I'm very well, thank you," responded Peleg Snuggers.
"Heard you had a fortune left to you," went on Pepper, with a wink at
his chums. "Old uncle died and left you half a million."
"Three-quarters of a million," put in Andy Snow, scenting fun. "All in
gold, too."
"Isn't that fine!" said Jack. "Peleg, how about lending me ten or
fifteen dollars?"
"I could use a five-spot myself," added Dale.
"I'd like to borrow about fifty for a new bicycle," came from Fred
Century.
"Don't be modest about lending us the cash," went on Pepper. "Just hand
it out as if you had always had it."
"I ain't had no fortune left to me!" burst out the general utility man,
desperately. "Who said I had?"
"Why, everybody knows it, Peleg," responded Pepper. "Come, don't be
modest about it. Was it really three-quarters of a million?"
"Maybe it was more," suggested Jack.
"If I were you, Peleg, I'd not carry so much around in my pockets," said
Dale.
"I ain't had a cent left to me!" shouted the driver of the carryall.
"This is some of your jokes, an' I want you to stop it! Oh, dear, now
the school's opened ag'in I suppose there won't be no rest fer nobuddy!"
And he heaved a mountainous sigh.
"Oh, Peleg! Don't be angry with me!" murmured Pepper, with a trace of
tears in his voice. "If you get angry I'll die!"
"You behave yourself, Pepper Ditmore, or I won't drive you to the Hall."
"Peleg, don't you want me to drive?" asked Andy, who was on the front
seat. "I'm a cracker-jack at driving."
"Not much! Don't you tech them hosses!" shouted the general utility man
in alarm. "That off hoss is a new one an' he's mighty skittish, I can
tell you. This mornin' when I was hookin' him up he nigh kicked the leg
off o' me!"
"Say, how are we going to get to the Hall?" came in ugly tones from Reff
Ritter. He, with six other boys, was standing beside the carryall.
"Captain Putnam said he'd send down some carriages," answered Peleg
Snuggers. "There they come now," and he pointed to the turnouts.
"Pshaw! I wanted to go in the carryall," grumbled Ritter.
"So did I," added Gus Coulter.
"Well, this is full, so you'll have to take the carriages," answered
Peleg Snuggers. "Everybody hold fast!" he shouted, as he took up the
reins.
"We are off!" shouted Pepper, gaily. "Farewell to Cedarville and ho! for
Putnam Hall!"
"Wish I had room, I'd turn a handspring for you," came from Andy, who
was quite an acrobat.
"Now don't you cut up any monkey-shines," pleaded the driver of the
carryall. "That new hoss won't stand for 'em."
"All right, Peleg, I'll keep as quiet as a lamb without a tail."
"Why is a lamb without a tail quiet?" asked Fred Century, quickly.
"Give it up, Fred. Why?"
"Because he has no tale to tell."
"Wow!"
"What a joke!"
"Throw him out!"
"Give him some cotton to eat!"
"Say, do keep quiet!" pleaded Peleg Snuggers, as the boys in the
carryall commenced to push Fred from one seat to another. "Want these
hosses to ran away with you?"
"Better draw it mild," suggested Major Jack. "We don't want any accident
on the way to the Hall." He looked back at the crowd left on the dock.
"Has anybody seen Bert Field?" he asked.
"Yes, I saw him last week," answered a student named Paul Singleton.
"He'll be here to-morrow."
"How about Emerald?" asked Pepper.
"Coming to-night," answered Andy. "He went to Ireland this summer, and
his brogue is worse than ever."
"Never mind, Emerald is a good fellow," said Major Jack. "His heart is
as big as a barrel."
"Say, but wasn't Reff Ritter mad!" came from Dale.
"Oh, he makes me tired," answered Pepper. "After all that happened last
term wouldn't you think he'd behave himself better?"
"It isn't in him to behave himself," answered Fred Century. "He is a
bully and always will be."
"Well, he has got to keep his distance this term," said Major Jack, with
a firm look on his face. "I am not going to stand for what I have in the
past."
"Nor I," added Pepper. "If he doesn't keep his distance he'll suffer for
it."
The carryall was now leaving the little village of Cedarville. Soon it
came out on a country road that ran in the direction of Putnam Hall.
It was an ideal day in early September, and the cadets returning to the
school were in high spirits. One started to sing and the others joined
in.
"Hello, there goes the Pornell Academy stage!" cried Pepper, presently.
"And there are some fellows we know!" returned Jack, as the turnout
belonging to a rival school came closer. "Roy Bock and Bat Sedley."
"I'll bet they are sore over what happened last June," cried Pepper.
"It was their own fault that they suffered," came from Andy.
"Look out!" sang out Dale, and dodged down in the carryall.
Spat! A half-decayed apple struck the side of the turnout. Spat! came
one through the open window. Then the skin of a banana followed, landing
in Jack's lap.
"Stop that, Bock!"
"Don't throw things in here, Sedley!"
"Something to remember us by!" shouted Roy Bock, the bully of Pornell
Academy, and he threw another soft apple into the carryall. It landed on
Pepper's arm, leaving quite a mess there.
"All right, if that's your game!" cried Pepper, and feeling in his
pocket he brought forth an orange he had purchased on the boat. Taking
careful aim, he let fly with all force. The orange landed fairly and
squarely on Roy Bock's nose.
"Ouch!" roared Roy Bock, and clapped his hand to his nose, which began
to bleed.
"Here's something for you, Sedley!" cried Andy, and sent a handful of
peanut shells into the Pornell student's face.
"I'll fix you fellows!" roared Roy Bock in a rage, and catching up a
heavy book that was on the seat beside him he started to throw the
volume at Jack and Pepper.
But the volume slipped and went sailing in the air in another direction,
catching poor Peleg Snuggers on the cheek. The driver of the carryall
was so startled that he let go the reins and fell from his seat into the
dust of the road.
As the reins dropped at their heels, one of the horses--the new
one--threw up his head in sudden fright. Then he made a mad lunge
forward, dragging his mate with him. The carryall gave a lurch and a
bound that sent the occupants flying into each other's laps.
"Stop the team!" was the cry.
"The horses are running away!"
CHAPTER II
THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL
It was true, the team was running away. One of the horses was a spirited
animal and he now had the bit in his teeth. The boys in the rear of the
turnout looked back, to see Peleg Snuggers still lying in the highway.
The stage belonging to Pornell Academy had turned down a side road.
"Can't you stop them, Andy?" asked Jack Ruddy.
"I don't see how," was the answer from the youth on the front seat. "I
can't get hold of the lines."
"We must stop 'em somehow!" cried Fred Century. "Otherwise we'll have a
smash-up, sure!"
"Whoa! whoa!" yelled half a dozen, but these cries only served to scare
the team more, and away they shot along the country road, sending the
carryall swaying from side to side.
"Look! look!" yelled Andy, suddenly. "The regular road is shut off! They
are repairing it!"
The boys gazed ahead and saw that some wooden horses and planking had
been placed across the highway. This side of the barrier some bars had
been taken from a fence, so that those using the road might drive
around, through an orchard belonging to a farmer named Darrison.
"We are going to strike those planks!" cried Dale Blackmore.
"Maybe the team will try to jump them!" came from Fred.
"If they do, they'll smash the carryall sure!" answered Pepper. "Perhaps
we had better drop out at the rear."
"Look out!" sang out somebody, and just then the carryall left the
highway and turned into the orchard. Then came a scraping, as the top of
the turnout hit the low-hanging branches of some apple trees.
"Whoa! stop that wagon!" yelled a man's voice, and Amos Darrison
appeared from among the trees. He made a leap for the team, but they
swerved to one side. Then came a crash, as one of the wheels caught in a
stump. Over went the carryall, with the boys in it. Andy, quick to act,
used his acrobatic abilities by leaping into the branches of a nearby
tree. Then the farmer caught the team and stopped them.
"Anybody hurt?" was Pepper's question, as he crawled out of the wreck.
"I'm all right," answered Fred.
"I got a twisted ankle, that's all," came from Dale, as he limped out.
"Look at Jack!" cried several. "He's hurt!"
All looked and saw the young major of the school battalion lying flat on
his back in the front of the carryall. He had a nasty cut on the temple
and his eyes were closed.
"He is dead!" murmured Pepper, hoarsely.
"Oh, don't say that!" said Andy, in sudden terror. He had just dropped
to the ground.
"If he ain't dead he's putty badly hurted," said the farmer who owned
the orchard.
Pepper caught his chum in his arms and brought him out and laid him on
the grass.
"He is still breathing!" he cried. "Get some water and we'll bathe his
face. Maybe that will bring him around."
"I'll get the water!" exclaimed Dale, and ran towards a well located at
the side of the orchard.
To those who have read the other volumes in this "Putnam Hall Series,"
the lads already mentioned will need no special introduction. For the
benefit of others, let me state that Jack Ruddy and Pepper Ditmore were
close chums, living, when at home, in the western part of New York
State. Jack was slightly the older of the two and was of rather a
serious turn of mind. Pepper was full of fun, and on that account was
frequently called "The Imp."
As related in my first volume, entitled "The Putnam Hall Cadets," the
lads left home to become cadets at a new institution of learning located
on Cayuga Lake. This new school was presided over by Captain Victor
Putnam, a retired army officer, who had modeled his institution somewhat
after the famous military academy at West Point. It was a large school,
ideally located on the shore of the lake, and had attached to it a
gymnasium, a boathouse, and several other buildings. On the lower floor
of the main building were the classrooms, the mess-hall, and the
offices, and upstairs were the dormitories.
Arriving at the school, Jack and Pepper soon made a host of friends,
including the acrobatic Andy Snow; Dale Blackmore, who was a great
football player; Paul Singleton, who was usually called "Stuffer"
because of his constant desire to eat; Joseph Hogan, commonly addressed
as "Emerald" because of his Irish blood, and Joe Nelson, who was one of
the best scholars the school ever had. They also made some enemies, the
greatest of them being Reff Ritter, the big bully, and Gus Coulter and
Nick Paxton, his cronies.
Not long after the students learned how to drill and to march they were
allowed to ballot for officers. A bitter contest was waged, which
resulted in Jack being chosen major of the Hall battalion. A bully named
Dan Baxter had wanted to be major, and he bribed Gus Coulter and some
others to vote for him, but without avail. It may be added here that
Baxter was now away on a vacation, but had written that he was going to
return to the school before long.
During their first term at Putnam Hall the chums had several adventures,
not the least of which was one in the woods, where they rescued George
Strong, one of the teachers, from two of his relatives who were insane.
Mr. Strong's ancestry dated back to the Revolution, and he told the
cadets about a family treasure buried in the vicinity of the lake. How
the boys went in search of the treasure, and how they had numerous other
adventures, was related in the second volume of this series, called "The
Putnam Hall Rivals."
With the coming of the next summer, the thoughts of the students turned
to various sports, and in the third volume, "The Putnam Hall Champions,"
I told how the chums entered several contests, both on land and on the
lake, and won out. At that time Fred Century was a pupil at Pornell
Academy, but Fred became so disgusted at the actions of Roy Bock, Bat
Sedley, and some others, that he quit the rival institution of learning
and came to Putnam Hall, where he was given a warm welcome.
The encounters that Jack and his chums had with Reff Ritter and his
cronies were numerous, and more than once Ritter did his best to get the
young major into serious trouble. Once he drugged Jack with some French
headache powders, and when he was exposed Captain Putnam would have
expelled him had not Jack very generously asked that he be given another
chance. For this any ordinary youth would have been grateful, but
gratitude did not appear to be a part of Reff Ritter's make-up, and he
soon showed himself to be as mean as ever.
For some time matters ran along smoothly at Putnam Hall, but then came
trouble of an entirely new kind. Once, during the absence of Captain
Putnam and George Strong, the school was left in charge of two other
teachers--Josiah Crabtree and Pluxton Cuddle. Crabtree was dictatorial
to a degree and Cuddle was a man of queer ideas, one being that boys ate
entirely too much.
As told in the volume called "The Putnam Rebellion," the two teachers
sought to subdue the boys by starving them and locking them in their
dormitories. They rebelled, left the school by stealth, and marched
away, to camp in the woods. There the rebels split up, one party under
Major Jack and the other under Ritter. At last Captain Putnam put in an
appearance, and Major Jack explained matters. As a consequence, the
cadets went back to the Hall, and then Josiah Crabtree and Pluxton were
called on to explain. Crabtree was retained, after a stern lecture from
the master of the school, but Cuddle was discharged.
It was Captain Putnam's custom to take his students out once or twice a
year to what was called an encampment--the lads marching to some spot
where they could pitch their tents and go in for a touch of real army
life, with target shooting, sham battles, and the like. In the next
volume of the series, called "The Putnam Hall Encampment," I told how
the cadets left the Hall and marched to a distant lake. Their camping
outfit was sent ahead by wagons, but the wagons got lost, and were
finally found in the possession of Roy Bock and some other students of
Pornell, they having made off with them while the drivers were in a
roadhouse obtaining refreshments. For this trick, Pepper and some of the
others got after the Pornellites and made them prisoners in a cave, from
which they could escape only by going out a back way, through some
water and mud, and thorny bushes.
While they were playing a certain trick in Cedarville, Jack and Pepper
fell in with a youth named Bert Field. He was a queer lad, but did the
chums a good turn, and in return they promised to help him. He was
trying to locate a certain old man who was defrauding him out of some
property. The old man was discovered during a visit to a mysterious mill
said to be haunted, and by the chums' aid Bert Field got what was coming
to him. It was thought best to send Bert to school, and he said he
wanted to go to Putnam Hall.
"We'll be glad to have him with us," said Jack, and so it was settled.
Following the encampment had come the regular summer vacation, and the
cadets had scattered far and wide, Jack and Pepper going for a cruise
around the Great Lakes, and Andy and Dale going to Asbury Park and
Atlantic City. Reff Ritter had started for a summer in the Adirondacks,
but unexpected word from home, of which more will be said later, had
caused him to give up the outing.
CHAPTER III
SOMETHING ABOUT A RUNAWAY
While Dale and Andy ran off to get the water, the other boys gathered
around Jack. The young major still lay with his eyes closed, breathing
faintly.
"He got a bad crack on the head," remarked Fred Century.
"He certainly did," whispered another cadet. "If he doesn't come around
what shall we do?"
"How did the team happen to run away?" questioned Amos Darrison.
"Some fellows from Pornell Academy threw things at us," explained
Pepper. "We'll have an account to settle with 'em for this," he added
grimly.
"Wonder how poor Snuggers made out?"
"Here he comes now," was the answer, and looking back toward the
highway, the cadets saw the driver of the carryall approaching on a
swift limp.
"Did ye stop 'em?" he gasped. "Oh, dear, what a bust-up! But it wasn't
my fault--you boys can prove that, can't ye?"
"We can, Peleg," answered Pepper. "Much hurt?"
"I got a nasty twist to my back when I tumbled. Say, what's the matter
with Major Ruddy?" And the general utility man forgot his own pains as
he gazed at the motionless form of Jack.
The cadets told him, and in the midst of the explanation Dale and Andy
came back with a bucket of water and a tin dipper. The major's face was
bathed, and a little water was put into his mouth, and with a gulp he
opened his eyes and stared around him.
"Oh, my head!" he murmured. "Who hit me?"
"You were in the carryall smash-up, Jack," answered Pepper. "You got a
bad one on the head."
"Oh, yes, I remember now." Jack sat up and placed his hand to his
forehead. "Bloody, eh? Say, that was a crack, all right!"
"It's lucky you weren't killed," said Andy.
"Better take it easy for a while," advised Dale. "Maybe we had better
get a doctor."
"Oh, I guess I'll be all right after a bit, Dale," answered the young
major, who had a horror of being placed on the sick list. "The knocking
around stunned me, that's all."
"Let me tie a handkerchief over that cut," said Pepper.
"Here, I've got some court-plaster," said Fred, producing a little
package. "Let us bind it up with that."
This was done, and after he had had a drink of water, Jack said he felt
much better. But when he got up on his feet he was rather shaky in the
knees.
"I--I don't think I can walk to the Hall," he said, with a faint smile.
"We'll get a carriage," answered Pepper. "Maybe Mr. Darrison will let us
have one. We'll pay for it, of course," he went on, knowing that the old
farmer was a close person.
"I'll let you have my three-seated carriage and a team, if you want
them," answered Amos Darrison. "But it will cost you two dollars. I
can't afford to let you have 'em for nothing, because I'm a poor man,
and taxes are heavy, and so many things wanted on the farm, and my wife
wants----"
"Never mind, we'll pay the two dollars," interrupted Pepper. "Everybody
who rides can chip in," he added to the surrounding cadets.
While the lads were waiting for the farmer to hook up his horses, some
of them and Peleg Snuggers examined the carryall. A wheel had come off,
and the glass had been broken, but otherwise the turnout had suffered
but little.
"I am glad it is no worse," said Andy. "I'd hate to see that old
carryall put out of business. I've had so many nice rides in it."
"The axle will have to be mended before we can use it again," announced
Peleg Snuggers. "We'll have to leave it here until the wheelwright can
come fer it. I'll take the hosses back to the school."
"Look out that they don't run away with you," warned Pepper.
"Let me ride one of them!" cried the acrobatic Andy. "Give me the new
one. I'll wager he won't get away from me."
"You'll break your neck!" answered the carryall driver.
"Not at all. Peleg, let me do it. I'm used to horses!" pleaded Andy.
Now, if the truth must be told, Peleg Snuggers did not relish taking the
runaway team back to the school alone. He was a little afraid of the new
horse, remembering how he had been kicked in the morning.
"Well, if you want to go, I'll let ye!" he said at last. "But, remember,
'tain't my fault if ye come back killed."
"Don't you worry; no horse will ever get the best of me," answered
Andy.
A little later Amos Darrison brought out his three-seated carriage and
all of the cadets but Andy got in. The baggage was left behind, the
farmer promising to deliver it by wagon.
"See you later," cried Pepper to Andy. "Be careful!"
"Don't worry; we'll get there before you do," answered Andy.
Two blankets were arranged as saddles on the runaway team's backs and a
few minutes later Andy and Peleg Snuggers started after the carriage.
"Let us catch up to them," cried the acrobatic youth, and urged his
steed forward on a gallop.
"Be careful, I tell you!" cried the general utility man. "Be careful!
He'll run away with you!"
But Andy was too light-hearted to pay heed to the warning, and soon he
was well in advance of his companion. Then he sighted the carriage in
the distance, and urged his horse to greater efforts.
"Whoop-la! Here we come!" he yelled, and set up a great shouting.
"It's Andy!" cried Pepper. "My, but he is riding some!"
"He always was a good one on horseback," said Fred.
"He wants to be careful; that horse is an ugly one," came from Jack. "I
heard a man at the dock say he wouldn't own the beast at any price."
Soon Andy ranged up beside the carriage.
"You're too slow for me!" he sang out merrily. "I'll have to go ahead
and tell Captain Putnam you are coming."
He slapped the horse on the neck. Hardly had he done so when up came the
animal's hind hoofs, almost unseating him. Then the horse made a mad
leap forward and started down the highway at top speed.
"My, see him go!"
"He is running away!"
"Andy, look out for yourself!"
"If he throws you he'll kill you!"
So the cries rang out from the carriage as horse and rider sped over the
highway leading to Putnam Hall.
Andy paid no attention to what was said. Of a sudden he had his hands
full trying to keep on the horse's back. The steed was galloping along
with a peculiar motion.
"Whoa! whoa, Jim!" yelled Andy, but Jim paid no attention. He was off
for a run and did not care what happened.
The blanket had not been securely fastened and before long it commenced
to slip towards the horse's tail. Andy tried to haul it back. His
efforts were but partly successful, and with an end of the blanket
trailing around one of his hind legs, the steed became more unmanageable
than ever.
On and on went horse and rider, until, in the distance, Putnam Hall
loomed up. On one side of the highway were the woods lining the lake
shore; on the other the broad campus leading to the school and other
buildings.
"He'll slow up now," thought Andy. "Unless he bolts right into his
stable. If he tries that I'll have to jump for it."
In front of the school building the roadway widened out into several
curves. Andy thought Jim would take to one of the curves, but he was
mistaken. On kept the steed, directly past the institution of learning.
On the campus were a score or more of cadets, who stared in amazement at
the sight of the runaway horse with the boy clinging desperately to his
back.
"It's Andy Snow!" cried Henry Lee, the captain of Company A.
"So it is," responded Bob Grenwood, the quartermaster of the school
battalion. "How in the world did he get on that horse?"
"It's the one that was hitched to the carryall," put in Billy Sabine,
another cadet. "Something is wrong."
"Let's tell Captain Putnam," said another.
"Whoa! whoa!" yelled Andy, frantically, when he realized that the horse
was not going to pass into the grounds. "Whoa, I say! You've gone far
enough!"
The only effect his words had was to make Jim travel a little faster.
Away they went, past the gymnasium and the stables and then along the
country road leading to the farms back of the lake.
"Well, if you won't stop, go on," said Andy, presently. "You'll get
tired sooner or later, old man. But, remember, you've got to bring me
back, no matter how tired you are."
A good half-mile was covered, and then horse and rider reached a sharp
turn in the highway. Here the trees were thick and some of the branches
hung low.
[Illustration: THE YOUNG MAJOR STILL LAY WITH HIS EYES CLOSED
_The Mystery of Putnam Hall._ (Page 19)]
Andy bent down that he might avoid the branches. But he did not get
quite low enough. He looked ahead, saw a man standing on one side of the
roadway staring in astonishment at him, and the next instant he found
himself caught by the throat in a tree-limb and carried off the horse.
Then Jim bounded on riderless, and poor Andy, kicking and thrashing
wildly, sprang free of the tree-limb and landed on his shoulder in
the roadway.
The man who had seen him coming leaped to one side, and just in the nick
of time, for the runaway horse passed within a foot of him. The man
gasped in astonishment, and for several seconds did not know apparently
what to do.
"Looks like he was killed," the man muttered to himself, as he took a
few steps forward. Andy had rolled over on his back and lay stretched
out, with his eyes closed, very much as poor Jack had been stretched out
only a short while before.
The man looked up and down the roadway and saw that nobody else was in
sight, that part of the highway being but little traveled. Then he came
closer to the unconscious boy and bent over him.
"Only stunned, I reckon!" he muttered to himself. "Wonder if he belongs
around here?"
As the man bent over Andy he saw the lad's watch dangling from its
chain, fastened to a buttonhole of the youth's vest. Then his
ferret-like eyes caught sight of a fine ruby pin in Andy's necktie.
"He could easily lose that watch on the road, riding like that, and the
pin, too," he muttered to himself. "It's a fine chance to make a little
haul!"
He straightened up and took another look around. Not a soul was in
sight. With dexterous fingers he unfastened the watch and chain and
transferred them to his pocket. The stickpin followed. Then he slipped
his hand into a vest-pocket and brought out a five-dollar bill and three
one-dollar bills.
"Eight dollars!" he muttered. "Not so bad but what it might be worse. I
reckon the watch, chain and pin will bring me another twenty or thirty.
Sparrow, you are in luck to-day."
He lingered, wondering if Andy had anything more of value about him. The
youth wore a ring with a cameo in it, but it looked tight and hard to
get off.
"Might try his other pockets," mused the thief. Then a distant shouting
came to his ears.
"Somebody is after him," he muttered. "I reckon it's time I cleared out.
It won't do for me to be seen in this neighborhood."
He looked around for an instant. Then he walked to the roadside, ran in
among the trees and bushes, and disappeared from view.
CHAPTER IV.
A FRUITLESS SEARCH
"Hello, Pepper!"
"How are you, Fred?"
"My, here's the old bunch back again!"
"Well, Henry, did you have a good time during the summer?"
"How about that trip out West, Bob? Did you kill any bears or Indians?"
"Getting high-toned, hiring a carriage to bring you."
So the cries rang out, as the three-seated carriage driven by Amos
Darrison rolled up to the front of Putnam Hall. A crowd of cadets had
rushed forward to greet the newcomers.
"Where is Andy Snow?" asked Pepper, as he leaped to the ground.
"He went past on horseback like a streak!" cried Bob Grenwood. "Some of
the fellows just went off to tell Captain Putnam about it. What did it
mean?"
"Tell you later, Bob. Just now somebody had better go after Andy. That
horse was running away with him."
A hubbub arose, in the midst of which Captain Putnam, the owner of the
school, appeared. He was a fine-looking gentleman, with a face that was
at once kindly and firm.
"What is this I hear about Andrew Snow?" he said anxiously. "A horse ran
away with him?"
In as few words as possible Pepper and some of the others related the
particulars of what had happened to the carryall. Just as they were
finishing, Peleg Snuggers came up on the other horse.
"This is very unfortunate!" murmured Captain Putnam. "We'll have to
follow poor Snow at once. Mr. Darrison, will you drive me?"
"Why--er--yes, but it will take time, Captain Putnam, an' my wife wants
me to----"
"I'll pay you for your time, sir," interrupted the owner of the school
quickly.
"Yes, sir? all right, sir. Jump in an' we'll go right after the
runaway."
"Can I go along?" asked Pepper.
"I'd like to go, too," came from Stuffer Singleton.
"So would I," added Bob Grenwood.
"Very well, you three cadets can go along," replied the captain. "It is
possible you may be needed--if poor Snow has been hurt." He turned to
Jack. "How do you feel, Major Ruddy?"
"Oh, I guess I'll be all right after I have rested up," answered Jack,
with a faint smile.
"You have a cut on the forehead."
"Yes, sir, but it doesn't hurt like it did."
"Better bathe it with warm water and put something on it," said Captain
Putnam, and then leaped into the carriage, and Pepper, Stuffer and Bob
followed.
"Hope they find Andy all right," said Joe Nelson, as the turnout moved
off in the direction the runaway had taken.
"Yes, it would be too bad if Andy was seriously injured," answered the
young major. "Come on, I'm going in and wash up and put some witch hazel
on my forehead."
"Glad to see you, young gentlemen," said a pleasant voice, when the
newcomers entered the school building, and George Strong, the second
assistant teacher, stepped forward to shake each by the hand. "I hope
you all had a nice time this summer." And then he asked about the
broken-down carryall and looked at Jack's wound.
Although he did not say so to his chums, Jack was glad enough to get
upstairs to his dormitory and rest. The room was a large one and was
occupied not only by the young major but also by Pepper, Andy and
several others. While some of the boys busied themselves in arranging
their things, Jack rested in an easy chair near the window.
"Quite a few new fellows here this term," said Fred, who was present. "I
understand that all of the new dormitories that were built in the wing
this summer will be filled up."
"That shows the school is growing popular," answered the young major.
"Jack, aren't you afraid somebody will try to get your position away
from you?" went on Fred.
"What do you mean, Fred? Try to be elected major?"
"Yes."
"Well, some of the fellows deserve the position. Bart Connors, the
captain of Company B, would make a fine major, and so would Henry Lee,
the captain of Company A. And Sergeant Dave Kearney is a good fellow who
deserves promotion."
"Then you don't care so much for the position?"
"Oh, yes, I do care. But I realize that it isn't fair to be major all
the time. I'm willing to step down and give the other fellows a show."
"But not a fellow like Reff Ritter, or that Dan Baxter you told me
about."
"No, I couldn't stand for those chaps."
"Reff is as sore as he can be over what happened last term."
"I know it."
"Dale says he knows something about Reff."
"I do," came from Dale Blackmore, who had entered a moment before. "Do
you know, in one way I am sorry for Ritter," he added.
"What is it you know?" asked Fred.
"I don't suppose I ought to speak about it, but it is bound to get out
sooner or later. It seems Mr. Ritter, Reff's father, was a rich stock
broker and promoter of various mining companies. Well, this summer he
got himself tangled up in some mining companies that were trying to make
money too fast. As a consequence he lost the most of his wealth, and
some folks who had bought mining stock from him came close to having him
arrested for fraud. It was that state of affairs that made Reff give up
his trip to the Adirondacks and go home. I got it from some close
friends that the Ritters were almost cleaned out, and that Mr. Ritter
wanted Reff to give up school and go to work. But Mrs. Ritter was too
proud and insisted that Reff be returned to Putnam Hall. So he is back."
"Well, that certainly is hard luck," returned Fred. "I wonder if Coulter
and Paxton will stick to him, now he is poor? My notion of it was,
Coulter stuck to him mainly for what he could get out of it, he not
having much spending money of his own."
"Well, I shan't throw it up to Reff that he is poor," said Jack,
quickly. "All he has got to do is to behave himself and I'll treat him
as well as anybody." And then the young major left the dormitory, to
bathe his head in the bathroom, and wash up generally.
In the meantime those in the carriage had driven along the country road
until they came upon the unconscious form of Andy. All leaped out and
gathered around while Captain Putnam made an examination.
"He has had a bad fall," said the master of the school. "But I doubt if
any bones are broken."
They raised the sufferer up, and presently Andy stirred and opened his
eyes.
"Whoa!" he murmured. "Whoa!"
"He must think he is still on horseback!" cried Pepper, and but for
Andy's pale face he would have laughed outright.
"Snow, are you hurt much?" asked Captain Putnam, kindly. "The horse is
gone. You are safe."
"Oh!" gasped poor Andy, and then he stared around in bewilderment. "I--I
was hung up in the--the tree, wasn't I?"
"If you were, you must have dropped down," answered Bob Grenwood.
"Yes. I remember now. I got caught by the throat and then I dropped--and
that's all I know. Where is the horse?"
"Went on, I guess," answered Stuffer Singleton. "He was streaking it like
an Indian when you passed the Hall."
"Shall we help you to get up?" asked Captain Putnam.
"I--I suppose so," faltered Andy. "Oh, dear, but I'm weak!" he added, as
he tried to rise.
"Let us carry him to the carriage," suggested Pepper, and this was done,
and he was made as comfortable on the cushions as possible.
"I wonder did anybody catch the horse?" asked the acrobatic youth, as
the turnout was on its way to Putnam Hall.
"I don't know. I'll find out after you have been taken care of,"
answered Captain Putnam. "You cadets are certainly arriving this term in
an unusual manner," he added grimly.
"You can lay the whole trouble at the door of some Pornell students,"
returned Pepper. "They pelted us with soft apples and other things and
that started the team to running away. If it hadn't been for them we
would have come to the school in the carryall all safe and sound."
"I shall investigate," answered Captain Putnam, briefly.
"Hello!" cried Pepper, a moment later. He was gazing at Andy's clothing.
"Weren't you wearing a watch and a stickpin?"
"Of course," replied the sufferer. He put up his hands and felt around.
"Both gone, I declare!"
"Did they jounce off when you were riding?" asked Stuffer.
"They must have! Oh, this is the worst yet!"
"Did you lose anything else?" questioned the young quartermaster.
"I don't know." Andy felt in his pockets. "Yes, my money is gone--eight
dollars in bills!"
"Where did you have the bills?" asked Captain Putnam.
"In this vest-pocket. It must have jounced out during the hard riding.
Oh, what luck! Captain, I'll have to go back and look for my property."
"You are in no condition, Snow, to do that."
"I'll go back," said Pepper. "Stuffer and Bob, will you go along?"
"Sure thing!" cried Stuffer.
"And if we can't find your things where you fell we'll look along the
road all the way back to the Hall," added the young quartermaster.
"Thank you," answered Andy, and then, feeling a curious fainting spell
coming over him, he laid back on the cushions and closed his eyes.
The three cadets sprang from the carriage and made their way back to the
spot where Andy had been found. They made a thorough search, but, of
course, failed to find any of the acrobatic youth's belongings.
"He must have lost them farther back," said Pepper. "Let us look with
care as we walk along."
This they did, but arrived at the school without finding anything but a
coat-button and a yellow lead pencil. Then they walked past the school
in the direction of Cedarville.
"Might as well give it up," said Bob. "It's getting too dark to see very
good, anyway."
"Yes, and I'm getting dead hungry," added Stuffer.
"Was there ever a time when you weren't hungry?" asked Pepper, with a
grin.
"Aw, now, quit it," cried the lad who had a reputation as an eater.
"Don't start so early in the term."
"I must confess I'm a bit hungry myself," said the young quartermaster.
"I had an early dinner."
When they got back to the school they learned that Andy had been put to
bed and that a doctor had been summoned. The acrobatic youth had been
much shaken up and it was thought best to make him keep quiet for a few
days.
"Better not say anything about his loss for the present," advised
Captain Putnam. "I will have a man sent out to make another search."
The accidents to Andy and to Major Jack put something of a damper on the
arrival for the term, and a jollification that had been scheduled for
that night was indefinitely postponed. Captain Putnam questioned the
cadets concerning the actions of Roy Bock and his cronies, and then sent
a stiff letter to the head of Pornell Academy.
When Reff Ritter heard about the accidents he shrugged his shoulders and
tossed his head.
"That's what they get for crowding us out of the carryall," he said to
Coulter and Paxton, who roomed with him.
"Yes, and it serves 'em right," grumbled Coulter.
"That's what!" chimed in Paxton.
CHAPTER V
THE FIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM
It was not until two days later that Andy Snow felt like himself again.
No bones had been broken, but the acrobatic youth had received a shaking
up that was severe.
So far he had not been told of his loss, and when he asked for his
belongings he was much depressed by the news.
"Couldn't find them anywhere?" he repeated, to Pepper. "Oh, are you sure
you made a good search?"
"We certainly did, Andy," returned Pepper. "We went back the next day,
early in the morning."
"And you didn't find a thing?"
"Only this button and lead pencil, and this buckle."
"The pencil is mine, but not the button and the buckle." Andy heaved a
sigh. "Then I am out my watch and chain, the stickpin, and eight
dollars! Was there ever such luck!"
"Andy, was anybody near you when you had the tumble?" asked Pepper.
"Near me? Why, yes, there was a man on the road just ahead of me! I had
forgotten all about it until now."
"Who was he?"
"I don't know. A tall fellow, with a thin, leathery face."
"A farmer?"
"No, he looked more like a city man. He had on a regular sack suit and a
derby hat."
"I was thinking that possibly somebody robbed you while you were
unconscious."
"Perhaps that is so, Pep. I'd like to see that man."
"You never saw him before?"
"Not that I can remember."
"Would you know him if you saw him again?
"I don't know about that. I didn't have much time to look at him. I was
busy trying to escape being hit by the tree branches."
"You must have been lying on the road five or ten minutes before we
found you," pursued Pepper. "If that stranger was a rascal he would have
had plenty of time to go through your pockets. I don't see how riding
could make you lose all those things at once."
"If he robbed me, I'd like to get hold of him," cried Andy.
"More than likely, if he did rob you, he'll take good care to keep out
of your reach."
"What of the horse? Did they catch him?"
"Not yet. Most likely he left the road after he got tired of running and
wandered into the woods. He was a valuable animal and Captain Putnam is
worried about him."
"Will he hold me for that loss?"
"I don't think so--you didn't run away with him--he ran away with you."
The report of the loss of Andy's valuables was thoroughly circulated
around Putnam Hall and Cedarville, and a reward of ten dollars for the
return of the things was posted.
The next day a farmer named John Lane, who lived not far from the
school, appeared there, riding on the back of the runaway Jim. The horse
looked much subdued and was covered with burrs.
"I was out in the woods with my son Bill, when we ran across the horse,"
explained John Lane. "I knew him right away as the animal that had
belonged to Jerry Toller. I asked Jerry about it and he said he had
sold the horse to you, so I brought him here."
"You are very kind, Mr. Lane," replied Captain Putnam. "I'd like to pay
you for your trouble."
"Oh, that's all right, Captain Putnam," responded the farmer. "Glad to
do you a good turn."
"Thank you very much. Any time I can do you a good turn, let me know."
"Well, you might buy some of my extra hay, and extra potatoes. I've got
some prime hay, and the best potatoes ever grown in these parts, and
I'll sell 'em at regular market prices."
