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 he
marched 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 and
could 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 small
diamonds."

"And how much was it worth?"

"I believe my mother paid thirty-five dollars for it. It was a Christmas
gift, 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 a
trifle stern.

"Only in a general way."

"Please explain yourself."

"I--er--I hardly know what to say, sir," stammered Pepper. "There may be
nothing in it at all."

"In what? Come, out with it."

"Why, you see, sir, some of the cadets in this school are not good
friends with me and Major Ruddy, and maybe they thought they would play
a 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 some
trouble 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 Captain
Putnam; and then closed his desk slowly and thoughtfully.

Pepper did take a look around, but it was of no use. Not a trace of the
missing scarfpin could be found.

"This certainly beats the nation!" remarked Dale, when the cadets were
talking the affair over. "First Andy loses his jewelry, then Jack, and
now Pepper. Wonder if I hadn't better put my cuff-links in the captain's