“The mysterious men, I’ll wager a biscuit!” burst out Pepper.
“Exactly what I think,” came from Jack.
“Don’t you remember what the old woman told you?” came from Andy. “She said those chaps were talking about a man named George!”
“That’s it! Those men must have been hanging around Putnam Hall because Mr. Strong was there.”
The cadets looked at Captain Putnam, whose face was a study.
“You may be right, my lads,” said the master of the Hall, slowly. “But that doesn’t explain what the men wanted of Mr. Strong, or where Mr. Strong has gone to.”
“I’m satisfied of one thing,” said Jack. “Those men were up to nothing good.”
“Perhaps they robbed Mr. Strong of something, and threw his body into the snow,” suggested Dale.
They listened to all the blacksmith had to say, and then took him along, so that he might point out the exact spot where the interview had taken place. It was near a turn in the road, where the snow had drifted but little.
“Here are many footprints,” said Pepper, pointing with his hand.