“It’s too bad,” he said, on returning to the dormitory.  “I guess poor Pepper will have to remain where he is.”

“We might protest to Mr. Strong?” suggested Bart Conners.

“It wouldn’t do any good.  Crabtree is in charge during Captain Putnam’s absence.”

One after another the cadets went to bed.  Jack was the last to retire, and it was a long while before he dropped off to sleep.  Then he dreamed about Pepper up in the far North, sitting on a cake of ice in a bathing-suit, which showed how much he had the welfare of his chum at heart.

In the morning Josiah Crabtree went below early.  He expected Captain Putnam back by noon and wished to be prepared to make a proper report to the head of the school on his arrival.

He had just seated himself at the desk in the office when there came a knock on the door.

“Come in!” he said shortly, thinking it might be a servant.  The newcomer was Bart Conners.

“Well, Conners, what is it?” demanded the head teacher.

“I want to report that I was robbed last night,” answered the captain of Company B.

“Robbed!” ejaculated Josiah Crabtree.  “Did you say robbed?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What of?  Where?  When?” Josiah Crabtree’s manner showed his tremendous excitement.

“Of a diamond stickpin.  I left it in one of my scarfs last night and this morning it was gone.  I’ve looked all over, but I can’t find it.”

“How late was it when you retired?”

“About ten o’clock.”

“And when did you get up?”

“At the first bell.”

“And you noticed it was gone at once?”

“Yes, for I wanted to lock it away in my bureau, as Captain Putnam warned us to do when the others’ things were stolen.”

“This is strange.  Do you suspect anybody?”

At this question Bart Conners shook his head.

“Very well, I will look into the matter immediately after breakfast.”

Scarcely had Josiah Crabtree spoken when Dan Baxter appeared at the door.

“I want to tell you something!” he said sourly.  “I want somebody locked up.”

“Locked up?” queried the startled teacher.  “What is wrong?” And as he asked the question Bart Conners looked on with interest.

“I’ll tell you!” burst out Dan Baxter.  “Last night I went to bed with eleven dollars in my vest-pocket.  This morning every cent of the money is gone!  I want it back!  If I don’t get it back Captain Putnam has got to stand the loss, for I won’t.”  And the bully looked more sour than ever.

“You robbed, too!” cried Josiah Crabtree, faintly.  “Will it ever stop?  What is the school coming to?”

“Have you any idea who took the money, Dan?” asked Bart Conners.

“No.  I was dead tired and slept like a dog.  But I know I had the eleven dollars when I went to bed, and now it’s gone.”

“So is my diamond stickpin,” and the captain of Company B gave the particulars.