“Humph!” muttered the bully.  “I heard of those other robberies, but I didn’t think I’d get touched as quick as this.  If it keeps on the whole school will be cleaned out.”

“Yes, and Captain Putnam will be ruined,” added Bart, gravely.

“I will see you two cadets later,” said Josiah Crabtree, and shut the office desk with a bang.  He hurried away, leaving Bart and Dan Baxter to console themselves as best they could.

Josiah Crabtree was thinking of Pepper.  He had accused The Imp only the day before of these crimes, and here the thefts were continuing while Pepper was a close prisoner.

“Perhaps he got out during the night,” he muttered.  “I must make sure of it.”  For, to be fair to the dictatorial teacher, he really thought Pepper might be the guilty party.

He questioned the cadets who had been on guard during the night.  One and all declared that Pepper had remained a prisoner all night and was still in the cell-like room.  Then he spoke to The Imp himself.

“Did you go out last night?” he asked.

“How could I?” asked Pepper.

“Answer my question, Ditmore.”

“No, I didn’t go out.  I have been here ever since you brought me in yesterday.”

Teacher and cadet looked sharply at each other, and there was a silence that could be felt.  From one of the guards Pepper had learned how Bart and Dan Baxter had been robbed.

“You know I didn’t go out,” went on Pepper.  “You know that I am not guilty of the crimes that have been committed in this school.  As soon as Captain Putnam returns I want to see him, so he can hear my side of the story.”

At these words Josiah Crabtree winced.  He felt that Captain Putnam might not agree with him concerning the treatment given to Pepper, and that Pepper might get him into “hot water.”  Even George Strong had intimated this.

“Ditmore,” he said, slowly and mildly, “I—­er—­I feel that perhaps I have been a bit harsh with you.  Your trick upset me very much; such a trick would upset anybody.  If I—­er—­accused you falsely I am sorry for it.  Supposing I let you go, and supposing we drop the whole matter?”

“I am willing to drop the matter, providing you will retract what you said about my being connected with these—­er—­these other things,” answered Pepper, slowly.

“Well, I—­I must have been mistaken.  I didn’t say you were guilty.  I only said it looked suspicious—­the way you prowled around, and the way you got into my room.  But if you are willing we’ll drop the entire matter, and you can go to your room and get ready for breakfast.”

Pepper thought rapidly.  He was angry over being accused of the crimes, yet he knew he had gone too far in his joke at Josiah Crabtree’s expense.

“All right, sir; we’ll drop the matter, Mr. Crabtree,” he said.  “Good-morning,” and a moment later he quitted his prison and was on his way to his dormitory.