“Lew Flapp!” ejaculated Sam.  “Is it possible?”

The bully of Putnam Hall whirled around and gave a start.  He had not dreamed of meeting one of the Rovers.

“What—­er—­what do you want?” he stammered, not knowing what to say.

“Where did you come from, Flapp?”

“That’s my business.”

“It was a fine trick you played on us while we were on the march back to Putnam Hall.”

“Trick?  I haven’t played any trick on you,” answered Lew Flapp, loftily, as he began to regain his self-possession.

“You know well enough that you robbed that jewelry shop and then tried to lay the blame on me and my brothers.”

“Rover, you are talking in riddles.”

“No, I’m not; I’m telling the strict truth.”

“Bah!” Lew Flapp shoved forward.  “Let me pass.”

“Not just yet.”  Sam placed himself in front of the barber shop door.

“What’s the row?” put in the barber, who happened to be the only other person in the shop.

“This fellow is a thief, Mr. Gregg.”

“You don’t say!” cried Lemuel Gregg.  “Who did he rob?”

“He robbed a jewelry shop up near Putnam Hall and then he laid the blame on my brothers and me.”

“That was a mean thing to do.”

“It is false!” roared Lew Flapp.  “Get out of my way, or it will be the worse for you!”

“I’m not afraid of you, Flapp,” responded Sam, sturdily.  “Mr. Gregg, will you help me to make him a prisoner?”

“Are you certain of what you are doing?” questioned the barber, nervously.  “I don’t want to get into trouble over this.  I once cut off a man’s beard by mistake and had to pay twenty-two dollars damages.”

“I know exactly what I am doing.  Help me to make him a prisoner and you shall be well rewarded.”

At the promise of a reward Lemuel Gregg became interested.  He knew that the Rovers were well-to-do and could readily pay him handsomely for his services.

“You—­you had better stay here, young man,” he said, to Lew Flapp.  “If you are innocent it won’t hurt you.  We’ll have the squire look into this case.”

“I won’t stay!” roared the bully, and making a sudden leap at Sam he hurled the youngest Rover to one side and tried to bolt through the door.

“No, you don’t!” came from the barber, and leaping to the front he caught Lew Flapp by the end of the coat and held him.

“Let go!”

“I won’t!”

“Then take that!” And the next instant Lew Flapp hit the barber a telling blow in the nose which made the blood spurt from that member.  Then Flapp dove for the door, pulled it open, and sped up the street with all speed.

“Oh, my nose!  He has smashed it to jelly!” groaned the barber, as he rushed to the sink for some water.

Sam had been thrown against a barber chair so forcibly that for the moment the wind was knocked completely out of him.  By the time he was able to stand up, Flapp was out of the building.