e told me before. And you, Paxton, should have told me
about Ritter's sneaking around."

"Oh, I thought it was only fun at first," pleaded Paxton.

"He is undoubtedly guilty, and there remains nothing to do but to have
him arrested."

It was not long after this when he and George Strong went on a hunt for
Reff Ritter, to place him in the guardroom until an officer of the law
could be summoned. Ritter could not be found, and it was not until some
time later that Peleg Snuggers brought in the information that the cadet
had been seen leaving the Hall, dress-suit case in hand, by a side door.

"He has run away!" cried George Strong.

"If so, perhaps it is just as well," murmured Captain Putnam. "To
prosecute him in court would create a terrible scandal! I would rather
pay for the stolen things out of my own pocket!"

Reff Ritter had indeed run away. By some means unknown he managed to get
to a town at the end of the lake and there boarded a midnight train
bound West. He was traced as far as Chicago, but that was the last seen
or heard of him until many years later, when it was learned that he had
gone to Alaska with some gold miners. He got very little gold for a
large amount of hard work, and drifted from place to place, picking up
odd jobs that offered themselves.

The announcement that Ritter was the fellow who had perpetrated the
many thefts at Putnam Hall created strong excitement in the school. But
the matter was hushed up as much as possible by Captain Putnam, and the
master saw to it that every cadet got back the things that belonged to
him, and also squared matters with the teachers.

In due course of time Cameron Smith was tried for the robbery of Point
View Lodge and was sent to prison for a term of years. He admitted
robbing Andy after the runaway, and the acrobatic youth got back from
the pawnbrokers the things taken on that occasion.

After the excitement had passed, Jack, Pepper, Andy and their chums of
the senior class buckled down to hard work for the rest of the term. As
a consequence, Jack graduated at the head of the class, with Joe Nelson,
second; Andy, third; Stuffer, fourth; Pepper, fifth; Henry Lee, sixth,
and Fred Century, seventh.

"I must congratulate you, Ruddy," cried Captain Putnam, warmly. "All
through your term at this school you have made a record to be proud of.
And the other graduates have made fine records, too. I shall hate to
part with all of you."

"And I shall hate to lea