, shoving to the front and eyeing the fellow
closely.

"What do you wish to speak about?"

"Haven't I met you before?"

At these words the man started, but quickly recovered.

"I don't think so," he answered slowly, looking Andy straight in the
eyes. "You see, I am a stranger in Cedarville."

"Didn't I meet you in September, on the road back of Putnam Hall
school?" asked the acrobatic youth, sharply.

"In September?" The man shook his head slowly. "No, I wasn't here in
September--I was in Boston."

"You are sure about that?" demanded Andy.

"Certainly I am sure," growled the man. "Do you doubt my word?"

"If it wasn't you it was a man who looks very much like you," said Andy,
pointedly. "Will you tell me your name?"

"It's none of your business, boy! I never met you, and that settles it.
I'm in a hurry now, I've got to get to Ithaca, so I'll thank you to let
me pass." And so speaking the stranger brushed forward. Andy put out his
hand, as if to detain him, but then changed his mind. In a moment more
the man was hurrying down the street. He turned the nearest corner
without looking back.

"I believe he is the same fellow, and I believe he robbed me!" cried
Andy.

"Possibly he is, but you are not sure of it," answered the young major.
"And it would be foolhardy to have him arrested when you have no
evidence against him."

"He acted as if he was scared," came from Pepper. "That growl of his was
all put on."

"I wish I had forced him to give me his name and address."

"That's true."

"You can get that from Reff Ritter."

"Providing Ritter will give it," added Jack. "He may be as backward
about it as the man was himself."

"Why should he be, if the man is honest?"

"Perhaps he won't want it known that he met the man," said Pepper. "He
came in here rather sneakingly."

"Where did Ritter go?"

"To the Hall, most likely. It's time we got back, too."

The three cadets left the vicinity of the unfinished buildings and were
soon on the way to the school. As they trudged along they talked over
what had happened, and also discussed the arrival of Dan Baxter.

"Baxter will try to stir things up," said Jack. And he was right, the
bully did stir up the whole school, but it was not until the next term,
after the young major had left.

About half the distance to Putnam Hall had been covered when the three
cadets discovered a crowd ahead of them.

"Who are those fellows?" asked Pepper.

"Pornell Academy