it."

By this time, seeing that something was wrong, Captain Putnam came to
the scene. In the meantime the battalion was already formed, with Major
Colby at the head and Dick in his proper position as captain of Company
A.

"I cannot, believe that the Rover Boys are guilty of this robbery,"
said the master of Putnam Hall after listening to what the newcomers
had to say. "What proof have you that they did it?"

"This proof, for one thing," answered Josiah Cotton, and drew from his
pocket a memorandum book and the envelope to a letter. In the front of
the memorandum book was the name, Richard Rover, and the envelope was
addressed likewise.

"The thief dropped that," went on the constable.

"Where did you find these things?"

"On the floor of the shop, in front of the desk."

"Anybody might have dropped them."

"See here, Captain Putnam, do you stand up fer shieldin' a thief?"
roared Aaron Fairchild. "To me this hull thing is as plain as the nose
on my face."

As Aaron Fairchild's smelling organ was an unusually large one, this
caused the master of Putnam Hall to smile. But he immediately grew