rely that I was almost ashamed
of myself," continued the adjutant. "I am under the impression, sir,
that Private Overton told me the truth."

"So am I," admitted Major Silsbee thoughtfully. "His record, so far, is
against the idea of his being mixed up in rascally business. I think it
likely that Private Overton's extreme fault, if he is guilty of any, is
that he is possibly shielding some other soldiers whom he saw sneak
back into barracks after the excitement was over. Probably he isn't even
guilty of that much."

"Are you going to search the squad rooms, sir?" inquired the adjutant.

"Yes, Wright, though it makes me feel almost sick to put such an affront
upon hundreds of innocent and decent men."

"The decent ones, sir, will welcome the search."

"That is what Colonel North told me. Summon the company commanders, and
direct them to go into each squad room of their companies with the
sergeant in charge of the squad room."

Hal, in the meantime, had returned to B Company. He found many of his
comrades regarding him suspiciously, and flushed in consequence. But
Corporal Cotter, Private Hyman and others stepped over to him.

"What's it all about, rookie? Do you know?" asked the corporal.

"Not a blessed thing, Corporal," replied the young recruit.

"Look! Here come the company commanders back," called another soldier,
in a low tone.

"Sergeant Gray and the other sergeants of B Company will follow me to
barracks," called Captain Cortland.

Now the curious soldiers saw each company commander, followed by his
sergeants, step back to barracks.

For an hour the puzzled men of the battalion waited on the parade
ground.

Then, in some mysterious manner, the news of what had really happened
began to spread.

In the night unknown men had broken into Major Silsbee's house. This had
not been a difficult thing to do as, on a military post, doors are
rarely locked. Not one of the three entrances to Major Silsbee's
quarters had been locked at the time.

Downstairs the thieves had gathered a few articles together, but had not
taken them, as they had found better plunder upstairs. From a
dressing-room adjoining Mrs. Silsbee's sleeping apartment the prowlers
had taken a jewel case containing jewels worth some three thousand
dollars. There had also been about two hundred dollars in money in the
case.

As the thieves were leaving the house they were seen by a sentry some
sixty yards away. The sentry had challenged, th