“We are not burglars!” answered Pepper. “Ha! I know better! You cannot deceive me!” “We are schoolboys and we came in here to get out of the storm,” explained Andy. “I do not believe it! You are burglars! Those uniforms are merely a disguise. You were after my precious silver plate! The world-renowned Robertson silver plate! But you shan’t have it! Jabez Trask knows how to protect his own!” At the mention of the old man’s name the cadets started. This then, was the man for whom Bert Field was seeking. Certainly as strange an individual as the tall, thin youth himself. “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!” The command was such a pre-emptory one that the cadets obeyed. Andy opened the door. Beyond was a small storeroom, having a narrow window which was barred from the outside. “In you go, you young villains!” cried Jabez Trask, and held the muzzle of the shotgun on a line with their breasts. Fearing that in his excitement he would pull the trigger, the two cadets stepped back into the room. “Now kick the door shut with your foot, and be quick about it,” went on the old man, to Pepper, and aimed the weapon straight at The Imp. The door was closed as the man desired, and in a twinkling Jabez Trask stepped up close and turned the key in the lock. It was a heavy door, with an equally effective lock, and the cadets knew that they were prisoners. “Ha! ha! very well done, I do declare!” chuckled the old man, after the door was fastened. “A neat trick, if I do say it myself, a clever trick! It takes a smart man to get the best of Jabez Trask. You thought I’d shoot you, didn’t you? Well, let me tell you that the shotgun isn’t loaded and hasn’t been for a month! But now I am going to load it, and load it well. If you try to break out—well, your blood will be on your head!”