“What’s the matter?” came simultaneously from those who were assisting him.
Andy did not answer immediately. He began to search his clothing, going through every pocket several times. Then he started to hunt around on the ground.
“Was it valuable?” queried Andy. “Well, I just guess yes! It was worth at least two hundred dollars!”
“Two hundred dollars!” exclaimed all of the others in astonishment.
That was all the others said—but it was enough. Every lad at Putnam Hall knew Joe Nelson’s medal, the one left to Joe by his Uncle Richard. It was a beautiful racing medal of gold, set with jewels, and Joe was very proud of it.
“What were you doing with Joe’s medal?” asked Jack, after a pause.
“The pin catch got broken and Joe sent it to the watchmaker to have another put on. He asked me to get it for him—I was with him when he left it at Bright’s shop. I went for it before I went for the cream.”
“And where did you have the medal?” asked Dale.
“In the inside pocket of my jacket, and I had the pocket fastened with a safety pin, too, to keep the medal from jumping out on the road.”
“It must be somewhere around here,” said Stuffer. “Let us make a good search.”
This they did, but it was of no avail. In the midst of it Andy set up another cry.
“Oh, Andy, can this be true?” burst out Jack.
“What else can it be? I couldn’t lose my ring and everything else, could I, by just tumbling from my bicycle?”
“Andy must be right—the sudden coming down of the tree limb proves it,” declared Pepper. “Were you unconscious long?” he continued.
“But you are sure you were completely knocked out when you hit the rock?” asked Dale.
“Yes—everything got dark and I didn’t know a thing. And, yes, when I came to my senses—just before you arrived—I was in the bushes!”
“Then somebody must have carried you from the road!” declared Jack. “And that somebody robbed you!” he added, bitterly.
After this there was a moment of silence. The others looked at Andy, and the acrobatic lad stared at them blankly.
“Yes, I must have been robbed,” he said slowly. “But who did it?”
“I don’t believe any of our fellows would do it,” answered Dale. “Even Ritter isn’t bad enough for that.”
“Would the Pornell fellows do it?” queried Stuffer.
“I don’t think so,” answered the young major. “Why, this is a prison offence!”