h looking into, Jack," said Rossmore
Ford, slowly. "I shall put a first-class city detective on this case,
and I'll tell him about this Cameron Smith. He'll soon be able to find
out who the chap is. If he is an honest man, well and good. But if not,
we'll round him up and make him give an account of himself."

"Please don't mention our names," said Jack, gravely, "And please don't
mention Reff Ritter."

"I'll remember that," answered the owner of the Lodge.

CHAPTER XXVIII

TO THE RESCUE

"If this weather keeps on, skating and iceboating will soon be over,
Jack."

"Right you are, Pepper. I think if we want any more skating this season
we had better go out this afternoon."

"Just what I say!" cried Dale Blackmore. "If it starts to rain the ice
will be gone in no time."

"All out for a skate, as soon as school is dismissed!" came from Andy.

A week had passed, and during that time nothing had been learned
concerning the robbery at Point View Lodge. Mr. Ford had hired two city
detectives but, so far, neither these men, nor the local constable, had
been able to accomplish anything. One city detective was trying to
locate Cameron Smith, but that individual could not be traced.

During the past few days the weather had moderated greatly. Much of the
snow was gone, and the cadets feared that soon the ice on the lake
would disappear and then skating would be a thing of the past.

"Spring will be here before you know it," said Pepper.

"Yes, and then summer, and the end of our days at Putnam Hall," added
Jack, with something of a sigh.

"Jack, how are you getting along in your studies?" questioned Andy.

"Fairly well. I find Latin rather hard. How about you, Andy?"

"Mathematics is my bugbear, Jack. Some of those problems old Crabtree
gives us are corkers."

"Well, you must be sure to pass, Andy, and then it will be good-by to
Crabtree forever."

After school was dismissed about twenty of the cadets hurried down to
the lake-front to go skating.

"I see Reff Ritter has hired the _Rosebud_ again," remarked Pepper, as
he was adjusting his skates. "Fred, are you going to take out the
_Skimmer_?"

"No, I don't think it is safe. Skating is one thing; to sail a heavy
iceboat is another."

"Just my idea," added Stuffer.

They watched Reff Ritter sail away. The only person with the bully was
Gus Coulter. Jack and Pepper watched Ritter closely and then looked
questioningly at each other. What did Ritter