“Please don’t mention our names,” said Jack, gravely, “And please don’t mention Reff Ritter.”

“I’ll remember that,” answered the owner of the Lodge.

CHAPTER XXVIII

TO THE RESCUE

“If this weather keeps on, skating and iceboating will soon be over, Jack.”

“Right you are, Pepper.  I think if we want any more skating this season we had better go out this afternoon.”

“Just what I say!” cried Dale Blackmore.  “If it starts to rain the ice will be gone in no time.”

“All out for a skate, as soon as school is dismissed!” came from Andy.

A week had passed, and during that time nothing had been learned concerning the robbery at Point View Lodge.  Mr. Ford had hired two city detectives but, so far, neither these men, nor the local constable, had been able to accomplish anything.  One city detective was trying to locate Cameron Smith, but that individual could not be traced.

During the past few days the weather had moderated greatly.  Much of the snow was gone, and the cadets feared that soon the ice on the lake would disappear and then skating would be a thing of the past.

“Spring will be here before you know it,” said Pepper.

“Yes, and then summer, and the end of our days at Putnam Hall,” added Jack, with something of a sigh.

“Jack, how are you getting along in your studies?” questioned Andy.

“Fairly well.  I find Latin rather hard.  How about you, Andy?”

“Mathematics is my bugbear, Jack.  Some of those problems old Crabtree gives us are corkers.”

“Well, you must be sure to pass, Andy, and then it will be good-by to Crabtree forever.”

After school was dismissed about twenty of the cadets hurried down to the lake-front to go skating.

“I see Reff Ritter has hired the Rosebud again,” remarked Pepper, as he was adjusting his skates.  “Fred, are you going to take out the Skimmer?”

“No, I don’t think it is safe.  Skating is one thing; to sail a heavy iceboat is another.”

“Just my idea,” added Stuffer.

They watched Reff Ritter sail away.  The only person with the bully was Gus Coulter.  Jack and Pepper watched Ritter closely and then looked questioningly at each other.  What did Ritter know about Cameron Smith, and was the man really the fellow who had robbed the Ford mansion?

Soon the merry shouts of the cadets proved they were enjoying themselves thoroughly.  Some started a race, while others formed sides for a hockey contest, with Dale Blackmore as captain of one five and Emerald Hogan as captain of the other.

“Let us go down the shore a bit,” suggested Jack to Pepper and Andy, and the three joined hands for the spin.  All felt like “letting out,” as Andy expressed it, and they covered over a mile almost before they knew it.