safe?" And he cut a wry face. "They cost me a dollar and a quarter."

"I'll wager Captain Putnam would give a good deal to catch the thief,"
remarked Stuffer. "Say, Pep, I hope you don't suspect anybody in this
dormitory?" he added anxiously.

"No, Stuffer," was the quick answer. Then Pepper broke into a grin. "Of
course, if it was a doughnut, or a pie, I'd suspect you right off!"

"Huh! It's no crime to take something to eat!" grunted Stuffer.

"I'd hate to think any cadet was guilty," came from Emerald. "'Twould
blacken the character of the whole school, so it would!"

"Well, Jack and Pepper have some bitter enemies," said Dale,
significantly. And all present knew to whom he referred.

"Well, you can't always tell," said Dale, and shrugged his broad
shoulders.

At that moment Fred Century came hurrying into the dormitory.

"Have you heard the latest news?" he cried.

"No, what is it?" questioned Andy.

"Maybe we are going to have an extra holiday," suggested Pepper.

"Better yet, maybe old Crabtree has resigned," added Jack.

"Perhaps Fred is going to give us a spread," came from Stuffer. "I'd
like that first-rate."

"No, the news is more important than all that," came from Fred.

"Well, what is it, Fred?"

"Don't keep us on pins and needles any longer!"

"Well, the news is, that there have been more robberies committed here,"
answered Fred.

"More robberies!" came from half a dozen throats.

"Yes. The teachers were going to keep the thing quiet, but it leaked out
through Mumps and Nick Paxton.

"What has been taken now?" asked Jack, curiously.

"A watch, a scarfpin, and a five-dollar gold piece."

"And who was robbed?" burst out Andy.

"The watch was taken from Paxton, the scarfpin from Ritter, and Coulter
lost the five-dollar gold piece."

"Is it possible!" murmured the young major, and then he looked
meaningly at his chums. Here was news indeed!

"When did you learn of this, Fred?" asked Dale.

"Just a few minutes ago. Mumps told me, and Paxton told Frank Barringer.
Ritter, Coulter and Paxton went to the office to report. Mumps said
Ritter was as mad as hops. Ritter's watch was only a silver affair, but
he says it came down to him from his grandfather and was valuable as an
heirloom."

"Well, this is certainly getting interesting," was Pepper's comment. "If
that thief isn't caught he'll end up by cleaning out the whole school."

"After this, I am going to hide my valuables," said Da