ut in another of the
men.

"That's right, they did," came from a third man. "Don't let 'em give ye
the slip, Josiah."

"I ain't a-goin' to let 'em give me the slip," growled the constable
from White Corners.

"When was your shop robbed?" demanded George Strong, of the man who had
said he was the sufferer.

"I can't say exactly, fer I was to the city, a-buying of more goods."

"Mr. Fairchild is a jeweler and watchmaker, besides dealing in paints,
oils, glass, an' wall paper," explained the constable. "He carries a
putty considerable stock of goods as are valuable. Yesterday, or early
last night, when he was away, his shop was broken into and robbed."

"And what makes you think the Rovers are the thieves?" asked George
Strong.

"We got proof," came doggedly from Aaron Fairchild. "We're certain on
it."

By this time, seeing that something was wrong, Captain Putnam came to
the scene. In the meantime the battalion was already formed, with Major
Colby at the head and Dick in his proper position as captain of Company
A.

"I cannot, believe that the Rover Boys are guilty of this robbery,"
said the master of Putnam Hall after listening to what the newcomers
had to say. "What proof have you that they did it?"

"This proof, for one thing," answered Josiah Cotton, and drew from his
pocket a memorandum book and the envelope to a letter. In the front of
the memorandum book was the name, Richard Rover, and the envelope was
addressed likewise.

"The thief dropped that," went on the constable.

"Where did you find these things?"

"On the floor of the shop, in front of the desk."

"Anybody might have dropped them."

"See here, Captain Putnam, do you stand up fer shieldin' a thief?"
roared Aaron Fairchild. "To me this hull thing is as plain as the nose
on my face."

As Aaron Fairchild's smelling organ was an unusually large one, this
caused the master of Putnam Hall to smile. But he immediately grew
grave again.

"This is a serious matter, Mr. Fairchild. I do not wish to shield a
thief, but at the same time I cannot see one or more of my pupils
unjustly treated."

"Are ye afraid to have 'em examined?"

"By no means. I will call them up and you can talk to them. But I
advise you to be careful of what you say. The Rover boys come from a
family that is rich, and they can make it exceedingly warm for you if
you accuse them wrongfully."

"Oh, I know what I'm a-doin' and the constable knows what he's
a-doin', too,"