Thanksgiving came and went in another storm.  The snow was so deep that getting away from the Hall was out of the question, so those who had planned to go home for the holiday were somewhat disappointed.  But Captain Putnam provided good cheer in abundance, with plenty of turkey and cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and nuts.  For the evening the boys got up an entertainment in the assembly room, with monologues and dialogues, and also some singing by the school Glee Club, and some very good violin and mandolin playing.  Pepper, Jack and Andy took part in the entertainment, and everybody but Josiah Crabtree enjoyed the exhibition.  Crabtree did not believe in such “tomfoolery,” as he expressed it, and told Captain Putnam the cadets should have given a Shakespearian recital, or something like that, instead.

“Perhaps so, Mr. Crabtree,” answered the master of the Hall.  “But as the boys are virtually snowed in, I thought I’d let them have a little fun.”

After Thanksgiving the cadets settled down to the grind once more, counting the days to Christmas, when they could go home for two weeks.

“I’ve got to go to Cedarville,” said Jack, one afternoon, after the snowstorm had cleared away.  “Who will go along?  I am going to walk it, just for the exercise.”

“I’ll go!” cried Pepper.

“So will I!” added Andy.  “Where are you going?”

“To the shoe shop and the postoffice.”

The three cadets were soon on the way, Fred Century and Bert Field pelting them with snowballs as they left.  It was cold but clear, and all were in the best of spirits.

“I see they’ve got a new man of all work around the school,” observed Pepper, as the three trudged on.  “I hope Captain Putnam doesn’t think of discharging Peleg Snuggers.”

“That new man is a sly kind of a fellow,” came from Andy.  “I was walking through the hallway last evening and he came up behind me as silently as a cat after a mouse.”

“I’ve got my own idea about that man of all work,” said the young major, with a faint smile.

“What do you mean, Jack?”

“If I tell you, will you keep it to yourself, both of you?”

“Sure!” was the prompt answer.

“Well, I don’t think John Smith is a man of all work at all.”

“He isn’t?” cried Andy.  “Then what is he?”

“I think he is a private detective.”

“Oh, Jack! can that be possible!” ejaculated Pepper.  “But it must be so, for I watched the fellow last evening, and he didn’t do much work, and he didn’t seem to like it that I had an eye on him.”

“Of course, if he is a detective, Captain Putnam has engaged him to clear up this mystery of the robberies,” said Andy.  “Well, I don’t blame the captain, for this is surely going to give the school a bad name.”

“Don’t breathe a word of this to any one,” went on Jack.  “Of course, if the thief knew a detective was so near he’d be more on guard than ever.”