The Mystery at Putnam Hall: The School Chums' Strange Discovery

other boys gathered around Jack. The young major

k on the head," re

another cadet. "If he doesn't

pen to run away?" que

at us," explained Pepper. "We'll have an accou

poor Snugger

back toward the highway, the cadets saw the dri

STILL LAY WITH

of Putnam Ha

r, what a bust-up! But it wasn't my fa

" answered Pepp

the matter with Major Ruddy?" And the general utility man fo

th a bucket of water and a tin dipper. The major's face was bathed, and a little wa

" he murmured

h-up, Jack," answered Pepper.

d placed his hand to his forehead. "Blood

u weren't kill

hile," advised Dale. "Maybe

ed the young major, who had a horror of being placed on t

kerchief over that

" said Fred, producing a little pac

ter, Jack said he felt much better. But when he g

walk to the Hall," he s

son will let us have one. We'll pay for it, of course," h

on. "But it will cost you two dollars. I can't afford to let you have 'em for nothing, because

terrupted Pepper. "Everybody who rides can

them and Peleg Snuggers examined the carryall. A wheel had come off, and t

hate to see that old carryall put out of b

ounced Peleg Snuggers. "We'll have to leave it here until the whe

don't run away with

acrobatic Andy. "Give me the new one.

neck!" answered t

t me do it. I'm used t

g the runaway team back to the school alone. He was a little afraid

" he said at last. "But, remember, 'ta

se will ever get the bes

arriage and all of the cadets but Andy got in. The baggage

cried Pepper to A

get there before you

naway team's backs and a few minutes later Andy

d the acrobatic youth, and urge

the general utility man. "Be c

oon he was well in advance of his companion. Then he sighted the

me!" he yelled, and s

Pepper. "My, but

good one on horse

one," came from Jack. "I heard a man at the d

ged up beside

t merrily. "I'll have to go ahead an

ame the animal's hind hoofs, almost unseating him. Then the horse

see h

running

k out for

ws you he'l

riage as horse and rider sped over

e had his hands full trying to keep on the horse's bac

im paid no attention. He was off for

e's tail. Andy tried to haul it back. His efforts were but partly successful, and with an end of

ed up. On one side of the highway were the woods lining the lake shore;

ess he bolts right into his stable. If

curves. Andy thought Jim would take to one of the curves, but he was

stared in amazement at the sight of the runaway ho

ied Henry Lee, the c

uartermaster of the school battalion. "Ho

he carryall," put in Billy Sabine,

ptain Putnam,"

alized that the horse was not going to pass into t

aster. Away they went, past the gymnasium and the stables and t

You'll get tired sooner or later, old man. But, remember,

ider reached a sharp turn in the highway. Here the

adway staring in astonishment at him, and the next instant he found himself caught by the throat in a tree-limb and carried off the horse. Then

f time, for the runaway horse passed within a foot of him. The man gasped

forward. Andy had rolled over on his back and lay stretched out, with his eyes

was in sight, that part of the highway being but little travel

muttered to himself. "Wonde

s chain, fastened to a buttonhole of the youth's vest. Then his f

ng like that, and the pin, too," he muttered to hi

e unfastened the watch and chain and transferred them to his pocket. The stickpin followed. Then h

be worse. I reckon the watch, chain and pin will bring me

f value about him. The youth wore a ring with a ca

" mused the thief. Then a dis

reckon it's time I cleared out. It won't

alked to the roadside, ran in among the tr