“And you have looked everywhere for them?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I will go up and look around with you.”

“All right, sir.  But it will do no good,” answered the young major.

“You say that all your roommates deny taking the watch and chain.”

“Yes, sir.  They say they didn’t see the watch at all after we went to bed.”

“Major Ruddy, do you suspect anybody of this crime?” demanded the owner of the school, looking Jack full in the face.

“No, sir,” was the prompt answer.  “It’s a complete mystery to me.  All I know about it is, that I left the watch and chain on the stand at the head of my bed when I went to sleep and this morning they were gone.”

“Did any of the other cadets enter your dormitory during the night?”

“Not that I know of.”

“They may have been skylarking and may have carried the watch and chain off by—­accident, let us say,” finished the captain, significantly.

“If anybody came in, nobody who sleeps in our room seems to be aware of it.”

Captain Putnam and Jack passed up to the dormitory, followed by Josiah Crabtree.  They were soon joined by Pepper and the other occupants of the apartment.  Another search was made, but the gold watch and chain were not found, nor were any clues concerning the timepiece unearthed.

“What were the watch and chain worth?” asked Fred.

“I don’t know; maybe fifty or sixty dollars,” answered Jack.

“Then if they were stolen, the thief made quite a haul.”

“Do you think they were stolen, Century?” demanded the owner of the school.

“Doesn’t it look like it, sir?”

“But if they were stolen, who is guilty?” asked Josiah Crabtree, glaring around from one cadet to another.

For the moment nobody spoke.

“I don’t suspect any of my roommates,” said Jack, quickly.  “I think it was done by some outsider.”

“Some other cadet?” asked Crabtree.

“Possibly; or else by some of the help.”

“Gracious, Ruddy, I—­er—­I hope you don’t suspect me!” stammered the teacher.

“No, sir; I meant some of the servants.”

“Ah, I see!” Josiah Crabtree looked relieved.  “You may be right.  Perhaps some of the new colored help took the watch,” he went on, to Captain Putnam.

“I will start an investigation,” returned the owner of the school.

Captain Putnam was as good as his word, and over an hour was spent in questioning the help, and the other cadets, but without results.  The investigation was continued Monday morning.  But not the first trace of the missing watch and chain was discovered anywhere.

“It assuredly is a mystery,” said Captain Putnam at last.  “What do you make of it, Mr. Strong?” he asked of his second assistant.

“It is a very unfortunate occurrence,” answered George Strong.  “If there is a thief in Putnam Hall we ought to locate him.  As long as he remains undetected none of us will be safe.”