“Found them in the gym?” repeated Pepper.

“I don’t believe it,” came firmly from the former major of the school battalion.  “I believe he took them; and I believe he took the other things, too!”

“And I believe that myself, now!” cried Gus Coulter.  “Oh, my eyes are open!  I used to think Reff was a pretty good fellow, even though something of a bully, but I am learning that he is bad through and through.  Paxton saw him sneaking through the dormitories at night, and he got afraid of him and cut him.”

“And what of Cameron Smith?” asked Jack.  “You said he was bad?”

“He is.  I didn’t know it at first, but I heard about it during the holidays, when he and Reff went off on what they called a good time.”

“Can you give me Smith’s real address?”

“He claims to come from Boston, but I know Reff once sent him a letter addressed to Springfield, care of the Excelsior Hotel.”

Having once opened his mind, Gus Coulter talked freely of his doings with Reff Ritter.  He said the bully had quite some money at times, but the amount was quickly spent.

Just as Mr. Darwood drove around to the door with his sleigh Andy came back to the farmhouse.

“I had some hot words with Ritter,” he explained.  “He was just as bullying as ever, and gave us no credit for hauling him out of the lake, and he said if Coulter was drowned it would be his own fault.  Oh, he is the limit!”

The ride to Putnam Hall was a short one, and on arriving at the school the cadets hurried to their dormitories to change their damp clothing for suits which were perfectly dry.  In the meantime Jack asked Pepper to find Captain Putnam and tell the master of the school that he wished to see him on a matter of great importance.

A little later the former major of the school battalion entered the captain’s private office, followed by Pepper and Andy.  They found Captain Putnam staring at a telegram that had just come in.

“Well, what can I do for you?” he asked.

“I’ve got something to tell you, sir,” returned Jack, and as briefly as possible he narrated what had occurred on the lake and repeated what Coulter had told him.  As he progressed Captain Putnam shook his head sadly.

“It must be true,” he said almost brokenly.  “It all fits in—­this telegram and what you say.”

“The telegram?” repeated Jack.

“Yes, Ruddy.  This telegram is from Mr. Ford.  He states that Cameron Smith has been caught and has made a confession that he looted the safe at Point View Lodge.  Smith was partly intoxicated at the time of his capture, and informed the detective that some jewelry he had in his possession had come from Reff Ritter.  He stated that Ritter took the stuff from the cadets and the others while they slept, and it was Smith’s part to pawn the things and divide the proceeds.”

“And Ritter was guilty of all the thefts at the Hall?” cried Pepper.