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

ke himself again. No bones had been broken, but the ac

ss, and when he asked for his belongi

e repeated, to Pepper. "Oh, are

ned Pepper. "We went back the n

idn't find

and lead pencil,

Andy heaved a sigh. "Then I am out my watch and chain, th

r you when you had the

on the road just ahead of me! I ha

was

ll fellow, with a t

far

ity man. He had on a regular

bly somebody robbed you wh

so, Pep. I'd like

r saw him

t I can

ow him if you

ch time to look at him. I was busy trying

ed Pepper. "If that stranger was a rascal he would have had plenty of time to go thro

'd like to get hold

rob you, he'll take good ca

horse? Did th

red of running and wandered into the woods. He was a v

old me for

idn't run away with him

circulated around Putnam Hall and Cedarville, and a rewa

the school, appeared there, riding on the back of the runaway

ohn Lane. "I knew him right away as the animal that had belonged to Jerry Toller. I

replied Captain Putnam. "I'd li

Putnam," responded the farmer

ny time I can do you a

s. I've got some prime hay, and the best potatoes ever grown

nd a little later a bargain was struck, not alone for the hay and

ng. "Give him a few miles every day and he'll be as mild as any

e gets the exercise,"

over the boats. As my old readers know, Jack owned a sloop called the Alice, while Fred possessed a

look natural," sai

ut in the Ajax," answered Fred. "What d

" asked Pepper. "We c

he Alice!"

jax!" came

produced a cent. "Head you win, tail you

" crie

and we go out

to go out in the Alice next

inson?" asked Pepper, as he walked into

him?" a

nt out this summer a

ck. "That's tough luck. I sho

happen someti

other ways," went on the young major. "Y

ther is just as honest as anybody, and I won't have you or anybody else running him down!" And

, Reff," returned Jack, as calmly as he

on't know all about the mean stories you and others are circulating about my family. You'd li

rupted Pepper. "Jack hasn't sa

uff me, Pep Ditmo

heard that you had lost some of your money, and I said I was sorry to he

me ever since I came to this school, and now you think you can crow over me, and maybe get me to leave Put

now his tones grew stern. "If you don't want to belie

me, even if you are m

You behave yourself and leave me

of cadets, and they commenced to crowd around Jack and

ght him, Reff?" s

Show him that he can't talk about

aid," answered Reff Ritter

ck, trying to keep his temper. "But you know the rules,

Coulter, in his crony's

I," add

impudence!" cried Reff Ritter, and with a qu

and rules were cast aside. His face went white and his eyes flashed fire. Reff Ritter stepped back to guard himself, but befo

to do it, Jack!"

give him what he d

ff Ritter!" said Jack, in cold tones

bully, and doubling up his fists h

pped for battle, while Jack had on his stiff uniform, the bully had a little the be

ied several cade

f he will," a

each youth was loosened. But as they broke t

t fair, Ritter

his, Century!" was

t, Coulter. Make

on his guard, and cleverly ducked a blow aimed at his

fully from Paxton. "Pummel h

rm. But then Ritter swung a heavy left-hander that took the

" screamed Coulter. "You've go

t shut his teeth hard and ducked under Ritter's arm. Then both sparred for an opening, circling

eat fight,

of the teachers co

t evenly match

w; we'll soo

The bully was in a fierce rage, while Jack tried his best to keep co

g and with all his strength. One blow took the bully in the nose and the second in the mouth. Over he went