Here Chief Burger, who also acted as justice of police, took down Tom's charge against the former teacher. "Breaking in and trying to steal," said Tom. "It's not so!" cried Crabtree. "Boy, this is--ahem--infamous! I never stole a thing in my life!" "We will prove it when your trial comes off," answered Tom coolly. "Let us--ahem--try to patch this thing up," went on Josiah Crabtree. "Chief, will you kindly send for Mrs. Stanhope? I am certain she will not allow this charge to stand against me." "See here, you shan't try any of your games on that lady!" exclaimed Tom. "I know the peculiar influence you exert over her, and I feel bound to protect her." "She is not my enemy, as you are. I know she will clear me." "Not much. If she won't testify against you, her daughter Dora will, and so will I and my brothers, and some other folks, too." "I demand to see my accusers!" stormed Crabtree, trying to put on a bold front. "All right, Dick and Sam will be here after awhile. And then, if you wish, we'll air all of your doings since the time Captain Putnam discharged you." At the last words the former teacher winced and turned pale, for he knew his record would not bear investigating. "You are a bad boy, Tom Rover--leave me!" he muttered, and turned his back on the cadet. A few minutes later, as he could not furnish bail, he was led to a cell and locked up. As soon as Crabtree was disposed of, Tom left the jail to find his brothers. This was no easy matter, and it was not until well along in the afternoon that he discovered Dick, Sam, and Detective Trigger down by the lake shore nearly a mile from Cedarville. "Any luck?" he asked. "Not a bit," replied Dick. "He has given us the slip nicely." The hunt continued until nightfall, and was kept up all of the next day. But it proved of no avail. Dan Baxter had left the vicinity of the lake entirely, and the Rover boys were destined not to see him again for many days to come. The arrest of Josiah Crabtree had occurred on Friday. On Monday came a letter from Mr. Anderson Rover, stating that Alexander Pop would arrive in Cedarville on Tuesday and might remain at Mrs. Stanhope's cottage as long as the lady and the boys wished. "I wish Aleck to be near you," wrote Mr. Rover. "It alarms me greatly to hear of the trouble that you are having. It seems to me that our family are bound to be in hot water all the time. I cannot understand Arnold Baxter. As he is in prison at Albany I do not see how he can trouble me, at least for the next few years. "I have looked up that mining property in Colorado very carefully, and shall go out there as soon as the coming winter is at an end. Perhaps I will take one or all of you with me, but that will depend upon how good you do at your studies this winter. I shan't take anybody along that can't show a good report." CHAPTER XI BROUGHT TO TRIAL