Chapter 9 UNDER SUSPICION

"What do you make of this, Jack?"

"I give it up."

"Something is in the wind."

"I know that. If possible, old Crabtree is going to get us into trouble."

"Not Crabtree alone."

"What do you mean?"

"This is the work of Dan Baxter and his crowd. Don't forget the three fellows we saw sneaking from the old boathouse."

"That's so! Do you suppose they set the place on fire?"

"I do-either by accident or design."

"You don't suppose they meant to burn us up?"

"Oh, no, they knew we could get out. But it would take time, and they wanted to detain us, so that we'd be found down there."

"Well, we were found, and now we're in a mess over it."

After that both cadets looked at the sheet of paper once more.

"The writing has entirely evaporated," said Pepper. "I can't see a scratch."

"Have you any idea who dropped the note?"

"Not the slightest."

"Perhaps it was a friend who wanted us to learn what the Baxter crowd was up to."

"I don't think so. I think the whole thing is a plot against us."

The boys talked the matter over for some time, but could make no progress towards a solution of the mystery.

"If Baxter did it, it was done to get square because we spoilt their feast," said Jack.

"No doubt of that."

"Shall we squeal on them?"

"I don't want to be a tale-bearer."

"Neither do I."

For fully an hour nobody came near them. They heard the students retire, and later on heard a murmur of voices in the hallway. Then Captain Putnam appeared.

"Both of you will come with me," he said, coldly.

"But, captain--" began Jack.

"It is too late to discuss the situation to-night," cut in the master of the Hall. "We will talk it over in the morning, and then I will decide what is to be done."

He would not listen to another word, and meekly they followed him out of the office and down a side hallway to where there was a small room.

This room had been designed for stores, but it was almost empty. The two boys saw that in it had been placed two cots and a quantity of blankets.

"You will remain here all night," said Captain Putnam. "There is a pitcher of water for you." And then he withdrew, leaving them to themselves. The door was locked and bolted, and they heard the captain walk rapidly away.

"Well, what do you think of that?" declared Pepper, gazing around blankly. "Are we prisoners?"

"It certainly looks like it, Pep."

"And for nothing at all! It's an outrage, Jack!"

"Captain Putnam appeared to be very angry."

"Yes, and he wouldn't listen to a word! I never dreamed it of him, never!"

"Well, one thing is certain-we've got to stay here until morning. Look at the window."

The blinds were closed, and over them had been nailed several heavy slats. The room was rather cold, and they had only a small lamp for illumination.

When Pepper awoke he thought somebody was whistling in his ear. He listened intently and soon discovered that the whistling came through the keyhole of the door.

"Who is there?" he asked, rising.

"Is that you, Pep?" came in Andy's voice.

"Yes."

"Is Jack there, too?"

"Yes." And now the Imp aroused his chum.

"What is it all about anyway? Our crowd is all upset over it," continued Andy, in a low voice.

Pepper and Jack told as much as they knew, and their acrobatic friend listened with interest.

"I'd like to let you out, but the door is locked and I haven't any key," went on Andy.

"Never mind, we can stay here just as well," said Jack.

"Something was doing in our dormitory too," went on Andy. "We started to go to bed, when old Crabtree came up and ordered us out. Then he went in and shut the door."

"What did he do there?"

"I think he made some kind of a search. Presently he called for Captain Putnam, and then both stayed in the room quarter of an hour. After that we were told to go to bed."

"Something is certainly wrong," mused Pepper. "Well, we'll have to await developments, that's all."

It was too cold for Andy to remain in the hall long, and soon he went back to his dormitory, and Pepper and Jack went to sleep as before.

At eight o'clock in the morning Peleg Snuggers came in, with a big tray containing the boys' breakfast.

"What! are we to remain here?" cried Jack.

"I dunno," answered the general-utility man of Putnam Hall. "I was ordered to bring your breakfast, that's all."

"Who ordered it?"

"Mr. Crabtree."

"Does Captain Putnam know of it?" asked Jack.

"Captain Putnam went away at six o'clock this morning. Had some special business in Rochester, I think."

"Went away!" echoed Jack. "Then old Crabby-I mean Mr. Crabtree, is in charge."

"That's it."

"Humph! Pep, that won't be to our advantage."

"I know it. He hates us."

"I think he hates most o' you young gents," whispered Peleg Snuggers, who had no great love for the teacher in question.

"You tell Mr. Crabtree that we want to see him," said Jack.

"It won't do no good."

"Never mind. You tell him we insist upon seeing him," put in Pepper.

Peleg Snuggers placed the breakfast on a stand and withdrew, locking the door as before.

"Rather a slim meal," observed the young major, looking at what had been brought.

"He is going to starve us as well as keep us prisoners," was the Imp's answer.

As both boys were hungry it did not take them long to stow away everything in sight. Then both began to walk around the cold cell, in order to keep warm.

"This is outrageous!" cried Pepper, at last. "I am not going to stand it another minute!" And going to the door he began to hammer upon it loudly. Jack, also out of sorts, did the same.

The racket was soon heard in the classrooms, and presently Josiah Crabtree came rushing to the place, a heavy switch in his hand.

"Hi! hi! stop that noise!" thundered the assistant teacher. "Stop it, I say!" And he threw open the door and confronted the pair, with snapping eyes and with a face red from indignation.

As soon as the door was opened Jack and Pepper stopped kicking and pounding. Both faced the instructor fearlessly.

"What do you mean by such a noise?" demanded Josiah Crabtree, after an ominous pause.

"We wanted to attract attention," answered Pepper, calmly.

"I want you to keep quiet!"

"Mr. Crabtree, will you tell us why we are prisoners here?" asked Jack.

"You are prisoners because you have disobeyed the rules of this institution," snapped the instructor, and there was a certain gleam of triumph in his eyes.

"How have we disobeyed the rules?"

"You know well enough."

"We don't know," came from Pepper.

"Don't contradict, Ditmore! Captain Putnam and myself have found you out."

"Won't you please explain?" asked Jack, as calmly as he could.

"Well, in the first place, you are responsible for the fire at the boathouse."

"No! no!" came from both boys.

"We have made a rigid investigation," returned Josiah Crabtree. "It is useless to deny it," he continued. "But that is not the worst of it, in the eyes of myself and Captain Putnam."

"Well, what is the worst?" asked Jack, curiously, and wondering what was coming.

"Both of you went down to the old boathouse to smoke and drink."

"I deny that flatly," said the young major.

"So do I," added Pepper.

"Denials will do you no good. We have the evidence," returned Josiah Crabtree, and once again his rather fishy eyes showed a gleam of triumph.

"What evidence have you?" demanded Jack.

"After we locked you up here, I suggested to the captain that we search your dormitory. This was done, and we have uncovered your secrets. The captain is amazed, and so am I. We did not dream that any cadet at this school would be guilty of such a thing."

"Guilty of what?" asked Jack and Pepper, in a breath.

"Guilty of such bad habits. We went into your lockers and your trunks, and we discovered two bottles of liquor, eight packages of cigarettes, and three packs of playing-cards, all belonging to you two students. You know our rules. You have broken them, and you must either be punished or else be dismissed from this school!"