“He has plenty of it, sir,” replied Bert. “He broke into Private Brigham’s trunk and took a hundred dollars from it.”
The superintendent could hardly believe that he had heard aright.
“That is the most disgraceful thing that ever happened in this school,” said he, as soon as he could speak. “I didn’t suppose there was a boy here who could be guilty of an act of that kind. Sergeant,” he added, looking at his watch, “you have just fifteen minutes in which to reach the depot and ascertain whether or not Huggins took the eight o’clock train for Oxford last night. Learn all you can, and go with the squad which I shall at once send in pursuit of him.”
“Very good, sir,” replied Bert.
“Can I go?” asked Sergeant Elmer, as Bert ran into his room and snatched his overcoat and cap from their hooks.
“I hope so, but I am afraid not. The superintendent will make up the detail himself or appoint some shoulder-strap to do it, and it isn’t likely that he will take two sergeants from the same company. You will have to act in my place while I am gone.”
“Well, good-by and good luck to you,” said the disappointed Elmer.
Bert hastened down the stairs and out of the building, and at the gate he found the officer of the day who had come there to pass him by the sentry. As soon as he had closed the gate behind him, he broke into a run, and in a few minutes more he was walking back and forth in front of the ticket-office, conversing with a quiet looking man who was to be found there whenever a train passed the depot. He was a detective.
“Good morning, Mr. Shepard,” said Bert. “Were you on duty when No. 6 went down last night?”
No. 6 was the first southward bound train that passed through Bridgeport after Huggins left the academy grounds.