“I must assuredly investigate this, Major Ruddy. Let us go to the boathouse together.”
This was done and they took a careful look around. Nothing was missing.
“Why can’t we follow them up once?” questioned Jack. “We ought to be able to overtake them in a cutter.”
“A good idea. I’ll have Snuggers get a cutter ready at once. Get your overcoat and your gloves.”
In a few minutes they were on the way, the captain driving and Jack sitting by his side. They drove all the way to the village, but saw nothing of the men.
“Perhaps they turned off on a side road,” said the young major.
“It is possible.”
There was nothing to do but to return to Putnam Hall. This they did; and for the time being the subject was dropped.
At the end of the week, Jack, Pepper, Andy, and Dale got permission to visit Cedarville, one to buy a pair of skates, and the others to get various things. They set out on foot, thinking nothing of the rather long walk before them.
Just before reaching Cedarville they came to a side road, leading to a spot called Brierroot Grove. A short distance up the road was a two-story cottage, located behind a hedge of boxwood.