“Then the real thief kept about a hundred and twenty-five dollars’ worth for himself,” said Tom.

“There can be no doubt but that one of our enemies did this,” said Sam.  “The question is, which one?”

“Perhaps Dan Baxter—­or Lew Flapp,” suggested Dick.

“Yes, but how did the things get into our clothes, Tom?”

“I give it up.”

“That sort of talk won’t wash,” put in the constable.  “You have got to go with me.”

“Where to?”

“To Squire Haggerty’s office.”

“I will go with you,” said Captain Putnam.  “This affair must be sifted to the bottom.”

It was learned that Squire Haggerty lived two miles away.  But a wagon was handy, belonging to a nearby farmer, and this was hired to take the whole party to the place.

“You must take charge of the cadets,” said Captain Putnam to his head assistant.  “I must see this affair through.”

“I do not believe the Rovers are guilty, sir,” whispered George Strong.

“Neither do I. This is a plot against them.  The question is, who carried the plot out?”

Not long after this the battalion of cadets marched off on the road to Putnam Hall while the Rovers and the others entered the big wagon.

Inside of half an hour Squire Haggerty’s home was reached.  The squire proved to be an Irishman of about fifty, who when he was not acting as a judge did jobs of mason work in the vicinity.

“Sure, an’ it’s the boldest robbery we have had in this neighborhood for years,” said the squire.  “The back door av the shop was broken open and many valuables extracted from the premises.”

“Have you any idea when the robbery was committed?” asked Captain Putnam.

“Not exactly Mr. Fairchild was away all day yesterday and did not get home until nearly twelve o’clock at night.”

“Didn’t he leave anybody else to run the shop?”

“He has nobody.  When he goes away he has to lock up.”

All were ushered into the squire’s parlor, where he had a flat-top desk and several office chairs.  The squire had heard of Captain Putnam, and knew of the fame of the academy, and he respected the Hall owner accordingly.

“I will be after hearing all the particulars of this case,” said he, as he sat down to his desk.

In a long, rambling story Aaron Fairchild told how he had come home from a visit to the city late the night before.  He had some goods for his shop with him and on going to the place had found the back door broken in and everything in the shop in confusion.  Jewelry and other things to the value of a hundred and sixty dollars had been taken, and on the floor he had found the memorandum book and the envelope.  From some boys in the hamlet he has learned that the Rover boys belonged to the Putnam Hall cadets, and farmer Gassam had told him where to find the young soldiers.  Then he had called up the constable and set out; with the results already related.