"I ain't a-goin' to let 'em give me the slip," growled the constable from White Corners.
"When was your shop robbed?" demanded George Strong, of the man who had said he was the sufferer.
"I can't say exactly, fer I was to the city, a-buying of more goods."
"Mr. Fairchild is a jeweler and watchmaker, besides dealing in paints, oils, glass, an' wall paper," explained the constable. "He carries a putty considerable stock of goods as are valuable. Yesterday, or early last night, when he was away, his shop was broken into and robbed."
"And what makes you think the Rovers are the thieves?" asked George
Strong.
"We got proof," came doggedly from Aaron Fairchild. "We're certain on it."
By this time, seeing that something was wrong, Captain Putnam came to
the scene. In the meantime the battalion was already formed, with Major
Colby at the head and Dick in his proper position as captain of Company
A.
"I cannot, believe that the Rover Boys are guilty of this robbery," said the master of Putnam Hall after listening to what the newcomers had to say. "What proof have you that they did it?"
"This proof, for one thing," answered Josiah Cotton, and drew from his pocket a memorandum book and the envelope to a letter. In the front of the memorandum book was the name, Richard Rover, and the envelope was addressed likewise.
"The thief dropped that," went on the constable.