After that the hired help were told they might go, and as soon as possible dinner was served to the cadets and the teachers. Then, when the pupils were told to go to their afternoon classes, Colonel Colby and Captain Dale held a conference in the office and notified the local police authorities.
“I hate to do it,” said Colonel Colby. “But there seems to be no help for it. It will certainly give our institution a black eye.”
“But I do not see how anyone can hold you responsible for this affair,” returned Captain Dale. “We are as watchful at this institution as they are anywhere.”
“Of course I shall not permit our cadets to lose anything by this,” went on the master of the school quickly. “I shall ask each of them to value carefully what they have lost, and then, if the things are not recovered before the end of the term, I will make the loss good.”
“That would be very nice on your part, Colonel Colby. And I think it would be a good investment too,” added Captain Dale. “It will prove to the parents of the cadets that you consider yourself responsible while they are under your care.”
When the local authorities came to the school they went over the ground carefully with Colonel Colby and some of the others and asked innumerable questions.
“We have a number of strangers stopping in town, mostly traveling salesmen,” announced the chief of police. “I’ll look ’em up, and also look up any tramps or any other suspicious characters that may be hanging around.” And that for the time being was all he could say. Soon he and his men departed.
That evening Jack found a letter in his box which had been mailed early that morning at Haven Point. It was from Ruth. There was also a brief note to Fred which had been sent by May.
In her communication to the newly-elected major Ruth congratulated him heartily on his success and said she hoped soon to see him in a parade at the head of the battalion. After that she wrote as follows about the sleighing party that had been called off:
“I received an invitation to that party from Lester Bangs and May received an invitation from Paul Halliday. Jennie Mason, Ida Brierley and several of the other girls had invitations and they wanted us to go very much. But, of course, I did not want to go with such a fellow as Bangs. Then he came to me and started a report that all of you Rovers were going to another party with some of the girls from the town, and that the party was to take place the same night as our party. Of course, I did not want to say anything about it, because I realized that you could do as you pleased. But I told Bangs positively that I would not go with him and May told the same thing to Halliday. Then both of them got quite ugly and accused you and your cousin of trying to spoil his outing. I told him you had had nothing to do with it, but he declared that you had and that you had better look out or you would get into hot water. So, Jack, please look out for him and tell Fred to look out for Halliday and the others.”