Ralph turned upon Creelton with flashing eyes and said: “Creel, do you pretend to be a friend of mine?”
“Why, you know I am, Os,” replied Creelton weakly, and much surprised at Ralph’s vehemence.
“Then don’t you ever propose to hush this matter up. We’re going to see the commandant at nine to-morrow morning, you and I and Himski and Bollup. We’ll tell him everything about it, and I want every one of you to talk about this thing to everybody you know.”
“All right, Os, but I think my way is best.”
“Stop thinking that way, or I’ll stop thinking you’re a friend of mine,” retorted Ralph.
The four midshipmen were before the commandant the next morning. The latter asked innumerable questions and directed each to write a complete statement detailing all he knew of the matter. In dismissing them he said: “I congratulate you on having such staunch friends, Mr. Osborn.”
The matter was discussed at great length by all midshipmen. The general feeling throughout the battalion was that a thief was present, probably one of the corridor boys, who had stolen Bollup’s watch and had endeavored to have the theft fastened on Osborn. But the matter was enveloped in so much mystery that no very clear ideas about it were expressed.
Ralph was very fearful and much worried. He resolved, if anything were said casting a reflection in any way upon him, to hold his temper and immediately report the matter to the commandant.
One afternoon, a few days after this occurrence, Third Classman Coleman came into his room. Ralph and Creelton immediately stood up, a mark of respect always shown by plebes to upper classmen who enter their rooms.
“So, Mr. Osborn,” sneered Coleman, “somebody stole Mr. Bollup’s watch, I hear, and the watch was found at the end of your chain. And so your uncle, whom you have never seen, who lives, you do not know where, has sent you a watch! Strange, about your uncle and the watch he sent you, and the letter he wrote you, all of which have disappeared. Strange, isn’t it, Mr. Osborn? So strange, in fact, as to be pretty thin.” And Coleman’s lip curled in disgust.