He hurried away, leaving Bart and Dan Baxter to console themselves as best they could.
Josiah Crabtree was thinking of Pepper.

He had accused The Imp only the day before of these crimes, and here the thefts were continuing while Pepper was a close prisoner.
"Perhaps he got out during the night," he muttered.

"I must make sure of it." For, to be fair to the dictatorial teacher, he really thought Pepper might be the guilty party.
He questioned the cadets who had been on guard during the night.

One and all declared that Pepper had remained a prisoner all night and was still in the cell-like room.

Then he spoke to The Imp himself.
"Did you go out last night ?" he asked.
"How could I ?" asked Pepper.
"Answer my question, Ditmore." "No, I didn't go out.