THE TUG-OF-WAR For several days nothing was talked of at Putnam Hall but the mysterious disappearance of the students' watches and jewelry.

The cadets could not get the matter off their minds, and as a consequence recitations became very poor.
"I shall offer a substantial reward," said Captain Putnam, and one afternoon a notice was posted in the school proper and in the gymnasium, offering one hundred dollars for information leading to the capture of the thief.
"Say, I shouldn't mind earning that reward!" murmured Dale.
"A fellow could have no end of a good time on a hundred dollars!" murmured Stuffer.

"Think what a spread he could give!" And his eyes sparkled in anticipation.
"It would be a bad thing for Stuffer to get the reward," came from Andy.
"Why, I'd like to know ?" demanded that cadet.
"Because you'd eat yourself into a state of acute indigestion." "Rats! I don't eat any more than you do," grumbled Stuffer.
"Well, I don't see any chance of your getting the reward," was Jack's comment.

"That thief had hidden his tracks well." With the deep snow on the ground, drills had to be held in the gymnasium, and several contests were also arranged.

The cadets got up a tug-of-war between one team headed by Pepper and another headed by Dale, and the excitement over this contest waged so high, that the thefts were, for the time being, forgotten.
The tug-of-war was held late one afternoon in the gymnasium.