answered Aaron Fairchild.

George Strong was sent to summon Dick, Tom, and Sam, and soon came up
with the three brothers behind him.

"Something is wrong, that is certain," murmured Dick.

"Those men look mad enough to chew us up," answered Tom.

"Now, boys, keep cool," cautioned George Strong. "I think some terrible
mistake has been made."

"What's it all about, Mr. Strong?" asked Sam.

"I'll let them explain," returned the head assistant.

Josiah Cotton had heard Captain Putnam's words of caution to Aaron
Fairchild, and as he had a great regard for persons who were rich, and
did not want to get himself into trouble, he resolved to move with
caution.

"I'd like to ask you three young gents a few questions," said he, as
the boys came up. "Fust, which one of you is Richard Rover?"

"I am Richard, commonly called Dick," was the ready reply. "This is my
brother Tom, and this is Sam."

"Very well. Now then, do you remember visitin' Mr. Fairchild's jewelry
an' paint store?" went on the constable.

"Visiting a jewelry and paint store?" repeated Dick. "I do not. What a
combination!"

"Perhaps he paints his jewels," put in the fun-loving Tom.

"Don't you git funny with us!" growled Aaron Fairchild. "Let's come to
the p'int. My store was robbed, an' I'm thinking you fellers done the
deed."

"Robbed!" echoed Sam.

"And you think we did it," put in Dick, indignantly. "I like that!"

"We are not thieves," said Tom. "And you ought to have your head
punched for thinking it."

"Boys, keep cool," came from Captain Putnam. "Mr. Cotton, hadn't you
better do the talking for Mr. Fairchild?"

"I want 'em searched," burst out Aaron Fairchild. "If they robbed my
store they must have put the stuff somewheres."

"What makes you think we robbed you?" asked Dick.

"This," and he was shown the memorandum book and the envelope.

"Humph! I lost that book some weeks ago, when I had my fight with Lew
Flapp, Rockley, and the rest of that crowd that were dismissed from the
academy."

"And what of the envelope, Richard?" asked Captain Putnam.

"I don't remember anything about that. It probably came on a letter
from home and I must have thrown it away."

"The book and the envelope were found on the floor of the shop that was
robbed."

"Well, I didn't drop them there."

"And neither did I," came from Tom.

"Nor I," added Sam.

"Are you going to let us search you and your belongings or not?"
demanded the constable from