“Yes, and he even took some of his own things, just for a blind, according to this man Smith.  What Coulter has to say, and Paxton, seems to corroborate his story.”

“What a terrible thing to do!” murmured Jack.

“Smith had a bunch of pawn tickets hidden away in a drawer, and they represent all the things taken from this school, and they also represent some other things, namely, those lost by you, Snow, at the time the horse ran away with you.”

“Then it was Cameron Smith after all whom I saw, and who robbed me when I was unconscious!” cried the acrobatic youth.

“Yes.  He was a bad man, and I have no doubt but that he was the one to lead Ritter astray.”

“What are you going to do with Ritter?”

“I cannot do otherwise than have him arrested.  But I hate to have such a scandal attached to the school,” and Captain Putnam heaved a sigh that came from the bottom of his heart.

In the meantime, Reff Ritter had come back to Putnam Hall in another sleigh, and had gone to his dormitory to change his clothes.  Here he was confronted by Coulter and, a little later, by Nick Paxton, and a hot discussion arose, which ended in blows.  Both Coulter and Paxton fell upon the bully together and punished him severely.  The pair told Ritter what they thought of him, and each declared that he was going to expose the bully to Captain Putnam.

“I’ll tell all I know about Ruddy’s watch and chain, and about you and that Cameron Smith, too!” declared Coulter.

“Don’t you do it!” shouted Ritter.

“And I’ll tell what I know about your sneaking in and out of the dormitories at night,” added Paxton.  And then he and Coulter went off together.

They reached the office just as Jack, Andy and Pepper were about to leave.  Each told his story, and both were closely questioned by the master of the school.

“How long ago did you find this out about the watch and chain, Coulter?” demanded Captain Putnam.

“Only a few days ago, sir.”

“You should have 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.