CHAPTER XXX
THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED--CONCLUSION
"My watch and chain!" cried the former major of the school battalion.
"Yes."
"What did you do about it? Why didn't you report it to me, or to CaptainPutnam?"
"I was so stunned I didn't know what to do. I couldn't believe that Reffhad taken them, and that he was guilty of the robberies that were goingon. I locked the box up and put the key back in his pocket. That night Iaccused him of the theft, and we had a quarrel and almost came to blows.He said he didn't take the watch and chain, that he found them in thegymnasium near the lockers. He said he was only keeping them to getsquare with you, and that he would return them to you before the termclosed."
"Found them in the gym?" repeated Pepper.
"I don't believe it," came firmly from the former major of the schoolbattalion. "I believe he took them; and I believe he took the otherthings, too!"
"And I believe that myself, now!" cried Gus Coulter. "Oh, my eyes areopen! I used to think Reff was a pretty good fellow, even thoughsomething of a bully, but I am learning that he is bad through andthrough. Paxton saw him sneaking through the dormitories at night, andhe got afraid of him and cut him."
"And what of Cameron Smith?" asked Jack. "You said he was bad?"
"He is. I didn't know it at first, but I heard about it during theholidays, when he and Reff went off on what they called a good time."
"Can you give me Smith's real address?"
"He claims to come from Boston, but I know Reff once sent him a letteraddressed to Springfield, care of the Excelsior Hotel."
Having once opened his mind, Gus Coulter talked freely of his doingswith Reff Ritter. He said the bully had quite some money at times, butthe amount was quickly spent.
Just as Mr. Darwood drove around to the door with his sleigh Andy cameback to the farmhouse.
"I had some hot words with Ritter," he explained. "He was just asbullying as ever, and gave us no credit for hauling him out of the lake,and he said if Coulter was drowned it would be his own fault. Oh, he isthe limit!"
The ride to Putnam Hall was a short one, and on arriving at the schoolthe cadets hurried to their dormitories to change their damp clothingfor suits which were perfectly dry. In the meantime Jack asked Pepper tofind Captain Putnam and tell the master of the school that he wished tosee him on a matter of great importance.
A little later the former major of the school battalion entered thecaptain's private office, followed by Pepper and Andy. They foundCaptain Putnam staring at a telegram that had just come in.
"Well, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"I've got something to tell you, sir," returned Jack, and as briefly aspossible he narrated what had occurred on the lake and repeated whatCoulter had told him. As he progressed Captain Putnam shook his headsadly.
"It must be true," he said almost brokenly. "It all fits in--thistelegram and what you say."
"The telegram?" repeated Jack.
"Yes, Ruddy. This telegram is from Mr. Ford. He states that CameronSmith has been caught and has made a confession that he looted the safeat Point View Lodge. Smith was partly intoxicated at the time of hiscapture, and informed the detective that some jewelry he had in hispossession had come from Reff Ritter. He stated that Ritter took thestuff from the cadets and the others while they slept, and it wasSmith's part to pawn the things and divide the proceeds."
"And Ritter was guilty of all the thefts at the Hall?" cried Pepper.
"Yes, and he even took some of his own things, just for a blind,according to this man Smith. What Coulter has to say, and Paxton, seemsto corroborate his story."
"What a terrible thing to do!" murmured Jack.
"Smith had a bunch of pawn tickets hidden away in a drawer, and theyrepresent all the things taken from this school, and they also representsome other things, namely, those lost by you, Snow, at the time thehorse ran away with you."
"Then it was Cameron Smith after all whom I saw, and who robbed me whenI was unconscious!" cried the acrobatic youth.
"Yes. He was a bad man, and I have no doubt but that he was the one tolead Ritter astray."
"What are you going to do with Ritter?"
"I cannot do otherwise than have him arrested. But I hate to have such ascandal attached to the school," and Captain Putnam heaved a sigh thatcame from the bottom of his heart.
In the meantime, Reff Ritter had come back to Putnam Hall in anothersleigh, and had gone to his dormitory to change his clothes. Here he wasconfronted by Coulter and, a little later, by Nick Paxton, and a hotdiscussion arose, which ended in blows. Both Coulter and Paxton fellupon the bully together and punished him severely. The pair told Ritterwhat they thought of him, and each declared that he was going to exposethe bully to Captain Putnam.
"I'll tell all I know about Ruddy's watch and chain, and about you andthat Cameron Smith, too!" declared Coulter.
"Don't you do it!" shouted Ritter.
"And I'll tell what I know about your sneaking in and out of thedormitories at night," added Paxton. And then he and Coulter went offtogether.
They reached the office just as Jack, Andy and Pepper were about toleave. Each told his story, and both were closely questioned by themaster of the school.
"How long ago did you find this out about the watch and chain, Coulter?"demanded Captain Putnam.
"Only a few days ago, sir."
"You should have told me before. And you, Paxton, should have told meabout Ritter's sneaking around."
"Oh, I thought it was only fun at first," pleaded Paxton.
"He is undoubtedly guilty, and there remains nothing to do but to havehim arrested."
It was not long after this when he and George Strong went on a hunt forReff Ritter, to place him in the guardroom until an officer of the lawcould be summoned. Ritter could not be found, and it was not until sometime later that Peleg Snuggers brought in the information that the cadethad been seen leaving the Hall, dress-suit case in hand, by a side door.
"He has run away!" cried George Strong.
"If so, perhaps it is just as well," murmured Captain Putnam. "Toprosecute him in court would create a terrible scandal! I would ratherpay for the stolen things out of my own pocket!"
Reff Ritter had indeed run away. By some means unknown he managed to getto a town at the end of the lake and there boarded a midnight trainbound West. He was traced as far as Chicago, but that was the last seenor heard of him until many years later, when it was learned that he hadgone to Alaska with some gold miners. He got very little gold for alarge amount of hard work, and drifted from place to place, picking upodd jobs that offered themselves.
The announcement that Ritter was the fellow who had perpetrated themany thefts at Putnam Hall created strong excitement in the school. Butthe matter was hushed up as much as possible by Captain Putnam, and themaster saw to it that every cadet got back the things that belonged tohim, and also squared matters with the teachers.
In due course of time Cameron Smith was tried for the robbery of PointView Lodge and was sent to prison for a term of years. He admittedrobbing Andy after the runaway, and the acrobatic youth got back fromthe pawnbrokers the things taken on that occasion.
After the excitement had passed, Jack, Pepper, Andy and their chums ofthe senior class buckled down to hard work for the rest of the term. Asa consequence, Jack graduated at the head of the class, with Joe Nelson,second; Andy, third; Stuffer, fourth; Pepper, fifth; Henry Lee, sixth,and Fred Century, seventh.
"I must congratulate you, Ruddy," cried Captain Putnam, warmly. "Allthrough your term at this school you have made a record to be proud of.And the other graduates have made fine records, too. I shall hate topart with all of you."
"And I shall hate to leave Putnam Hall," answered the former major ofthe school battalion. "I have had the time of my life since I have beenhere."
"So have I!" put in Pepper.
"The best ever!" chimed in Andy.
"I shall never forge
t Putnam Hall, no matter where I go," came fromStuffer.
"The best school there ever was!" added Joe Nelson.
* * * * *
And now, kind reader, let me add a few words more and then bring thisstory of "The Putnam Hall Mystery" to a close. As I promised some yearsago, when I gave you "The Putnam Hall Cadets," I have now related indetail the most important events that transpired at the military schoolduring the first years of its existence. What took place there afterJack Ruddy and his chums left will be found set down in another line ofbooks called "The Rover Boys Series," starting with "The Rover Boys atSchool." In that volume you will not only meet the three jolly Roverbrothers--Dick, Tom and Sam--but also learn more concerning the doingsof Bart Conners, Harry Blossom and Dave Kearney, and again meet thatdictatorial old teacher, Josiah Crabtree, and the bully, Dan Baxter, andhis toady, Mumps. The Rover boys went to Putnam Hall for a number ofyears, and had just as good a time as did Jack and his friends.
The graduation exercises at Putnam Hall were that year very elaborate,and many visitors were present, including the parents and brothers andsisters of the graduates, and Mr. and Mrs. Ford, and Laura and Flossie.
"Oh, I am so glad that you came out at the head of the class, Jack!"cried Laura, as she came up to shake his hand.
"Thank you very much, Laura," he answered, and then, as he took her handhe looked full into her clear eyes. "I'd rather have yourcongratulations than anything else," he added.
"Oh, Jack!" she murmured, and then she gave him a glance that thrilledhim through and through. Heretofore, they had only been friends, butfrom that moment a deeper sentiment seemed to stir them both, and, yearslater, when Jack became settled in business, pretty Laura Ford becameMrs. Ruddy. In the same year, Pepper, who went into the insurancebusiness with his father, married Flossie; and all were very happy. Andyremained a jolly bachelor, to visit one or the other of his chums, assuited him. He went into business with Jack, and the firm prosperedgreatly.
The fun, when the school broke up for the term, was of thenever-to-be-forgotten variety. Great bonfires were lit along thelake-shore, and around these the cadets gathered, to sing and "cut up"generally. Some of the boys caught Peleg Snuggers and made him ride awooden horse, while others captured Mumps and made the sneak divehead-first into a barrel that contained several pounds of pulverizedcharcoal. When the cadet came forth he was a sight to behold. Onebonfire was made up of discarded schoolbooks.
"Farewell to thee forever!" cried Pepper, as he cast in an old grammarand a volume of Cicero's works. "Never again shall I need thee, thankgoodness!" And this speech brought forth a roar of laughter.
"Everybody in a grand march!" shouted Andy, a little later. "Jack, asour old major, you must lead off!"
"So I will," answered Jack, with a happy smile. "Battalion, attention!Present firebrands! Forward, march!"
And then the cadets marched around and across the campus, waving theirfirebrands, and singing and cheering lustily. And here let us wish themall good luck and say good-by.
THE END
THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
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American Stories of American Boys and Girls
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NEARLY THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES
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12mo. CLOTH. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. COLORED WRAPPERS.
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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 ON LAND AND SEA THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP 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 ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH
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GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
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These spirited tales, convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advancesin land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon thememory and their reading is productive only of good.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
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GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
* * * * *
Transcriber's note: Punctuation normalized.
Page 60, "say" changed to "said" (Major Ruddy said he).
Page 154, "Pegged" changed to "Pepper" (Pepper. "There)
Page 161, double "and" repaired (up and catch).
Page 163, "ring" changed to "bring" (bring in a professional).
Page 204, double "the" repaired (And the two teachers).
Page 208, "scribbed" changed to "scribbled" (scribbled down).
Page 273, double "you" repaired (and what you say)
Page 276, "Goerge" changed to "George" (cried George Strong.)
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