"On the road that runs back of the shop."

"Where was he going?"

"I don't know."

"And that is the last you saw of him?"

"Yes, sir."

"You don't know if he went towards the back of the shop?"

"No, sir."

More than this the boy could not tell and he was excused. Squire
Haggerty shook his head in perplexity.

"I don't know about this," he said. "But it looks to me as if I'll have
to hold these Rover brothers until they can clear themselves."

CHAPTER VI

LINK SMITH'S CONFESSION

For a moment there was a painful pause and the Rover boys looked at
each other and at Captain Putnam in perplexity.

"Does this mean that we must go to jail?" demanded Tom.

"I don't think it will be necessary to hold them," came from Captain
Putnam. "Squire Haggerty, I presume you know who I am."

"Yes, sir, Captain Putnam of Putnam Hall."

"Then you will, of course, let me go on a bail bond for these three
pupils of mine."

"If ye care to do it, captain."

"Certainly. I am convinced that they are innocent. Why, it is
preposterous to think that they would break into such a shop and rob it
of a hundred and sixty dollars' worth of goods. They are rich young
gentlemen, of a high-standing family, and each has all the spending
money he needs."

"I see, I see."

"Well, it ain't nuthin' to me what they be, so long as I git my goods
back," growled Aaron Fairchild. "I ain't got nuthin' against 'em
personally, especially if they are innocent."

"I think you will find it to your advantage to let this whole matter
rest for the present," went on Captain Putnam. "If you make a charge
against the boys it will hurt both them and my school. I feel sure they
will not run away, and I will give you my personal word that they shall
appear in court whenever wanted."

"That sounds reasonable," came from the constable, who was beginning
to fear the influence which Captain Putnam and the Rovers might bring
to bear on the case. "It ain't no nice thing to ruin a boy's
repertation, if he ain't guilty," he added.

"That is a sensible speech which does you credit, sir," said the
captain.

"I'd like to find this feller Flapp," went on Aaron Fairchild. "How
does he look?"

"I have his photograph at the academy. I will let the constable have
that, if he wishes it."

"That suits me," returned Josiah Cotton. "Hang me if I don't kinder
think he must be guilty. But it puzzles me how them things got in the
boys' uniforms."

The matter