I want to talk the matter over with Captain Putnam
first," answered the young officer.

CHAPTER XII

AN INVITATION ACCEPTED

Captain Putnam looked very grave when Jack reported the loss of the gold
watch and chain.

"You are certain you left them on the stand when you went to sleep?" he
questioned.

"Yes, sir. Pepper Ditmore saw me put them there, and Dale Blackmore saw
it, too."

"And you have looked everywhere for them?"

"Yes, sir."

"I will go up and look around with you."

"All right, sir. But it will do no good," answered the young major.

"You say that all your roommates deny taking the watch and chain."

"Yes, sir. They say they didn't see the watch at all after we went to
bed."

"Major Ruddy, do you suspect anybody of this crime?" demanded the owner
of the school, looking Jack full in the face.

"No, sir," was the prompt answer. "It's a complete mystery to me. All I
know about it is, that I left the watch and chain on the stand at the
head of my bed when I went to sleep and this morning they were gone."

"Did any of the other cadets enter your dormitory during the night?"

"Not that I know of."

"They may have been skylarking and may have carried the watch and chain
off by--accident, let us say," finished the captain, significantly.

"If anybody came in, nobody who sleeps in our room seems to be aware of
it."

Captain Putnam and Jack passed up to the dormitory, followed by Josiah
Crabtree. They were soon joined by Pepper and the other occupants of the
apartment. Another search was made, but the gold watch and chain were
not found, nor were any clues concerning the timepiece unearthed.

"What were the watch and chain worth?" asked Fred.

"I don't know; maybe fifty or sixty dollars," answered Jack.

"Then if they were stolen, the thief made quite a haul."

"Do you think they were stolen, Century?" demanded the owner of the
school.

"Doesn't it look like it, sir?"

"But if they were stolen, who is guilty?" asked Josiah Crabtree, glaring
around from one cadet to another.

For the moment nobody spoke.

"I don't suspect any of my roommates," said Jack, quickly. "I think it
was done by some outsider."

"Some other cadet?" asked Crabtree.

"Possibly; or else by some of the help."

"Gracious, Ruddy, I--er--I hope you don't suspect me!" stammered the
teacher.

"No, sir; I meant some of the servants."

"Ah, I see!" Josiah Crabtree looked relieved. "You may be right. Perhap