“Mr. Trask, you are making a mistake,” said Pepper, as calmly as he could. “We did not come here to steal, we——”
“I will not listen! I shall hand you over to the authorities for entering my house! I saw you sneaking around this morning—one of you at least.”
“No, you didn’t,” answered Andy.
“I know better—I saw you quite plainly.”
To this the boys did not answer. Pepper, however, wondered if the person seen sneaking around had been the mysterious Bert Field.
“I want you fellows to back into the corner,” went on Jabez Trask, after a painful pause.
“But, sir——” commenced Andy.
“Not another word—until I call an officer of the law!”
“We are not criminals,” cried Pepper stubbornly. “We belong to Putnam Hall military academy.”
“I do not believe it! You came here with the intention of robbing me of my precious plate and other things. But you did not think I’d get after you with my shotgun!” added the old man cunningly. “You thought you would have me at your mercy! But I have outwitted you! Ha! ha! it was well done, not so? Back into the corner, I say, and open the door!”