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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10681d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50192 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50192) diff --git a/old/50192-0.txt b/old/50192-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 784add7..0000000 --- a/old/50192-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3647 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Boy Scouts for Home Protection, by Robert Shaler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boy Scouts for Home Protection - -Author: Robert Shaler - -Release Date: October 13, 2015 [EBook #50192] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS FOR HOME PROTECTION *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE BOY SCOUTS - FOR - HOME PROTECTION - - - BY - SCOUT MASTER ROBERT SHALER - - AUTHOR OF “BOY SCOUTS OF THE SIGNAL CORPS,” “BOY SCOUTS OF - PIONEER CAMP,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,” “BOY - SCOUTS OF THE LIFE SAVING CREW,” “BOY SCOUTS ON PICKET - DUTY,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE FLYING SQUADRON,” “BOY - SCOUTS AND THE PRIZE PENNANT,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE - NAVAL RESERVE,” “BOY SCOUTS IN THE SADDLE,” “BOY - SCOUTS FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT,” “BOY SCOUTS IN - THE GREAT FLOOD,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE FIELD - HOSPITAL,” “BOY SCOUTS WITH THE RED - CROSS,” “BOY SCOUTS AS COUNTY FAIR - GUIDES,” “BOY SCOUTS AS FOREST FIRE - FIGHTERS,” “BOY SCOUTS WITH THE - MOTION PICTURE PLAYERS,” “BOY - SCOUTS ON THE ROLL OF HONOR,” - ETC., ETC. - - - NEW YORK - HURST & COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - - Sterling Boy Scout Books - - - _Bound in cloth_ _Fifteen titles_ - - 1 Boy Scouts of the Signal Corps. - 2 Boy Scouts of Pioneer Camp. - 3 Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey. - 4 Boy Scouts of the Life Saving Crew. - 5 Boy Scouts on Picket Duty. - 6 Boy Scouts of the Flying Squadron. - 7 Boy Scouts and the Prize Pennant. - 8 Boy Scouts of the Naval Reserve. - 9 Boy Scouts in the Saddle. - 10 Boy Scouts for City Improvement. - 11 Boy Scouts in the Great Flood. - 12 Boy Scouts of the Field Hospital. - 13 Boy Scouts with the Red Cross. - 14 Boy Scouts as County Fair Guides. - 15 Boy Scouts as Forest Fire Fighters. - -_You can purchase any of the above books at the price you paid for this -one, or the publishers will send any book, postpaid, upon receipt of -25c._ - - HURST & CO., Publishers - 432 Fourth Avenue, New York - - - Copyright, 1915, by Hurst & Company - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. Time Things Began to Mend 5 - II. Help Wanted 15 - III. “Strike While the Iron Is Hot!” 29 - IV. Waiting for the Good News 39 - V. Oakvale’s Great Clean-up Day 49 - VI. The Promise of a Scout 58 - VII. How the “Uplift” Worked 69 - VIII. One Use for Woodcraft Knowledge 80 - IX. The Goal in Sight 92 - X. Benjy’s Suspicious Actions 106 - XI. The Revelation 115 - XII. Clear Sailing Ahead 124 - XIII. Putting the Clamps On 133 - XIV. For Home Protection 147 - - - - - The Boy Scouts For Home Protection. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - TIME THINGS BEGAN TO MEND. - - -“Here it is springtime again, boys!” - -“Yes, and I’m beginning to catch the spring fever. I just feel—well, -_torpid_ would describe it. I hate to study, or do any work that -requires the least exertion.” - -“Hey, Billy, there’s one great exception you’ll have to make when you -say that—you’ve never let that torpor interfere with your rapid -locomotion when you heard the welcome sound of the dinner bell.” - -The fat boy in the new khaki suit allowed a broad, good-natured smile to -spread over his freckled face. - -“Oh, that’s different!” he exclaimed quickly. “I said _work_, please -remember, Alec, and as for feeding, why, I always class that under the -head of undiluted, unadulterated pleasure.” - -“Well, winter has come and gone, with a whole lot of talk about town -improvement in the air, and nothing done, just as you were saying, -Hugh.” - -The manly looking young fellow who answered to the name of Hugh Hardin -was patrol leader and assistant scout master. This could easily be -learned by any one at all familiar with the various devices used by Boy -Scouts to designate rank. On the left sleeve of his coat, just below the -shoulder, he had first of all two white stripes, and underneath that a -_red_ first-class scout badge. - -Hugh, as well as a number of other members of the Oakvale Troop, had for -some time been authorized to wear certain medals signifying that at some -previous date they had been instrumental in saving human life at the -risk of their own. - -If the reader does not know under what stirring conditions these medals, -typifying the Boy Scout Roll of Honor, were earned, he can have the -pleasure of reading all the particulars in previous books of this -series, as lack of time and space prevents our mentioning them here. - -Besides the leader of the Wolf Patrol there were present on this -occasion Billy Worth—the stout member—Alec Sands—who had once been -Hugh’s most bitter rival for honors, but since heading the Otter Patrol -he had grown to be very chummy with him—and Buck Winter. - -They attended Oakvale High School and were dismissed about half-past one -in the afternoon. They thus had considerable advantage over the boys and -girls in the lower grades. - -Indeed, at the late hour in the spring afternoon mentioned, numerous -little folks were heading homeward in knots, having just been given -their freedom. Hugh and his three companions had stopped to chat, having -met by accident at that point where traffic was congested—the wagons -from the mills crossing in one direction and many big and little cars -swinging around various corners. - -Somehow or other that particular spot always had a peculiar sort of -fascination for Hugh. It had tragic memories, too, for on several -occasions serious accidents had occurred here, owing to the speed which -some drivers persisted in making while approaching the dangerous -crossing. - -When Buck Winter, the boy who surpassed most of his chums in animal -photography, spoke to Hugh about the dim prospect of anything being done -in the matter of improving certain glaring defects in the government of -the town, the scout master frowned and shook his head. - -“I never saw anything hang fire like this,” he remarked, at the same -time watching what was going on close by with keen interest. “There’s -that crossing over yonder, and some other bad places where children pass -over several times a day—it ought to be protected but it isn’t. An -officer should be stationed there morning, noon and night, to see that -traffic slows up when the children are going and coming from school.” - -“That’s right, Hugh,” burst out the impulsive Billy, whose heart was -just as big as his waist was expansive, “and some of these fine days -there’s going to be something awful happening here! It’ll wake this -sleepy old town up! For one, I don’t believe in waiting till your horse -is stolen before you think to lock the stable door. ‘A stitch in time -saves nine,’ they say.” - -“Just see how the driver of that big touring car swings down with a -rush, will you!” exclaimed Alec, indignantly. “He sounds his siren to -beat the band, just as if he expected everybody to scatter like chickens -crossing a road, and run for their lives. It’s a beastly shame!” - -“Something’s got to be done, that’s all!” said Hugh, with compressed -lips, and a flash in his eye that spoke volumes, as he looked after the -reckless chauffeur of the car, now speeding away, with a nasty grin of -conscious superiority on his face. - -“If I was the mayor of this burgh in place of spineless old Strunk,” the -impetuous Alec went on to exclaim, “you’d soon hear something pop. I -would call the Council in session, and have ordinances passed that would -keep these speeders under control. After a few of them had been locked -up for a spell, as well as heavily fined, you’d notice a big -difference.” - -“That isn’t all, by any means,” Hugh chimed in, watching the approach of -a bevy of small school girls with apprehension, for the traffic seemed -to be at its heaviest. “There are a number of other bad spots in town -that need attention. The railroad crossing is utterly unprotected, and -last summer one man was killed there, you remember, while twice vehicles -have been wrecked.” - -“There were some other things you mentioned the last time we talked this -over, Hugh, I remember,” said Buck Winter. - -“Lots of them,” came the ready reply. “The whole town has grown careless -again. True, people don’t litter the streets with waste paper now that -they know about the cans placed for such trash—the scouts cured that -evil—but there are other defects that ought to be attended to. For -instance, some people persist in keeping garbage standing open for the -flies to breed in. Others have nuisances about which their neighbors -hate to complain of. I know six or seven places where this sort of thing -is going on, and I reckon the scouts could trace dozens, if once they -had the authority to start in on the job.” - -“Oh, I guess I know what you’ve got in mind, Hugh!” exclaimed Billy, -with sudden animation. “I was reading the other day how that very thing -is being carried out with great success right down in New York City. -Boys are given badges to wear, and are called the Auxiliary Police, or -something like that. They have their precincts to watch, and report -every sort of nuisance or infraction of the law to their friend, the -police captain, who sees that it is abated. They say you would be -surprised to see how well the boys do their duty. Things have taken on a -new look since the scheme was started.” - -“It could be done here a whole lot easier than in such a big city,” -affirmed Hugh, eagerly. “We haven’t got such a raft of ignorant -foreigners to handle, you see. A good many people up here have just -fallen into careless ways, and all they need is to be waked up.” - -“We did that other job first class,” said Billy, proudly, “and we’d win -out again if only we had half a chance. But I don’t know what keeps on -interfering. They must be asleep, and only some terrible accident will -startle them to action.” - -“Some of the boys have told me in secret about a blind tiger that is -being operated since the saloons were shut out of Oakvale,” declared -Hugh. “Then I’ve also learned that some of the mill hands get together -and gamble, which is against the law. The police, thinking of the votes -those fellows can control, seem to wink at such things. There’s no use -talking, the women of Oakvale have got to be roused, and join hands with -every church in town to clean up the place again, this time for good. -The scouts stand ready to do their part.” - -“Every time!” added Billy, sonorously, as he whacked Buck Winter on his -back, as if to emphasize his remark. - -“There are heaps of things that ought to be bettered,” asserted Alec. -“They never will be until the scouts and the women join hands with all -the good people of Oakvale for a genuine old clean-up time. All they -seem to want is a leader. Everybody is waiting for some one else to make -the start. Hugh, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s going to be up to you.” - -“I was talking with Professor Marvin, the school principal, only -yesterday,” said the scout master, “and he agreed with me that there was -great need of all the moral forces in the community uniting for a big -fight before things got too bad. He said he would see Mayor Strunk last -night, and asked me, as acting in place of Lieutenant Denmead, who is -away, to drop around to his house this evening, for he had invited the -mayor, Mrs. Marsh and several of the leading ladies of the T. I. A., to -take supper with him.” - -“Good for that!” cried Billy. “Make sure you rub it in like everything, -Hugh, once you get the chance. I hope to hear great news tomorrow -morning, and I’ll be ready, for one, to take off my coat and get busy -with a broom—of course, figuratively speaking, I mean.” - -Alec nodded his head as if pleased. - -“Something in the air tells me there are going to be warm doings in this -town before a great while,” he asserted positively. “It’s always darkest -before dawn, they say, and things have about reached their limit here. -Once the new broom gets agoing it’ll sweep out a lot of nuisances that -have been an eyesore to all decent people for a long while back. My -folks get quite worked up every time they begin to talk about certain -things that are objectionable.” - -“I’m going to begin and make a list of nuisances right off,” said Buck -Winter. - -“Well, I don’t like the way you look at me when you say that, Buck,” -complained Billy, in affected uneasiness. “I’m going to reform, sure I -am. Gimme half a chance, and I’ll even try to reduce my weight, if that -bothers you, though I’d hate to cut my rations down to half.” - -“Now look at all those vehicles and cars coming along from four -directions at once!” exclaimed Alec. “That bunch of kids on the curb has -been waiting all of five minutes for a half-decent chance to cross, but -do you see any driver holding up to let them go over? They’re a lot of -selfish and reckless—— Say, hold on, kids, don’t you dare to try it! Oh! -Hugh, look there, one of them has run out! Hi! hi! Hold your horses—stop -that car!” - - - - - CHAPTER II. - HELP WANTED. - - -Hugh Hardin was known to be a boy of action. When other fellows were -stupefied by some sudden peril, Hugh was doing things. - -So in the present instance. He saw the peril of the child even before -Alec did, but without uttering a single word, Hugh darted forward as an -arrow from the bow, or a hawk pouncing upon some bird. - -It was all over in a flash. Alec and the others had started to jump -forward, but they would have been too late to be of any real service. -Hugh, however, darted in among the congested wagons and moving cars, -and, snatching the frightened little child from under the very hoofs of -a team, carried her across to the other side of the street. - -There was considerable confusion, for drivers were shouting at each -other and chauffeurs were trying to push their way past the congested -crossing. Apparently they were more concerned with the fact that there -had been a mix-up than because a precious human life had just been in -jeopardy. - -Alec, backed by the other two scouts, pushed out on the street and held -up their hands to stop the traffic until the cluster of school children -could cross. Some of the drivers seemed to think it a joke, being held -up in this fashion by boys in khaki, and laughed good-naturedly at it; -but others swore, and made threatening gestures with their whips. - -Then, the children having crossed in safety, thanks to their protectors, -Alec gave the signal for the wagons and cars to proceed with as much -show of authority as any member of the traffic squad in a great city -could assume. - -The boys were “boiling over” with indignation, as Billy aptly expressed -it, as they walked down the street toward the heart of Oakvale. More -than ever, Hugh was now determined not to rest until something had been -done toward an eradication of the numerous nuisances that infested the -town. - -“I’m going to attend that little, informal meeting to-night, boys,” he -told his chums, “and unless I miss my guess something will be done. If -only the women folks can stir up Mayor Strunk! I understand that several -of the pastors will drop in during the evening, and it begins to look as -though the last straw has been put on the camel’s back.” - -“I only wish,” ventured Billy, wheezing still from his recent violent -exertions, “that some of them had seen what happened just now, and how -that poor little Anita Burns would most likely have been run over but -for Hugh here. It was an object lesson that might have moved even such -an old mossback as Mayor Strunk, or Chief Wallis, of the police force.” - -“Wait!” was what Hugh told him, and a short time later the group -separated. - -Hugh performed the errand that had taken him to the business section of -town, and then, inspired by a desire to do a little preliminary work -along the lines he had had in mind, he dropped over and greeted the head -of the local police. - -Chief Waller liked Hugh, for he knew what a manly young fellow the other -had always proven himself to be. Besides, Hugh was something of a -favorite with the better element of Oakvale’s population. He had led a -number of movements that, by their success, had brought more or less -fame to Oakvale, particulars of which may be found in the earlier books -of this series. - -So Hugh, using considerable diplomacy, began talking about other things, -and after he managed to get the chief in good humor, he introduced the -subject that was nearest his heart. - -“The women are bound to have the town cleaned up, Chief,” he went on to -say, “and you know that when they once set their minds on anything it’s -got to happen. They expect to have all sorts of help from you and your -men; and the scouts mean to offer their services as they did once -before. It’s a great thing to be on the winning side, Chief, so I heard -Doctor Kane say to the minister the other day when they were talking -over this very matter.” - -Now, the Chief was a shrewd man. He knew on which side his bread was -buttered. It was true that the politicians and their votes had put him -in his present comfortable berth, but the Chief was a married man, and -he realized from experience that the home “influence” could be counted -on to sway elections when once the people were thoroughly aroused. - -“There’s just this about it, Hugh,” he said, impressively. “If the women -want a clean town, they’re going to have it, and nothing can stop them. -If they get this movement started they can count on the police backing -’em up. All we want is to know just where we stand.” - -Thus encouraged, Hugh went on to tell what he had read about the boys of -the big metropolis being made Auxiliary Police, and wearing badges that -were meant to be respected by the populace. - -Chief Wallis apparently had never read about the movement. He seemed to -be interested, however, for it was plain to be seen that if things had -to be done that offended the politicians, there would be a scapegoat -handy on whose shoulders the blame could be cast. - -“Well, now, to tell you the truth, Hugh, that isn’t such a bad idea,” he -went on to say. “Boys can find out heaps of things that are beyond my -men; and once we learned about these nuisances we’d soon abate ’em. All -we want is to be shown.” - -Hugh understood well enough that the police knew about most of those -infractions of the law, but that for various reasons they had pretended -not to see them. If only the moral elements of the town were aroused, -and firmly demanded a cessation of the law breaking, no doubt the scales -would fall from the eyes of the police like magic. It always happens -that way, Hugh understood. - -Still, Hugh felt that he had gained a point in arousing the interest of -the head of the police. It was better to have a combined force working -against the evils than a divided one. If the officer realized that his -retention in office depended on his active co-operation with the ladies’ -league, and the various associations connected with the town churches, -he would work like a beaver to do his duty. - -After leaving Police Headquarters, Hugh started for his home. His mind, -very naturally, was filled with the matters that just then took -precedence above all others. Since the preceding fall, Hugh had been -trying to figure out how things could be brought to a focus, for they -seemed to gradually get worse. - -He was in sight of the white picket fence enclosing the Hardin grounds -when he heard his name called in a boy’s voice. Turning around, he -discovered that it was Tom Sherwood, one of the members of the Otter -Patrol, who came hurrying along in his wake. - -Tom had long been known as an exponent of water athletics and surveying. -He meant to become a civil engineer when he left school, and anything -connected with this work always interested the boy greatly. - -More than a few times, when others of the scouts would go off on a -junketing trip such as a school picnic, Tom might have been seen -tramping across lots, with a theodolite over his shoulder, accompanied -by some boy he had influenced to assist him as chain bearer—bound to -some field where he could practice his pet hobby to his heart’s content. - -Hugh noticed that Tom had a long face when he drew near. This surprised -him because as a rule the other was a cheery fellow, and wont to give -back smile for smile. It also told Hugh that Tom must have followed him -with some purpose in view, for somehow a number of the members of the -troop seemed to consider Hugh in the light of a mentor, and often came -to him for advice, strange as it might seem, considering the fact that -they were all boys. - -“Why, hello, Tom! What’s the hurry?” he called out, as the other scout -drew near. - -“Let me get my breath a bit, Hugh, and I’ll tell you,” panted Tom, which -fact seemed to prove that he must have run quite some distance in order -to overtake the scout master. - -Possibly his mind being so filled with the idea of town improvement and -the contemplated uplift movement, Hugh immediately began to wonder if -the agitation of his boy friend could spring from anything he had -learned bearing on this subject. - -At any rate, he would soon know, for Tom was getting his breath back -again. He looked confused, almost ashamed, Hugh thought. There was an -expression amounting to positive pain on his face, and it also showed in -the way he eyed Hugh, as if he hardly knew where to begin. - -They leaned against the nearby fence, as boys are wont to do when -talking. Presently Tom broke the silence. - -“Of course, you’re wondering what under the sun I’m going to say, Hugh. -I can see it in your eyes. Well, I had made up my mind to ask your -advice the very next time I saw you, because I happen to know you’ve -managed to get a number of other fellows out of bad holes before this.” - -“Well, you’ve certainly got me guessing good and hard, Tom,” said Hugh, -with a smile of encouragement. “But if there’s anything I can do to help -out, tell me what’s gone wrong now.” - -Tom drew an extra long breath. - -“The fact of the matter is, Hugh, I’m worried about Benjy, and as I -haven’t any father to go to, and women don’t understand boys as well as -men do, I hardly knew who to talk it over with till I happened to think -of you.” - -Hugh was immediately interested, though at the same time relieved to -know that Tom was not in any trouble on his own account. Benjy Sherwood -was the younger brother of Tom, a bright, aggressive sort of boy, whose -faults possibly lay along the line of wanting to have his own way most -of the time. - -“What’s he been doing to bother you so, Tom?” Hugh asked, quietly and -soothingly. - -“Why, you know that Benjy is a pretty high-spirited boy,” began Tom. -“I’ve tried to check him several times, but he just won’t listen to me, -and in so many words gives me to understand he knows his own business, -and that I’d better attend to mine.” - -“Oh, but that’s generally the way with younger brothers,” said Hugh. -“Lots of the fellows will tell you that. So far as I’ve seen, Benjy is -no different from the rest. It’s too bad he hasn’t a father, though, -because as you said, I believe a man can control such high-spirited boys -a lot better than most mothers, who don’t exactly understand how a boy -feels.” - -“Well, here’s the way it stands,” continued Tom confidentially. “Benjy -has been giving mother and me more or less anxiety by going with several -fellows that I don’t approve of at all. I happen to know he’s been -smoking cigarettes. I didn’t dare tell mother. She has such a silly -dislike for tobacco in every shape, you know. Worse than that, I’m -afraid Benjy has been led into playing cards for money.” - -Hugh shook his head as though worried at hearing this. - -“What reasons have you for saying that, Tom?” - -“Several,” the other immediately replied. “For one thing, I found part -of a burned card in our kitchen stove one day not long ago. I supposed -Benjy discovered he had it in his pocket, and wanted to destroy it -before some one found it on him.” - -“That might be so,” Hugh mused, “and then again he might have had some -better reason for wanting to get rid of the cards. Perhaps he’s -realized, that he was doing something that would grieve his mother, and -so made a clean sweep of things.” - -Tom sighed. - -“I only wish I could believe that, Hugh. I’m a whole lot afraid Benjy -doesn’t give up things he likes so easily. Then there was another -suspicious circumstance. I’ll tell you about it, Hugh. Just three days -ago I found that Benjy had gone and opened his little savings bank at -home, in which I knew he had something like three dollars, which he had -been laying up towards his summer vacation down at the seashore. When I -asked him what he had done with the money he got red in the face, and -told me hurriedly that the money was his, and he guessed he could do -what he pleased with it.” - -“And you fear he has used it to pay some debt he owed over the cards—is -that it, Tom?” asked the scout master, secretly afraid lest there might -be some truth back of Tom’s declaration. - -“That’s what flashed through my mind, Hugh,” the other confessed; “and, -oh, you can’t understand how it’s worried me! Why, I’ve laid awake -nights since then wondering what I could do to save poor Benjy. In spite -of his high temper, he’s a fine boy, if I do say it myself, and I love -him with my whole heart and soul. Mother almost worships him. You know -he looks so like father! And, Hugh, the idea struck me that perhaps you -could think of some way we might make him change his habits.” - -Hugh would not have been human if he did not feel highly complimented by -this blind faith that Tom Sherwood seemed to feel toward him. At the -same time, it added to the burdens he was bearing; for as assistant -scout master, with Lieutenant Denmead, the regular official head of the -troop, away from town so often, it seemed as though Hugh had more than -his share of trouble. - -“I’ll do all I can to help you out, Tom,” he said. “Perhaps I may find a -good chance to talk with Benjy, and get him interested in the scout -movement, for he’s really old enough now to think of joining the troop.” - -“If you could only do that, Hugh, I’m sure it would make a great -difference,” Tom hastened to exclaim. “Joining the scouts has been a -good thing for thousands of boys all over the country. They are put on -their honor. No fellow can subscribe to the twelve cardinal rules of the -organization with his whole heart and still do things that he would be -ashamed to have his folks at home know. I hope you can coax Benjy into -joining. I tried it once or twice, but somehow he didn’t seem to enthuse -worth a cent. But there’s Benjy coming down the street right now. Guess -I’ll be going.” - -“Leave it to me,” said Hugh, as he shook hands with Tom, who was turning -away. “I’ve had some experience in approaching fellows who pretend to -scoff at scout doings, and perhaps I can manage Benjy. I’m glad you -spoke to me, Tom. Be sure it’ll go no further. So-long! Meeting -to-morrow night, remember!” - - - - - CHAPTER III. - “STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!” - - -Hugh made up his mind, on the spur of the moment, that it might be -unwise for him to attempt anything at once. He wanted a little time to -think things over, and lay out some plan of campaign, for Hugh did not, -as a rule, believe in doing things hastily. - -Besides, Benjy must have noticed him talking with Tom, and would -immediately jump to the conclusion that it was a conspiracy between -them. The result would be disastrous for the success of any future -missionary work. - -When Benjy came face to face with Hugh, the latter spoke pleasantly. He -noticed that the boy colored up, and, although he answered the friendly -salutation, he immediately assumed a reckless, indifferent air, and went -along whistling as though he had noticed their heads together, and would -snap his fingers at them. - -Hugh found himself wondering whether it could be conscious guilt that -made Benjy fire up so, or simply boyish indignation over being suspected -and watched in that way. - -“It’s going to be some job managing that boy,” the scout master candidly -admitted to himself; but, then, somehow, he always found additional -interest in a task that tried his patience, and his powers of endurance, -for there could be very little satisfaction in beating an antagonist who -was handicapped. - -Hugh was unusually quiet on that evening at the supper table, a fact his -folks may have noticed. But then they were accustomed to seeing the boy -look grave, for owing to the position he held in the scouts, Hugh often -had to wrestle with matters that did not give most of the other fellows -a moment’s thought. - -Later on, Hugh, having gotten his lessons, observed that he was going -over to the home of Professor Marvin, where there was to be a little -meeting of people interested in town improvement. - -The smile that broke over the face of his mother at hearing him say this -so modestly told of the pride she took in the fact that Hugh, as the -assistant scout master, should be consulted at all when events of -considerable magnitude connected with uplift movements were being -discussed. - -It certainly must make any mother’s heart beat with joy when realizing -that her son, though only a boy in years, had become a factor in town, -that he has to be consulted, and his aid asked whenever there is a -movement on foot looking to bettering conditions of living in the -community. - -When Hugh reached the house where Professor Marvin lived, he found a -little company assembled. Besides a number of the leading ladies -identified with the league that had already done so much for the -betterment of the town, there were three pastors present, the mayor of -Oakvale, Doctor Kane, always to be relied on in things of this sort, and -three influential citizens, who like many other people had begun to -despair of any concerted movement directed to change the wretched -conditions then prevailing. - -There had been rambling talk going on. Evidently they had been waiting -for the arrival of Mayor Strunk, whom Hugh had seen pass in. - -Mr. Marvin now opened the meeting, which he said would be an informal -affair. - -“We know that every person in Oakvale who has taken the trouble to pay -any attention to the way things are going,” he began to say, “has been -pained by the conditions prevailing. It is the consensus of opinion that -something must be done, and that immediately, to better things. The only -question that has kept this movement from crystallizing before has been -the lack of cohesion; no one seemed to be able to present a proper plan -that would unite all the different organizations interested in the good -name of our town. And that is the object of this meeting to-night. We -must all get together, and put our shoulders to the wheel.” - -Mayor Strunk, seeing that most eyes were immediately directed toward his -quarter, got up to say his little piece. As usual, he was for -procrastination. He had attended several other meetings during the -winter just passed and always advised going slowly, so as not to make -any mistake. The ladies had now become indignant, and quite out of -patience with him. - -So when the suave politician commenced by saying that he realized as -well as any one the need of something being done to improve living in -Oakvale, and then went on to repeat the old advice not to be too hasty, -because Rome was not built in a day, and all that sort of thing, there -were quick glances passing around, and one lady had to be held down by -main force, so eager was she to take the speaker to task, regardless of -parliamentary rules. - -Hardly had the mayor finished speaking, than she was on her feet, with -flashing eyes. A ripple of applause greeted her taking the floor, -because those present understood how fluently Mrs. Beverly could speak -when her heart was full of a subject. - -“Mayor Strunk advises delay, and delay,” she broke out with, -indignantly. “I decline to agree with his policy. I have heard it -advocated many times before, and nothing was ever done. The time to -strike is when the iron is hot! Conditions are daily growing more -unbearable. To-day our fair town has fallen from the position we once so -proudly boasted. There are hidden snares for the feet of our young men -and boys, about which the police must know. They should be wiped out -pitilessly. There are numberless nuisances that are painful to the eyes -and noses of sensitive people; these should be rigorously pursued with -fines and other penalties until they are abated. If we have not laws on -the books to cover all these offences let us see to it that they are -immediately placed there. Then there is another crying evil that should -be stopped without delay. I refer to several dangerous crossings where -accidents have been known to happen, and at any day a terrible tragedy -may stun the community. Listen while I tell you something that by the -merest accident I witnessed myself, and only a few hours ago.” - -Then, in graphic language, she went on to describe the affair at the -crossing. - -“Those little children were anxious to get home. They waited all of five -minutes, and there was not the first chance given them to cross over, so -stupid and selfish have the drivers and chauffeurs in Oakvale become, -because the law is not strictly enforced. Then that one little chit, -Anita Burns, bravely started across, eager to get to where an anxious -mother waited for her. I saw a team of horses towering over her, and my -heart literally stood in my mouth with fear.” - -She had everybody intensely interested by this time. Hugh drew back a -little for he feared she might mention him by name, and he shrank from -publicity. - -“Just in the nick of time I saw a boy dart forward,” continued the lady -passionately. “He was lost to my sight for a brief period, and then when -I thought I should faint with fear and suspense, I saw him appear on the -opposite walk, carrying the child, uninjured, in his arms. He set her -down on her feet, waved his hand to her, and then walked off with -several of his scout chums, just as unconcerned, apparently, as though -it might be nothing unusual; nor was it, my friends, for by this time we -have all become accustomed to hear about—Hugh Hardin doing valiant -things like that.” - -She paused, because there was a wild outburst of cheers. - -Hugh was as red as fire. - -“If I had known that you saw that little happening, Mrs. Beverly, and -meant to speak of it here, I might not have come over, though I -certainly did want to hear what was said and done,” Hugh managed to -stammer, at which there was another round of cheers accompanied by hand -clapping. - -“That is the best part of it all, Hugh,” said the lady. “The fellow who -can do a clever thing like that and still shrink from publicity, doubly -wins our admiration. But, my friends, I only mentioned the incident to -show you how at any day there may take place a terrible tragedy at one -of these unprotected crossings, where our innocent children have to pass -over, going to and coming home from school. Now what shall we do about -it? Must we wait until a fatality comes about before we combine all -forces for good to crush these menaces to our peace and happiness? I say -to you the hour has struck, and the women of this town are at last -determined to sweep every obstacle out of their way in order to attain -their end.” - -Mayor Strunk threw up his hands. - -“I surrender, ladies!” he hastened to exclaim, with the air of a man who -knew how to get in out of the wet when it began raining. “Just as you -say, the time for delay has passed, and from this night forward you can -count on me as being with you, heart and soul. That little girl, Anita -Burns, is my own grandchild, some of you may remember, and if anything -had happened to her could I ever forgive myself? I guess it needed -something like this to take the scales from my eyes.” - -Everybody looked happy when they heard the mayor say this. Really, it -had been his system of procrastination that had kept matters from -reaching a climax long before. No one professed to understand just why -he should have acted as he did, since his position as mayor carried no -salary with it. - -Professor Marvin later on called upon Hugh, as representing the scouts -of Oakvale, to outline the idea he had in mind of having the boys made -assistant police, with authority to wear badges, and power to order -arrests in cases of emergency. - -The mayor was somewhat dubious about the propriety of so radical a -proceeding. - -“It would be almost revolutionary,” he observed, “but then we happen to -know how well Hugh can be trusted to keep his troop under strict -control, and they have before this amply proven worthy of the citizens’ -full trust. I shall call a meeting of the town council for to-morrow -night, and as many of you as can, be present; I’d be glad of your -backing when this scheme is thrashed out there.” - -So at last the uplift movement had come to Oakvale, thanks in part to -Hugh Hardin and his fellow scouts. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - WAITING FOR THE GOOD NEWS. - - -“For home protection! That’s the slogan, fellows, Hugh has given us. -We’re going to take our coats off, figuratively speaking, you -understand, and purify the atmosphere around the place we live in.” - -When Billy Worth gave utterance to these rather boastful remarks he was -standing, with a bunch of other fellows in khaki, near the building -where the town council, as called together by the mayor, was still in -session. - -Undoubtedly the fathers of Oakvale were having a warm discussion, since -they had been at it for more than two hours. Indeed, the scouts had held -their meeting in the room under the church, and made all their -arrangements for carrying out their part of the programme, if everything -went smoothly as they expected. A goodly number of the energetic lads -had immediately, after the meeting was adjourned, decided to hurry -around to ascertain what had happened at the council chamber, to which -citizens were admitted to the capacity of the room, but the line was -drawn at fellows under the voting age. - -“Yes,” Jack Durham immediately added, with his characteristic energy, -“Oakvale is going to take its periodical bath, so to speak. This time -we’ll scrub to the bone, and make an extra clean job of it.” - -“The impudent drivers and chauffeurs must be made to respect the law, if -fines and imprisonment will do the trick!” asserted Dick Ballamy, who, -for a wonder, seemed able to turn his thoughts from fishing to a subject -that was of far more importance. - -“Huh! Not only that,” Sam Winter burst out impetuously, “but those -sneaking dives known as ‘speak-easies’ have got to be squelched. Some -people don’t believe any liquor is being sold in Oakvale just because -we’re called a dry town. That fire the other day proved the foolishness -of that joke, let me tell you, boys.” - -“Just what it did!” declared Mark Trowbridge, who often lisped when he -talked, an infirmity that was likely to follow him through life; “why, I -thaw with my own eyeth two barrelth of bottleth half covered with a -blanket, that had been carried from the cobbler’th thop.” - -“Worse than that, even,” asserted Arthur Cameron in disgust. “I saw a -man deliberately lift the cover, take out a bottle, and drain it there, -with a dozen people standing around and laughing. Shows you how some of -our laws are being made a joke. The police are aware of what’s going on, -too; but they believe the sentiment of the town has heretofore been -against enforcing certain statutes.” - -“Well, they’re going to get a rude shock pretty soon, believe me,” said -Billy. “Half an hour ago the mayor and Council sent for Chief Andy -Wallis. He’s in there with them now, listening to the law being laid -down. I reckon the Chief knows by this time that it’s going to be a -clean town or we get a new head of police. The women have taken things -in hand, and mean to purify the atmosphere, so that Oakvale boys and -girls can breathe without being contaminated.” - -“How fast the news spread all over town this morning,” observed Walter -Osborne, the leader of the Hawk Patrol, a fine, manly looking fellow -well liked by all his associates of the troop. “Why, my mother says they -were talking of it in every store she visited, and father added that he -was buttonholed half a dozen times by men who seemed chock full of the -subject.” - -“Old Doc Kane,” added Sam Winter, “carried the news wherever he went. He -said it was going to be next door to a millennium for Oakvale, and that -when the movement had exhausted its force he expected to have his -business reduced one-half, because of the improved sanitary conditions -that would prevail. That was one of the Doc’s little jokes.” - -“He’s loaded to the muzzle with ammunition meant to boost the good cause -along,” asserted another scout. “It’s among the mill people the good -doctor does most of his missionary work. He knows how much a clean town -means to fellows who haven’t comfortable homes to spend evenings in.” - -“Of course, there’s no danger that the members of the town Council will -try to dodge the question again, as they’ve done so many times?” Jack -Durham was saying. - -Billy gave a scoffing laugh. - -“Not much they will!” he ejaculated; “with that wide-awake Mrs. Marsh -present, backed by a lady who can strike out from the shoulder like Mrs. -Beverly.” - -“Besides,” added Walter, “don’t forget what Hugh told us about the -sudden change of front on the part of Mayor Strunk. He saw a great light -when he learned how his favorite little granddaughter had come near -being run over by a team at that dangerous crossing of the three roads -in town.” - -“Then there’s another thing that’s bound to cut some figure in the -decision of the town Council to-night,” said Billy. “Public sentiment -has been aroused, and is at white heat. It seems as if everything -combined to happen all at once, for this very afternoon old Mr. Merkle -was knocked down by a speeding car that got away without anybody -learning its number. He was badly hurt, and they took him to the -hospital; but we’ve been told that the brave old chap, nearly -eighty-five years of age, has sent a message of cheer to the ladies from -his bed, telling them that he glories in being a martyr to the good -cause.” - -“Every fellow take off his hat to old Mr. Merkle, for he’s made of the -stuff our Revolutionary fathers had in them when this country dared defy -Great Britain,” and as Walter Osborne said this, each scout raised his -campaign hat with a touch of respect for the grand old hero lying on his -bed of pain, yet able to think of the reform movement that was sweeping -through the town. - -“Here comes Hugh now!” called out a fellow on the outskirts of the -group. - -“And he looks as if he felt satisfied with the way things were going,” -another hastened to say. - -The young assistant scout master quickly joined them. He was besieged by -numerous questions. Indeed, so thick and fast did these come that Hugh -laughed and threw up his hands, as though to shield himself from a fall -of hailstones. - -“Hold up, fellows,” he told them; “what do you take me for? When you -send them at me like that it makes me feel as the street urchin did who -crawled into an empty sugar hogshead, and, seeing the riches around him, -wished for a thousand tongues. Give me a fair chance and I’ll tell what -little I’ve been able to pick up.” - -Accordingly they quieted down, though still pressing around Hugh, and -hanging on his every word. Confidence in their leader is one of the -highest attributes of praise scouts can show; and the members of Oakvale -Troop felt this to the limit in the boy who had been elected to serve -them in that capacity. So often had Hugh Hardin proved his ability to -fill his exalted position that no one ever dreamed nowadays of -contesting the leadership with him. - -“I managed to interview Zack Huffman,” explained Hugh, “who had been -inside, but had to go home to his family because his wife is sick. He -could stop only a minute or so to talk, but he told me the sentiment was -overwhelmingly in favor of carrying out the whole sweeping programme. -The ladies have got in the saddle, so he said, and mean to ride at the -head of the procession. You remember Zack is something of a scholar, and -you ought to have heard him tell how they expect to beat the record of -Hercules in cleaning the Augean stables.” - -“Hurrah for Zack!” cried one enthusiastic scout, for the boys were by -this time so roused up over matters that they felt in the mood to cheer -anybody and anything that favored their cause. - -“Every now and then,” continued Hugh, “I could hear applause from above -there. I’ve got an idea Mrs. Beverly was talking. If she was, you can -wager not a single member of the Council will dare vote against the -mayor’s programme after it’s been announced. It’s going to be carried -with a whirl.” - -“If it is, we ought to burn a few barrels to celebrate to-night!” -suggested Sam Winter, for such a programme always pleased him immensely. - -“Hold on,” Hugh instantly told him. “We want none of that sort of thing -to-night. For once let’s show that boys can be dignified. This is no -Fourth of July affair. Some of the church people have even contemplated -holding prayer meetings after the Council adjourns, if everything seems -favorable, for their hearts are right in this uplift movement. It -wouldn’t seem just the right thing for scouts to be seen running like -wild Indians all over town, and shouting their lungs out. We’ll just go -home in a quiet way, and get ready to commence business on Monday. Time -enough for a jubilee when the ladies appoint a day for celebrating the -victory. Just now we’ve got work, and plenty of it, ahead of us.” - -“Hugh, you’re right!” asserted Arthur Cameron. - -“Forget that I said it, Hugh!” begged the impulsive Sam, abashed by the -argument advanced by the scout master, because his better sense told him -that was the proper way of looking at it. - -“Hey, there comes Chief Wallis out of the Council chamber!” called a -voice, and immediately every fellow turned his eyes in that direction, -anxious to decide for himself what the appearance of the head of the -police force would indicate. - -Chief Wallis walked straight toward them. His face was inscrutable, but -as he reached the group of scouts, with Hugh at their head, he thrilled -the boys by raising a hand in salute. - -“Come in and see me on Monday, Hugh,” the Chief said, dramatically, “and -we’ll fix it up about what sort of badge you and your fellow Assistant -Police can wear. The women have carried the day, and Oakvale is going to -be purged,” and as he strode on the boys broke into a series of stirring -cheers. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - OAKVALE’S GREAT CLEAN-UP DAY. - - -According to the universal agreement, every pastor in Oakvale made some -mention in his sermon on the following Sunday of the new movement that -had been inaugurated by the better elements in the town. They urged -every one of their flocks who wanted to see a cleaner Oakvale, morally -and actually, to back up the committee. - -It was the talk of the day wherever two or more persons came together, -and there were places where the action of the town Council was either -severely criticized or else condemned. No one need be told that as a -rule these were the dens of vice that had been insulting the law and -flaunting their brazen defiance in the teeth of the citizens. - -Everybody seemed to be waiting with pent-up breath to see whether things -would begin to move immediately Monday opened up. - -By noon on Monday posters began to appear all over town, signed by the -mayor, stating in concise, legal phrases how from that hour forward the -law was going to be strictly enforced to the letter, and telling all -about the plan to enlist the active co-operation of the Boy Scouts in -helping to make a clean town. - -After school that afternoon the fellows belonging to Oakvale Troop to -the number of thirty marched to police headquarters. That three of the -boys did not respond to roll call before marching through the streets, -Hugh ascertained, was because in two instances they were sick at home -with a mild attack of grippe, while the third boy was evidently kept -away because he had an uncle who was believed to be the worst offender -on the list, so that his folks were hardly in favor of appearing to go -against their own flesh and blood. - -But the boys, as they marched the full length of the main street, were -cheered by shoppers and shopkeepers and clerks, as well as others who -crowded to the doors and windows. For it was well known what part Hugh -and his fellow scouts were going to take in the redemption of Oakvale. -Their previous success in ridding the town of cluttering rubbish gave -people confidence in their ability to do even greater things. - -The Chief had his men lined up in front of the headquarters. He believed -in doing things according to rule, and meant to receive the scouts as -fellow workers in the good cause. - -To hear the speech Chief Wallis made the new Assistant Police any one -would have believed his heart had always been in the laudable enterprise -of trying to clean up the dives, and protect the dangerous crossings. -Perhaps it had, but the Chief being a politician dared not show his hand -so long as he felt that public sentiment was against any change of -policy. He knew better now. He had heard the ringing words that fell -from Mrs. Beverly’s lips, which speech, according to all accounts, -eclipsed any oration ever delivered in the town hall; the Chief was -fully enlisted in the cause. - -“We will have official badges made without delay for each and every -member of the Assistant Police,” he told the listening boys, who -interrupted his speech with frequent cheers. “In the meanwhile, as the -posters issued by His Honor the Mayor state, your regular scout emblem -will be badge enough, and must be respected everywhere within the limits -of this town. Possibly some people will at first be inclined to treat -your show of authority as a joke, and laugh at any orders you may issue. -After a few of them have been arrested by my regular officers, and -either fined or placed in jail for some days, they will have their eyes -opened.” - -Then the Chief went on to explain just what their line of work would -consist of, and where they must draw the line. Certain duties they could -proceed to carry out, but the regular officers would be used to make -most arrests, especially where there was any danger involved. - -“You understand,” he told them, “it is not intended that the boys -operating with this movement are going to become spies, to find out what -their neighbors may be doing, but we expect you to keep your eyes open -to discover any glaring infraction of the laws, as mentioned in that -poster, and your leader will thereupon report any such discovery at -headquarters, from where it will be attended to.” - -He then earnestly besought them to be on their dignity, and guard -against any unnecessary show of being conceited, or too proud of their -new positions. - -“Go about your work without any display of authority. People will begin -by sneering at you, but if you do your duty faithfully they will soon -come to respect your badge. Never forget that the best people of the -community are behind you in all you may attempt. Hugh, we look to you to -be a safe guide for your followers, and the mayor told me to inform you -that he expects every scout to do his part manfully. That’s about all I -have to say to you to-day, though from time to time I expect to confer -with your leader, and lay out new plans. I salute you all again as -members in full standing of the Police Force of Oakvale.” - -Hugh had his plans pretty well laid out, though everything could not be -accomplished at once. He had selected certain members of the troop for -duty at the dangerous crossings, beginning on the very next morning. In -doing this, Hugh had used much discretion, for he expected that there -would be more or less trouble, since drivers and chauffeurs had become -so accustomed to having their own way that they would object strenuously -to any interference. - -It turned out, however, that Chief Wallis foresaw this very source of -trouble, and had delegated several officers to stand near by in -readiness to arrest the first driver who failed to pull up when a scout -raised his white-gloved hand as an order for him to do so. - -That was a pretty warm day in sections at police headquarters. Arrests -came in quick succession, as though a regular scheme had been arranged -to make the new order a laughing-stock. But the mayor had a magistrate -ready, and those who were brought in charged with breaking the traffic -rules, as well as in some cases resisting an officer had heavy fines -imposed upon them, with the alternative of several days in the lockup if -they refused to settle. - -It was astonishing how quickly the news went around that the mayor -actually meant to stand by the ladies and the scouts in the crusade. For -the first time that evening in many moons, every questionable and shady -resort about Oakvale was closed as tight as a drum, as Billy Worth -explained it, after a walk about town. - -“Why,” he told Hugh, with glistening eyes, “you can see the fellows who -used to spend most of their time in those places standing on the street -corners watching to see what next is going to happen. They look dazed -and glum, I tell you; yes, and ugly, too, because their business is -going to be all busted up. They’re telling each other that the way -things are starting in it looks like more than just a joke.” - -“‘A new broom sweeps clean!’” quoted Hugh. “I never doubted but what -once the people of this town woke up it could be done, and in a hurry. -The only question is how long will it last? A whole lot of persons will -soon get tired of the novelty, and public sentiment may swing around to -indifference again. That is what we have to fear more than anything -else. Those bad men will just wait for things to take a change, and as -scouts we’ve got to see to it that the enthusiasm never dies out.” - -After an exciting day, Hugh felt pretty tired that Monday evening. He -had received special reports from all the scouts who had been on duty. -These covered a multitude of things from difficulties at the crossings -when traffic was held up at such times as the smaller children were -going to and from school, to infractions of the laws of cleanliness and -health persisted in by certain citizens who ought to have known better. - -Hugh carefully read every one of these reports, and they were numerous, -for the boys had been extremely vigilant, as if to prove their right to -be called Auxiliary Police. Hugh used his own discretion about keeping -some of these reports. A few he smiled at, and made a mental note to -warn the writer that it was not intended to enter into private property -in order to spy around, but that the complaints must be of such things -as offended the public eye or ear or nose; after which he tore these up. - -The others he carefully filed with a good deal of satisfaction, to be -later on submitted to Chief Wallis, after copies had been taken for the -scout records. On the whole, Hugh believed the boys had made good that -day, despite all the novelty of the thing, and the troubles they had met -with. As time passed on and people came more and more to recognize them -as a part of the regular system for carrying out the laws that were upon -the books, much of this friction would die away, and the wheels of -machinery could be expected to move more smoothly. - -Hugh, feeling that he must not neglect his studies on account of this -outside occupation, had just taken out his books, and was about to -settle down to an hour or so of “grind,” when he heard the doorbell -ring. - -Then he caught a familiar voice asking if he were at home. It was Tom -Sherwood, stationed that day at the most dangerous crossing in all -Oakvale, and who Hugh understood, from all accounts, had acquitted -himself splendidly. - -The sound of Tom’s voice suddenly recalled to Hugh’s mind the fact that -he had promised to help the other. It had been utterly impossible for -Hugh to attempt anything along the lines he had suggested, concerning an -interview with Benjy Sherwood, for his day had been crammed full of -duties, great and small. - -But when Tom burst into his room impetuously Hugh could see from his -face that the other had more bad news to communicate. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - THE PROMISE OF A SCOUT. - - -“Hello, Tom! Glad to have you drop around to see me!” was the friendly -and cheery salute of the scout master, as he nodded to the newcomer. - -Boys do not usually wait on ceremony when visiting, so Tom, without -bothering to be asked to take a seat, dropped into an easy-chair. - -Like most fellows of his age, Hugh had his room fitted up in as cozy a -fashion as suited his fancy. There were the customary college flags -decorating the walls, and some well-selected pictures that showed the -bent of Hugh’s mind toward art, a small matter, perhaps, in the opinion -of most people, but of moment with any one really desirous of knowing -the nature of the boy who lives and sleeps inside those walls. - -One thing Hugh had noticed particularly. This was the exceeding great -care his guest took in making sure that he had properly closed the door -after him when entering the room. As a rule, Tom was inclined to be more -or less careless in this respect, being a breezy sort of a chap. Hugh -guessed that there might be a reason for this unusual caution, and it so -proved. - -“Hugh, it’s getting worse all the time!” was the first remark the -newcomer made, and in a low voice, at that, as if he did not by any -chance want to be overheard by others in the adjoining room. - -Hugh could easily guess what those depressing words meant. If he had -entertained any sort of doubt, the sigh that followed would have -dispelled them. Tom was in deeper trouble than ever, and that active -younger brother of his, Benjy, was undoubtedly the cause. - -“What’s Benjy been doing now, Tom?” he asked, in as soothing a voice as -he could summon to his aid. - -Tom scratched his head, as though a trifle puzzled to know just how to -begin. - -“To tell you the truth, Hugh, I don’t know what he is after, but he’s -doing some mighty queer stunts. I never knew him to try to steal -before.” - -“Oh, come, that’s a pretty hard word to use, Tom!” remonstrated the -scout master, trying to appear unbelieving, although he had felt a -little chill on hearing Tom say what he did. - -Poor Tom shook his head as if very downcast. - -“You don’t know how much it knocks me to even suspect such a thing, -Hugh,” he presently managed to say, and there was a plain tremor to his -voice, usually so robust and strong. “In spite of his headstrong ways, -Benjy has always been such a lovable fellow that—well, I’d go through -fire and water for him if I could do him any good.” - -“I’m sure you would,” ventured Hugh, consolingly, as the other boy -stopped, to gulp several times, as though nearly choking with emotion. - -“Ever since he started going with the set that trains with the newcomer -in Oakvale, Park Norris,” commenced Tom, “Benjy seems to have changed -ever so much, and all for the worse. It worries me heaps, and I don’t -know how I’m to get him back again. He seems to listen, with a curl to -his lip, whenever I speak about it, and I’m sure I try to act the big -brother to him, with my arm about his shoulders.” - -“Tell me what’s happened since I saw you last, Tom,” urged the scout -master, desirous of getting at the “meat in the cocoanut” as quickly as -possible, for he had an hour or so to put in at studying, and, besides, -was pretty tired after a strenuous day. - -“I will, Hugh. That was what brought me here to see you. When we talked -matters over before, you promised to help me.” - -“I repeat that promise, Tom. As the temporary head of the troop, I could -do no less; and as your old chum I’d go far out of my way to give a -helping hand to Tom Sherwood.” - -The other heaved a sigh, and his eyes glistened with a sudden moisture. - -“Thank you, Hugh,” he managed to say, half steadily. “I knew I could -depend on you. I wanted to keep these things from our mother as long as -I could. She doesn’t suspect anything like the truth, for I heard her -say only the other day when Benjy had been rather irritable that she -feared he must be unwell, and perhaps she ought to have Doctor Kane drop -in to look him over.” - -“There may be a little truth in that, Tom, don’t you know!” suggested -Hugh, but the other boy shook his head ominously in the negative. - -“I’d like to believe it, Hugh,” he said. “It would be only a matter of a -dose of calomel or some other medicine that old Doc Kane likes to give, -and my brother would be himself again. But there’s something more than -that the matter. However, I said I’d start in and tell what happened, -and so here goes, Hugh.” - -“Please get to the facts as soon as you can, Tom,” requested the other. - -“It happened this very afternoon,” began Tom. “I came home, and started -up to my room to get something or other, when in the glass at the end of -the hall I happened to see something move through the open door. You -know, Hugh, I have a little room all my own at our house, and Benjy’s is -at the other end of the hall. When I saw that it was my brother in my -room I was surprised, for of late he hasn’t bothered dropping in to -visit with me like he used to be so fond of doing. - -“Well, to make a long story short, Hugh, something tempted me to move -softly along the hall and look in past the partly open door. Hugh, would -you believe me, I was shocked to see Benjy, whom I once believed the -soul of honor, actually rummaging in my trunk.” - -“Do you keep your trunk locked?” asked Hugh quickly. - -“Not as a rule,” replied Tom, “unless I happen to have something in it I -don’t want a servant to see, or some Christmas presents I’ve hid away. I -guess it wasn’t locked to-day, in fact, I know it wasn’t.” - -“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” said the scout master, really relieved. -“Younger brothers often think they have a right to rummage when the -notion strikes them, I understand. Why should you think it so strange, -Tom?” - -“Perhaps I wouldn’t have felt so badly about it some time ago,” admitted -Tom; “but so many suspicious things have happened, you see, to make me -think Benjy is going along the fast road. There was his taking that -money from his savings bank, and answering me so impudently when I asked -him what he was spending it for, instead of waiting till the Fourth of -July. Hugh, I keep my own savings bank lying in my trunk, along with a -lot of other stuff!” - -“Do you think he meant to open that, and extract some of the contents?” -asked Hugh, feeling uncomfortably chilly at the thought. - -“I’d hate to say what terrible thoughts chased through my brain when I -saw him turning things upside down as though he couldn’t find what he -was looking for,” the grieved Tom went on to remark. - -“What did you do?” inquired Hugh. - -“The first thing I thought of doing was to step right in and ask him -what he meant by getting in my trunk while I was away. But somehow, -Hugh, I just couldn’t bring myself to do that, so I slipped down to the -head of the stairs, and then started to whistle, and make a noise with -my feet, as if I might be coming up from the lower floor.” - -“Yes,” said Hugh, greatly interested, as Tom paused to gulp again. - -“When I stepped into my room, Benjy had managed to get the trunk closed, -for I had heard the lid bang down. He was going around looking up at the -walls in the most innocent way possible, and as soon as I came in he -asked me if I would mind lending him my old tennis racquet for a little -while.” - -“Well, perhaps he wanted to have a game with some of the fellows over on -the courts,” explained Hugh. “I noticed that several sets were on this -afternoon for the first time this season. You were always a crackerjack -at tennis, Tom, and it may run in the blood with all the Sherwoods.” - -“That’s just where the trouble comes in, Hugh. Benjy never cared a red -cent for playing, though I often wanted him to take a hand. No, I’m -afraid that was just a sudden idea that flashed into his head, so that I -wouldn’t think it strange that I should find him prowling in my room. -Besides, he was as red as a beet when he asked me that simple question, -and mother would never have thought he looked pale and sick if she had -only seen him _then_.” - -“You didn’t say anything to him, of course, Tom?” - -“If you mean accuse him in any way, Hugh, certainly not,” came the ready -answer. “To tell you the truth, my heart was just too full and too sore -to think of scolding, or anything like that. I stepped over to where my -old racquet stood behind the door, for I meant to have it restrung this -spring, as it was getting in poor shape at the close of last season; and -I handed it to Benjy, trying to look natural, too. I’m afraid, though, -he must have seen something queer in my face, for I noticed he gave me a -quick stare just as he took the racquet and hurried off, with muttered -thanks.” - -Hugh pondered over the matter. He hardly knew what to say. It might be a -very innocent thing, on the part of Benjy. Again, there was a chance -that the worst Tom feared might be only too true. - -Hugh did not like the new boy in town, Park Norris. He had too much -spending money for his own good, and it was said that his influence was -not of the best upon several fellows who seemed to be fascinated by his -manner and ways. - -“I’ll tell you what, Tom,” the scout master presently remarked -seriously, “leave this matter with me, and I promise you I’ll take it up -very soon. I’ll try and learn how much Benjy is under the influence of -Park Norris, and then find out if I can’t win his confidence. I seem to -have a pretty good knack that way; at least, fellows tell me so, and I -glory in it, too.” - -“Oh, I’m sure that if only you could get Benjy to promise to break off -with the set he’s been running with, Hugh, it would come out all right. -It’s the cigarette and card habit I’m most afraid of. He’s such a -lovable boy, you know, and I guess he is more easily led than I. So Park -Norris has managed to get a grip on him. I don’t know of a single fellow -who could win him back to his old way of living as well as you.” - -“I give you my promise, Tom, remember, and I think I have the reputation -of always keeping my word. I’ll do everything I can to make Benjy see -that he’s on the wrong track. Will that satisfy you, old fellow?” - -Tom suddenly clutched his friend’s hand and squeezed it convulsively. - -“Oh, thank you, Hugh, thank you ever so much!” he went on to say, trying -to restrain his emotion. “I’ve got such confidence in your way of doing -things that somehow I seem to believe it’s just bound to come out all -right, now that you’re going to go up against the evil influence of that -Park Norris. Benjy will give in if he’s approached in the right spirit, -and nobody knows how better to do that than you.” - -“Try and keep on feeling that way, Tom,” advised the other, as his -visitor picked up his hat preparatory to leaving. “Above all things -don’t let Benjy see that you suspect him. Be particularly kind to him. -Every time you do things for him it’s going to be a fresh stab at his -conscience, you know. In the end it’ll make my job the easier. That’s -all there is to do. Leave the rest to me, Tom.” - -And the look of brimming gratitude which Tom Sherwood gave his chum -spoke more eloquently than any words he could have uttered would have -done. When he went forth again into the night air his brain was calmed -by the thought that Hugh had again promised to help him; and past -experiences and observation told Tom that the young scout master nearly -always did everything he attempted. - -Hugh, on his part, had hard work keeping his mind on his studies the -rest of the evening. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - HOW THE “UPLIFT” WORKED. - - -As the days went by, every one became convinced that a great change, and -for the better, had come upon Oakvale. The scouts had entered upon their -share in the uplift with boyish enthusiasm. They had already, most of -them, seen service along somewhat similar lines, and felt as though they -were veterans. Besides, they were constantly encouraged by the kind -words and praise of the women whose weighty influence was back of the -movement to encourage everything that was for the betterment of -conditions in and around Oakvale, so as to make it a model town for -clean living. - -There were mistakes, plenty of them, but the scouts learned from -experience, and it might be noticed that the same fellow seldom if ever -committed the same blunder. - -As the days went by, they became more and more proficient in their -tasks, earning hearty praise from all those who were so deeply -interested in the work. After a few drivers and chauffeurs had been -fined, and some of them locked up for a spell, they began to realize -that the scouts were not to be reckoned with as a big joke. When a boy, -in the now respected khaki, standing in the middle of the street at that -dangerous crossing, held up his white-gloved hand, traffic came to a -sudden stop, and there was safe passage across for the groups of small -children on the way to and from school. - -It only delayed things for a minute at the most, but precious young -lives were rendered safe from accident. Those boys who were given this -privilege in regular rotation showed by their manner that they felt -proud to fulfill their duties; nor did they in any instance abuse the -privilege their badges gave them above their fellows. - -What had at first seemed like a lark in the eyes of other boys not -members of the troop presently became a serious matter. When some of -them started to annoy members of the new Auxiliary Police they were soon -startled by a visit at their homes by the stern Chief himself, who -warned their folks that a second offense would mean severe punishment. -Possibly some of those parents took it upon themselves to start -operations by selecting a nice stout switch and keeping it in view. - -However, gradually order came out of chaos. Hugh worked faithfully -trying to remedy whatever proved to be faulty, and, of course, there -were numberless things that constantly required attention. - -Those were busy days for the regular police, and it kept them on the go, -warning offenders against the sanitary code that affairs must be -speedily altered; for those wide-awake eyes of the thirty scouts on duty -all the time seemed to discover a myriad of things that were not being -conducted according to law, and were a disgrace to any decent community. - -The mayor was now heart and soul in the work. He realized that he had -the backing of the solid people of the town, as well as all the church -members, and the women besides. - -Once Oakvale had experienced the delight of being really clean it would -require an upheaval to make them change back to old conditions. There -was an element, however, as is always the case in every community, that -looked upon these happenings with more or less angry mutterings and -frowns, for with the change had passed their source of gain and -livelihood. They knew better than to talk openly against the new order -of things, but whenever and wherever the opportunity arose they would -try to excite derision for the “uplift” movement. - -It seemed as though these people who loved darkness rather than light -felt especially sore toward Hugh Hardin and his scouts. They believed -that somehow the khaki boys were the backbone of the whole business, as -they were the ones whose eyes detected offenses and reported the same to -headquarters every day. With a score and a half of bright lads -constantly on the scent it was difficult for anything unlawful to escape -notice. - -Without the help given by Hugh and his scouts the movement could never -have attained such wonderful success from the beginning—that was as good -as acknowledged by almost every one on both sides. It was not singular -then that some of the lower elements, finding themselves hedged about -with so many difficulties in gaining a livelihood in such a -spick-and-span town, should get their heads together with the object of -devising some shrewd method by means of which the old conditions might -be brought back again. - -Plainly then to do this the easiest way would be to conjure up some -means whereby the new order of things would be brought into contempt. -Hugh himself had more than once been given obscure threats that unless -he relaxed his vigilance and shut his eyes to certain things if they -started up again, he would find himself in a peck of trouble. - -Not once did the boy flinch, even though he felt that some of these men -were of a desperate nature, and would descend to almost any mean depths -when their former lawless habits were interfered with. Hugh consulted -with the minister, Mr. Dobbs, and the mayor of Oakvale, both of whom -promised to stand by the scouts through any difficulty. - -These things aroused the women greatly when they heard of them. Plainly -the enemies of the community were becoming alarmed, thinking they had -been cast out for good. If conditions did not soon improve there would -have to be considerable emigration to other communities that did not -have ambitions to merit the name of “Spotless Town.” But it was believed -that before they yielded up the fight these people would very likely -make one last great effort to turn the tables on the reformers. - -They had been engaging legal talent in Oakvale to look up the law and -ascertain whether the mayor had not overstepped his authority when he -ordered certain resorts closed where young fellows had been in the habit -of congregating to play pool. Although no actual proof had as yet been -produced, it was widely understood that other games far less innocent -had also been played there, and that indeed liquor could be procured on -the premises by those who “knew the ropes.” - -But there were other lawyers on the side of the mayor, backed by the -women and the reform element. They made certain that things were kept -within the bounds granted by the law. Then the town Council, now wholly -committed to the new order of things, announced themselves ready to pass -any additional law necessary to continue things as they were. - -A week later and Hugh began to breathe easier. He felt that matters had -advanced so far that they could plume themselves on making the movement -a success. He was every day hoping to hear that the elements they had -cause to fear were commencing to leave town. As long as they continued -to abide in Oakvale the danger was that of a snake “scotched, not -killed,” and liable to come to life again at any time. - -All this while he had not found a good chance to keep his promise to Tom -Sherwood, mostly on account of the press of business. With so many -things depending on him while acting in the place of Lieutenant Denmead, -still absent from home, as well as his studying for the spring -examinations, Hugh certainly had his hands full. - -But whenever he happened to meet Tom, and saw that look of entreaty on -the other’s face, Hugh took himself to task for not finding time to -enter upon the little side campaign for the redemption of Benjy -Sherwood. - -So far as he knew, the latter did not seem to be in the company of the -Norris boy on the various occasions when Hugh had noticed the latter on -the street. That was no reason, however, that Benjy did not seek his -society at other times, and perhaps visit at Park’s house, where -possibly cards were not prohibited as a source of boyish amusement. - -“I’m going to start something doing in that direction by to-morrow,” -Hugh was telling himself as he walked toward home one afternoon, after -making a report to the Chief and receiving the usual congratulations on -his proficiency. - -It was the sight of Benjy across the way that caused him to say that, -for the other had come out of the store where all sorts of games, from -baseball goods and skates down to playing cards, were for sale and -exhibited in the windows. - -It seemed to Hugh, although he admitted that perhaps his imagination -made him think so, that Benjy Sherwood glanced to the right and left as -he came out, as a fellow might who was trying to hide something, or else -felt conscience stricken. He noticed that the other was also trying to -keep a package he carried close to his body as he walked on. - -Suddenly Hugh saw Benjy turn and hurry down a side street, almost -running, in fact. He hardly knew what to make of this until, chancing to -look further along, he discovered Tom Sherwood in sight. It hardly -seemed likely that the other had noticed his younger brother’s very -suspicious action in wanting to elude him. - -Hugh felt a strange fascination in connection with the matter. It was -growing more interesting than ever, and more mysterious, he admitted. -What had Benjy been doing in that store that he should dislike to have -his brother see him, and actually turn and slink away? - -“I’ll know something about this before a great while,” Hugh was telling -himself as he walked slowly on, trying to figure out what his best plan -of campaign might be under the circumstances. As a wise scout he always -tried to make ample preparations before starting in on a game. - -As once before, Hugh had gotten almost within sight of his home fence -when he heard his name called from the rear. It was not Tom Sherwood -this time who came running after him, but Ralph Kenyon. - -Ralph had always been a great favorite of Hugh’s. There was a time when -the other had been making money trapping small fur-bearing animals up -above Oakvale, and proving himself quite a woodsman, in so far as having -a knowledge of the habits of these four-footed forest denizens went. - -That was before Ralph became interested in the scouts and finally joined -the troop. He could not be induced to set a single cruel steel trap now, -because he looked at things in an entirely different light from those -other days. But he was without a peer in the whole troop when it came to -a question of following a trail, or being able to understand what the -thousand-and-one little signs in the woods stood for. - -Ralph looked excited, Hugh saw, as the other drew near, and the first -thing the scout master thought the cause to be some fresh insult from -the rough element in town opposed to the new conditions. - -Hugh was ready to turn right-about face and go back to the office of the -Chief, if Ralph’s complaint seemed serious enough to warrant it. He was -determined that the work so well begun should not be put back by any -underhand methods. - -Ralph soon came up, gulping in big draughts of air. His face was red, -and what seemed to be a look of indignation, according to Hugh’s mind, -could be seen there. - -“Something got twisted and needs straightening out, eh, Ralph?” asked -the scout master pleasantly. - -“Worse than that, I’m afraid, Hugh,” replied Ralph. - -“None of the boys hurt, I hope?” quickly inquired Hugh, for the one -thing he had been dreading was an open rupture between the rival forces -in town, with stones flying and a near-riot in the process of forming. - -“Well, not yet, Hugh, but if things keep on there’s going to be the -dickens to pay,” panted Ralph, leaning against the fence as he spoke. -“Fact is, those gamblers and law breakers have got desperate, and -they’ve schemed to put us scouts in a bad hole, so the mayor will have -to discharge us and start the whole uplift game tumbling in the soup; -that’s what makes me look so scared like, Hugh!” - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - ONE USE FOR WOODCRAFT KNOWLEDGE. - - -“What do you mean by putting us scouts in a bad hole, Ralph?” asked -Hugh, quickly, for what the other boy had said startled him. - -Ralph glanced hurriedly about, as though to make absolutely certain that -no eavesdroppers were near by to overhear what he said. Then he drew -closer to Hugh and assumed a most mysterious manner that could not help -having an effect upon the surprised scout chief. - -“Oh! they’re as mad as hops, let me tell you, Hugh,” Ralph commenced. - -“Of course you mean, Ralph, those fellows who were hurt when we put the -lid tight on Oakvale, and stopped their sneaky business, whatever it may -have been?” - -“Yes, and they’ve got together and mean to fight back, that’s how it -stands now, Hugh,” he was told. - -“We knew they had employed lawyers and were meaning to do everything -they could to get the mayor’s acts called unconstitutional,” Hugh -remarked. - -“Oh! they’ve made up their minds, I guess,” Ralph continued hastily, -“that when it comes to a show-down of law they haven’t got a chance to -win out. Hugh, let me tell you again some of that bunch are the most -desperate men going. Why, nobody would ever have believed we had such -monsters here in little old Oakvale.” - -“Whew! you’re going pretty strong when you use a word like that, Ralph!” - -“They deserve it every time, I tell you,” persisted the other. “What -else would you call men who even scheme to have a store in this town -robbed, and then fix it so that marked bills or pieces of jewelry will -be found in the pockets of certain scouts, you among the number?” - -Hugh stared hard at Ralph as though he could hardly believe his ears. - -“You haven’t been dreaming that, have you, Ralph?” he finally asked, as -he took hold of the other’s sleeve and drew him around so that he could -look straight into Ralph’s eyes, which, however, did not waver before -his gaze. - -“Not much I haven’t, Hugh,” he was told like a flash. “I give you my -word of honor I heard that very scheme spoken of by three of the leading -spirits in this fight against a clean town—Gaffney, who used to run that -poolroom; Slimmons, the retired boxer, who used to be athletic trainer -at the schools before somehow he took to drinking so heavy they had to -drop him (and he’s hung around Gaffney’s place ever since trying to pick -up some sort of living giving boxing lessons, etc.). There was a third -man present, but he doesn’t really live in town. I suspect he’s been -interested on the quiet in dodging the law here by supplying shady -resorts with booze, and is losing money as long as they stay shut up.” - -“Where did all this take place, tell me, Ralph?” - -“Listen then, Hugh. I happened to be coming across lots down at the -bowling alley corner when I saw those three men dodge into the place. -You know it’s been closed to play ever since they found things were -going on there that had no business in Oakvale. Well, I thought there -was something queer about the way those three men acted before they -dodged in, and my old sense of investigation at once began to urge me to -take a peek and see what they might be up to. If any sort of game was -going on, the police ought to know, you understand, Hugh?” - -“Yes, and you were acting within your rights as a member of the regular -police force, in figuring on doing so,” the other assured him. - -Ralph smiled grimly as though pleased to receive that reassurance from -the one in whom he placed unlimited confidence. - -“Well, it was as easy as falling off a log for me to discover a window -that I could crawl through,” Ralph went on to say, “and nobody saw me do -it either. I haven’t been watching mink, otter, and foxes pull off their -sly tricks without learning a thing or two. So once I got inside the old -building it wasn’t much of a job to find where they were sitting, -jabbering away like everything, in low voices, as if they didn’t want to -be heard outside. - -“Hugh, I couldn’t begin to repeat what I heard. All of them were -excited, and in dead earnest, too. Each one had suggestions to make that -sometimes made my blood run cold. Their well-paying business has been -closed up, you see, and that’s what makes them so bent on striking a -blow to end this silly ‘racket,’ as they contemptuously call the uplift -movement. - -“And, Hugh, just as I said in the beginning, they’re actually planning -to have a robbery committed, and manage it so that some of the stuff -that’s taken will be found on a number of the scouts. Just how this is -to be done they hadn’t fully settled; but it’s all going to be fixed -this very night, so that before another forty-eight hours have passed -the dirty game can be worked. Why, I never dreamed so dreadful a thing -would come slap up against us scouts. They want the people of Oakvale to -suspect us of being common, every-day thieves.” - -“Don’t worry, Ralph,” said Hugh, firmly. “I don’t believe the game could -have been carried out successfully at any time, even if none of us so -much as suspected a thing. Now that you’ve warned us, why, it’s bound to -fall flat. Mayor Strunk and the women of this town know the scouts too -well to ever believe they’d disgrace their uniforms and honor badges by -stealing.” - -“Do you know, Hugh, while I lay there straining my ears like everything -so’s not to lose much of what those plotters said, I was thinking what a -bully thing it would be if the scouts could turn the tables on ’em.” - -“You mean, Ralph, fix things so the fellows who actually did the robbery -would be nabbed in the act—with the goods on—before they found a chance -to deposit any of the plunder in the pockets of the scouts, or at their -homes, where it would be found when a search started?” - -“That’s what I had in mind,” confessed the other, eagerly. - -“It would be just what they deserved,” declared Hugh, “and what some -folks would call retribution. We would save ourselves a whole lot of -trouble and explanations, and at the same time might get rid of an -undesirable bunch of crooked people that Oakvale never would miss.” - -“Of course you understand, Hugh, that I was so worked up by what I -managed to hear, I felt nervous about staying too long, for fear those -men found me out. I tell you they’re mad enough to do almost anything to -us scouts. So I concluded it would be wise to creep back, and get out of -that same window again before anything happened to me. This I proceeded -to do, and say, I breathed free again when I found myself under the blue -sky once more.” - -“The last you saw of them they were still sitting in the old bowling -alley place talking things over, eh, Ralph?” - -“Yes, and figuring on how soon they could do that nasty job, too, Hugh. -From all I heard they won’t let the grass grow under their feet before -getting things moving.” - -“If only we knew whose store was to be robbed we would have something to -work on,” suggested the scout leader, invitingly. - -“Oh! I think I know that much even now,” admitted Ralph. “They seemed to -be talking about the easiest way to get in, and I heard them mention old -Mr. Ainslee several times, as if it was to be his jewelry store.” - -Hugh would not have been human if he had not felt a chilling sensation -pass over him upon learning to what extreme lengths the enemies of -reform were willing to go in order to accomplish their purpose. This was -to upset the prevailing conditions, and put the town back into the old -rut that was winked at by the police and authorities, it being impolitic -to notice them too closely. - -His determination was immediately taken, for Hugh could often reach a -conclusion as speedily as on other occasions he took time to make up his -mind. - -“Ralph, I was headed for home when you stopped me,” he went on to -explain, “but after hearing what you’ve just said, I want to have Mr. -Dobbs and the mayor know what those desperate men are thinking of doing. -Would you mind coming with me and repeating your story to them?” - -“Not a bit, Hugh; fact is, I expected that you would ask me to do so, -and I’d made up my mind what to say. Sure, I’ll go along, and repeat -every word.” - -Accordingly the pair trudged their way to the parsonage, and were -fortunate enough to find the minister in his study. Mr. Dobbs was a -venerable man who always took a great interest in all the activities of -the Oakvale boys. The scouts had no more sincere friend and advocate -than he proved to be, even when the organization had been young, and -much doubt had been expressed among the better people of the town as to -the wisdom of allowing such a movement to crystallize. - -He greeted the boys with his customary warmth. - -“I’m very glad to have you drop in on me this way,” he told them. “If it -is in search of any advice or other assistance, I shall be glad to know -what I can do for boys I think so highly of. Tell me what your errand is -this time, Hugh, my son.” - -Of course the parson was highly indignant when he heard to what actual -depths of depravity some of those men were willing to descend in order -to undo the work of the loyal scouts, and the better elements among the -residents of Oakvale. - -“It all goes to prove how fearfully lax we had become here,” he observed -after Ralph had told all he knew. “It also shows what a crying necessity -for a radical cleaning-up movement there must have been when such -criminal elements, working to undermine the characters of our young men -and boys, as these, could effect a lodgment in our town. It was high -time we woke up and took our coats off for business. Ralph, I want to -thank you in the name of every respectable woman and mother in Oakvale -for what you have discovered this day. ‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ they -say, and before we are through with Gaffney, Slimmons and Company, they -will realize that they have been up against a threshing machine.” - -Hugh liked to hear the old minister talk like that, for he understood -that Mr. Dobbs was really a Civil War veteran, and in the old days had -once been known as the “Fighting Parson.” If those unruly men fancied -that because he was a shepherd of a flock he would not fight to save his -pet lambs from the devouring wolves they made the greatest mistake of -their whole lives. - -So Mr. Dobbs quickly got the mayor on the wire and asked him to come -over to the parsonage without a moment’s delay; also to fetch Doctor -Kane along with him if he could possibly do so. - -“I’ve got something to communicate that will give you an electric shock, -if that hint will cause you to speed your car any the faster, Mr. -Mayor,” the boys heard the minister say in conclusion. - -It was not a great while before they arrived, for apparently the mayor -had either met Doctor Kane on the street or managed to find him at his -house. Then once more Ralph was influenced to tell his startling story. -He had deeply interested listeners. Hugh could see the mayor gritting -his teeth as he had a way of doing when thoroughly aroused. - -“These two wide-awake scouts have suggested,” said Mr. Dobbs, after -everything had been told, “that we keep very quiet about this discovery, -and lay a trap so that when the robbery is actually attempted we may -arrest those who are implicated. If they are caught in the act, before -they can have any opportunity to place the blame on any one else, we -will have no trouble of ridding our town of unworthy citizens. Mr. -Mayor, it rests with you to decide.” - -“Nothing would please me better!” exclaimed the mayor, strenuously. -“Before we go into details with regard to any plan I want to thank these -brave boys from the bottom of my heart on account of what the scouts -have done and are doing to purge Oakvale of every element that stands, -as a blot on a town’s fair name.” - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - THE GOAL IN SIGHT. - - -It was fine of the mayor to say that. Had the women who had labored so -long and so arduously in order to accomplish this end overheard what he -remarked, they might have whispered among themselves that it was a great -pity Mr. Strunk could not have reached the desired resolution many -months previously. - -But then “better late than never,” and if his eyes were now opened to -the enormity of the offenses that had previously been winked at as -unavoidable in a bustling community of Oakvale’s size and rapid growth, -there was good hope of the future. - -Before Hugh and Ralph left the parsonage to hurry home to supper they -had heard the whole thing thrashed out, and even found their opinions -asked by the trio of deeply interested gentlemen. - -A plan was fairly well arranged that would serve as a trap, for from -what Ralph had caught, the conspirators would not be in position to -attempt the daring robbery until then. In fact, as Ralph very well -understood, it was actually Hugh who proposed the idea upon which the -minister, Doctor Kane and the mayor finally settled as promising the -best results. But then Ralph saw nothing strange about that, for as a -member of the scouts he was accustomed to have Hugh Hardin naturally -take the lead in almost everything. - -Ralph was greatly pleased. He considered, and rightly, too, Hugh told -him, that once again his knowledge of woodcraft and the Indian art of -creeping up close to an enemy’s camp had proved of value to the cause he -represented. Many fellows similarly situated, even if they had thought -to make the attempt, might have bungled, and only brought down some sort -of chastisement on their own heads for their temerity. - -It was to remain a dead secret; even the rest of the scouts would not be -told why Hugh ordered them to be at their place of meeting on the -following night, prepared to have a number of the stoutest and most -adept chosen for a special mission. - -The mayor promised to see Chief Wallis on the following morning and get -him interested in the matter, so that he and several of his men could -have a hand in trapping the thieves. Just as likely as not these men -would be in a desperate mood, and liable to show fight when they -realized how completely the tables had been turned upon them. Hence it -was deemed wise to have some of the regulars on the police force handy -in order to assist the scouts make the arrests. - -No doubt the home folks at the Hardin and Kenyon domiciles must have -thought the boys were unusually serious all that evening, perhaps -absent-minded, for often they would start when spoken to suddenly, as -though wrapped up in some far-away subject. - -However, as it was known that their hearts were concerned in the -successful carrying out of the cleaning up of Oakvale, allowances were -made for them. Fond mothers, though, may have found themselves wondering -if it were really wise to allow such weights to rest upon young -shoulders. - -Another day came around, and its duties were taken up by the scouts with -their accustomed alacrity. Every fellow seemed to vie with his mates in -doing his share of the work in a way that would allow of no fault -finding. There was indeed what might be called a healthy rivalry among -the scouts, to see who could command the highest number of clean scores; -for Hugh had arranged matters in the shape of a contest, to make it more -interesting. - -The opposition had not yet died out, for when men have fallen into -certain bad habits that become as second nature, it is most difficult to -break the bonds binding them. - -True, the drivers and chauffeurs in and about Oakvale had by degrees -become accustomed to the new order of things, which was moving along as -smoothly as clockwork. They found there was absolutely no need of any -friction, and that while occasionally held up by the amateur “traffic -cop” in order to allow a safe passage for a squad of school children, -they really lost little or no time. Besides, a vast amount of argument -and hard words was saved by this orderly way of running things at -congested crossings. - -Already the new system had borne fruit, for the railway company, while -not compelled to do so by any town ordinance, doubtless falling in with -the general scheme of uplift, stationed a flagman at the perilous -crossing, who would be on duty from six in the morning until sundown. - -Those of the scouts who had the duty of searching for infractions of the -health code ran across the greatest trouble, because they were dealing -with private individuals, some of whom nursed petty “grouches” against -them because compelled to do what the boys demanded or take the chances -of being summoned before a Squire and heavily fined. - -Hugh used considerable diplomacy in dealing with these offenders. He did -not wish the scouts to make any enemies when it could be avoided. So -when there happened to be some stubborn fellow who firmly believed he -had a right to do things that were offensive to the neighbors and the -community at large, just because he was on his own grounds, and -threatened to go to law to resist, Hugh tried other measures besides -violence and threats. - -In several instances he performed what seemed next door to miracles, in -the eyes of the boys, and the amused people as well. Hugh could -“blarney” most any one into coming around to his way of thinking, given -half a chance, was what Billy Worth always said, and in fact the young -scout master proved the truth of this assertion in several instances. - -One crabbed and rich old fellow in particular, who had little to do with -his neighbors, but persisted in keeping several fierce dogs that barked -most of the night, upon being threatened with the passage of a new law -that would proclaim such animals within the corporate limits of the town -a public nuisance if complaint were handed in signed by six neighbors, -told them they could pass all the regulations they wanted and he would -take out an injunction, which by the delay of the law would allow him to -do about as he pleased the rest of his life. - -Judge Coffin, from the town of Lawrence, whose acquaintance some of the -scouts had made at the time of the famous flood,[1] when they were -enabled to save several lives and win the esteem of the entire -community, chancing to visit Oakvale on some official business just -about that time, confided to Hugh the fact that unfortunately what Mr. -Griffin claimed was true, and that by successive injunctions it was -possible to fend off a decision for months, sometimes years. - -This was not the worst of it, for if one man could baffle the desire of -the community in that way his example might become contagious and the -precedent thus set be copied by others, until all the good the reform -wave had done would be lost. - -So clever Hugh had figured out it was essential that Mr. Griffin be won -over to the cause, even if it took much of his spare time to accomplish -the seemingly impossible result. - -Like a wise general, Hugh first looked over the field. He knew that when -a battle is to be fought the side that knows the various conformations -of the ground always possesses an advantage over those less posted. - -In making all sorts of inquiries Hugh learned a lot about the past of -this crabbed old man who seemed so like vinegar. There was a reason, it -seemed, for his “drawing within his shell,” and refusing to have more -than casual communication with his neighbors. - -Mr. Griffin had suffered a cruel shock many years before, losing his -wife and two lovely children in a fire. One girl was left to him, and -she grew up to womanhood, gave him a great deal of trouble, and finally -ran away with a worthless fellow. Some years afterwards, the old -gentleman, now become estranged from the world that had treated him so -cruelly, went away, and came back with a child he announced as his -grandson, the last of his stock, for the daughter had died. - -Alas! this little boy was a cripple and deformed. Hugh had seen him -several times, but the old man kept a strict watch, and allowed no -intruders in his grounds where those dogs roamed at night time. - -The hunchback was now all of ten years of age, and when Hugh saw Mr. -Griffin buying some boys’ books before Christmas he understood that the -little fellow at least must love to read. - -Here then was the scheme which Hugh worked out. He had plenty of books -that told of the doings of Boy Scouts. Besides, he had an old manual -that he could easily spare. So he bribed the grocer’s boy, who daily -visited the Griffin home, and admitted that he chatted with the -hunchback frequently, to give Archibald the package of books on the sly, -and tell him the leader of the Wolf Patrol had sent them with his -compliments to help a “shut-in” realize what scout life meant. - -Hugh heard from his kind act, for on the very next day he received a -splendid little note from the boy, thanking him heartily for his -thoughtfulness, and saying that he would devour those books -“ferociously,” he was so “crazy” about reading of what boys more -fortunate than himself were doing. - -Hugh kept it up after that, and before long there was a most friendly -feeling springing up between the two. One fine day Hugh was surprised to -have Mr. Griffin stop him on the street, and he realized that the severe -look could leave the face of the well-named man when he chose to drop -the mask. - -“My little grandchild has been telling me about your kindness in sending -him books to read,” the gentleman started to say. “Now, I have been very -particular about the type of books I select for him, because I want the -poor little fellow to know only the better side of life. At first I was -afraid you had broken down the barrier I have erected, but when I came -to look over the handbook of the scouts, and found what a splendid -foundation the organization is built upon I felt sure that books written -along similar lines could do a boy only good. I am pleased to say that -upon glancing over those you sent him, I have been immensely satisfied.” - -He offered his hand to Hugh, something no boy in Oakvale had ever known -Mr. Griffin to do in all the years past. Hugh flushed with a sense of -satisfaction upon realizing that he was on the road to success, and that -his diagnosis of the stern old gentleman’s real nature had not been -amiss. - -“I am glad you do not think I was playing a mean part in getting those -books to Archibald,” he said, simply. “We scouts feel for any chap who -is deprived of the glorious chances we have to spend many good times in -the open. I thought he would be glad to learn about scout life, even if -he could never hope to enjoy it himself.” - -“What is more to the point,” continued Mr. Griffin, “I’ve had my eyes -opened to the fact that it is a bad thing for any man to allow himself -to remain in ignorance with what is going on around him as the years -progress. I am ashamed to admit that I never dreamed there had been such -a vast revolution in the training of boys during the years I’ve kept -aloof from the world. I’ve seen mention of the scouts many times in my -papers, but never took the trouble to investigate—in fact, treated the -whole matter as somewhat of a military movement copied after the Old -World methods. I am delighted to learn that such is not the case.” - -Then he went on to say Archibald was eager to meet Hugh, and that if -only he could come over and take supper with them that evening it would -give both of the “shut-ins” great pleasure indeed. - -Such luck Hugh had hardly anticipated, but he was only too glad to -accept the invitation in the spirit it was given. - -“I have some more really splendid books I want you to let him read,” he -went on to say with spirit. “If you don’t object I’ll come over this -very evening,” for, as we happen to know, the scout master believed in -“striking when the iron is hot.” - -After that it was easy for Hugh. Once he had gained entrance to the -Griffin home he found a means for occupying a place in the hearts of -both the hunchback boy and his grandfather. By a wise system of -approaching the subject discreetly Hugh quickly found a way of getting -Mr. Griffin to change his mind about keeping those noisy dogs. - -It was once more a case of the gentle sun’s rays accomplishing what even -the most violent wind could not do. - -Hugh never boasted of his victories, but in some way the truth became -known. Possibly Mr. Griffin, now mingling more than in the past with his -neighbors, secretly amused, told it himself. At any rate it served to -add to the laurels Hugh had already won as a diplomat, as well as a -scout leader. - -So the good work went on. This incident connected with Mr. Griffin and -his pests of barking dogs was only one example of how the scouts managed -to accomplish their ends. It is not by mere promises of prosecution -alone that nuisances can be abated, for sometimes reason goes a great -ways toward effecting a cure. - -A few threats had been made, but so far none of the boys had really -suffered actual violence. Truth to tell, the cowards who had been -bullies knew that when they assailed the scout uniform they really went -up against the entire vested authority of the town as represented by the -mayor, the police, and the better element of the citizens. - -Speedy retaliation had fallen upon those astonished offenders who had -laughed at the warnings given by the Auxiliary Police. They realized -that because a fellow is under a man’s size and wears a khaki uniform, -it is no sign that he cannot enforce his authority. - -Things had apparently been going on swimmingly, and there seemed every -indication that victory was in sight when Ralph by accident overheard -that plot to bring about the undoing of the scouts in the estimation of -the town people. It was plainly the last desperate effort of the -opposition. If they were beaten in this round the chances were there -would be a clean sweep to crown the efforts of those who were working so -hard for home protection in Oakvale. It would have been proven -conclusively that a new rule must hereafter be reckoned with, which was -founded on _order_ and the rights of the community as against private -privileges. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - BENJY’S SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS. - - -Really, it was strange how things crowded into that particular day. Hugh -was down doing some errand in the shopping district of the town when, by -the merest accident, he chanced to see Benjy Sherwood again. - -The sight of Tom’s high-strung younger brother would be apt to interest -Hugh at any time nowadays, for it caused him to remember that he had as -yet been unable to carry his promise into effect, owing to the great -rush of matters accumulating on his shoulders. - -He was particularly interested, however, when he saw what the boy was -doing, for plainly Benjy had some silver coins in his hand which he was -counting. - -Hugh jumped to a conclusion that gave him a bad feeling in the region of -his heart. When a fellow is seen coming out of a bird store where all -sorts of pets are kept, and counting silver coins from one hand to the -other, the most natural conclusion is that he must have been selling -something there, and wants to make sure he has received the right -amount. - -Hugh chanced to know that Benjy had been deeply interested in Belgian -hares, and received a present of a handsome pair of them on Christmas, -of which he had been exceedingly fond. Hugh wondered if it could be -possible that the boy, hard pressed for the means to pay some “debt of -honor,” as he considered it, had actually sacrificed his pets. - -The thought of what a hold that gaming habit must have gained upon poor -Benjy filled the scout master with dismay. He took a few steps past the -store, and then felt compelled to yield to an irresistible impulse to -make sure; so, turning back, he walked into the place. - -Hugh had often been there before, for he was himself interested in fancy -pigeons, and had a coop of “homers” at home from which he anticipated -raising some fine youngsters, which he could take many miles from home -and find awaiting him on his return. Indeed, he aspired some day to -possess famous fliers that might cover a thousand miles, and still find -their way home inside of a few days. - -So Hugh strolled around looking at the coops containing all sorts of -pets both in fur and feather, from cunning pet dogs to fowls with -pedigrees, and parrots that could say dozens of strange phrases, or even -sing in a croaking fashion. - -Finally Hugh approached the owner of the shop, who was busily engaged -with some work. - -“Do you happen to have any Belgian hares, Mr. Huggins?” he asked, in a -casual way, as though he had looked around and failed to notice any in -the various cages or runs. - -“Why, that reminds me I forgot to put that pair in the cage, I was so -busy after the boy left,” remarked the owner of the store, as he hurried -over to an old basket that had a cover to it, and from which he drew a -struggling object with long ears, which he tossed into an empty cage, to -be presently followed by a second. - -Hugh’s last doubt was now laid. He had recognized the Belgian hares by -certain well-remembered marks, as once the property of Benjy Sherwood, -who must have sacrificed them for a particular object. - -When Hugh remembered what he feared that object might be he found -himself shivering, he was so sorry for poor Tom, whose heart seemed so -sore these days. - -More than ever was Hugh bothered to know just how he should go about -gaining the confidence of that high-strung lad. He had found a way to -gain the heart of such a scoffer and doubter as Mr. Griffin, whom -everybody deemed beyond hope. Surely there must be some method he could -apply to reach Benjy’s confidence, so that he might coax him to join the -scouts, and drop those suspicious companions. - -“I’ll start right in to-morrow,” Hugh told himself, vigorously, as he -left the pet shop and headed for home. “Until this other business is -settled and the coast cleared, I mustn’t allow myself to be tempted to -take up any side issues. But if all goes well, and to-morrow sees things -turn our way, as I hope, then I promise myself that I’ll turn to Tom’s -trouble and help him out.” - -All the rest of that afternoon he could not keep his thoughts away from -what he had learned about Benjy. It seemed as if the boy must be sinking -fast in the quicksands of the treacherous stream into which he had so -boldly waded. Unless prompt measures were taken for his rescue, Hugh -feared Benjy would ere long be so deeply involved that such a thing as -saving him must become three times as difficult. - -“I’ll drop over and see Tom to-night,” he promised himself, as he sat -awaiting the summons to supper. “I don’t remember meeting him all day, -that is, to speak to. He’s beginning to believe by this time that I’ve -about forgotten my promise. Poor Tom, I’m sorry for him as can be, and -only hope we can convince Benjy he can get three times as much real fun -out of joining the scouts as keeping company with that tough crowd.” - -Hugh was not as sanguine as his words might indicate. He knew what a -grip habit can take upon most boys, and how once they yield to the -allurements of vices it proves very difficult for them to break away, or -even acknowledge they are on the wrong path. - -He had several half-formed plans, any one of which he might be able to -work upon, after he had consulted with Tom. The latter was one of the -sturdiest of the scouts, and Hugh particularly wanted him to be present -on that night watch. He partly feared Tom might not feel inclined to -come forth, and it was partly with the intention of gaining his consent -that Hugh meant to drop around after supper and see him. - -It happened several things came up to delay him. First a report was -brought in by a member of the troop that was of sufficient importance to -merit immediate attention. So Hugh had to talk with Chief Wallis over -the wire. Then something else arose that took another half-hour of his -precious time. - -When finally the decks were cleared it was almost half-past seven, and -the meeting had been called for eight. - -“I must hustle if I mean to have a talk with Tom before we both go over -to the meeting room,” was what Hugh told himself, as he snatched up his -cap and made for the door. - -He had hardly gained the street before he ran across two of the boys -heading in the direction of the church, where a room had been placed at -the disposal of the troop, together with the free use of electric light, -and heat in winter time. - -At the next corner, however, Hugh stopped short. - -“Sorry I can’t go all the way with you, Chester and Dale, but I’ve got -an errand over at Tom Sherwood’s house. I’ll be with you later on, and -will fetch Tom with me. My lips are sealed about the object of this -special meeting until then, so there’s no use trying to coax me to -speak. Those who are selected will be told everything, and the rest put -on their honor not to say a word about anything they suspect to-night.” - -“Wow! you certainly have got us all guessing good and hard, Hugh,” -laughed Dale Evans, who belonged to the Otter Patrol. “I sure hope I’ll -be one of those lucky chosen ones, so I can know what all this mystery -means.” - -“Oh! any old thing is liable to happen in such exciting times as these,” -said Chester Brownell, who was one of the best athletes in the troop, -and would assuredly be picked out by Hugh as one of the guards of the -night; though Chester, being in complete ignorance concerning matters, -could not know this. - -Hugh hurried as best he could toward the Sherwood home, which was some -distance away from the corner where he parted company with the other -scouts. There was little chance that Tom might have already started for -the rendezvous, but somehow Hugh suspected the other was feeling too -anxious to take any pleasure in going to a called meeting, when he could -just as well stay at home and worry his mind with those questions that -would not down. - -Tom himself came to the door in answer to his knock, and seemed to be a -little surprised to find who was there. Hugh thought he looked more -gloomy than ever, though possibly that had been a faint gleam of revived -hope that flittered athwart Tom’s long face at seeing the scout master. - -“I thought you mightn’t come out to-night, Tom,” said Hugh, as he pushed -in without even waiting for an invitation, “and so I made up my mind to -step over and be sure of you. Fact is, Tom, there’s going to be -something planned of great importance to our cause. I’ve depended on you -to be one of six or eight of the brawniest fellows in the troop to stand -by and help us win a great victory.” - -Tom looked somewhat impressed, though he shook his head sadly as he went -on to say in reply: - -“Well, I had almost made up my mind, Hugh, that I didn’t care to go out -to-night. Fact is, to tell you the truth, I’m so miserable these days -that I don’t seem to care whether school keeps or not—lost my appetite, -and even think of resigning from the scouts.” - -Hugh slapped him on the back in his cheery fashion. - -“Don’t let me hear you make that threat again, Tom,” he said, in -pretended severity. “We need you too much every day to let you go. -Besides, your influence is going to count for a heap after the town is -cleared up. You don’t know how much it means to have a scout in good -standing in a family. But what ails you, Tom? Has anything new happened -to give you the blues again?” - -“Yes,” came the reply, accompanied with a deep sigh from the heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - THE REVELATION. - - -“Tell me what it is all about, Tom, won’t you?” asked Hugh, as he -followed the other upstairs to his own room. Somehow, Tom seemed to feel -that they ought to be alone so his mother might not overhear what passed -between them. - -“I’ll just close the door, Hugh, before I say anything,” remarked Tom, -“though for that matter there’s no danger Benjy will interrupt us, -because he’s gone off for the evening. This time I’m glad to tell you -it’s to a sociable they’re having over at our church for the young -people.” - -His manner when saying this showed that Tom would be a happy fellow, -indeed, if he could only know that every night Benjy was away from home, -he was enjoying himself in similar innocent amusements as on this -particular occasion. - -“It’s this way, you see, Hugh,” he continued, after finding a seat close -to his visitor, “for a little while now Benjy’s been acting mighty -decent, and I’ve come to let myself take on more hope than I had the -last time you and I talked it over. He seems more like his old self, and -was even asking some questions about the scouts, though up to now he’s -never seemed to care a thing about our organization, you remember. But -it was too good to last, Hugh.” - -Remembering what he had seen that afternoon, with Benjy counting silver -coins he had received from the bird fancier, Hugh himself was obliged to -mentally confess that it looked very much that way. - -“Go on, please, Tom!” he urged when the other paused. - -“Well, this is how it happened,” explained the other, slowly, as though -he hated to talk about such a painful subject, and had to force himself -to take it up only because he knew it was necessary he should enter into -details. “After supper this evening, just before Benjy went out, he gave -me a quick look when he thought I wasn’t paying any attention, and then -slipped upstairs. I waited for a little while, and then just couldn’t -stand it any longer, so I managed to leave the sitting room and go up -the back stairs. - -“Keeping on my tiptoes, I moved along the upper hall in the half shadows -to where I could watch the door of my room. It was partly open, and -there was a light inside, but I couldn’t see Benjy at all, though I -could hear him moving about as if looking for something. Then the light -suddenly went out, and he came out. Hugh, it made me as cold as ice when -I even heard him chuckling to himself as he hurried to his own room, -just as if he thought he had played a good joke on me.” - -“Of course he didn’t know you were so close to him?” asked Hugh when Tom -stopped talking to swallow as though something seemed to be choking him. - -“No, and as soon as he disappeared in his own room I slipped downstairs -again, and took up the book I had been reading. He went off a few -minutes afterwards, and called out good-night to all as cheery as he -used to in the old days before he got going with that tough set.” - -“Did you come up here and look around to find out what he had been -doing?” asked the scout master. - -“I wanted to the worst kind, Hugh, but it seemed as if I just couldn’t. -I was almost afraid to look for fear of making some more discoveries -that would upset me. Why, Hugh, honest to goodness, I feel so weary this -very night you would think I was an old man, and yet I’ll be sixteen -to-morrow, you remember.” - -“Well,” Hugh told him, “it’s always my principle, when I’ve got a -disagreeable task to perform, to get at it right away. The longer you -wait, Tom, the worse it gets for you. The only way is to shut your teeth -hard together, and pitch in.” - -“I guess you’re right, Hugh—sure you must be. I’ve been silly to hold -back. No matter what I learn, the truth can’t be any worse than this -terrible uncertainty that’s gripping me, and making me shiver as if I -had the ague again.” He jumped from his seat as though determined to -carry his words into effect. - -“I suppose the first thing I ought to look at is my trunk, eh, Hugh?” he -went on to say, fumbling in a pocket for his keys. - -“Well, you know better than I do where you keep your valuables,” said -the other, trying to appear merry, though somehow, Tom did not respond -to any appreciable extent. “I see that since that other time I was up -here you’ve changed your way of leaving your trunk unlocked.” - -Tom flushed, and shook his head. - -“Oh! I tell you it galled me to think I was locking it against my own -brother,” he said, tremulously, “but then I remembered that it is a sin -to put temptation in the path of any fellow whose weakness you know. -Though for that matter a common key would unlock this trunk.” - -He soon threw back the lid and bent over, fumbling through the contents. -Hugh stood close by, watching him with more or less curiosity and -interest. He saw that Tom was evidently in fear and trembling, as though -constantly dreading lest he make some unpleasant discovery. - -As he proceeded he seemed to regain a portion of his former confidence. - -“Here’s my little savings bank all right, Hugh, and no one could ever -manage to get anything out of that in the short time he was in my room, -even if the trunk could be opened. So far as I can see, nothing has been -taken out of here.” - -When he allowed the lid to drop again Tom was looking more or less -relieved. Evidently his main concern had been in connection with the -money, he had in that little metal bank, for if Benjy had meant to take -anything it would seem that ready cash would tempt him more than all -else. - -“Oh! perhaps, Hugh, he didn’t come in here for that,” he broke out with. -“I remember now that sometimes in the past when Benjy was going out to a -party he used to want to fix his tie, and brush his hair before the -mirror in my room, for he said the light was better here. It may have -been that, Hugh, you know.” - -The scout master understood that poor Tom was like a drowning man -clutching at a straw in hopes of keeping himself afloat. Hugh himself -might have been inclined to look at the matter from much the same -standpoint only for that strange incident of the afternoon, which he -could not explain, try as he might, save along very unpleasant lines. - -“Let’s hope so, Tom,” he hastened to say, “though now you’re about it, -in order to ease your mind, and leave no stone unturned, I should think -you had better make a clean sweep in here.” - -“Do you mean search every drawer in my chiffonier and dresser, Hugh?” -demanded Tom. “I can do that easily enough, but surely he wouldn’t think -to take any of my clothes. I might tell if he’d mussed around in the -drawers searching for my savings bank, though, because I keep everything -just so; and the clean shirt I expect to wear to-morrow morning I placed -on the top of the pile. That’s my habit as a scout to have things kept -as neat as wax. Why, Hugh, my mother laughs at me, and calls me a fussy -old maid, you know, all on account of those habits of thrift and -preparedness.” - -He started in at the bureau drawers for some reason or other, and as he -opened each one and ran his eye over the contents, Tom continued to -talk. - -“Seems like nothing has been bothered that I can notice, Hugh. Here’s -another drawer containing some of my surveying instruments, for, with -Bud Morgan, I’m still interested along those lines, though of late I -haven’t been out afield with him. I was a little afraid one of these -instruments might be gone. You see, they’re worth considerable money, -and were made a present to me by an old uncle who’s interested in my -career. But, so far as I can see, not a single thing is missing, Hugh.” - -There was a positive air of relief in Tom’s voice when he said this. -Undoubtedly the contents of that drawer of instruments had been giving -him more anxiety than he had confessed, and he was glad that no -unpleasant discovery had developed. - -“The rest will be just an apology of a search, Hugh, because, you see, -there’s absolutely nothing worth taking besides these things. Still, to -satisfy my mind as you say, perhaps I’d just better run through the -drawers of the chiffonier.” - -He started at the top one. Hugh indolently watched his progress -downward, never dreaming that there would come anything out of the -ordinary. Suddenly, as Tom started to open the drawer that he said -contained his clean shirts, the scout master saw him give a big start. - -“Why, what’s this?” Tom stammered, at the same time taking out a long -package carefully tied up, and with something written on the outside. -Hugh also noticed that an envelope was pinned on to the paper covering. - -Somehow or other Hugh experienced a thrill. It was as if he had a -premonition that something in the nature of a great surprise was coming. -Tom was staring hard at what he saw written on the paper. Then he -snatched the note, and with trembling hands commenced to get at the -enclosure, while the scout master strove to analyze his feelings from -the flitting expressions that chased each other across his face. - -He saw Tom read on, first with incredulity, then sheer amazement, and -finally a look of supreme joy came upon his countenance that spoke even -louder than his words could the revelation that had come to his faithful -heart. - -“Oh! Hugh! Hugh! would you believe it, Benjy’s all right? He’s—he’s—oh! -I’m so happy I hardly know what to say! Read his note, Hugh, please!” - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - CLEAR SAILING AHEAD. - - -Hugh took the missive from Tom’s hand, and at the same time managed to -see what was written on the outside of the carefully done-up package -that the other had laid on the top of the chiffonier. - - “To Brother Tom: Wishing him many happy returns of his birthday. From - Benjy!” - -Even before Hugh read a single word in the note he believed he had a -pretty clear comprehension as to the true state of affairs. His heart, -too, was bounding with sudden relief over the happy outcome of the -troublesome matter, although it was not to be expected that, being an -outsider, Hugh could feel one-quarter the joy that filled Tom’s soul. - -The letter ran as follows: - - “Dear Tom: - - “Here’s the best thing I could think of to get you. It’s a whole lot - better than your old racket ever was, which I am having repaired for - my own use. I’ve taken a liking to tennis lately. And, Tom, you’ll be - glad to know I’ve thrown that whole crowd overboard, and I mean to - make an application to join the scouts the first chance I get. Perhaps - you would like to propose my name. Many happy returns of the day, Tom. - I’m beginning to realize what a whole lot I owe you for keeping - everlastingly at me, even when I kept turning you down. But I want to - forget all that now, for it can never happen again with me. - - “Your brother, Benjy.” - -Hugh folded up that note with a feeling of delight he had seldom -experienced before. Then Benjy was turning out to be a splendid sort of -fellow! Hugh anticipated he might prove to be that once he made up his -mind to break away from those evil connections that were pulling him -into the mire. - -He must have been really hunting for the old tennis racquet on that -other occasion when caught rummaging through Tom’s trunk. He had -appeared confused because he feared his secret might be discovered. He -had not only taken every cent he had in his bank to pay for the new -racquet, but had actually sold his valuable Belgian hares in order to -make up the amount he still owed at the sporting goods store. - -By now Tom had snatched up the package and managed to get it undone. He -uttered cries of sincere admiration and delight when he saw what an -elegant tennis racquet was revealed. His eyes were swimming with tears -as he looked at Hugh. - -“Oh! Hugh!” he stammered, “will I ever be able to forgive myself for -thinking all those bad things about him? I never felt so ashamed in my -life as I do now. But I’m going to make amends for it, see if I don’t, -Hugh. Look what a dandy racquet he got me, will you? Spent every cent he -had saved for his Fourth.” - -Hugh hardly knew whether he ought to relate what he had discovered. The -temptation to do so overcame his scruples. Besides, now that Benjy’s -innocence had been assured, he thought it too good to be hidden under a -bushel by silence. - -“I’m going to tell you something, Tom,” he went on to say, with a smile. -“Queer, isn’t it, that often the very things we fear for most turn out -to be for the very best?” - -Tom immediately began to show new interest. How his fine eyes sparkled, -and upon his face that worried look could no longer be seen. - -“What! is there anything more good coming, Hugh?” he cried, eagerly. - -“You’ll have to judge for yourself,” replied the scout master, after -which he proceeded to relate how he had seen Benjy coming out of the -bird store kept by Mr. Huggins, and counting some silver, also how the -discovery had filled him with dismay. - -“It was only natural it should, you understand, Tom,” he went on to say -in apology, “after what we suspected. But I made up my mind I would -learn what he had been doing in there.” - -When Tom heard about the selling of Benjy’s pet Belgian hares he lowered -his head suddenly as though he did not want his friend to see that his -eyes were swimming, for as a rule, boys have a prejudice against -appearing weak. Hugh respected his brotherly emotion, for he knew that -it must be complete joy that affected the other now, and not anxiety. - -By the time Hugh finished speaking Tom managed to get a fresh grip on -himself, even though his voice did tremble somewhat. - -“Hugh, I’m bound to redeem those long-eared little animals if I have to -borrow the money to do it with!” he exclaimed. “To think of his making -that great big sacrifice just for me! I know how fond Benjy’s been of -his pets! Oh! Hugh, when you came in here little did I dream what -glorious news there was going to be sprung on me! I was feeling away -down in the cellar, and now, well, I seem to be on the roof looking up -into the beautiful heavens!” - -That was not such a bad description of Tom’s feelings, considering the -fact that he was only a matter-of-fact boy, and struggling along under -unusual emotion. - -Hugh did not attempt to explain how possibly it might be just as well to -allow Benjy to make his sacrifice. It gave the boy more or less -satisfaction, and would always be a link connecting him with his -brother. Later on Hugh might urge upon Tom the wisdom of letting matters -stand just as they were. - -He handled the racquet and praised its good qualities. - -“It was pretty smart of the boy hiding it in the drawer containing your -shirts,” Hugh went on to say, laughing; “especially as he figured that -to-morrow was your regular morning for putting on a clean one, and you -would be sure to discover the package the first thing on your birthday.” - -“Wasn’t it, though?” said Tom, chuckling. “That shows, Tom, that Benjy -would make a good scout, because he has the sense of observation well -developed to start with.” - -“Just what it does, Tom, and some day before long I hope to see your -brother wearing the honored khaki. It’s a proud family that can boast of -_two_ scouts, let me tell you. And once Benjy joins—no danger of his -ever going back. A world will open up to his eyes that he never dreamed -existed. Old things will have passed away and everything become new, -once he has put on the magic spectacles of scoutcraft. I’ve been told -that by a dozen fellows, and I know what a change it makes in most -boys.” - -Tom began to wrap the precious racquet carefully up again in the paper -that had been around it when he made his startling discovery. How -tenderly he handled the present given by his brother. Hugh even thought -that all other gifts showered on Tom in times past must sink into utter -insignificance when compared with this special one; for it represented, -in his eyes, the dissolution of those serious doubts that had of late -been weighing down his spirits until his heart felt like lead. - -“I’m meaning to put it back just where I found it, you see, Hugh,” he -explained, “and make things look as if no one had touched it. Luckily -the envelope wasn’t sealed, so I didn’t destroy the same. You may wonder -why I do that, and I’ll tell you. I want to open it again in the morning -just as if I had found it for the first time. Then there’s another -reason, you see, Hugh; Benjy might get home to-night ahead of me, and -finding that I hadn’t shown up yet, take a notion to step in here just -to have a last peep and a pat at his package. I wouldn’t like him to -know I had been investigating ahead of time, you understand, Hugh.” - -The scout master could read between the lines. He realized that not for -the world would repentant Tom want Benjy to suspect he had been looking -all through his room in the fear and expectation of making a distressing -discovery that would implicate the younger brother. Nor could Hugh blame -the other for wanting to conceal such a humiliating thing as this. - -Accordingly the packet was carefully put on top of the clean shirts in -the drawer. To all appearances it lay just as Benjy had placed it, and -if he did peep in the receptacle, there was nothing to tell him that the -well-tied bundle had been disturbed. - -“There, that’s a big load off my shoulders,” said Tom, with a look of -relief. “Now, Hugh, I’m ready to go with you, and do anything you ask of -me. Why, I feel that light-hearted I could almost fly,” and he flapped -his arms as though they were wings, an action that caused Hugh to laugh -aloud. - -“Well, just hold your horses a bit, Tom,” he advised. “I have need of -your services to-night, and it would be a shame to have you take a -flight. Suppose you get your cap and come along with me to the meeting.” - -“There must be something serious doing, Hugh, if all this mystery counts -for anything.” - -“There certainly is, Tom. You’ll learn about it as soon as I’ve picked -out the scouts I want to serve with me. They’re all going to be husky -fellows like yourself.” - -“You’ve got me worked up to top-notch speed, Hugh, with what you say,” -said Tom, scurrying around, and looking for his cap, which he found -behind a chair where it had evidently fallen when he tossed it aside -earlier in the evening. “But no matter what it all means I’m with you to -the last lick. I feel as if I could whip my weight in wildcats. Lead the -way, and every scout you want will follow you, Hugh.” - -And so the twain passed out and headed for the rendezvous, where they -were likely to find full twenty-five fellows in khaki impatiently -awaiting the coming of their leader, and an explanation of this unusual -“called” meeting. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - PUTTING THE CLAMPS ON. - - -Hugh had figured it all out, and decided that the first thing he would -do after the business part of the meeting had been carried through, -would be to pick the fellows who were to help guard the jewelry -establishment with some of the regular police force, so as to surprise -the thieves, if they should come as expected. - -He believed it might be unwise to tell the others anything about the -plan of campaign. This was not because he had reason to suspect the -loyalty of a single scout, but boys will talk as well as girls, and -unwittingly a fellow might let something escape him that, through -devious channels, would be carried to the ears of those who were -concerned in the contemplated raid on the store. - -This plan was carried out to the letter. Those whose names were not on -the list of lucky ones felt a little aggrieved, but at the same time -they knew it would do no good to enter a complaint. Hugh had promised -they were to be given full particulars as soon as possible. He assured -them also that it was a move in the interests of the grand project that -engaged their labors—cleaning up Oakvale. - -Once he found himself left with seven stout chums, Hugh proceeded to -gather them around him, and explained what was in the air. He had a most -attentive audience, and it would have been amusing to any one interested -in boys to watch the expressions of wonder and growing delight that -gradually crept over their faces as they drank in his words. - -Say what you will, the seed of adventure has always taken root deep down -in the hearts of every healthy boy. The mere fact that they were scouts, -and had promised to observe the rules of the organization whose badge -they so proudly wore, did not mean that they must stifle this feeling, -which, if directed along the right channels, does a boy ten times as -much good as harm. - -Dozens of eager questions poured in upon Hugh as soon as he had managed -to tell them about the dastardly plot that had been hatched up by those -desperate men who realized they were getting near the end of their rope, -and that the energy of the scouts was primarily responsible for the -whole thing. - -Hugh acted with considerable patience and answered as best he might. He -realized that under similar conditions he, too, might have felt inclined -to ask for further information, because it was a tremendous subject, -truth to tell, and difficult to grapple with in the beginning. - -“We’ll make our way by a round-about route to a place appointed,” he -went on to explain, “and there we’ll find Chief Wallis waiting for us. -He will have three of his men along with him, all that can be spared -from their night duties. Between us we’ll probably fix it so that a -complete cordon will be thrown around the jewelry store they’ve picked -out for robbery.” - -How they hung upon his every word! Hugh would know just how to place -them in order that they might be able to throw themselves upon the night -prowlers after the latter had actually started to break into the store. -Hugh had explained that they must not be premature in unmasking their -batteries, or the thieves might find a loophole by means of which they -could escape from the meshes of the law. - -When Hugh decided that it was time they started to effect a junction -with the regular police; he warned his followers for the last time how -to act. - -“If it comes to actual fighting,” he said, impressively, “remember, you -must leave _that_ to the officers, who are armed to bear the brunt of -the attack. We can throw ourselves on any fellow, if the chance offers, -and hold him down. But all that will be arranged exactly after we meet -the other guards.” - -He took them along an unfrequented street and by making several detours, -the little group finally found the threatened store looming up close by. - -Hugh gave a prearranged signal and received a soft reply. - -“The Chief is over there in that dense shadow,” he whispered to the -rest. “We must slip along and join him. First, Tom, here, can go, and -drop down when he finds himself in the dark spot. Then Alec will follow, -and in regular order Buck, Ralph, Jack, Bud and Sam are to imitate him. -I’ll fetch up the rear. Make a move, Tom.” - -They were all on their mettle, and besides, had the reputation of being -clever scouts, well versed in most of the secrets of woodcraft. -Consequently the maneuver was carried out without a single hitch. Before -many minutes passed Hugh, having arrived on the spot, found his chums -crouching there close by the Chief. - -In low whispers the head of the Oakvale police force now explained their -plan of campaign. It was not known whether any hostile eye kept watch -over the threatened store or not, but they must always believe that such -might be the case, and act accordingly. - -That principle was also in line with a scout’s education, and pleased -the boys exceedingly. They had been taught never to underestimate an -enemy, and that it were far better to waste time in taking precautions -than have over-confidence ruin the best-laid plan. - -One of the police and three of the scouts were to remain outside the -building, and their part in the enterprise was easily guessed. If the -thieves were like most of their class they would very likely leave one -of their number without to keep watch and give a signal should any -sudden peril loom up. It was to secure that sentry that the force -detailed to stay in the open had been marked off. - -Hugh with the rest and the Chief meant to enter the store. He had -visited it often and ought to be well acquainted with its every detail. -Even at that Hugh never left a thing to chance when he could help it. -That very afternoon, after he had left Ralph and the others, the boy had -made some sort of excuse to drop in at Ainslee’s establishment. With his -scout ability he had been able to make a mental map, and had noted every -particular of the store, so that he believed he could, if necessary, get -around in the dark without colliding with showcases or pillars or -counters. - -Chief Wallis must have found a way to communicate with the proprietor of -the store, for he certainly had a key that opened the side door, through -which numerous shadowy figures now silently slipped. - -Here again Hugh proved of considerable value, for it was he who really -directed the others where to hide so that they might divide their force. -The Chief had a pocket electric light along with him, but he hesitated -to make use of it, lest some one passing and repassing the front of the -store, and looking in, take notice of the strange glow, and communicate -the alarm to his fellows. - -Talking was absolutely forbidden among the scouts. They could only -indicate the tremendous interest they were taking in the proceedings by -numerous sly digs in the ribs, after the manner of lively boys unduly -repressed. None of these were given with such vigor as to elicit a gasp -or groan. - -How still it seemed after they had been posted in their hiding places. -Some of the scouts must have thought they could actually hear the -beating of their own hearts, such was the stress under which they -labored. - -Luckily Hugh had used discretion when making his selections. He had not -chosen them merely for brawn alone, but for an ability to keep a good -grip on their spirits, and bravely face exciting conditions that might -well try the nerves of experienced officers. - -An hour passed. It did not slip by, as most of the waiting scouts would -have readily agreed. In fact, that was one of the longest hours they -ever knew, and as ten boomed from the church clock, they could hardly -believe their ears, for surely, they figured, it must be that a longer -time had elapsed. - -Hugh allowed them a chance to change their positions when cramped, but -insisted that it be done with due regard to caution. They could not tell -when suspicious ears would be listening for any sound to indicate -trouble. When the thieves did come they would do so—silently, and -without any trumpet to announce their mission. - -The second hour was worse by far than the first. How their lower limbs -did seem to want to “go to sleep,” as the boys termed it when -circulation of blood ceased, and a species of numbness resulted. Various -were the remedies resorted to in order to overcome this unpleasant -feeling. When eleven struck some of the crouching figures moved uneasily -and came as near groaning as they dared. - -Still, it could not be long now before something was likely to happen, -Hugh whispered to Tom, with orders to pass it along the line, and then -become mute again. - -Hugh himself was wondering whether or not all these preparations were -doomed to disappointment. What if the grand scheme had fallen through, -or the intended robbery been postponed because of good and sufficient -reasons? He felt that he would be grievously disappointed, for somehow -he had come to set much store on being able to strike this telling blow -against the worst of the offenders of decency in Oakvale. - -He had an impression that this would mark the final effort to break down -the new order of things; that if the robbery of the jewelry -establishment, and the subsequent placing of the crime at the door of -certain innocent parties, could be balked in its perpetration, the last -barrier would have yielded, and after that the reform people would have -a clean order of things. - -It must have been pretty near the midnight hour when a door was heard to -close. That little piece of carelessness on the part of the thieves was -likely to cost them dear in the end, since it gave ample warning of -their coming. - -One soft hiss from Hugh and every scout flattened himself as low as he -could, so that discovery might not follow in case those who had entered -the store produced any sort of light. - -They were not experts in this profession, Hugh guessed, for they took -certain chances of being discovered while at work. Nevertheless, they -depended on the vigilance of their outpost stationed on the street, as -well as the reputation acquired by the town night officers for shirking -their work when on beat. - -When it was seen that the two men had actually commenced operations on -the big safe, as though meaning to break into it, and have “the game as -well as the name” now that they had gone to all this trouble, the -concealed boys could hardly keep from leaping up and throwing themselves -upon the robbers. Only the mastery which Hugh possessed over them -prevented such a break; for it had become second nature now with them to -wait for orders before making a move. - -Apparently, there was no need of waiting further before showing their -hand. Those outside could take warning when they heard a sudden sound of -confusion within, and pounce upon the “outlook.” - -The Chief had reserved to himself the giving of the signal, and every -one, man and boy alike, knew what his particular part in the surprise -attack was to be. If everything went right it would be like the -mechanical action of clockwork machinery. Hugh hoped no cog in the wheel -would miss connections, because that might interfere with the ultimate -success of the whole scheme. - -The two men were bending low when there came a sharp exclamation. They -would have started up like a flash, but even then their action was just -a trifle too late, for something heavy dropped upon them, and flattened -both out upon the floor. - -It was really the body of the Chief that had accomplished this coup. -Before either one of the astonished rascals could squirm out from under -his ponderous form the scouts became as busy as beavers. Hugh flashed -the little light handed over to him by the Chief, and kept it playing -full upon the focussing point where all their interest was centred. -Consequently Tom, Sam and the rest of the fellows had no trouble in -distributing themselves along the length of the recumbent figures of the -disturbed thieves. - -Hugh felt sure that, as Billy Worth would have said, it “was all over -but the shouting,” when he saw how well pinned down the desperate -rascals found themselves. He advanced closer so as to be in a position -to carry out any wishes of the astute police head, such as slipping the -waiting handcuffs over the wrists of the prisoners, and rendering them -harmless, so that they might be stood up and looked over. - -Several loud outcries from beyond the door announced that those who had -been given the task of trapping the third member of the audacious set -had taken a hint just as soon as they heard the first sound within the -store. They soon came into the building pushing a man before them, who -was lined up with the other pair. - -Three more disgusted-looking fellows had likely never before been -paraded in front of the scouts. Just as Hugh and Ralph had suspected, -they turned out to be Gaffney, the former owner of the poolroom and -gymnasium that had been abolished by orders of council; Slimmons, once -the athletic trainer in the public schools before he took so heavily to -drink that he had to be let go; and that third man, a stranger whom Hugh -believed must be secretly interested in seeing Oakvale’s reform movement -slump, perhaps because he had some connection with the interests of -those who had been defying the law. - -Caught in the act, it was likely to go hard with the three. Gaffney did -tell his mates not to open their mouths, but to leave it to him to get -them clear. Hugh believed they were leaning on a broken reed if they -entertained any hope that political influence was going to keep the -outraged law from taking its course. That day had gone for Oakvale, and -the degrading elements which such men as Gaffney represented, would have -to emigrate to other quarters if they hoped to be able to continue to -ply their evil vocations. - -The trio of prisoners were marched through the now deserted streets to -the lockup, where Chief Wallis would see to it that there was no chance -for a getaway. The seven scouts, who accompanied Hugh and the little -group of officers surrounding the prisoners, would never be able to -forget the exciting experiences of that night. It would have to go down -upon the annals of scout achievements, and serve to add one more -glorious event to the string of exploits carried to a successful -conclusion by the boys of the Oakvale Troop. - -Before Hugh dismissed his followers he took occasion to thank them -warmly for having acquitted themselves so splendidly. Tom Sherwood, in -particular, squeezed his hand with peculiar emphasis at parting, as he -said in a happy tone: - -“This has been a white letter night for me, Hugh, and one I’ll never, -never forget. You know why, Hugh, and the first thing to-morrow morning -I’m going to buy those Belgian hares back if they are still in the -market. So good night, and thank you a thousand times, Hugh. It’s bound -to be a happy birthday for me, I tell you.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - FOR HOME PROTECTION. - - -On the following morning, when the news was circulated through Oakvale -that some of the disorderly elements had attempted to make a raid on the -Ainslee jewelry establishment, great was the consternation of the good -people of the town. Then when it was added that the supposed robbery was -only a part of a miserable scheme to try and bring the organization of -Boy Scouts into disrepute, the indignation of the citizens knew no -bounds. - -“It is the culminating stroke of wickedness,” Mrs. Marsh declared as she -spoke at a hurriedly arranged meeting of the best ladies in the town, -“and proves that we did not commence this uplift movement a day too -soon! Heaven only knows what might not have happened if not for those -dear boys making up their minds that conditions had to change in -Oakvale. I am free to confess that all our efforts to arouse the -citizens had been marked by little success until Hugh and his comrades -took it upon themselves to start the ball rolling.” - -“Well,” said Mr. Dobbs, the minister, who chanced to be present so as to -congratulate the Ladies’ League on the splendid success that was meeting -their efforts, “it has often seemed to me that when Providence wants to -overwhelm bad men in the toils, first of all their common sense is taken -away so that they commit foolish acts that bring about their own -downfall. By great good luck we have managed to turn the tables on these -schemers, and they are hoist by their own petard.” - -“And after what has happened,” added Mrs. Beverly earnestly, “there -should not be a single dissenting citizen who cares a shred about his or -her reputation. Bold, indeed, must the man or woman be who would dare -side with such desperate rascals as Gaffney and Slimmons. The town is -well rid of an encumbrance, and let us all be thankful in our hearts on -this wonderful day that the sun can look down on our beautiful little -city and not shine on a single evil spot. Our boys and girls can go to -and fro from this time on without that constant anxiety mothers have -been feeling. I wish to state that much of this sense of security, I -believe, we owe to the sterling efforts of Hugh Hardin and his sturdy -comrades of Oakvale Troop. I love every one of them, and shall never be -weary of sounding their praises, for they are boys of whom any town -might well be proud.” - -It is human nature to want to be on the winning side. Hugh believed -there would be comparatively little trouble ahead for himself and -comrades. The rapidity with which the men who had been taken to the -lockup were brought to trial and punished for their misdeeds was going -to deter others from attempting opposition. - -In the midst of all this excitement, together with so much cause for -congratulation, Hugh did not forget Tom Sherwood, and what had happened -to brighten his life. The next time he met Tom he found his face radiant -with the joy of living. Any one could see without being much of a reader -of human nature that Tom was thoroughly happy. Many were the conjectures -that his friends gave as to the reason for the boy’s sudden return to -his old self. Tom kept his own counsel, and only told those who -persisted in asking questions that a little trouble he had had on his -mind had come out all right. - -Hugh would keep the secret, of that Tom felt assured, and no one need -ever know what terrible fears he had been entertaining on account of -Benjy. - -“Hugh,” he went on to say, as he clapped his hand on the shoulder of the -scout master, with a movement that stood for deep affection, “it’s all -come out right, and I’m the happiest fellow in Oakvale, let me tell you. -Benjy and I understand each other now, and I’ll see to it that after -this never a cloud is going to come between us. Hugh, he’s going to drop -over tonight to see you.” - -“I hope he doesn’t know that I felt worried about him the same way you -did, Tom?” remarked Hugh. - -“Oh! I was too ashamed of my fears to ever tell him about _that_,” -replied the other, quickly. “Benjy has been explaining to me what a -fight he had with himself before he could break off connections with -that crowd. I think a dream he had one night had a heap to do with his -making a decision. He wouldn’t explain just what it was, only shuddered -as he spoke of it. You can govern yourself as you think best, Hugh, when -you’re talking with him.” - -“He’ll never learn a single thing from me about your worrying, Tom. -Although you haven’t said so, I imagine he’s coming to make some -inquiries about joining the scouts?” - -“Yes, that’s what he’s got in mind now, Hugh. He’s found himself -interested in a lot of things we’ve been doing the last year or so. -Somehow, they seem to look different from what they used to. Benjy has -waked up, you see, and once a fellow gets to feel an interest in scout -doings he’s bound to go on wanting to know more. When the fever begins -to burn in his veins he never finds any rest until he throws his lot in -with the wearers of the khaki, and starts to learn things for himself.” - -“Tell him I expect to be home to-night after supper,” said the scout -master, “and will be glad to have him drop over. We need a few more good -fellows to fill out the vacancies in several of the patrols. Lieutenant -Denmead, you understand, may be home the end of this week, and assume -his old position of head of the troop.” - -“He’ll be surprised to learn what’s been going on here during his -absence, believe me,” observed Tom, grinning. - -“Oh! I keep in touch with him, and I’ve written an inkling of what we’ve -been doing,” Hugh admitted. “All the same he’ll be pleased to find -Oakvale so changed. The ladies say it must never go back again to where -it was before. We scouts are of the same mind. Homes are going to be -protected against those whose evil influence is all for pulling them -down. That’s going to be the slogan of the scouts from now on. Tom, -every new member we take in means one more timber in the structure we’re -building on this safe foundation. Work all you can to spread the gospel -of scout activities. There are dozens of fellows still around town who -ought to be given an opportunity to learn the great benefits that go -with scout membership.” - -When Benjy came around that same evening, Hugh was primed for him. He -went about his task with diplomacy, knowing that some boys can be led -but never driven. So successfully did Hugh accomplish his labors that -before Tom Sherwood’s younger brother left the house he was fairly wild -to have his name brought before the nominating committee at the very -next meeting. - -“I feel that I’ve already lost a mighty fine time by my silly opposition -to the scouts,” Benjy frankly admitted. “I was all wrong, and I guess it -was only my natural pig-headedness that kept me so. But I’ve seen a -great light, Hugh. They say it’s better late than never. I want to enjoy -some of those good times you fellows have. Besides, I expect I’ve got -something to wipe out, because of late I’ve given my brother Tom more or -less worry.” - -When a scout goes about recruiting in the happy way Hugh did there is -hardly a limit to his capacity for bringing new members into a troop. -Those boys of Oakvale who wore the khaki had been highly favored by -fortune in that opportunities for doing big things had ever knocked at -their door. - -Those readers who have had the pleasure of enjoying many of the previous -books in this series will remember with satisfaction how they followed -the fortunes of Hugh and his chums at the time they set out to improve -the sanitary conditions of the community in which they lived. - -Then there was the time of the great flood in a neighbouring town where -several of the boys chanced to be visiting, during which they proved -that they were made of the right kind of stuff, and won the admiration -of the people of the inundated district. - -The temptation is strong to mention several other instances where scout -pluck and endurance won the day against heavy odds. For example, there -was the time when the lads were camping in the vicinity of a great plant -where a strike broke out, and rioting resulted. It may be remembered how -they took hold and showed what they knew of “first aid to the injured,” -winning the approbation of the Red Cross doctor and nurses when later on -they came upon the scene. - -During the County Fair the scouts also played a part that made them many -new friends, acting as messengers and guides to the exhibitors and -visitors, and even running a successful field hospital in the fair -grounds. - -To continue a little further it may also be remembered how they were -unexpectedly called upon to fight the forest fires that threatened to -ruin many farmers and others who had their homes within reach of the -flames. Those boys who read that story will not soon forget how Hugh and -his mates acted their part against heavy odds, and how splendidly they -convinced a doubter that scout activities always made a boy more manly, -as well as rendered him a far better citizen, of which any community -might well be proud. - -Then there was the time some of the Oakvale boys in khaki met with a -remarkable adventure in connection with the motion picture players, -which has been narrated at length in a recent volume. - -Last, but far from least, while mentioning some of these interesting and -instructive facts, it would hardly be fair to omit the occasion, not so -far in the past, when some of those same fellows earned the right to -have their names written on the Scouts’ Roll of Honor, as well as -managed to receive the valuable medal which is presented to those -members in good standing who save human life at the risk of their own. -If you have not already enjoyed reading that story lose no time in -securing it, as you will be well repaid for your time and money. - -But passing over these never-to-be-forgotten happenings of the past we -must once more come back to Hugh and his chums at the time they labored -so zealously to create a new moral atmosphere in the home town where -they lived, and of which they were naturally very fond. - -As the spring days went on the difficulties that had at first beset the -reform wave in Oakvale gradually died down, until it seemed as though -things were going along like clockwork. Men, women and children took a -keen interest in helping the matter along. There was a healthy rivalry -between certain cliques of boys with the idea of winning the highest -praise for keeping their section of the town free from all nuisances, -and so long as this spirit lived, the community was bound to profit. - -Once the citizens began to enjoy full freedom from repulsive and -unpleasant customs, they found the change so agreeable that no one had -the temerity to sigh for the old régime; at least, if he did, he wisely -kept his longings to himself. - -Even the railroad company, that had up to that time absolutely refused -to do anything that would necessitate the expenditure of money, seemed -to have been shamed by the action of the scouts in looking after those -dangerous spots, where the lives of the smaller school children were -placed in danger. - -First, a gate guarded by a flagman was placed at the point of most -danger. That was an entering wedge, and as the citizens sent in a letter -of thanks for the favor the railroad people awoke to the fact that the -Oakvale station was a pretty dingy-looking affair after all. To the -surprise and delight of the population word was received that it had -been unanimously decided at the last meeting of the Directors to build -the finest station on the whole line, of course outside the big cities, -at Oakvale. - -One portion of that communication made some fellows in Oakvale feel -pretty well satisfied, for it was hung up where every one could read it -who wished. This ran after the following fashion, and few there were in -Oakvale who did not know the wording by heart, most of them were so -proud of the distinction: - -“We desire to state for the benefit of those who may have doubted the -substantial benefit of a certain movement that has been sweeping over -the land, that one of the chief reasons why Oakvale is selected for the -honor of this new and beautiful station is the fact that her citizens -have in their midst an organization that has done wonders in improving -the living conditions in their town. We refer to the local scout troop; -and wish to say that having after a full investigation learned how -loyally these boys have striven to do their duty, and served as best -they knew how to uplift the community in which they lived, it is our -earnest hope that other towns and villages along our line may take -pattern of these boys of Oakvale, and hasten to emulate their splendid -example.” - -That letter was deemed so precious a recommendation that Hugh afterwards -obtained the right to have it suitably framed. And to this day it hangs -in the meeting-room of the Oakvale Scouts, where any member of the troop -will esteem it a privilege to show it to you if you take the trouble to -drop around. - -Every time Hugh saw Tom on the tennis court swinging that splendid new -racquet, he told himself how unsafe it was for any one to judge wholly -from appearances, and that he must consider the delightful outcome of -that little affair as a never-to-be-forgotten lesson. Circumstantial -evidence has hung many a man who was afterward found to be innocent. -Hugh shivered to remember how Tom, yes, and he himself, had been -condemning Benjy as they might a criminal when, in reality, the other -was only working out a noble scheme to surprise his brother. - -One thing must not be forgotten. Hugh—believing that Tom, in his spirit -of brotherly love, might hasten to buy back those Belgian hares for -Benjy, and thus in a measure weaken the spirit of sacrifice, that had -made the other sell his pets—went around to the bird store early on the -next morning, and purchased the pair of long-eared animals. He planned -to keep them for a while, and then let Tom have them to give to Benjy on -his next birthday, for by that time the other would have obtained all -the good possible from his impulsive action. - -Hugh would have liked very well to have told the story for the sake of -the great good it might do several other fellows whom he knew. This was -not to be considered for a minute, he had too great a consideration for -Tom and his brother to think of causing them embarrassment, as most -likely they must have experienced had their story become common -property. - -Hugh had already begun to figure on the summer campaign, knowing that -the boys would naturally expect to busy themselves with something useful -as well as entertaining. In the end he was able to lay out a plan that -he believed would meet with unanimous approval. Since it is about time -for me to end this story, there is no need of going into particulars. -When the time comes to again write of the Oakvale Scouts’ activities we -shall expect to enter at length into the new schemes that would -naturally enlist their attention. At such date we hope to again meet -Hugh and his gallant chums of the Wolf, Otter, Hawk, Fox and Owl -Patrols. Until then let it be adieu, but not farewell. - - - THE END. - - - - - Footnotes - - -[1]See “The Boy Scouts in the Great Flood.” - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts for Home Protection, by -Robert Shaler - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS FOR HOME PROTECTION *** - -***** This file should be named 50192-0.txt or 50192-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/1/9/50192/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boy Scouts for Home Protection - -Author: Robert Shaler - -Release Date: October 13, 2015 [EBook #50192] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS FOR HOME PROTECTION *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE BOY SCOUTS - FOR - HOME PROTECTION - - - BY - SCOUT MASTER ROBERT SHALER - - AUTHOR OF "BOY SCOUTS OF THE SIGNAL CORPS," "BOY SCOUTS OF - PIONEER CAMP," "BOY SCOUTS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY," "BOY - SCOUTS OF THE LIFE SAVING CREW," "BOY SCOUTS ON PICKET - DUTY," "BOY SCOUTS OF THE FLYING SQUADRON," "BOY - SCOUTS AND THE PRIZE PENNANT," "BOY SCOUTS OF THE - NAVAL RESERVE," "BOY SCOUTS IN THE SADDLE," "BOY - SCOUTS FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT," "BOY SCOUTS IN - THE GREAT FLOOD," "BOY SCOUTS OF THE FIELD - HOSPITAL," "BOY SCOUTS WITH THE RED - CROSS," "BOY SCOUTS AS COUNTY FAIR - GUIDES," "BOY SCOUTS AS FOREST FIRE - FIGHTERS," "BOY SCOUTS WITH THE - MOTION PICTURE PLAYERS," "BOY - SCOUTS ON THE ROLL OF HONOR," - ETC., ETC. - - - NEW YORK - HURST & COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - - Sterling Boy Scout Books - - - _Bound in cloth_ _Fifteen titles_ - - 1 Boy Scouts of the Signal Corps. - 2 Boy Scouts of Pioneer Camp. - 3 Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey. - 4 Boy Scouts of the Life Saving Crew. - 5 Boy Scouts on Picket Duty. - 6 Boy Scouts of the Flying Squadron. - 7 Boy Scouts and the Prize Pennant. - 8 Boy Scouts of the Naval Reserve. - 9 Boy Scouts in the Saddle. - 10 Boy Scouts for City Improvement. - 11 Boy Scouts in the Great Flood. - 12 Boy Scouts of the Field Hospital. - 13 Boy Scouts with the Red Cross. - 14 Boy Scouts as County Fair Guides. - 15 Boy Scouts as Forest Fire Fighters. - -_You can purchase any of the above books at the price you paid for this -one, or the publishers will send any book, postpaid, upon receipt of -25c._ - - HURST & CO., Publishers - 432 Fourth Avenue, New York - - - Copyright, 1915, by Hurst & Company - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. Time Things Began to Mend 5 - II. Help Wanted 15 - III. "Strike While the Iron Is Hot!" 29 - IV. Waiting for the Good News 39 - V. Oakvale's Great Clean-up Day 49 - VI. The Promise of a Scout 58 - VII. How the "Uplift" Worked 69 - VIII. One Use for Woodcraft Knowledge 80 - IX. The Goal in Sight 92 - X. Benjy's Suspicious Actions 106 - XI. The Revelation 115 - XII. Clear Sailing Ahead 124 - XIII. Putting the Clamps On 133 - XIV. For Home Protection 147 - - - - - The Boy Scouts For Home Protection. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - TIME THINGS BEGAN TO MEND. - - -"Here it is springtime again, boys!" - -"Yes, and I'm beginning to catch the spring fever. I just feel--well, -_torpid_ would describe it. I hate to study, or do any work that -requires the least exertion." - -"Hey, Billy, there's one great exception you'll have to make when you -say that--you've never let that torpor interfere with your rapid -locomotion when you heard the welcome sound of the dinner bell." - -The fat boy in the new khaki suit allowed a broad, good-natured smile to -spread over his freckled face. - -"Oh, that's different!" he exclaimed quickly. "I said _work_, please -remember, Alec, and as for feeding, why, I always class that under the -head of undiluted, unadulterated pleasure." - -"Well, winter has come and gone, with a whole lot of talk about town -improvement in the air, and nothing done, just as you were saying, -Hugh." - -The manly looking young fellow who answered to the name of Hugh Hardin -was patrol leader and assistant scout master. This could easily be -learned by any one at all familiar with the various devices used by Boy -Scouts to designate rank. On the left sleeve of his coat, just below the -shoulder, he had first of all two white stripes, and underneath that a -_red_ first-class scout badge. - -Hugh, as well as a number of other members of the Oakvale Troop, had for -some time been authorized to wear certain medals signifying that at some -previous date they had been instrumental in saving human life at the -risk of their own. - -If the reader does not know under what stirring conditions these medals, -typifying the Boy Scout Roll of Honor, were earned, he can have the -pleasure of reading all the particulars in previous books of this -series, as lack of time and space prevents our mentioning them here. - -Besides the leader of the Wolf Patrol there were present on this -occasion Billy Worth--the stout member--Alec Sands--who had once been -Hugh's most bitter rival for honors, but since heading the Otter Patrol -he had grown to be very chummy with him--and Buck Winter. - -They attended Oakvale High School and were dismissed about half-past one -in the afternoon. They thus had considerable advantage over the boys and -girls in the lower grades. - -Indeed, at the late hour in the spring afternoon mentioned, numerous -little folks were heading homeward in knots, having just been given -their freedom. Hugh and his three companions had stopped to chat, having -met by accident at that point where traffic was congested--the wagons -from the mills crossing in one direction and many big and little cars -swinging around various corners. - -Somehow or other that particular spot always had a peculiar sort of -fascination for Hugh. It had tragic memories, too, for on several -occasions serious accidents had occurred here, owing to the speed which -some drivers persisted in making while approaching the dangerous -crossing. - -When Buck Winter, the boy who surpassed most of his chums in animal -photography, spoke to Hugh about the dim prospect of anything being done -in the matter of improving certain glaring defects in the government of -the town, the scout master frowned and shook his head. - -"I never saw anything hang fire like this," he remarked, at the same -time watching what was going on close by with keen interest. "There's -that crossing over yonder, and some other bad places where children pass -over several times a day--it ought to be protected but it isn't. An -officer should be stationed there morning, noon and night, to see that -traffic slows up when the children are going and coming from school." - -"That's right, Hugh," burst out the impulsive Billy, whose heart was -just as big as his waist was expansive, "and some of these fine days -there's going to be something awful happening here! It'll wake this -sleepy old town up! For one, I don't believe in waiting till your horse -is stolen before you think to lock the stable door. 'A stitch in time -saves nine,' they say." - -"Just see how the driver of that big touring car swings down with a -rush, will you!" exclaimed Alec, indignantly. "He sounds his siren to -beat the band, just as if he expected everybody to scatter like chickens -crossing a road, and run for their lives. It's a beastly shame!" - -"Something's got to be done, that's all!" said Hugh, with compressed -lips, and a flash in his eye that spoke volumes, as he looked after the -reckless chauffeur of the car, now speeding away, with a nasty grin of -conscious superiority on his face. - -"If I was the mayor of this burgh in place of spineless old Strunk," the -impetuous Alec went on to exclaim, "you'd soon hear something pop. I -would call the Council in session, and have ordinances passed that would -keep these speeders under control. After a few of them had been locked -up for a spell, as well as heavily fined, you'd notice a big -difference." - -"That isn't all, by any means," Hugh chimed in, watching the approach of -a bevy of small school girls with apprehension, for the traffic seemed -to be at its heaviest. "There are a number of other bad spots in town -that need attention. The railroad crossing is utterly unprotected, and -last summer one man was killed there, you remember, while twice vehicles -have been wrecked." - -"There were some other things you mentioned the last time we talked this -over, Hugh, I remember," said Buck Winter. - -"Lots of them," came the ready reply. "The whole town has grown careless -again. True, people don't litter the streets with waste paper now that -they know about the cans placed for such trash--the scouts cured that -evil--but there are other defects that ought to be attended to. For -instance, some people persist in keeping garbage standing open for the -flies to breed in. Others have nuisances about which their neighbors -hate to complain of. I know six or seven places where this sort of thing -is going on, and I reckon the scouts could trace dozens, if once they -had the authority to start in on the job." - -"Oh, I guess I know what you've got in mind, Hugh!" exclaimed Billy, -with sudden animation. "I was reading the other day how that very thing -is being carried out with great success right down in New York City. -Boys are given badges to wear, and are called the Auxiliary Police, or -something like that. They have their precincts to watch, and report -every sort of nuisance or infraction of the law to their friend, the -police captain, who sees that it is abated. They say you would be -surprised to see how well the boys do their duty. Things have taken on a -new look since the scheme was started." - -"It could be done here a whole lot easier than in such a big city," -affirmed Hugh, eagerly. "We haven't got such a raft of ignorant -foreigners to handle, you see. A good many people up here have just -fallen into careless ways, and all they need is to be waked up." - -"We did that other job first class," said Billy, proudly, "and we'd win -out again if only we had half a chance. But I don't know what keeps on -interfering. They must be asleep, and only some terrible accident will -startle them to action." - -"Some of the boys have told me in secret about a blind tiger that is -being operated since the saloons were shut out of Oakvale," declared -Hugh. "Then I've also learned that some of the mill hands get together -and gamble, which is against the law. The police, thinking of the votes -those fellows can control, seem to wink at such things. There's no use -talking, the women of Oakvale have got to be roused, and join hands with -every church in town to clean up the place again, this time for good. -The scouts stand ready to do their part." - -"Every time!" added Billy, sonorously, as he whacked Buck Winter on his -back, as if to emphasize his remark. - -"There are heaps of things that ought to be bettered," asserted Alec. -"They never will be until the scouts and the women join hands with all -the good people of Oakvale for a genuine old clean-up time. All they -seem to want is a leader. Everybody is waiting for some one else to make -the start. Hugh, I wouldn't be surprised if it's going to be up to you." - -"I was talking with Professor Marvin, the school principal, only -yesterday," said the scout master, "and he agreed with me that there was -great need of all the moral forces in the community uniting for a big -fight before things got too bad. He said he would see Mayor Strunk last -night, and asked me, as acting in place of Lieutenant Denmead, who is -away, to drop around to his house this evening, for he had invited the -mayor, Mrs. Marsh and several of the leading ladies of the T. I. A., to -take supper with him." - -"Good for that!" cried Billy. "Make sure you rub it in like everything, -Hugh, once you get the chance. I hope to hear great news tomorrow -morning, and I'll be ready, for one, to take off my coat and get busy -with a broom--of course, figuratively speaking, I mean." - -Alec nodded his head as if pleased. - -"Something in the air tells me there are going to be warm doings in this -town before a great while," he asserted positively. "It's always darkest -before dawn, they say, and things have about reached their limit here. -Once the new broom gets agoing it'll sweep out a lot of nuisances that -have been an eyesore to all decent people for a long while back. My -folks get quite worked up every time they begin to talk about certain -things that are objectionable." - -"I'm going to begin and make a list of nuisances right off," said Buck -Winter. - -"Well, I don't like the way you look at me when you say that, Buck," -complained Billy, in affected uneasiness. "I'm going to reform, sure I -am. Gimme half a chance, and I'll even try to reduce my weight, if that -bothers you, though I'd hate to cut my rations down to half." - -"Now look at all those vehicles and cars coming along from four -directions at once!" exclaimed Alec. "That bunch of kids on the curb has -been waiting all of five minutes for a half-decent chance to cross, but -do you see any driver holding up to let them go over? They're a lot of -selfish and reckless---- Say, hold on, kids, don't you dare to try it! -Oh! Hugh, look there, one of them has run out! Hi! hi! Hold your -horses--stop that car!" - - - - - CHAPTER II. - HELP WANTED. - - -Hugh Hardin was known to be a boy of action. When other fellows were -stupefied by some sudden peril, Hugh was doing things. - -So in the present instance. He saw the peril of the child even before -Alec did, but without uttering a single word, Hugh darted forward as an -arrow from the bow, or a hawk pouncing upon some bird. - -It was all over in a flash. Alec and the others had started to jump -forward, but they would have been too late to be of any real service. -Hugh, however, darted in among the congested wagons and moving cars, -and, snatching the frightened little child from under the very hoofs of -a team, carried her across to the other side of the street. - -There was considerable confusion, for drivers were shouting at each -other and chauffeurs were trying to push their way past the congested -crossing. Apparently they were more concerned with the fact that there -had been a mix-up than because a precious human life had just been in -jeopardy. - -Alec, backed by the other two scouts, pushed out on the street and held -up their hands to stop the traffic until the cluster of school children -could cross. Some of the drivers seemed to think it a joke, being held -up in this fashion by boys in khaki, and laughed good-naturedly at it; -but others swore, and made threatening gestures with their whips. - -Then, the children having crossed in safety, thanks to their protectors, -Alec gave the signal for the wagons and cars to proceed with as much -show of authority as any member of the traffic squad in a great city -could assume. - -The boys were "boiling over" with indignation, as Billy aptly expressed -it, as they walked down the street toward the heart of Oakvale. More -than ever, Hugh was now determined not to rest until something had been -done toward an eradication of the numerous nuisances that infested the -town. - -"I'm going to attend that little, informal meeting to-night, boys," he -told his chums, "and unless I miss my guess something will be done. If -only the women folks can stir up Mayor Strunk! I understand that several -of the pastors will drop in during the evening, and it begins to look as -though the last straw has been put on the camel's back." - -"I only wish," ventured Billy, wheezing still from his recent violent -exertions, "that some of them had seen what happened just now, and how -that poor little Anita Burns would most likely have been run over but -for Hugh here. It was an object lesson that might have moved even such -an old mossback as Mayor Strunk, or Chief Wallis, of the police force." - -"Wait!" was what Hugh told him, and a short time later the group -separated. - -Hugh performed the errand that had taken him to the business section of -town, and then, inspired by a desire to do a little preliminary work -along the lines he had had in mind, he dropped over and greeted the head -of the local police. - -Chief Waller liked Hugh, for he knew what a manly young fellow the other -had always proven himself to be. Besides, Hugh was something of a -favorite with the better element of Oakvale's population. He had led a -number of movements that, by their success, had brought more or less -fame to Oakvale, particulars of which may be found in the earlier books -of this series. - -So Hugh, using considerable diplomacy, began talking about other things, -and after he managed to get the chief in good humor, he introduced the -subject that was nearest his heart. - -"The women are bound to have the town cleaned up, Chief," he went on to -say, "and you know that when they once set their minds on anything it's -got to happen. They expect to have all sorts of help from you and your -men; and the scouts mean to offer their services as they did once -before. It's a great thing to be on the winning side, Chief, so I heard -Doctor Kane say to the minister the other day when they were talking -over this very matter." - -Now, the Chief was a shrewd man. He knew on which side his bread was -buttered. It was true that the politicians and their votes had put him -in his present comfortable berth, but the Chief was a married man, and -he realized from experience that the home "influence" could be counted -on to sway elections when once the people were thoroughly aroused. - -"There's just this about it, Hugh," he said, impressively. "If the women -want a clean town, they're going to have it, and nothing can stop them. -If they get this movement started they can count on the police backing -'em up. All we want is to know just where we stand." - -Thus encouraged, Hugh went on to tell what he had read about the boys of -the big metropolis being made Auxiliary Police, and wearing badges that -were meant to be respected by the populace. - -Chief Wallis apparently had never read about the movement. He seemed to -be interested, however, for it was plain to be seen that if things had -to be done that offended the politicians, there would be a scapegoat -handy on whose shoulders the blame could be cast. - -"Well, now, to tell you the truth, Hugh, that isn't such a bad idea," he -went on to say. "Boys can find out heaps of things that are beyond my -men; and once we learned about these nuisances we'd soon abate 'em. All -we want is to be shown." - -Hugh understood well enough that the police knew about most of those -infractions of the law, but that for various reasons they had pretended -not to see them. If only the moral elements of the town were aroused, -and firmly demanded a cessation of the law breaking, no doubt the scales -would fall from the eyes of the police like magic. It always happens -that way, Hugh understood. - -Still, Hugh felt that he had gained a point in arousing the interest of -the head of the police. It was better to have a combined force working -against the evils than a divided one. If the officer realized that his -retention in office depended on his active co-operation with the ladies' -league, and the various associations connected with the town churches, -he would work like a beaver to do his duty. - -After leaving Police Headquarters, Hugh started for his home. His mind, -very naturally, was filled with the matters that just then took -precedence above all others. Since the preceding fall, Hugh had been -trying to figure out how things could be brought to a focus, for they -seemed to gradually get worse. - -He was in sight of the white picket fence enclosing the Hardin grounds -when he heard his name called in a boy's voice. Turning around, he -discovered that it was Tom Sherwood, one of the members of the Otter -Patrol, who came hurrying along in his wake. - -Tom had long been known as an exponent of water athletics and surveying. -He meant to become a civil engineer when he left school, and anything -connected with this work always interested the boy greatly. - -More than a few times, when others of the scouts would go off on a -junketing trip such as a school picnic, Tom might have been seen -tramping across lots, with a theodolite over his shoulder, accompanied -by some boy he had influenced to assist him as chain bearer--bound to -some field where he could practice his pet hobby to his heart's content. - -Hugh noticed that Tom had a long face when he drew near. This surprised -him because as a rule the other was a cheery fellow, and wont to give -back smile for smile. It also told Hugh that Tom must have followed him -with some purpose in view, for somehow a number of the members of the -troop seemed to consider Hugh in the light of a mentor, and often came -to him for advice, strange as it might seem, considering the fact that -they were all boys. - -"Why, hello, Tom! What's the hurry?" he called out, as the other scout -drew near. - -"Let me get my breath a bit, Hugh, and I'll tell you," panted Tom, which -fact seemed to prove that he must have run quite some distance in order -to overtake the scout master. - -Possibly his mind being so filled with the idea of town improvement and -the contemplated uplift movement, Hugh immediately began to wonder if -the agitation of his boy friend could spring from anything he had -learned bearing on this subject. - -At any rate, he would soon know, for Tom was getting his breath back -again. He looked confused, almost ashamed, Hugh thought. There was an -expression amounting to positive pain on his face, and it also showed in -the way he eyed Hugh, as if he hardly knew where to begin. - -They leaned against the nearby fence, as boys are wont to do when -talking. Presently Tom broke the silence. - -"Of course, you're wondering what under the sun I'm going to say, Hugh. -I can see it in your eyes. Well, I had made up my mind to ask your -advice the very next time I saw you, because I happen to know you've -managed to get a number of other fellows out of bad holes before this." - -"Well, you've certainly got me guessing good and hard, Tom," said Hugh, -with a smile of encouragement. "But if there's anything I can do to help -out, tell me what's gone wrong now." - -Tom drew an extra long breath. - -"The fact of the matter is, Hugh, I'm worried about Benjy, and as I -haven't any father to go to, and women don't understand boys as well as -men do, I hardly knew who to talk it over with till I happened to think -of you." - -Hugh was immediately interested, though at the same time relieved to -know that Tom was not in any trouble on his own account. Benjy Sherwood -was the younger brother of Tom, a bright, aggressive sort of boy, whose -faults possibly lay along the line of wanting to have his own way most -of the time. - -"What's he been doing to bother you so, Tom?" Hugh asked, quietly and -soothingly. - -"Why, you know that Benjy is a pretty high-spirited boy," began Tom. -"I've tried to check him several times, but he just won't listen to me, -and in so many words gives me to understand he knows his own business, -and that I'd better attend to mine." - -"Oh, but that's generally the way with younger brothers," said Hugh. -"Lots of the fellows will tell you that. So far as I've seen, Benjy is -no different from the rest. It's too bad he hasn't a father, though, -because as you said, I believe a man can control such high-spirited boys -a lot better than most mothers, who don't exactly understand how a boy -feels." - -"Well, here's the way it stands," continued Tom confidentially. "Benjy -has been giving mother and me more or less anxiety by going with several -fellows that I don't approve of at all. I happen to know he's been -smoking cigarettes. I didn't dare tell mother. She has such a silly -dislike for tobacco in every shape, you know. Worse than that, I'm -afraid Benjy has been led into playing cards for money." - -Hugh shook his head as though worried at hearing this. - -"What reasons have you for saying that, Tom?" - -"Several," the other immediately replied. "For one thing, I found part -of a burned card in our kitchen stove one day not long ago. I supposed -Benjy discovered he had it in his pocket, and wanted to destroy it -before some one found it on him." - -"That might be so," Hugh mused, "and then again he might have had some -better reason for wanting to get rid of the cards. Perhaps he's -realized, that he was doing something that would grieve his mother, and -so made a clean sweep of things." - -Tom sighed. - -"I only wish I could believe that, Hugh. I'm a whole lot afraid Benjy -doesn't give up things he likes so easily. Then there was another -suspicious circumstance. I'll tell you about it, Hugh. Just three days -ago I found that Benjy had gone and opened his little savings bank at -home, in which I knew he had something like three dollars, which he had -been laying up towards his summer vacation down at the seashore. When I -asked him what he had done with the money he got red in the face, and -told me hurriedly that the money was his, and he guessed he could do -what he pleased with it." - -"And you fear he has used it to pay some debt he owed over the cards--is -that it, Tom?" asked the scout master, secretly afraid lest there might -be some truth back of Tom's declaration. - -"That's what flashed through my mind, Hugh," the other confessed; "and, -oh, you can't understand how it's worried me! Why, I've laid awake -nights since then wondering what I could do to save poor Benjy. In spite -of his high temper, he's a fine boy, if I do say it myself, and I love -him with my whole heart and soul. Mother almost worships him. You know -he looks so like father! And, Hugh, the idea struck me that perhaps you -could think of some way we might make him change his habits." - -Hugh would not have been human if he did not feel highly complimented by -this blind faith that Tom Sherwood seemed to feel toward him. At the -same time, it added to the burdens he was bearing; for as assistant -scout master, with Lieutenant Denmead, the regular official head of the -troop, away from town so often, it seemed as though Hugh had more than -his share of trouble. - -"I'll do all I can to help you out, Tom," he said. "Perhaps I may find a -good chance to talk with Benjy, and get him interested in the scout -movement, for he's really old enough now to think of joining the troop." - -"If you could only do that, Hugh, I'm sure it would make a great -difference," Tom hastened to exclaim. "Joining the scouts has been a -good thing for thousands of boys all over the country. They are put on -their honor. No fellow can subscribe to the twelve cardinal rules of the -organization with his whole heart and still do things that he would be -ashamed to have his folks at home know. I hope you can coax Benjy into -joining. I tried it once or twice, but somehow he didn't seem to enthuse -worth a cent. But there's Benjy coming down the street right now. Guess -I'll be going." - -"Leave it to me," said Hugh, as he shook hands with Tom, who was turning -away. "I've had some experience in approaching fellows who pretend to -scoff at scout doings, and perhaps I can manage Benjy. I'm glad you -spoke to me, Tom. Be sure it'll go no further. So-long! Meeting -to-morrow night, remember!" - - - - - CHAPTER III. - "STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!" - - -Hugh made up his mind, on the spur of the moment, that it might be -unwise for him to attempt anything at once. He wanted a little time to -think things over, and lay out some plan of campaign, for Hugh did not, -as a rule, believe in doing things hastily. - -Besides, Benjy must have noticed him talking with Tom, and would -immediately jump to the conclusion that it was a conspiracy between -them. The result would be disastrous for the success of any future -missionary work. - -When Benjy came face to face with Hugh, the latter spoke pleasantly. He -noticed that the boy colored up, and, although he answered the friendly -salutation, he immediately assumed a reckless, indifferent air, and went -along whistling as though he had noticed their heads together, and would -snap his fingers at them. - -Hugh found himself wondering whether it could be conscious guilt that -made Benjy fire up so, or simply boyish indignation over being suspected -and watched in that way. - -"It's going to be some job managing that boy," the scout master candidly -admitted to himself; but, then, somehow, he always found additional -interest in a task that tried his patience, and his powers of endurance, -for there could be very little satisfaction in beating an antagonist who -was handicapped. - -Hugh was unusually quiet on that evening at the supper table, a fact his -folks may have noticed. But then they were accustomed to seeing the boy -look grave, for owing to the position he held in the scouts, Hugh often -had to wrestle with matters that did not give most of the other fellows -a moment's thought. - -Later on, Hugh, having gotten his lessons, observed that he was going -over to the home of Professor Marvin, where there was to be a little -meeting of people interested in town improvement. - -The smile that broke over the face of his mother at hearing him say this -so modestly told of the pride she took in the fact that Hugh, as the -assistant scout master, should be consulted at all when events of -considerable magnitude connected with uplift movements were being -discussed. - -It certainly must make any mother's heart beat with joy when realizing -that her son, though only a boy in years, had become a factor in town, -that he has to be consulted, and his aid asked whenever there is a -movement on foot looking to bettering conditions of living in the -community. - -When Hugh reached the house where Professor Marvin lived, he found a -little company assembled. Besides a number of the leading ladies -identified with the league that had already done so much for the -betterment of the town, there were three pastors present, the mayor of -Oakvale, Doctor Kane, always to be relied on in things of this sort, and -three influential citizens, who like many other people had begun to -despair of any concerted movement directed to change the wretched -conditions then prevailing. - -There had been rambling talk going on. Evidently they had been waiting -for the arrival of Mayor Strunk, whom Hugh had seen pass in. - -Mr. Marvin now opened the meeting, which he said would be an informal -affair. - -"We know that every person in Oakvale who has taken the trouble to pay -any attention to the way things are going," he began to say, "has been -pained by the conditions prevailing. It is the consensus of opinion that -something must be done, and that immediately, to better things. The only -question that has kept this movement from crystallizing before has been -the lack of cohesion; no one seemed to be able to present a proper plan -that would unite all the different organizations interested in the good -name of our town. And that is the object of this meeting to-night. We -must all get together, and put our shoulders to the wheel." - -Mayor Strunk, seeing that most eyes were immediately directed toward his -quarter, got up to say his little piece. As usual, he was for -procrastination. He had attended several other meetings during the -winter just passed and always advised going slowly, so as not to make -any mistake. The ladies had now become indignant, and quite out of -patience with him. - -So when the suave politician commenced by saying that he realized as -well as any one the need of something being done to improve living in -Oakvale, and then went on to repeat the old advice not to be too hasty, -because Rome was not built in a day, and all that sort of thing, there -were quick glances passing around, and one lady had to be held down by -main force, so eager was she to take the speaker to task, regardless of -parliamentary rules. - -Hardly had the mayor finished speaking, than she was on her feet, with -flashing eyes. A ripple of applause greeted her taking the floor, -because those present understood how fluently Mrs. Beverly could speak -when her heart was full of a subject. - -"Mayor Strunk advises delay, and delay," she broke out with, -indignantly. "I decline to agree with his policy. I have heard it -advocated many times before, and nothing was ever done. The time to -strike is when the iron is hot! Conditions are daily growing more -unbearable. To-day our fair town has fallen from the position we once so -proudly boasted. There are hidden snares for the feet of our young men -and boys, about which the police must know. They should be wiped out -pitilessly. There are numberless nuisances that are painful to the eyes -and noses of sensitive people; these should be rigorously pursued with -fines and other penalties until they are abated. If we have not laws on -the books to cover all these offences let us see to it that they are -immediately placed there. Then there is another crying evil that should -be stopped without delay. I refer to several dangerous crossings where -accidents have been known to happen, and at any day a terrible tragedy -may stun the community. Listen while I tell you something that by the -merest accident I witnessed myself, and only a few hours ago." - -Then, in graphic language, she went on to describe the affair at the -crossing. - -"Those little children were anxious to get home. They waited all of five -minutes, and there was not the first chance given them to cross over, so -stupid and selfish have the drivers and chauffeurs in Oakvale become, -because the law is not strictly enforced. Then that one little chit, -Anita Burns, bravely started across, eager to get to where an anxious -mother waited for her. I saw a team of horses towering over her, and my -heart literally stood in my mouth with fear." - -She had everybody intensely interested by this time. Hugh drew back a -little for he feared she might mention him by name, and he shrank from -publicity. - -"Just in the nick of time I saw a boy dart forward," continued the lady -passionately. "He was lost to my sight for a brief period, and then when -I thought I should faint with fear and suspense, I saw him appear on the -opposite walk, carrying the child, uninjured, in his arms. He set her -down on her feet, waved his hand to her, and then walked off with -several of his scout chums, just as unconcerned, apparently, as though -it might be nothing unusual; nor was it, my friends, for by this time we -have all become accustomed to hear about--Hugh Hardin doing valiant -things like that." - -She paused, because there was a wild outburst of cheers. - -Hugh was as red as fire. - -"If I had known that you saw that little happening, Mrs. Beverly, and -meant to speak of it here, I might not have come over, though I -certainly did want to hear what was said and done," Hugh managed to -stammer, at which there was another round of cheers accompanied by hand -clapping. - -"That is the best part of it all, Hugh," said the lady. "The fellow who -can do a clever thing like that and still shrink from publicity, doubly -wins our admiration. But, my friends, I only mentioned the incident to -show you how at any day there may take place a terrible tragedy at one -of these unprotected crossings, where our innocent children have to pass -over, going to and coming home from school. Now what shall we do about -it? Must we wait until a fatality comes about before we combine all -forces for good to crush these menaces to our peace and happiness? I say -to you the hour has struck, and the women of this town are at last -determined to sweep every obstacle out of their way in order to attain -their end." - -Mayor Strunk threw up his hands. - -"I surrender, ladies!" he hastened to exclaim, with the air of a man who -knew how to get in out of the wet when it began raining. "Just as you -say, the time for delay has passed, and from this night forward you can -count on me as being with you, heart and soul. That little girl, Anita -Burns, is my own grandchild, some of you may remember, and if anything -had happened to her could I ever forgive myself? I guess it needed -something like this to take the scales from my eyes." - -Everybody looked happy when they heard the mayor say this. Really, it -had been his system of procrastination that had kept matters from -reaching a climax long before. No one professed to understand just why -he should have acted as he did, since his position as mayor carried no -salary with it. - -Professor Marvin later on called upon Hugh, as representing the scouts -of Oakvale, to outline the idea he had in mind of having the boys made -assistant police, with authority to wear badges, and power to order -arrests in cases of emergency. - -The mayor was somewhat dubious about the propriety of so radical a -proceeding. - -"It would be almost revolutionary," he observed, "but then we happen to -know how well Hugh can be trusted to keep his troop under strict -control, and they have before this amply proven worthy of the citizens' -full trust. I shall call a meeting of the town council for to-morrow -night, and as many of you as can, be present; I'd be glad of your -backing when this scheme is thrashed out there." - -So at last the uplift movement had come to Oakvale, thanks in part to -Hugh Hardin and his fellow scouts. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - WAITING FOR THE GOOD NEWS. - - -"For home protection! That's the slogan, fellows, Hugh has given us. -We're going to take our coats off, figuratively speaking, you -understand, and purify the atmosphere around the place we live in." - -When Billy Worth gave utterance to these rather boastful remarks he was -standing, with a bunch of other fellows in khaki, near the building -where the town council, as called together by the mayor, was still in -session. - -Undoubtedly the fathers of Oakvale were having a warm discussion, since -they had been at it for more than two hours. Indeed, the scouts had held -their meeting in the room under the church, and made all their -arrangements for carrying out their part of the programme, if everything -went smoothly as they expected. A goodly number of the energetic lads -had immediately, after the meeting was adjourned, decided to hurry -around to ascertain what had happened at the council chamber, to which -citizens were admitted to the capacity of the room, but the line was -drawn at fellows under the voting age. - -"Yes," Jack Durham immediately added, with his characteristic energy, -"Oakvale is going to take its periodical bath, so to speak. This time -we'll scrub to the bone, and make an extra clean job of it." - -"The impudent drivers and chauffeurs must be made to respect the law, if -fines and imprisonment will do the trick!" asserted Dick Ballamy, who, -for a wonder, seemed able to turn his thoughts from fishing to a subject -that was of far more importance. - -"Huh! Not only that," Sam Winter burst out impetuously, "but those -sneaking dives known as 'speak-easies' have got to be squelched. Some -people don't believe any liquor is being sold in Oakvale just because -we're called a dry town. That fire the other day proved the foolishness -of that joke, let me tell you, boys." - -"Just what it did!" declared Mark Trowbridge, who often lisped when he -talked, an infirmity that was likely to follow him through life; "why, I -thaw with my own eyeth two barrelth of bottleth half covered with a -blanket, that had been carried from the cobbler'th thop." - -"Worse than that, even," asserted Arthur Cameron in disgust. "I saw a -man deliberately lift the cover, take out a bottle, and drain it there, -with a dozen people standing around and laughing. Shows you how some of -our laws are being made a joke. The police are aware of what's going on, -too; but they believe the sentiment of the town has heretofore been -against enforcing certain statutes." - -"Well, they're going to get a rude shock pretty soon, believe me," said -Billy. "Half an hour ago the mayor and Council sent for Chief Andy -Wallis. He's in there with them now, listening to the law being laid -down. I reckon the Chief knows by this time that it's going to be a -clean town or we get a new head of police. The women have taken things -in hand, and mean to purify the atmosphere, so that Oakvale boys and -girls can breathe without being contaminated." - -"How fast the news spread all over town this morning," observed Walter -Osborne, the leader of the Hawk Patrol, a fine, manly looking fellow -well liked by all his associates of the troop. "Why, my mother says they -were talking of it in every store she visited, and father added that he -was buttonholed half a dozen times by men who seemed chock full of the -subject." - -"Old Doc Kane," added Sam Winter, "carried the news wherever he went. He -said it was going to be next door to a millennium for Oakvale, and that -when the movement had exhausted its force he expected to have his -business reduced one-half, because of the improved sanitary conditions -that would prevail. That was one of the Doc's little jokes." - -"He's loaded to the muzzle with ammunition meant to boost the good cause -along," asserted another scout. "It's among the mill people the good -doctor does most of his missionary work. He knows how much a clean town -means to fellows who haven't comfortable homes to spend evenings in." - -"Of course, there's no danger that the members of the town Council will -try to dodge the question again, as they've done so many times?" Jack -Durham was saying. - -Billy gave a scoffing laugh. - -"Not much they will!" he ejaculated; "with that wide-awake Mrs. Marsh -present, backed by a lady who can strike out from the shoulder like Mrs. -Beverly." - -"Besides," added Walter, "don't forget what Hugh told us about the -sudden change of front on the part of Mayor Strunk. He saw a great light -when he learned how his favorite little granddaughter had come near -being run over by a team at that dangerous crossing of the three roads -in town." - -"Then there's another thing that's bound to cut some figure in the -decision of the town Council to-night," said Billy. "Public sentiment -has been aroused, and is at white heat. It seems as if everything -combined to happen all at once, for this very afternoon old Mr. Merkle -was knocked down by a speeding car that got away without anybody -learning its number. He was badly hurt, and they took him to the -hospital; but we've been told that the brave old chap, nearly -eighty-five years of age, has sent a message of cheer to the ladies from -his bed, telling them that he glories in being a martyr to the good -cause." - -"Every fellow take off his hat to old Mr. Merkle, for he's made of the -stuff our Revolutionary fathers had in them when this country dared defy -Great Britain," and as Walter Osborne said this, each scout raised his -campaign hat with a touch of respect for the grand old hero lying on his -bed of pain, yet able to think of the reform movement that was sweeping -through the town. - -"Here comes Hugh now!" called out a fellow on the outskirts of the -group. - -"And he looks as if he felt satisfied with the way things were going," -another hastened to say. - -The young assistant scout master quickly joined them. He was besieged by -numerous questions. Indeed, so thick and fast did these come that Hugh -laughed and threw up his hands, as though to shield himself from a fall -of hailstones. - -"Hold up, fellows," he told them; "what do you take me for? When you -send them at me like that it makes me feel as the street urchin did who -crawled into an empty sugar hogshead, and, seeing the riches around him, -wished for a thousand tongues. Give me a fair chance and I'll tell what -little I've been able to pick up." - -Accordingly they quieted down, though still pressing around Hugh, and -hanging on his every word. Confidence in their leader is one of the -highest attributes of praise scouts can show; and the members of Oakvale -Troop felt this to the limit in the boy who had been elected to serve -them in that capacity. So often had Hugh Hardin proved his ability to -fill his exalted position that no one ever dreamed nowadays of -contesting the leadership with him. - -"I managed to interview Zack Huffman," explained Hugh, "who had been -inside, but had to go home to his family because his wife is sick. He -could stop only a minute or so to talk, but he told me the sentiment was -overwhelmingly in favor of carrying out the whole sweeping programme. -The ladies have got in the saddle, so he said, and mean to ride at the -head of the procession. You remember Zack is something of a scholar, and -you ought to have heard him tell how they expect to beat the record of -Hercules in cleaning the Augean stables." - -"Hurrah for Zack!" cried one enthusiastic scout, for the boys were by -this time so roused up over matters that they felt in the mood to cheer -anybody and anything that favored their cause. - -"Every now and then," continued Hugh, "I could hear applause from above -there. I've got an idea Mrs. Beverly was talking. If she was, you can -wager not a single member of the Council will dare vote against the -mayor's programme after it's been announced. It's going to be carried -with a whirl." - -"If it is, we ought to burn a few barrels to celebrate to-night!" -suggested Sam Winter, for such a programme always pleased him immensely. - -"Hold on," Hugh instantly told him. "We want none of that sort of thing -to-night. For once let's show that boys can be dignified. This is no -Fourth of July affair. Some of the church people have even contemplated -holding prayer meetings after the Council adjourns, if everything seems -favorable, for their hearts are right in this uplift movement. It -wouldn't seem just the right thing for scouts to be seen running like -wild Indians all over town, and shouting their lungs out. We'll just go -home in a quiet way, and get ready to commence business on Monday. Time -enough for a jubilee when the ladies appoint a day for celebrating the -victory. Just now we've got work, and plenty of it, ahead of us." - -"Hugh, you're right!" asserted Arthur Cameron. - -"Forget that I said it, Hugh!" begged the impulsive Sam, abashed by the -argument advanced by the scout master, because his better sense told him -that was the proper way of looking at it. - -"Hey, there comes Chief Wallis out of the Council chamber!" called a -voice, and immediately every fellow turned his eyes in that direction, -anxious to decide for himself what the appearance of the head of the -police force would indicate. - -Chief Wallis walked straight toward them. His face was inscrutable, but -as he reached the group of scouts, with Hugh at their head, he thrilled -the boys by raising a hand in salute. - -"Come in and see me on Monday, Hugh," the Chief said, dramatically, "and -we'll fix it up about what sort of badge you and your fellow Assistant -Police can wear. The women have carried the day, and Oakvale is going to -be purged," and as he strode on the boys broke into a series of stirring -cheers. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - OAKVALE'S GREAT CLEAN-UP DAY. - - -According to the universal agreement, every pastor in Oakvale made some -mention in his sermon on the following Sunday of the new movement that -had been inaugurated by the better elements in the town. They urged -every one of their flocks who wanted to see a cleaner Oakvale, morally -and actually, to back up the committee. - -It was the talk of the day wherever two or more persons came together, -and there were places where the action of the town Council was either -severely criticized or else condemned. No one need be told that as a -rule these were the dens of vice that had been insulting the law and -flaunting their brazen defiance in the teeth of the citizens. - -Everybody seemed to be waiting with pent-up breath to see whether things -would begin to move immediately Monday opened up. - -By noon on Monday posters began to appear all over town, signed by the -mayor, stating in concise, legal phrases how from that hour forward the -law was going to be strictly enforced to the letter, and telling all -about the plan to enlist the active co-operation of the Boy Scouts in -helping to make a clean town. - -After school that afternoon the fellows belonging to Oakvale Troop to -the number of thirty marched to police headquarters. That three of the -boys did not respond to roll call before marching through the streets, -Hugh ascertained, was because in two instances they were sick at home -with a mild attack of grippe, while the third boy was evidently kept -away because he had an uncle who was believed to be the worst offender -on the list, so that his folks were hardly in favor of appearing to go -against their own flesh and blood. - -But the boys, as they marched the full length of the main street, were -cheered by shoppers and shopkeepers and clerks, as well as others who -crowded to the doors and windows. For it was well known what part Hugh -and his fellow scouts were going to take in the redemption of Oakvale. -Their previous success in ridding the town of cluttering rubbish gave -people confidence in their ability to do even greater things. - -The Chief had his men lined up in front of the headquarters. He believed -in doing things according to rule, and meant to receive the scouts as -fellow workers in the good cause. - -To hear the speech Chief Wallis made the new Assistant Police any one -would have believed his heart had always been in the laudable enterprise -of trying to clean up the dives, and protect the dangerous crossings. -Perhaps it had, but the Chief being a politician dared not show his hand -so long as he felt that public sentiment was against any change of -policy. He knew better now. He had heard the ringing words that fell -from Mrs. Beverly's lips, which speech, according to all accounts, -eclipsed any oration ever delivered in the town hall; the Chief was -fully enlisted in the cause. - -"We will have official badges made without delay for each and every -member of the Assistant Police," he told the listening boys, who -interrupted his speech with frequent cheers. "In the meanwhile, as the -posters issued by His Honor the Mayor state, your regular scout emblem -will be badge enough, and must be respected everywhere within the limits -of this town. Possibly some people will at first be inclined to treat -your show of authority as a joke, and laugh at any orders you may issue. -After a few of them have been arrested by my regular officers, and -either fined or placed in jail for some days, they will have their eyes -opened." - -Then the Chief went on to explain just what their line of work would -consist of, and where they must draw the line. Certain duties they could -proceed to carry out, but the regular officers would be used to make -most arrests, especially where there was any danger involved. - -"You understand," he told them, "it is not intended that the boys -operating with this movement are going to become spies, to find out what -their neighbors may be doing, but we expect you to keep your eyes open -to discover any glaring infraction of the laws, as mentioned in that -poster, and your leader will thereupon report any such discovery at -headquarters, from where it will be attended to." - -He then earnestly besought them to be on their dignity, and guard -against any unnecessary show of being conceited, or too proud of their -new positions. - -"Go about your work without any display of authority. People will begin -by sneering at you, but if you do your duty faithfully they will soon -come to respect your badge. Never forget that the best people of the -community are behind you in all you may attempt. Hugh, we look to you to -be a safe guide for your followers, and the mayor told me to inform you -that he expects every scout to do his part manfully. That's about all I -have to say to you to-day, though from time to time I expect to confer -with your leader, and lay out new plans. I salute you all again as -members in full standing of the Police Force of Oakvale." - -Hugh had his plans pretty well laid out, though everything could not be -accomplished at once. He had selected certain members of the troop for -duty at the dangerous crossings, beginning on the very next morning. In -doing this, Hugh had used much discretion, for he expected that there -would be more or less trouble, since drivers and chauffeurs had become -so accustomed to having their own way that they would object strenuously -to any interference. - -It turned out, however, that Chief Wallis foresaw this very source of -trouble, and had delegated several officers to stand near by in -readiness to arrest the first driver who failed to pull up when a scout -raised his white-gloved hand as an order for him to do so. - -That was a pretty warm day in sections at police headquarters. Arrests -came in quick succession, as though a regular scheme had been arranged -to make the new order a laughing-stock. But the mayor had a magistrate -ready, and those who were brought in charged with breaking the traffic -rules, as well as in some cases resisting an officer had heavy fines -imposed upon them, with the alternative of several days in the lockup if -they refused to settle. - -It was astonishing how quickly the news went around that the mayor -actually meant to stand by the ladies and the scouts in the crusade. For -the first time that evening in many moons, every questionable and shady -resort about Oakvale was closed as tight as a drum, as Billy Worth -explained it, after a walk about town. - -"Why," he told Hugh, with glistening eyes, "you can see the fellows who -used to spend most of their time in those places standing on the street -corners watching to see what next is going to happen. They look dazed -and glum, I tell you; yes, and ugly, too, because their business is -going to be all busted up. They're telling each other that the way -things are starting in it looks like more than just a joke." - -"'A new broom sweeps clean!'" quoted Hugh. "I never doubted but what -once the people of this town woke up it could be done, and in a hurry. -The only question is how long will it last? A whole lot of persons will -soon get tired of the novelty, and public sentiment may swing around to -indifference again. That is what we have to fear more than anything -else. Those bad men will just wait for things to take a change, and as -scouts we've got to see to it that the enthusiasm never dies out." - -After an exciting day, Hugh felt pretty tired that Monday evening. He -had received special reports from all the scouts who had been on duty. -These covered a multitude of things from difficulties at the crossings -when traffic was held up at such times as the smaller children were -going to and from school, to infractions of the laws of cleanliness and -health persisted in by certain citizens who ought to have known better. - -Hugh carefully read every one of these reports, and they were numerous, -for the boys had been extremely vigilant, as if to prove their right to -be called Auxiliary Police. Hugh used his own discretion about keeping -some of these reports. A few he smiled at, and made a mental note to -warn the writer that it was not intended to enter into private property -in order to spy around, but that the complaints must be of such things -as offended the public eye or ear or nose; after which he tore these up. - -The others he carefully filed with a good deal of satisfaction, to be -later on submitted to Chief Wallis, after copies had been taken for the -scout records. On the whole, Hugh believed the boys had made good that -day, despite all the novelty of the thing, and the troubles they had met -with. As time passed on and people came more and more to recognize them -as a part of the regular system for carrying out the laws that were upon -the books, much of this friction would die away, and the wheels of -machinery could be expected to move more smoothly. - -Hugh, feeling that he must not neglect his studies on account of this -outside occupation, had just taken out his books, and was about to -settle down to an hour or so of "grind," when he heard the doorbell -ring. - -Then he caught a familiar voice asking if he were at home. It was Tom -Sherwood, stationed that day at the most dangerous crossing in all -Oakvale, and who Hugh understood, from all accounts, had acquitted -himself splendidly. - -The sound of Tom's voice suddenly recalled to Hugh's mind the fact that -he had promised to help the other. It had been utterly impossible for -Hugh to attempt anything along the lines he had suggested, concerning an -interview with Benjy Sherwood, for his day had been crammed full of -duties, great and small. - -But when Tom burst into his room impetuously Hugh could see from his -face that the other had more bad news to communicate. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - THE PROMISE OF A SCOUT. - - -"Hello, Tom! Glad to have you drop around to see me!" was the friendly -and cheery salute of the scout master, as he nodded to the newcomer. - -Boys do not usually wait on ceremony when visiting, so Tom, without -bothering to be asked to take a seat, dropped into an easy-chair. - -Like most fellows of his age, Hugh had his room fitted up in as cozy a -fashion as suited his fancy. There were the customary college flags -decorating the walls, and some well-selected pictures that showed the -bent of Hugh's mind toward art, a small matter, perhaps, in the opinion -of most people, but of moment with any one really desirous of knowing -the nature of the boy who lives and sleeps inside those walls. - -One thing Hugh had noticed particularly. This was the exceeding great -care his guest took in making sure that he had properly closed the door -after him when entering the room. As a rule, Tom was inclined to be more -or less careless in this respect, being a breezy sort of a chap. Hugh -guessed that there might be a reason for this unusual caution, and it so -proved. - -"Hugh, it's getting worse all the time!" was the first remark the -newcomer made, and in a low voice, at that, as if he did not by any -chance want to be overheard by others in the adjoining room. - -Hugh could easily guess what those depressing words meant. If he had -entertained any sort of doubt, the sigh that followed would have -dispelled them. Tom was in deeper trouble than ever, and that active -younger brother of his, Benjy, was undoubtedly the cause. - -"What's Benjy been doing now, Tom?" he asked, in as soothing a voice as -he could summon to his aid. - -Tom scratched his head, as though a trifle puzzled to know just how to -begin. - -"To tell you the truth, Hugh, I don't know what he is after, but he's -doing some mighty queer stunts. I never knew him to try to steal -before." - -"Oh, come, that's a pretty hard word to use, Tom!" remonstrated the -scout master, trying to appear unbelieving, although he had felt a -little chill on hearing Tom say what he did. - -Poor Tom shook his head as if very downcast. - -"You don't know how much it knocks me to even suspect such a thing, -Hugh," he presently managed to say, and there was a plain tremor to his -voice, usually so robust and strong. "In spite of his headstrong ways, -Benjy has always been such a lovable fellow that--well, I'd go through -fire and water for him if I could do him any good." - -"I'm sure you would," ventured Hugh, consolingly, as the other boy -stopped, to gulp several times, as though nearly choking with emotion. - -"Ever since he started going with the set that trains with the newcomer -in Oakvale, Park Norris," commenced Tom, "Benjy seems to have changed -ever so much, and all for the worse. It worries me heaps, and I don't -know how I'm to get him back again. He seems to listen, with a curl to -his lip, whenever I speak about it, and I'm sure I try to act the big -brother to him, with my arm about his shoulders." - -"Tell me what's happened since I saw you last, Tom," urged the scout -master, desirous of getting at the "meat in the cocoanut" as quickly as -possible, for he had an hour or so to put in at studying, and, besides, -was pretty tired after a strenuous day. - -"I will, Hugh. That was what brought me here to see you. When we talked -matters over before, you promised to help me." - -"I repeat that promise, Tom. As the temporary head of the troop, I could -do no less; and as your old chum I'd go far out of my way to give a -helping hand to Tom Sherwood." - -The other heaved a sigh, and his eyes glistened with a sudden moisture. - -"Thank you, Hugh," he managed to say, half steadily. "I knew I could -depend on you. I wanted to keep these things from our mother as long as -I could. She doesn't suspect anything like the truth, for I heard her -say only the other day when Benjy had been rather irritable that she -feared he must be unwell, and perhaps she ought to have Doctor Kane drop -in to look him over." - -"There may be a little truth in that, Tom, don't you know!" suggested -Hugh, but the other boy shook his head ominously in the negative. - -"I'd like to believe it, Hugh," he said. "It would be only a matter of a -dose of calomel or some other medicine that old Doc Kane likes to give, -and my brother would be himself again. But there's something more than -that the matter. However, I said I'd start in and tell what happened, -and so here goes, Hugh." - -"Please get to the facts as soon as you can, Tom," requested the other. - -"It happened this very afternoon," began Tom. "I came home, and started -up to my room to get something or other, when in the glass at the end of -the hall I happened to see something move through the open door. You -know, Hugh, I have a little room all my own at our house, and Benjy's is -at the other end of the hall. When I saw that it was my brother in my -room I was surprised, for of late he hasn't bothered dropping in to -visit with me like he used to be so fond of doing. - -"Well, to make a long story short, Hugh, something tempted me to move -softly along the hall and look in past the partly open door. Hugh, would -you believe me, I was shocked to see Benjy, whom I once believed the -soul of honor, actually rummaging in my trunk." - -"Do you keep your trunk locked?" asked Hugh quickly. - -"Not as a rule," replied Tom, "unless I happen to have something in it I -don't want a servant to see, or some Christmas presents I've hid away. I -guess it wasn't locked to-day, in fact, I know it wasn't." - -"Well, I'm glad to hear that," said the scout master, really relieved. -"Younger brothers often think they have a right to rummage when the -notion strikes them, I understand. Why should you think it so strange, -Tom?" - -"Perhaps I wouldn't have felt so badly about it some time ago," admitted -Tom; "but so many suspicious things have happened, you see, to make me -think Benjy is going along the fast road. There was his taking that -money from his savings bank, and answering me so impudently when I asked -him what he was spending it for, instead of waiting till the Fourth of -July. Hugh, I keep my own savings bank lying in my trunk, along with a -lot of other stuff!" - -"Do you think he meant to open that, and extract some of the contents?" -asked Hugh, feeling uncomfortably chilly at the thought. - -"I'd hate to say what terrible thoughts chased through my brain when I -saw him turning things upside down as though he couldn't find what he -was looking for," the grieved Tom went on to remark. - -"What did you do?" inquired Hugh. - -"The first thing I thought of doing was to step right in and ask him -what he meant by getting in my trunk while I was away. But somehow, -Hugh, I just couldn't bring myself to do that, so I slipped down to the -head of the stairs, and then started to whistle, and make a noise with -my feet, as if I might be coming up from the lower floor." - -"Yes," said Hugh, greatly interested, as Tom paused to gulp again. - -"When I stepped into my room, Benjy had managed to get the trunk closed, -for I had heard the lid bang down. He was going around looking up at the -walls in the most innocent way possible, and as soon as I came in he -asked me if I would mind lending him my old tennis racquet for a little -while." - -"Well, perhaps he wanted to have a game with some of the fellows over on -the courts," explained Hugh. "I noticed that several sets were on this -afternoon for the first time this season. You were always a crackerjack -at tennis, Tom, and it may run in the blood with all the Sherwoods." - -"That's just where the trouble comes in, Hugh. Benjy never cared a red -cent for playing, though I often wanted him to take a hand. No, I'm -afraid that was just a sudden idea that flashed into his head, so that I -wouldn't think it strange that I should find him prowling in my room. -Besides, he was as red as a beet when he asked me that simple question, -and mother would never have thought he looked pale and sick if she had -only seen him _then_." - -"You didn't say anything to him, of course, Tom?" - -"If you mean accuse him in any way, Hugh, certainly not," came the ready -answer. "To tell you the truth, my heart was just too full and too sore -to think of scolding, or anything like that. I stepped over to where my -old racquet stood behind the door, for I meant to have it restrung this -spring, as it was getting in poor shape at the close of last season; and -I handed it to Benjy, trying to look natural, too. I'm afraid, though, -he must have seen something queer in my face, for I noticed he gave me a -quick stare just as he took the racquet and hurried off, with muttered -thanks." - -Hugh pondered over the matter. He hardly knew what to say. It might be a -very innocent thing, on the part of Benjy. Again, there was a chance -that the worst Tom feared might be only too true. - -Hugh did not like the new boy in town, Park Norris. He had too much -spending money for his own good, and it was said that his influence was -not of the best upon several fellows who seemed to be fascinated by his -manner and ways. - -"I'll tell you what, Tom," the scout master presently remarked -seriously, "leave this matter with me, and I promise you I'll take it up -very soon. I'll try and learn how much Benjy is under the influence of -Park Norris, and then find out if I can't win his confidence. I seem to -have a pretty good knack that way; at least, fellows tell me so, and I -glory in it, too." - -"Oh, I'm sure that if only you could get Benjy to promise to break off -with the set he's been running with, Hugh, it would come out all right. -It's the cigarette and card habit I'm most afraid of. He's such a -lovable boy, you know, and I guess he is more easily led than I. So Park -Norris has managed to get a grip on him. I don't know of a single fellow -who could win him back to his old way of living as well as you." - -"I give you my promise, Tom, remember, and I think I have the reputation -of always keeping my word. I'll do everything I can to make Benjy see -that he's on the wrong track. Will that satisfy you, old fellow?" - -Tom suddenly clutched his friend's hand and squeezed it convulsively. - -"Oh, thank you, Hugh, thank you ever so much!" he went on to say, trying -to restrain his emotion. "I've got such confidence in your way of doing -things that somehow I seem to believe it's just bound to come out all -right, now that you're going to go up against the evil influence of that -Park Norris. Benjy will give in if he's approached in the right spirit, -and nobody knows how better to do that than you." - -"Try and keep on feeling that way, Tom," advised the other, as his -visitor picked up his hat preparatory to leaving. "Above all things -don't let Benjy see that you suspect him. Be particularly kind to him. -Every time you do things for him it's going to be a fresh stab at his -conscience, you know. In the end it'll make my job the easier. That's -all there is to do. Leave the rest to me, Tom." - -And the look of brimming gratitude which Tom Sherwood gave his chum -spoke more eloquently than any words he could have uttered would have -done. When he went forth again into the night air his brain was calmed -by the thought that Hugh had again promised to help him; and past -experiences and observation told Tom that the young scout master nearly -always did everything he attempted. - -Hugh, on his part, had hard work keeping his mind on his studies the -rest of the evening. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - HOW THE "UPLIFT" WORKED. - - -As the days went by, every one became convinced that a great change, and -for the better, had come upon Oakvale. The scouts had entered upon their -share in the uplift with boyish enthusiasm. They had already, most of -them, seen service along somewhat similar lines, and felt as though they -were veterans. Besides, they were constantly encouraged by the kind -words and praise of the women whose weighty influence was back of the -movement to encourage everything that was for the betterment of -conditions in and around Oakvale, so as to make it a model town for -clean living. - -There were mistakes, plenty of them, but the scouts learned from -experience, and it might be noticed that the same fellow seldom if ever -committed the same blunder. - -As the days went by, they became more and more proficient in their -tasks, earning hearty praise from all those who were so deeply -interested in the work. After a few drivers and chauffeurs had been -fined, and some of them locked up for a spell, they began to realize -that the scouts were not to be reckoned with as a big joke. When a boy, -in the now respected khaki, standing in the middle of the street at that -dangerous crossing, held up his white-gloved hand, traffic came to a -sudden stop, and there was safe passage across for the groups of small -children on the way to and from school. - -It only delayed things for a minute at the most, but precious young -lives were rendered safe from accident. Those boys who were given this -privilege in regular rotation showed by their manner that they felt -proud to fulfill their duties; nor did they in any instance abuse the -privilege their badges gave them above their fellows. - -What had at first seemed like a lark in the eyes of other boys not -members of the troop presently became a serious matter. When some of -them started to annoy members of the new Auxiliary Police they were soon -startled by a visit at their homes by the stern Chief himself, who -warned their folks that a second offense would mean severe punishment. -Possibly some of those parents took it upon themselves to start -operations by selecting a nice stout switch and keeping it in view. - -However, gradually order came out of chaos. Hugh worked faithfully -trying to remedy whatever proved to be faulty, and, of course, there -were numberless things that constantly required attention. - -Those were busy days for the regular police, and it kept them on the go, -warning offenders against the sanitary code that affairs must be -speedily altered; for those wide-awake eyes of the thirty scouts on duty -all the time seemed to discover a myriad of things that were not being -conducted according to law, and were a disgrace to any decent community. - -The mayor was now heart and soul in the work. He realized that he had -the backing of the solid people of the town, as well as all the church -members, and the women besides. - -Once Oakvale had experienced the delight of being really clean it would -require an upheaval to make them change back to old conditions. There -was an element, however, as is always the case in every community, that -looked upon these happenings with more or less angry mutterings and -frowns, for with the change had passed their source of gain and -livelihood. They knew better than to talk openly against the new order -of things, but whenever and wherever the opportunity arose they would -try to excite derision for the "uplift" movement. - -It seemed as though these people who loved darkness rather than light -felt especially sore toward Hugh Hardin and his scouts. They believed -that somehow the khaki boys were the backbone of the whole business, as -they were the ones whose eyes detected offenses and reported the same to -headquarters every day. With a score and a half of bright lads -constantly on the scent it was difficult for anything unlawful to escape -notice. - -Without the help given by Hugh and his scouts the movement could never -have attained such wonderful success from the beginning--that was as -good as acknowledged by almost every one on both sides. It was not -singular then that some of the lower elements, finding themselves hedged -about with so many difficulties in gaining a livelihood in such a -spick-and-span town, should get their heads together with the object of -devising some shrewd method by means of which the old conditions might -be brought back again. - -Plainly then to do this the easiest way would be to conjure up some -means whereby the new order of things would be brought into contempt. -Hugh himself had more than once been given obscure threats that unless -he relaxed his vigilance and shut his eyes to certain things if they -started up again, he would find himself in a peck of trouble. - -Not once did the boy flinch, even though he felt that some of these men -were of a desperate nature, and would descend to almost any mean depths -when their former lawless habits were interfered with. Hugh consulted -with the minister, Mr. Dobbs, and the mayor of Oakvale, both of whom -promised to stand by the scouts through any difficulty. - -These things aroused the women greatly when they heard of them. Plainly -the enemies of the community were becoming alarmed, thinking they had -been cast out for good. If conditions did not soon improve there would -have to be considerable emigration to other communities that did not -have ambitions to merit the name of "Spotless Town." But it was believed -that before they yielded up the fight these people would very likely -make one last great effort to turn the tables on the reformers. - -They had been engaging legal talent in Oakvale to look up the law and -ascertain whether the mayor had not overstepped his authority when he -ordered certain resorts closed where young fellows had been in the habit -of congregating to play pool. Although no actual proof had as yet been -produced, it was widely understood that other games far less innocent -had also been played there, and that indeed liquor could be procured on -the premises by those who "knew the ropes." - -But there were other lawyers on the side of the mayor, backed by the -women and the reform element. They made certain that things were kept -within the bounds granted by the law. Then the town Council, now wholly -committed to the new order of things, announced themselves ready to pass -any additional law necessary to continue things as they were. - -A week later and Hugh began to breathe easier. He felt that matters had -advanced so far that they could plume themselves on making the movement -a success. He was every day hoping to hear that the elements they had -cause to fear were commencing to leave town. As long as they continued -to abide in Oakvale the danger was that of a snake "scotched, not -killed," and liable to come to life again at any time. - -All this while he had not found a good chance to keep his promise to Tom -Sherwood, mostly on account of the press of business. With so many -things depending on him while acting in the place of Lieutenant Denmead, -still absent from home, as well as his studying for the spring -examinations, Hugh certainly had his hands full. - -But whenever he happened to meet Tom, and saw that look of entreaty on -the other's face, Hugh took himself to task for not finding time to -enter upon the little side campaign for the redemption of Benjy -Sherwood. - -So far as he knew, the latter did not seem to be in the company of the -Norris boy on the various occasions when Hugh had noticed the latter on -the street. That was no reason, however, that Benjy did not seek his -society at other times, and perhaps visit at Park's house, where -possibly cards were not prohibited as a source of boyish amusement. - -"I'm going to start something doing in that direction by to-morrow," -Hugh was telling himself as he walked toward home one afternoon, after -making a report to the Chief and receiving the usual congratulations on -his proficiency. - -It was the sight of Benjy across the way that caused him to say that, -for the other had come out of the store where all sorts of games, from -baseball goods and skates down to playing cards, were for sale and -exhibited in the windows. - -It seemed to Hugh, although he admitted that perhaps his imagination -made him think so, that Benjy Sherwood glanced to the right and left as -he came out, as a fellow might who was trying to hide something, or else -felt conscience stricken. He noticed that the other was also trying to -keep a package he carried close to his body as he walked on. - -Suddenly Hugh saw Benjy turn and hurry down a side street, almost -running, in fact. He hardly knew what to make of this until, chancing to -look further along, he discovered Tom Sherwood in sight. It hardly -seemed likely that the other had noticed his younger brother's very -suspicious action in wanting to elude him. - -Hugh felt a strange fascination in connection with the matter. It was -growing more interesting than ever, and more mysterious, he admitted. -What had Benjy been doing in that store that he should dislike to have -his brother see him, and actually turn and slink away? - -"I'll know something about this before a great while," Hugh was telling -himself as he walked slowly on, trying to figure out what his best plan -of campaign might be under the circumstances. As a wise scout he always -tried to make ample preparations before starting in on a game. - -As once before, Hugh had gotten almost within sight of his home fence -when he heard his name called from the rear. It was not Tom Sherwood -this time who came running after him, but Ralph Kenyon. - -Ralph had always been a great favorite of Hugh's. There was a time when -the other had been making money trapping small fur-bearing animals up -above Oakvale, and proving himself quite a woodsman, in so far as having -a knowledge of the habits of these four-footed forest denizens went. - -That was before Ralph became interested in the scouts and finally joined -the troop. He could not be induced to set a single cruel steel trap now, -because he looked at things in an entirely different light from those -other days. But he was without a peer in the whole troop when it came to -a question of following a trail, or being able to understand what the -thousand-and-one little signs in the woods stood for. - -Ralph looked excited, Hugh saw, as the other drew near, and the first -thing the scout master thought the cause to be some fresh insult from -the rough element in town opposed to the new conditions. - -Hugh was ready to turn right-about face and go back to the office of the -Chief, if Ralph's complaint seemed serious enough to warrant it. He was -determined that the work so well begun should not be put back by any -underhand methods. - -Ralph soon came up, gulping in big draughts of air. His face was red, -and what seemed to be a look of indignation, according to Hugh's mind, -could be seen there. - -"Something got twisted and needs straightening out, eh, Ralph?" asked -the scout master pleasantly. - -"Worse than that, I'm afraid, Hugh," replied Ralph. - -"None of the boys hurt, I hope?" quickly inquired Hugh, for the one -thing he had been dreading was an open rupture between the rival forces -in town, with stones flying and a near-riot in the process of forming. - -"Well, not yet, Hugh, but if things keep on there's going to be the -dickens to pay," panted Ralph, leaning against the fence as he spoke. -"Fact is, those gamblers and law breakers have got desperate, and -they've schemed to put us scouts in a bad hole, so the mayor will have -to discharge us and start the whole uplift game tumbling in the soup; -that's what makes me look so scared like, Hugh!" - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - ONE USE FOR WOODCRAFT KNOWLEDGE. - - -"What do you mean by putting us scouts in a bad hole, Ralph?" asked -Hugh, quickly, for what the other boy had said startled him. - -Ralph glanced hurriedly about, as though to make absolutely certain that -no eavesdroppers were near by to overhear what he said. Then he drew -closer to Hugh and assumed a most mysterious manner that could not help -having an effect upon the surprised scout chief. - -"Oh! they're as mad as hops, let me tell you, Hugh," Ralph commenced. - -"Of course you mean, Ralph, those fellows who were hurt when we put the -lid tight on Oakvale, and stopped their sneaky business, whatever it may -have been?" - -"Yes, and they've got together and mean to fight back, that's how it -stands now, Hugh," he was told. - -"We knew they had employed lawyers and were meaning to do everything -they could to get the mayor's acts called unconstitutional," Hugh -remarked. - -"Oh! they've made up their minds, I guess," Ralph continued hastily, -"that when it comes to a show-down of law they haven't got a chance to -win out. Hugh, let me tell you again some of that bunch are the most -desperate men going. Why, nobody would ever have believed we had such -monsters here in little old Oakvale." - -"Whew! you're going pretty strong when you use a word like that, Ralph!" - -"They deserve it every time, I tell you," persisted the other. "What -else would you call men who even scheme to have a store in this town -robbed, and then fix it so that marked bills or pieces of jewelry will -be found in the pockets of certain scouts, you among the number?" - -Hugh stared hard at Ralph as though he could hardly believe his ears. - -"You haven't been dreaming that, have you, Ralph?" he finally asked, as -he took hold of the other's sleeve and drew him around so that he could -look straight into Ralph's eyes, which, however, did not waver before -his gaze. - -"Not much I haven't, Hugh," he was told like a flash. "I give you my -word of honor I heard that very scheme spoken of by three of the leading -spirits in this fight against a clean town--Gaffney, who used to run -that poolroom; Slimmons, the retired boxer, who used to be athletic -trainer at the schools before somehow he took to drinking so heavy they -had to drop him (and he's hung around Gaffney's place ever since trying -to pick up some sort of living giving boxing lessons, etc.). There was a -third man present, but he doesn't really live in town. I suspect he's -been interested on the quiet in dodging the law here by supplying shady -resorts with booze, and is losing money as long as they stay shut up." - -"Where did all this take place, tell me, Ralph?" - -"Listen then, Hugh. I happened to be coming across lots down at the -bowling alley corner when I saw those three men dodge into the place. -You know it's been closed to play ever since they found things were -going on there that had no business in Oakvale. Well, I thought there -was something queer about the way those three men acted before they -dodged in, and my old sense of investigation at once began to urge me to -take a peek and see what they might be up to. If any sort of game was -going on, the police ought to know, you understand, Hugh?" - -"Yes, and you were acting within your rights as a member of the regular -police force, in figuring on doing so," the other assured him. - -Ralph smiled grimly as though pleased to receive that reassurance from -the one in whom he placed unlimited confidence. - -"Well, it was as easy as falling off a log for me to discover a window -that I could crawl through," Ralph went on to say, "and nobody saw me do -it either. I haven't been watching mink, otter, and foxes pull off their -sly tricks without learning a thing or two. So once I got inside the old -building it wasn't much of a job to find where they were sitting, -jabbering away like everything, in low voices, as if they didn't want to -be heard outside. - -"Hugh, I couldn't begin to repeat what I heard. All of them were -excited, and in dead earnest, too. Each one had suggestions to make that -sometimes made my blood run cold. Their well-paying business has been -closed up, you see, and that's what makes them so bent on striking a -blow to end this silly 'racket,' as they contemptuously call the uplift -movement. - -"And, Hugh, just as I said in the beginning, they're actually planning -to have a robbery committed, and manage it so that some of the stuff -that's taken will be found on a number of the scouts. Just how this is -to be done they hadn't fully settled; but it's all going to be fixed -this very night, so that before another forty-eight hours have passed -the dirty game can be worked. Why, I never dreamed so dreadful a thing -would come slap up against us scouts. They want the people of Oakvale to -suspect us of being common, every-day thieves." - -"Don't worry, Ralph," said Hugh, firmly. "I don't believe the game could -have been carried out successfully at any time, even if none of us so -much as suspected a thing. Now that you've warned us, why, it's bound to -fall flat. Mayor Strunk and the women of this town know the scouts too -well to ever believe they'd disgrace their uniforms and honor badges by -stealing." - -"Do you know, Hugh, while I lay there straining my ears like everything -so's not to lose much of what those plotters said, I was thinking what a -bully thing it would be if the scouts could turn the tables on 'em." - -"You mean, Ralph, fix things so the fellows who actually did the robbery -would be nabbed in the act--with the goods on--before they found a -chance to deposit any of the plunder in the pockets of the scouts, or at -their homes, where it would be found when a search started?" - -"That's what I had in mind," confessed the other, eagerly. - -"It would be just what they deserved," declared Hugh, "and what some -folks would call retribution. We would save ourselves a whole lot of -trouble and explanations, and at the same time might get rid of an -undesirable bunch of crooked people that Oakvale never would miss." - -"Of course you understand, Hugh, that I was so worked up by what I -managed to hear, I felt nervous about staying too long, for fear those -men found me out. I tell you they're mad enough to do almost anything to -us scouts. So I concluded it would be wise to creep back, and get out of -that same window again before anything happened to me. This I proceeded -to do, and say, I breathed free again when I found myself under the blue -sky once more." - -"The last you saw of them they were still sitting in the old bowling -alley place talking things over, eh, Ralph?" - -"Yes, and figuring on how soon they could do that nasty job, too, Hugh. -From all I heard they won't let the grass grow under their feet before -getting things moving." - -"If only we knew whose store was to be robbed we would have something to -work on," suggested the scout leader, invitingly. - -"Oh! I think I know that much even now," admitted Ralph. "They seemed to -be talking about the easiest way to get in, and I heard them mention old -Mr. Ainslee several times, as if it was to be his jewelry store." - -Hugh would not have been human if he had not felt a chilling sensation -pass over him upon learning to what extreme lengths the enemies of -reform were willing to go in order to accomplish their purpose. This was -to upset the prevailing conditions, and put the town back into the old -rut that was winked at by the police and authorities, it being impolitic -to notice them too closely. - -His determination was immediately taken, for Hugh could often reach a -conclusion as speedily as on other occasions he took time to make up his -mind. - -"Ralph, I was headed for home when you stopped me," he went on to -explain, "but after hearing what you've just said, I want to have Mr. -Dobbs and the mayor know what those desperate men are thinking of doing. -Would you mind coming with me and repeating your story to them?" - -"Not a bit, Hugh; fact is, I expected that you would ask me to do so, -and I'd made up my mind what to say. Sure, I'll go along, and repeat -every word." - -Accordingly the pair trudged their way to the parsonage, and were -fortunate enough to find the minister in his study. Mr. Dobbs was a -venerable man who always took a great interest in all the activities of -the Oakvale boys. The scouts had no more sincere friend and advocate -than he proved to be, even when the organization had been young, and -much doubt had been expressed among the better people of the town as to -the wisdom of allowing such a movement to crystallize. - -He greeted the boys with his customary warmth. - -"I'm very glad to have you drop in on me this way," he told them. "If it -is in search of any advice or other assistance, I shall be glad to know -what I can do for boys I think so highly of. Tell me what your errand is -this time, Hugh, my son." - -Of course the parson was highly indignant when he heard to what actual -depths of depravity some of those men were willing to descend in order -to undo the work of the loyal scouts, and the better elements among the -residents of Oakvale. - -"It all goes to prove how fearfully lax we had become here," he observed -after Ralph had told all he knew. "It also shows what a crying necessity -for a radical cleaning-up movement there must have been when such -criminal elements, working to undermine the characters of our young men -and boys, as these, could effect a lodgment in our town. It was high -time we woke up and took our coats off for business. Ralph, I want to -thank you in the name of every respectable woman and mother in Oakvale -for what you have discovered this day. 'Forewarned is forearmed,' they -say, and before we are through with Gaffney, Slimmons and Company, they -will realize that they have been up against a threshing machine." - -Hugh liked to hear the old minister talk like that, for he understood -that Mr. Dobbs was really a Civil War veteran, and in the old days had -once been known as the "Fighting Parson." If those unruly men fancied -that because he was a shepherd of a flock he would not fight to save his -pet lambs from the devouring wolves they made the greatest mistake of -their whole lives. - -So Mr. Dobbs quickly got the mayor on the wire and asked him to come -over to the parsonage without a moment's delay; also to fetch Doctor -Kane along with him if he could possibly do so. - -"I've got something to communicate that will give you an electric shock, -if that hint will cause you to speed your car any the faster, Mr. -Mayor," the boys heard the minister say in conclusion. - -It was not a great while before they arrived, for apparently the mayor -had either met Doctor Kane on the street or managed to find him at his -house. Then once more Ralph was influenced to tell his startling story. -He had deeply interested listeners. Hugh could see the mayor gritting -his teeth as he had a way of doing when thoroughly aroused. - -"These two wide-awake scouts have suggested," said Mr. Dobbs, after -everything had been told, "that we keep very quiet about this discovery, -and lay a trap so that when the robbery is actually attempted we may -arrest those who are implicated. If they are caught in the act, before -they can have any opportunity to place the blame on any one else, we -will have no trouble of ridding our town of unworthy citizens. Mr. -Mayor, it rests with you to decide." - -"Nothing would please me better!" exclaimed the mayor, strenuously. -"Before we go into details with regard to any plan I want to thank these -brave boys from the bottom of my heart on account of what the scouts -have done and are doing to purge Oakvale of every element that stands, -as a blot on a town's fair name." - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - THE GOAL IN SIGHT. - - -It was fine of the mayor to say that. Had the women who had labored so -long and so arduously in order to accomplish this end overheard what he -remarked, they might have whispered among themselves that it was a great -pity Mr. Strunk could not have reached the desired resolution many -months previously. - -But then "better late than never," and if his eyes were now opened to -the enormity of the offenses that had previously been winked at as -unavoidable in a bustling community of Oakvale's size and rapid growth, -there was good hope of the future. - -Before Hugh and Ralph left the parsonage to hurry home to supper they -had heard the whole thing thrashed out, and even found their opinions -asked by the trio of deeply interested gentlemen. - -A plan was fairly well arranged that would serve as a trap, for from -what Ralph had caught, the conspirators would not be in position to -attempt the daring robbery until then. In fact, as Ralph very well -understood, it was actually Hugh who proposed the idea upon which the -minister, Doctor Kane and the mayor finally settled as promising the -best results. But then Ralph saw nothing strange about that, for as a -member of the scouts he was accustomed to have Hugh Hardin naturally -take the lead in almost everything. - -Ralph was greatly pleased. He considered, and rightly, too, Hugh told -him, that once again his knowledge of woodcraft and the Indian art of -creeping up close to an enemy's camp had proved of value to the cause he -represented. Many fellows similarly situated, even if they had thought -to make the attempt, might have bungled, and only brought down some sort -of chastisement on their own heads for their temerity. - -It was to remain a dead secret; even the rest of the scouts would not be -told why Hugh ordered them to be at their place of meeting on the -following night, prepared to have a number of the stoutest and most -adept chosen for a special mission. - -The mayor promised to see Chief Wallis on the following morning and get -him interested in the matter, so that he and several of his men could -have a hand in trapping the thieves. Just as likely as not these men -would be in a desperate mood, and liable to show fight when they -realized how completely the tables had been turned upon them. Hence it -was deemed wise to have some of the regulars on the police force handy -in order to assist the scouts make the arrests. - -No doubt the home folks at the Hardin and Kenyon domiciles must have -thought the boys were unusually serious all that evening, perhaps -absent-minded, for often they would start when spoken to suddenly, as -though wrapped up in some far-away subject. - -However, as it was known that their hearts were concerned in the -successful carrying out of the cleaning up of Oakvale, allowances were -made for them. Fond mothers, though, may have found themselves wondering -if it were really wise to allow such weights to rest upon young -shoulders. - -Another day came around, and its duties were taken up by the scouts with -their accustomed alacrity. Every fellow seemed to vie with his mates in -doing his share of the work in a way that would allow of no fault -finding. There was indeed what might be called a healthy rivalry among -the scouts, to see who could command the highest number of clean scores; -for Hugh had arranged matters in the shape of a contest, to make it more -interesting. - -The opposition had not yet died out, for when men have fallen into -certain bad habits that become as second nature, it is most difficult to -break the bonds binding them. - -True, the drivers and chauffeurs in and about Oakvale had by degrees -become accustomed to the new order of things, which was moving along as -smoothly as clockwork. They found there was absolutely no need of any -friction, and that while occasionally held up by the amateur "traffic -cop" in order to allow a safe passage for a squad of school children, -they really lost little or no time. Besides, a vast amount of argument -and hard words was saved by this orderly way of running things at -congested crossings. - -Already the new system had borne fruit, for the railway company, while -not compelled to do so by any town ordinance, doubtless falling in with -the general scheme of uplift, stationed a flagman at the perilous -crossing, who would be on duty from six in the morning until sundown. - -Those of the scouts who had the duty of searching for infractions of the -health code ran across the greatest trouble, because they were dealing -with private individuals, some of whom nursed petty "grouches" against -them because compelled to do what the boys demanded or take the chances -of being summoned before a Squire and heavily fined. - -Hugh used considerable diplomacy in dealing with these offenders. He did -not wish the scouts to make any enemies when it could be avoided. So -when there happened to be some stubborn fellow who firmly believed he -had a right to do things that were offensive to the neighbors and the -community at large, just because he was on his own grounds, and -threatened to go to law to resist, Hugh tried other measures besides -violence and threats. - -In several instances he performed what seemed next door to miracles, in -the eyes of the boys, and the amused people as well. Hugh could -"blarney" most any one into coming around to his way of thinking, given -half a chance, was what Billy Worth always said, and in fact the young -scout master proved the truth of this assertion in several instances. - -One crabbed and rich old fellow in particular, who had little to do with -his neighbors, but persisted in keeping several fierce dogs that barked -most of the night, upon being threatened with the passage of a new law -that would proclaim such animals within the corporate limits of the town -a public nuisance if complaint were handed in signed by six neighbors, -told them they could pass all the regulations they wanted and he would -take out an injunction, which by the delay of the law would allow him to -do about as he pleased the rest of his life. - -Judge Coffin, from the town of Lawrence, whose acquaintance some of the -scouts had made at the time of the famous flood,[1] when they were -enabled to save several lives and win the esteem of the entire -community, chancing to visit Oakvale on some official business just -about that time, confided to Hugh the fact that unfortunately what Mr. -Griffin claimed was true, and that by successive injunctions it was -possible to fend off a decision for months, sometimes years. - -This was not the worst of it, for if one man could baffle the desire of -the community in that way his example might become contagious and the -precedent thus set be copied by others, until all the good the reform -wave had done would be lost. - -So clever Hugh had figured out it was essential that Mr. Griffin be won -over to the cause, even if it took much of his spare time to accomplish -the seemingly impossible result. - -Like a wise general, Hugh first looked over the field. He knew that when -a battle is to be fought the side that knows the various conformations -of the ground always possesses an advantage over those less posted. - -In making all sorts of inquiries Hugh learned a lot about the past of -this crabbed old man who seemed so like vinegar. There was a reason, it -seemed, for his "drawing within his shell," and refusing to have more -than casual communication with his neighbors. - -Mr. Griffin had suffered a cruel shock many years before, losing his -wife and two lovely children in a fire. One girl was left to him, and -she grew up to womanhood, gave him a great deal of trouble, and finally -ran away with a worthless fellow. Some years afterwards, the old -gentleman, now become estranged from the world that had treated him so -cruelly, went away, and came back with a child he announced as his -grandson, the last of his stock, for the daughter had died. - -Alas! this little boy was a cripple and deformed. Hugh had seen him -several times, but the old man kept a strict watch, and allowed no -intruders in his grounds where those dogs roamed at night time. - -The hunchback was now all of ten years of age, and when Hugh saw Mr. -Griffin buying some boys' books before Christmas he understood that the -little fellow at least must love to read. - -Here then was the scheme which Hugh worked out. He had plenty of books -that told of the doings of Boy Scouts. Besides, he had an old manual -that he could easily spare. So he bribed the grocer's boy, who daily -visited the Griffin home, and admitted that he chatted with the -hunchback frequently, to give Archibald the package of books on the sly, -and tell him the leader of the Wolf Patrol had sent them with his -compliments to help a "shut-in" realize what scout life meant. - -Hugh heard from his kind act, for on the very next day he received a -splendid little note from the boy, thanking him heartily for his -thoughtfulness, and saying that he would devour those books -"ferociously," he was so "crazy" about reading of what boys more -fortunate than himself were doing. - -Hugh kept it up after that, and before long there was a most friendly -feeling springing up between the two. One fine day Hugh was surprised to -have Mr. Griffin stop him on the street, and he realized that the severe -look could leave the face of the well-named man when he chose to drop -the mask. - -"My little grandchild has been telling me about your kindness in sending -him books to read," the gentleman started to say. "Now, I have been very -particular about the type of books I select for him, because I want the -poor little fellow to know only the better side of life. At first I was -afraid you had broken down the barrier I have erected, but when I came -to look over the handbook of the scouts, and found what a splendid -foundation the organization is built upon I felt sure that books written -along similar lines could do a boy only good. I am pleased to say that -upon glancing over those you sent him, I have been immensely satisfied." - -He offered his hand to Hugh, something no boy in Oakvale had ever known -Mr. Griffin to do in all the years past. Hugh flushed with a sense of -satisfaction upon realizing that he was on the road to success, and that -his diagnosis of the stern old gentleman's real nature had not been -amiss. - -"I am glad you do not think I was playing a mean part in getting those -books to Archibald," he said, simply. "We scouts feel for any chap who -is deprived of the glorious chances we have to spend many good times in -the open. I thought he would be glad to learn about scout life, even if -he could never hope to enjoy it himself." - -"What is more to the point," continued Mr. Griffin, "I've had my eyes -opened to the fact that it is a bad thing for any man to allow himself -to remain in ignorance with what is going on around him as the years -progress. I am ashamed to admit that I never dreamed there had been such -a vast revolution in the training of boys during the years I've kept -aloof from the world. I've seen mention of the scouts many times in my -papers, but never took the trouble to investigate--in fact, treated the -whole matter as somewhat of a military movement copied after the Old -World methods. I am delighted to learn that such is not the case." - -Then he went on to say Archibald was eager to meet Hugh, and that if -only he could come over and take supper with them that evening it would -give both of the "shut-ins" great pleasure indeed. - -Such luck Hugh had hardly anticipated, but he was only too glad to -accept the invitation in the spirit it was given. - -"I have some more really splendid books I want you to let him read," he -went on to say with spirit. "If you don't object I'll come over this -very evening," for, as we happen to know, the scout master believed in -"striking when the iron is hot." - -After that it was easy for Hugh. Once he had gained entrance to the -Griffin home he found a means for occupying a place in the hearts of -both the hunchback boy and his grandfather. By a wise system of -approaching the subject discreetly Hugh quickly found a way of getting -Mr. Griffin to change his mind about keeping those noisy dogs. - -It was once more a case of the gentle sun's rays accomplishing what even -the most violent wind could not do. - -Hugh never boasted of his victories, but in some way the truth became -known. Possibly Mr. Griffin, now mingling more than in the past with his -neighbors, secretly amused, told it himself. At any rate it served to -add to the laurels Hugh had already won as a diplomat, as well as a -scout leader. - -So the good work went on. This incident connected with Mr. Griffin and -his pests of barking dogs was only one example of how the scouts managed -to accomplish their ends. It is not by mere promises of prosecution -alone that nuisances can be abated, for sometimes reason goes a great -ways toward effecting a cure. - -A few threats had been made, but so far none of the boys had really -suffered actual violence. Truth to tell, the cowards who had been -bullies knew that when they assailed the scout uniform they really went -up against the entire vested authority of the town as represented by the -mayor, the police, and the better element of the citizens. - -Speedy retaliation had fallen upon those astonished offenders who had -laughed at the warnings given by the Auxiliary Police. They realized -that because a fellow is under a man's size and wears a khaki uniform, -it is no sign that he cannot enforce his authority. - -Things had apparently been going on swimmingly, and there seemed every -indication that victory was in sight when Ralph by accident overheard -that plot to bring about the undoing of the scouts in the estimation of -the town people. It was plainly the last desperate effort of the -opposition. If they were beaten in this round the chances were there -would be a clean sweep to crown the efforts of those who were working so -hard for home protection in Oakvale. It would have been proven -conclusively that a new rule must hereafter be reckoned with, which was -founded on _order_ and the rights of the community as against private -privileges. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - BENJY'S SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS. - - -Really, it was strange how things crowded into that particular day. Hugh -was down doing some errand in the shopping district of the town when, by -the merest accident, he chanced to see Benjy Sherwood again. - -The sight of Tom's high-strung younger brother would be apt to interest -Hugh at any time nowadays, for it caused him to remember that he had as -yet been unable to carry his promise into effect, owing to the great -rush of matters accumulating on his shoulders. - -He was particularly interested, however, when he saw what the boy was -doing, for plainly Benjy had some silver coins in his hand which he was -counting. - -Hugh jumped to a conclusion that gave him a bad feeling in the region of -his heart. When a fellow is seen coming out of a bird store where all -sorts of pets are kept, and counting silver coins from one hand to the -other, the most natural conclusion is that he must have been selling -something there, and wants to make sure he has received the right -amount. - -Hugh chanced to know that Benjy had been deeply interested in Belgian -hares, and received a present of a handsome pair of them on Christmas, -of which he had been exceedingly fond. Hugh wondered if it could be -possible that the boy, hard pressed for the means to pay some "debt of -honor," as he considered it, had actually sacrificed his pets. - -The thought of what a hold that gaming habit must have gained upon poor -Benjy filled the scout master with dismay. He took a few steps past the -store, and then felt compelled to yield to an irresistible impulse to -make sure; so, turning back, he walked into the place. - -Hugh had often been there before, for he was himself interested in fancy -pigeons, and had a coop of "homers" at home from which he anticipated -raising some fine youngsters, which he could take many miles from home -and find awaiting him on his return. Indeed, he aspired some day to -possess famous fliers that might cover a thousand miles, and still find -their way home inside of a few days. - -So Hugh strolled around looking at the coops containing all sorts of -pets both in fur and feather, from cunning pet dogs to fowls with -pedigrees, and parrots that could say dozens of strange phrases, or even -sing in a croaking fashion. - -Finally Hugh approached the owner of the shop, who was busily engaged -with some work. - -"Do you happen to have any Belgian hares, Mr. Huggins?" he asked, in a -casual way, as though he had looked around and failed to notice any in -the various cages or runs. - -"Why, that reminds me I forgot to put that pair in the cage, I was so -busy after the boy left," remarked the owner of the store, as he hurried -over to an old basket that had a cover to it, and from which he drew a -struggling object with long ears, which he tossed into an empty cage, to -be presently followed by a second. - -Hugh's last doubt was now laid. He had recognized the Belgian hares by -certain well-remembered marks, as once the property of Benjy Sherwood, -who must have sacrificed them for a particular object. - -When Hugh remembered what he feared that object might be he found -himself shivering, he was so sorry for poor Tom, whose heart seemed so -sore these days. - -More than ever was Hugh bothered to know just how he should go about -gaining the confidence of that high-strung lad. He had found a way to -gain the heart of such a scoffer and doubter as Mr. Griffin, whom -everybody deemed beyond hope. Surely there must be some method he could -apply to reach Benjy's confidence, so that he might coax him to join the -scouts, and drop those suspicious companions. - -"I'll start right in to-morrow," Hugh told himself, vigorously, as he -left the pet shop and headed for home. "Until this other business is -settled and the coast cleared, I mustn't allow myself to be tempted to -take up any side issues. But if all goes well, and to-morrow sees things -turn our way, as I hope, then I promise myself that I'll turn to Tom's -trouble and help him out." - -All the rest of that afternoon he could not keep his thoughts away from -what he had learned about Benjy. It seemed as if the boy must be sinking -fast in the quicksands of the treacherous stream into which he had so -boldly waded. Unless prompt measures were taken for his rescue, Hugh -feared Benjy would ere long be so deeply involved that such a thing as -saving him must become three times as difficult. - -"I'll drop over and see Tom to-night," he promised himself, as he sat -awaiting the summons to supper. "I don't remember meeting him all day, -that is, to speak to. He's beginning to believe by this time that I've -about forgotten my promise. Poor Tom, I'm sorry for him as can be, and -only hope we can convince Benjy he can get three times as much real fun -out of joining the scouts as keeping company with that tough crowd." - -Hugh was not as sanguine as his words might indicate. He knew what a -grip habit can take upon most boys, and how once they yield to the -allurements of vices it proves very difficult for them to break away, or -even acknowledge they are on the wrong path. - -He had several half-formed plans, any one of which he might be able to -work upon, after he had consulted with Tom. The latter was one of the -sturdiest of the scouts, and Hugh particularly wanted him to be present -on that night watch. He partly feared Tom might not feel inclined to -come forth, and it was partly with the intention of gaining his consent -that Hugh meant to drop around after supper and see him. - -It happened several things came up to delay him. First a report was -brought in by a member of the troop that was of sufficient importance to -merit immediate attention. So Hugh had to talk with Chief Wallis over -the wire. Then something else arose that took another half-hour of his -precious time. - -When finally the decks were cleared it was almost half-past seven, and -the meeting had been called for eight. - -"I must hustle if I mean to have a talk with Tom before we both go over -to the meeting room," was what Hugh told himself, as he snatched up his -cap and made for the door. - -He had hardly gained the street before he ran across two of the boys -heading in the direction of the church, where a room had been placed at -the disposal of the troop, together with the free use of electric light, -and heat in winter time. - -At the next corner, however, Hugh stopped short. - -"Sorry I can't go all the way with you, Chester and Dale, but I've got -an errand over at Tom Sherwood's house. I'll be with you later on, and -will fetch Tom with me. My lips are sealed about the object of this -special meeting until then, so there's no use trying to coax me to -speak. Those who are selected will be told everything, and the rest put -on their honor not to say a word about anything they suspect to-night." - -"Wow! you certainly have got us all guessing good and hard, Hugh," -laughed Dale Evans, who belonged to the Otter Patrol. "I sure hope I'll -be one of those lucky chosen ones, so I can know what all this mystery -means." - -"Oh! any old thing is liable to happen in such exciting times as these," -said Chester Brownell, who was one of the best athletes in the troop, -and would assuredly be picked out by Hugh as one of the guards of the -night; though Chester, being in complete ignorance concerning matters, -could not know this. - -Hugh hurried as best he could toward the Sherwood home, which was some -distance away from the corner where he parted company with the other -scouts. There was little chance that Tom might have already started for -the rendezvous, but somehow Hugh suspected the other was feeling too -anxious to take any pleasure in going to a called meeting, when he could -just as well stay at home and worry his mind with those questions that -would not down. - -Tom himself came to the door in answer to his knock, and seemed to be a -little surprised to find who was there. Hugh thought he looked more -gloomy than ever, though possibly that had been a faint gleam of revived -hope that flittered athwart Tom's long face at seeing the scout master. - -"I thought you mightn't come out to-night, Tom," said Hugh, as he pushed -in without even waiting for an invitation, "and so I made up my mind to -step over and be sure of you. Fact is, Tom, there's going to be -something planned of great importance to our cause. I've depended on you -to be one of six or eight of the brawniest fellows in the troop to stand -by and help us win a great victory." - -Tom looked somewhat impressed, though he shook his head sadly as he went -on to say in reply: - -"Well, I had almost made up my mind, Hugh, that I didn't care to go out -to-night. Fact is, to tell you the truth, I'm so miserable these days -that I don't seem to care whether school keeps or not--lost my appetite, -and even think of resigning from the scouts." - -Hugh slapped him on the back in his cheery fashion. - -"Don't let me hear you make that threat again, Tom," he said, in -pretended severity. "We need you too much every day to let you go. -Besides, your influence is going to count for a heap after the town is -cleared up. You don't know how much it means to have a scout in good -standing in a family. But what ails you, Tom? Has anything new happened -to give you the blues again?" - -"Yes," came the reply, accompanied with a deep sigh from the heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - THE REVELATION. - - -"Tell me what it is all about, Tom, won't you?" asked Hugh, as he -followed the other upstairs to his own room. Somehow, Tom seemed to feel -that they ought to be alone so his mother might not overhear what passed -between them. - -"I'll just close the door, Hugh, before I say anything," remarked Tom, -"though for that matter there's no danger Benjy will interrupt us, -because he's gone off for the evening. This time I'm glad to tell you -it's to a sociable they're having over at our church for the young -people." - -His manner when saying this showed that Tom would be a happy fellow, -indeed, if he could only know that every night Benjy was away from home, -he was enjoying himself in similar innocent amusements as on this -particular occasion. - -"It's this way, you see, Hugh," he continued, after finding a seat close -to his visitor, "for a little while now Benjy's been acting mighty -decent, and I've come to let myself take on more hope than I had the -last time you and I talked it over. He seems more like his old self, and -was even asking some questions about the scouts, though up to now he's -never seemed to care a thing about our organization, you remember. But -it was too good to last, Hugh." - -Remembering what he had seen that afternoon, with Benjy counting silver -coins he had received from the bird fancier, Hugh himself was obliged to -mentally confess that it looked very much that way. - -"Go on, please, Tom!" he urged when the other paused. - -"Well, this is how it happened," explained the other, slowly, as though -he hated to talk about such a painful subject, and had to force himself -to take it up only because he knew it was necessary he should enter into -details. "After supper this evening, just before Benjy went out, he gave -me a quick look when he thought I wasn't paying any attention, and then -slipped upstairs. I waited for a little while, and then just couldn't -stand it any longer, so I managed to leave the sitting room and go up -the back stairs. - -"Keeping on my tiptoes, I moved along the upper hall in the half shadows -to where I could watch the door of my room. It was partly open, and -there was a light inside, but I couldn't see Benjy at all, though I -could hear him moving about as if looking for something. Then the light -suddenly went out, and he came out. Hugh, it made me as cold as ice when -I even heard him chuckling to himself as he hurried to his own room, -just as if he thought he had played a good joke on me." - -"Of course he didn't know you were so close to him?" asked Hugh when Tom -stopped talking to swallow as though something seemed to be choking him. - -"No, and as soon as he disappeared in his own room I slipped downstairs -again, and took up the book I had been reading. He went off a few -minutes afterwards, and called out good-night to all as cheery as he -used to in the old days before he got going with that tough set." - -"Did you come up here and look around to find out what he had been -doing?" asked the scout master. - -"I wanted to the worst kind, Hugh, but it seemed as if I just couldn't. -I was almost afraid to look for fear of making some more discoveries -that would upset me. Why, Hugh, honest to goodness, I feel so weary this -very night you would think I was an old man, and yet I'll be sixteen -to-morrow, you remember." - -"Well," Hugh told him, "it's always my principle, when I've got a -disagreeable task to perform, to get at it right away. The longer you -wait, Tom, the worse it gets for you. The only way is to shut your teeth -hard together, and pitch in." - -"I guess you're right, Hugh--sure you must be. I've been silly to hold -back. No matter what I learn, the truth can't be any worse than this -terrible uncertainty that's gripping me, and making me shiver as if I -had the ague again." He jumped from his seat as though determined to -carry his words into effect. - -"I suppose the first thing I ought to look at is my trunk, eh, Hugh?" he -went on to say, fumbling in a pocket for his keys. - -"Well, you know better than I do where you keep your valuables," said -the other, trying to appear merry, though somehow, Tom did not respond -to any appreciable extent. "I see that since that other time I was up -here you've changed your way of leaving your trunk unlocked." - -Tom flushed, and shook his head. - -"Oh! I tell you it galled me to think I was locking it against my own -brother," he said, tremulously, "but then I remembered that it is a sin -to put temptation in the path of any fellow whose weakness you know. -Though for that matter a common key would unlock this trunk." - -He soon threw back the lid and bent over, fumbling through the contents. -Hugh stood close by, watching him with more or less curiosity and -interest. He saw that Tom was evidently in fear and trembling, as though -constantly dreading lest he make some unpleasant discovery. - -As he proceeded he seemed to regain a portion of his former confidence. - -"Here's my little savings bank all right, Hugh, and no one could ever -manage to get anything out of that in the short time he was in my room, -even if the trunk could be opened. So far as I can see, nothing has been -taken out of here." - -When he allowed the lid to drop again Tom was looking more or less -relieved. Evidently his main concern had been in connection with the -money, he had in that little metal bank, for if Benjy had meant to take -anything it would seem that ready cash would tempt him more than all -else. - -"Oh! perhaps, Hugh, he didn't come in here for that," he broke out with. -"I remember now that sometimes in the past when Benjy was going out to a -party he used to want to fix his tie, and brush his hair before the -mirror in my room, for he said the light was better here. It may have -been that, Hugh, you know." - -The scout master understood that poor Tom was like a drowning man -clutching at a straw in hopes of keeping himself afloat. Hugh himself -might have been inclined to look at the matter from much the same -standpoint only for that strange incident of the afternoon, which he -could not explain, try as he might, save along very unpleasant lines. - -"Let's hope so, Tom," he hastened to say, "though now you're about it, -in order to ease your mind, and leave no stone unturned, I should think -you had better make a clean sweep in here." - -"Do you mean search every drawer in my chiffonier and dresser, Hugh?" -demanded Tom. "I can do that easily enough, but surely he wouldn't think -to take any of my clothes. I might tell if he'd mussed around in the -drawers searching for my savings bank, though, because I keep everything -just so; and the clean shirt I expect to wear to-morrow morning I placed -on the top of the pile. That's my habit as a scout to have things kept -as neat as wax. Why, Hugh, my mother laughs at me, and calls me a fussy -old maid, you know, all on account of those habits of thrift and -preparedness." - -He started in at the bureau drawers for some reason or other, and as he -opened each one and ran his eye over the contents, Tom continued to -talk. - -"Seems like nothing has been bothered that I can notice, Hugh. Here's -another drawer containing some of my surveying instruments, for, with -Bud Morgan, I'm still interested along those lines, though of late I -haven't been out afield with him. I was a little afraid one of these -instruments might be gone. You see, they're worth considerable money, -and were made a present to me by an old uncle who's interested in my -career. But, so far as I can see, not a single thing is missing, Hugh." - -There was a positive air of relief in Tom's voice when he said this. -Undoubtedly the contents of that drawer of instruments had been giving -him more anxiety than he had confessed, and he was glad that no -unpleasant discovery had developed. - -"The rest will be just an apology of a search, Hugh, because, you see, -there's absolutely nothing worth taking besides these things. Still, to -satisfy my mind as you say, perhaps I'd just better run through the -drawers of the chiffonier." - -He started at the top one. Hugh indolently watched his progress -downward, never dreaming that there would come anything out of the -ordinary. Suddenly, as Tom started to open the drawer that he said -contained his clean shirts, the scout master saw him give a big start. - -"Why, what's this?" Tom stammered, at the same time taking out a long -package carefully tied up, and with something written on the outside. -Hugh also noticed that an envelope was pinned on to the paper covering. - -Somehow or other Hugh experienced a thrill. It was as if he had a -premonition that something in the nature of a great surprise was coming. -Tom was staring hard at what he saw written on the paper. Then he -snatched the note, and with trembling hands commenced to get at the -enclosure, while the scout master strove to analyze his feelings from -the flitting expressions that chased each other across his face. - -He saw Tom read on, first with incredulity, then sheer amazement, and -finally a look of supreme joy came upon his countenance that spoke even -louder than his words could the revelation that had come to his faithful -heart. - -"Oh! Hugh! Hugh! would you believe it, Benjy's all right? -He's--he's--oh! I'm so happy I hardly know what to say! Read his note, -Hugh, please!" - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - CLEAR SAILING AHEAD. - - -Hugh took the missive from Tom's hand, and at the same time managed to -see what was written on the outside of the carefully done-up package -that the other had laid on the top of the chiffonier. - - "To Brother Tom: Wishing him many happy returns of his birthday. From - Benjy!" - -Even before Hugh read a single word in the note he believed he had a -pretty clear comprehension as to the true state of affairs. His heart, -too, was bounding with sudden relief over the happy outcome of the -troublesome matter, although it was not to be expected that, being an -outsider, Hugh could feel one-quarter the joy that filled Tom's soul. - -The letter ran as follows: - - "Dear Tom: - - "Here's the best thing I could think of to get you. It's a whole lot - better than your old racket ever was, which I am having repaired for - my own use. I've taken a liking to tennis lately. And, Tom, you'll be - glad to know I've thrown that whole crowd overboard, and I mean to - make an application to join the scouts the first chance I get. Perhaps - you would like to propose my name. Many happy returns of the day, Tom. - I'm beginning to realize what a whole lot I owe you for keeping - everlastingly at me, even when I kept turning you down. But I want to - forget all that now, for it can never happen again with me. - - "Your brother, Benjy." - -Hugh folded up that note with a feeling of delight he had seldom -experienced before. Then Benjy was turning out to be a splendid sort of -fellow! Hugh anticipated he might prove to be that once he made up his -mind to break away from those evil connections that were pulling him -into the mire. - -He must have been really hunting for the old tennis racquet on that -other occasion when caught rummaging through Tom's trunk. He had -appeared confused because he feared his secret might be discovered. He -had not only taken every cent he had in his bank to pay for the new -racquet, but had actually sold his valuable Belgian hares in order to -make up the amount he still owed at the sporting goods store. - -By now Tom had snatched up the package and managed to get it undone. He -uttered cries of sincere admiration and delight when he saw what an -elegant tennis racquet was revealed. His eyes were swimming with tears -as he looked at Hugh. - -"Oh! Hugh!" he stammered, "will I ever be able to forgive myself for -thinking all those bad things about him? I never felt so ashamed in my -life as I do now. But I'm going to make amends for it, see if I don't, -Hugh. Look what a dandy racquet he got me, will you? Spent every cent he -had saved for his Fourth." - -Hugh hardly knew whether he ought to relate what he had discovered. The -temptation to do so overcame his scruples. Besides, now that Benjy's -innocence had been assured, he thought it too good to be hidden under a -bushel by silence. - -"I'm going to tell you something, Tom," he went on to say, with a smile. -"Queer, isn't it, that often the very things we fear for most turn out -to be for the very best?" - -Tom immediately began to show new interest. How his fine eyes sparkled, -and upon his face that worried look could no longer be seen. - -"What! is there anything more good coming, Hugh?" he cried, eagerly. - -"You'll have to judge for yourself," replied the scout master, after -which he proceeded to relate how he had seen Benjy coming out of the -bird store kept by Mr. Huggins, and counting some silver, also how the -discovery had filled him with dismay. - -"It was only natural it should, you understand, Tom," he went on to say -in apology, "after what we suspected. But I made up my mind I would -learn what he had been doing in there." - -When Tom heard about the selling of Benjy's pet Belgian hares he lowered -his head suddenly as though he did not want his friend to see that his -eyes were swimming, for as a rule, boys have a prejudice against -appearing weak. Hugh respected his brotherly emotion, for he knew that -it must be complete joy that affected the other now, and not anxiety. - -By the time Hugh finished speaking Tom managed to get a fresh grip on -himself, even though his voice did tremble somewhat. - -"Hugh, I'm bound to redeem those long-eared little animals if I have to -borrow the money to do it with!" he exclaimed. "To think of his making -that great big sacrifice just for me! I know how fond Benjy's been of -his pets! Oh! Hugh, when you came in here little did I dream what -glorious news there was going to be sprung on me! I was feeling away -down in the cellar, and now, well, I seem to be on the roof looking up -into the beautiful heavens!" - -That was not such a bad description of Tom's feelings, considering the -fact that he was only a matter-of-fact boy, and struggling along under -unusual emotion. - -Hugh did not attempt to explain how possibly it might be just as well to -allow Benjy to make his sacrifice. It gave the boy more or less -satisfaction, and would always be a link connecting him with his -brother. Later on Hugh might urge upon Tom the wisdom of letting matters -stand just as they were. - -He handled the racquet and praised its good qualities. - -"It was pretty smart of the boy hiding it in the drawer containing your -shirts," Hugh went on to say, laughing; "especially as he figured that -to-morrow was your regular morning for putting on a clean one, and you -would be sure to discover the package the first thing on your birthday." - -"Wasn't it, though?" said Tom, chuckling. "That shows, Tom, that Benjy -would make a good scout, because he has the sense of observation well -developed to start with." - -"Just what it does, Tom, and some day before long I hope to see your -brother wearing the honored khaki. It's a proud family that can boast of -_two_ scouts, let me tell you. And once Benjy joins--no danger of his -ever going back. A world will open up to his eyes that he never dreamed -existed. Old things will have passed away and everything become new, -once he has put on the magic spectacles of scoutcraft. I've been told -that by a dozen fellows, and I know what a change it makes in most -boys." - -Tom began to wrap the precious racquet carefully up again in the paper -that had been around it when he made his startling discovery. How -tenderly he handled the present given by his brother. Hugh even thought -that all other gifts showered on Tom in times past must sink into utter -insignificance when compared with this special one; for it represented, -in his eyes, the dissolution of those serious doubts that had of late -been weighing down his spirits until his heart felt like lead. - -"I'm meaning to put it back just where I found it, you see, Hugh," he -explained, "and make things look as if no one had touched it. Luckily -the envelope wasn't sealed, so I didn't destroy the same. You may wonder -why I do that, and I'll tell you. I want to open it again in the morning -just as if I had found it for the first time. Then there's another -reason, you see, Hugh; Benjy might get home to-night ahead of me, and -finding that I hadn't shown up yet, take a notion to step in here just -to have a last peep and a pat at his package. I wouldn't like him to -know I had been investigating ahead of time, you understand, Hugh." - -The scout master could read between the lines. He realized that not for -the world would repentant Tom want Benjy to suspect he had been looking -all through his room in the fear and expectation of making a distressing -discovery that would implicate the younger brother. Nor could Hugh blame -the other for wanting to conceal such a humiliating thing as this. - -Accordingly the packet was carefully put on top of the clean shirts in -the drawer. To all appearances it lay just as Benjy had placed it, and -if he did peep in the receptacle, there was nothing to tell him that the -well-tied bundle had been disturbed. - -"There, that's a big load off my shoulders," said Tom, with a look of -relief. "Now, Hugh, I'm ready to go with you, and do anything you ask of -me. Why, I feel that light-hearted I could almost fly," and he flapped -his arms as though they were wings, an action that caused Hugh to laugh -aloud. - -"Well, just hold your horses a bit, Tom," he advised. "I have need of -your services to-night, and it would be a shame to have you take a -flight. Suppose you get your cap and come along with me to the meeting." - -"There must be something serious doing, Hugh, if all this mystery counts -for anything." - -"There certainly is, Tom. You'll learn about it as soon as I've picked -out the scouts I want to serve with me. They're all going to be husky -fellows like yourself." - -"You've got me worked up to top-notch speed, Hugh, with what you say," -said Tom, scurrying around, and looking for his cap, which he found -behind a chair where it had evidently fallen when he tossed it aside -earlier in the evening. "But no matter what it all means I'm with you to -the last lick. I feel as if I could whip my weight in wildcats. Lead the -way, and every scout you want will follow you, Hugh." - -And so the twain passed out and headed for the rendezvous, where they -were likely to find full twenty-five fellows in khaki impatiently -awaiting the coming of their leader, and an explanation of this unusual -"called" meeting. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - PUTTING THE CLAMPS ON. - - -Hugh had figured it all out, and decided that the first thing he would -do after the business part of the meeting had been carried through, -would be to pick the fellows who were to help guard the jewelry -establishment with some of the regular police force, so as to surprise -the thieves, if they should come as expected. - -He believed it might be unwise to tell the others anything about the -plan of campaign. This was not because he had reason to suspect the -loyalty of a single scout, but boys will talk as well as girls, and -unwittingly a fellow might let something escape him that, through -devious channels, would be carried to the ears of those who were -concerned in the contemplated raid on the store. - -This plan was carried out to the letter. Those whose names were not on -the list of lucky ones felt a little aggrieved, but at the same time -they knew it would do no good to enter a complaint. Hugh had promised -they were to be given full particulars as soon as possible. He assured -them also that it was a move in the interests of the grand project that -engaged their labors--cleaning up Oakvale. - -Once he found himself left with seven stout chums, Hugh proceeded to -gather them around him, and explained what was in the air. He had a most -attentive audience, and it would have been amusing to any one interested -in boys to watch the expressions of wonder and growing delight that -gradually crept over their faces as they drank in his words. - -Say what you will, the seed of adventure has always taken root deep down -in the hearts of every healthy boy. The mere fact that they were scouts, -and had promised to observe the rules of the organization whose badge -they so proudly wore, did not mean that they must stifle this feeling, -which, if directed along the right channels, does a boy ten times as -much good as harm. - -Dozens of eager questions poured in upon Hugh as soon as he had managed -to tell them about the dastardly plot that had been hatched up by those -desperate men who realized they were getting near the end of their rope, -and that the energy of the scouts was primarily responsible for the -whole thing. - -Hugh acted with considerable patience and answered as best he might. He -realized that under similar conditions he, too, might have felt inclined -to ask for further information, because it was a tremendous subject, -truth to tell, and difficult to grapple with in the beginning. - -"We'll make our way by a round-about route to a place appointed," he -went on to explain, "and there we'll find Chief Wallis waiting for us. -He will have three of his men along with him, all that can be spared -from their night duties. Between us we'll probably fix it so that a -complete cordon will be thrown around the jewelry store they've picked -out for robbery." - -How they hung upon his every word! Hugh would know just how to place -them in order that they might be able to throw themselves upon the night -prowlers after the latter had actually started to break into the store. -Hugh had explained that they must not be premature in unmasking their -batteries, or the thieves might find a loophole by means of which they -could escape from the meshes of the law. - -When Hugh decided that it was time they started to effect a junction -with the regular police; he warned his followers for the last time how -to act. - -"If it comes to actual fighting," he said, impressively, "remember, you -must leave _that_ to the officers, who are armed to bear the brunt of -the attack. We can throw ourselves on any fellow, if the chance offers, -and hold him down. But all that will be arranged exactly after we meet -the other guards." - -He took them along an unfrequented street and by making several detours, -the little group finally found the threatened store looming up close by. - -Hugh gave a prearranged signal and received a soft reply. - -"The Chief is over there in that dense shadow," he whispered to the -rest. "We must slip along and join him. First, Tom, here, can go, and -drop down when he finds himself in the dark spot. Then Alec will follow, -and in regular order Buck, Ralph, Jack, Bud and Sam are to imitate him. -I'll fetch up the rear. Make a move, Tom." - -They were all on their mettle, and besides, had the reputation of being -clever scouts, well versed in most of the secrets of woodcraft. -Consequently the maneuver was carried out without a single hitch. Before -many minutes passed Hugh, having arrived on the spot, found his chums -crouching there close by the Chief. - -In low whispers the head of the Oakvale police force now explained their -plan of campaign. It was not known whether any hostile eye kept watch -over the threatened store or not, but they must always believe that such -might be the case, and act accordingly. - -That principle was also in line with a scout's education, and pleased -the boys exceedingly. They had been taught never to underestimate an -enemy, and that it were far better to waste time in taking precautions -than have over-confidence ruin the best-laid plan. - -One of the police and three of the scouts were to remain outside the -building, and their part in the enterprise was easily guessed. If the -thieves were like most of their class they would very likely leave one -of their number without to keep watch and give a signal should any -sudden peril loom up. It was to secure that sentry that the force -detailed to stay in the open had been marked off. - -Hugh with the rest and the Chief meant to enter the store. He had -visited it often and ought to be well acquainted with its every detail. -Even at that Hugh never left a thing to chance when he could help it. -That very afternoon, after he had left Ralph and the others, the boy had -made some sort of excuse to drop in at Ainslee's establishment. With his -scout ability he had been able to make a mental map, and had noted every -particular of the store, so that he believed he could, if necessary, get -around in the dark without colliding with showcases or pillars or -counters. - -Chief Wallis must have found a way to communicate with the proprietor of -the store, for he certainly had a key that opened the side door, through -which numerous shadowy figures now silently slipped. - -Here again Hugh proved of considerable value, for it was he who really -directed the others where to hide so that they might divide their force. -The Chief had a pocket electric light along with him, but he hesitated -to make use of it, lest some one passing and repassing the front of the -store, and looking in, take notice of the strange glow, and communicate -the alarm to his fellows. - -Talking was absolutely forbidden among the scouts. They could only -indicate the tremendous interest they were taking in the proceedings by -numerous sly digs in the ribs, after the manner of lively boys unduly -repressed. None of these were given with such vigor as to elicit a gasp -or groan. - -How still it seemed after they had been posted in their hiding places. -Some of the scouts must have thought they could actually hear the -beating of their own hearts, such was the stress under which they -labored. - -Luckily Hugh had used discretion when making his selections. He had not -chosen them merely for brawn alone, but for an ability to keep a good -grip on their spirits, and bravely face exciting conditions that might -well try the nerves of experienced officers. - -An hour passed. It did not slip by, as most of the waiting scouts would -have readily agreed. In fact, that was one of the longest hours they -ever knew, and as ten boomed from the church clock, they could hardly -believe their ears, for surely, they figured, it must be that a longer -time had elapsed. - -Hugh allowed them a chance to change their positions when cramped, but -insisted that it be done with due regard to caution. They could not tell -when suspicious ears would be listening for any sound to indicate -trouble. When the thieves did come they would do so--silently, and -without any trumpet to announce their mission. - -The second hour was worse by far than the first. How their lower limbs -did seem to want to "go to sleep," as the boys termed it when -circulation of blood ceased, and a species of numbness resulted. Various -were the remedies resorted to in order to overcome this unpleasant -feeling. When eleven struck some of the crouching figures moved uneasily -and came as near groaning as they dared. - -Still, it could not be long now before something was likely to happen, -Hugh whispered to Tom, with orders to pass it along the line, and then -become mute again. - -Hugh himself was wondering whether or not all these preparations were -doomed to disappointment. What if the grand scheme had fallen through, -or the intended robbery been postponed because of good and sufficient -reasons? He felt that he would be grievously disappointed, for somehow -he had come to set much store on being able to strike this telling blow -against the worst of the offenders of decency in Oakvale. - -He had an impression that this would mark the final effort to break down -the new order of things; that if the robbery of the jewelry -establishment, and the subsequent placing of the crime at the door of -certain innocent parties, could be balked in its perpetration, the last -barrier would have yielded, and after that the reform people would have -a clean order of things. - -It must have been pretty near the midnight hour when a door was heard to -close. That little piece of carelessness on the part of the thieves was -likely to cost them dear in the end, since it gave ample warning of -their coming. - -One soft hiss from Hugh and every scout flattened himself as low as he -could, so that discovery might not follow in case those who had entered -the store produced any sort of light. - -They were not experts in this profession, Hugh guessed, for they took -certain chances of being discovered while at work. Nevertheless, they -depended on the vigilance of their outpost stationed on the street, as -well as the reputation acquired by the town night officers for shirking -their work when on beat. - -When it was seen that the two men had actually commenced operations on -the big safe, as though meaning to break into it, and have "the game as -well as the name" now that they had gone to all this trouble, the -concealed boys could hardly keep from leaping up and throwing themselves -upon the robbers. Only the mastery which Hugh possessed over them -prevented such a break; for it had become second nature now with them to -wait for orders before making a move. - -Apparently, there was no need of waiting further before showing their -hand. Those outside could take warning when they heard a sudden sound of -confusion within, and pounce upon the "outlook." - -The Chief had reserved to himself the giving of the signal, and every -one, man and boy alike, knew what his particular part in the surprise -attack was to be. If everything went right it would be like the -mechanical action of clockwork machinery. Hugh hoped no cog in the wheel -would miss connections, because that might interfere with the ultimate -success of the whole scheme. - -The two men were bending low when there came a sharp exclamation. They -would have started up like a flash, but even then their action was just -a trifle too late, for something heavy dropped upon them, and flattened -both out upon the floor. - -It was really the body of the Chief that had accomplished this coup. -Before either one of the astonished rascals could squirm out from under -his ponderous form the scouts became as busy as beavers. Hugh flashed -the little light handed over to him by the Chief, and kept it playing -full upon the focussing point where all their interest was centred. -Consequently Tom, Sam and the rest of the fellows had no trouble in -distributing themselves along the length of the recumbent figures of the -disturbed thieves. - -Hugh felt sure that, as Billy Worth would have said, it "was all over -but the shouting," when he saw how well pinned down the desperate -rascals found themselves. He advanced closer so as to be in a position -to carry out any wishes of the astute police head, such as slipping the -waiting handcuffs over the wrists of the prisoners, and rendering them -harmless, so that they might be stood up and looked over. - -Several loud outcries from beyond the door announced that those who had -been given the task of trapping the third member of the audacious set -had taken a hint just as soon as they heard the first sound within the -store. They soon came into the building pushing a man before them, who -was lined up with the other pair. - -Three more disgusted-looking fellows had likely never before been -paraded in front of the scouts. Just as Hugh and Ralph had suspected, -they turned out to be Gaffney, the former owner of the poolroom and -gymnasium that had been abolished by orders of council; Slimmons, once -the athletic trainer in the public schools before he took so heavily to -drink that he had to be let go; and that third man, a stranger whom Hugh -believed must be secretly interested in seeing Oakvale's reform movement -slump, perhaps because he had some connection with the interests of -those who had been defying the law. - -Caught in the act, it was likely to go hard with the three. Gaffney did -tell his mates not to open their mouths, but to leave it to him to get -them clear. Hugh believed they were leaning on a broken reed if they -entertained any hope that political influence was going to keep the -outraged law from taking its course. That day had gone for Oakvale, and -the degrading elements which such men as Gaffney represented, would have -to emigrate to other quarters if they hoped to be able to continue to -ply their evil vocations. - -The trio of prisoners were marched through the now deserted streets to -the lockup, where Chief Wallis would see to it that there was no chance -for a getaway. The seven scouts, who accompanied Hugh and the little -group of officers surrounding the prisoners, would never be able to -forget the exciting experiences of that night. It would have to go down -upon the annals of scout achievements, and serve to add one more -glorious event to the string of exploits carried to a successful -conclusion by the boys of the Oakvale Troop. - -Before Hugh dismissed his followers he took occasion to thank them -warmly for having acquitted themselves so splendidly. Tom Sherwood, in -particular, squeezed his hand with peculiar emphasis at parting, as he -said in a happy tone: - -"This has been a white letter night for me, Hugh, and one I'll never, -never forget. You know why, Hugh, and the first thing to-morrow morning -I'm going to buy those Belgian hares back if they are still in the -market. So good night, and thank you a thousand times, Hugh. It's bound -to be a happy birthday for me, I tell you." - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - FOR HOME PROTECTION. - - -On the following morning, when the news was circulated through Oakvale -that some of the disorderly elements had attempted to make a raid on the -Ainslee jewelry establishment, great was the consternation of the good -people of the town. Then when it was added that the supposed robbery was -only a part of a miserable scheme to try and bring the organization of -Boy Scouts into disrepute, the indignation of the citizens knew no -bounds. - -"It is the culminating stroke of wickedness," Mrs. Marsh declared as she -spoke at a hurriedly arranged meeting of the best ladies in the town, -"and proves that we did not commence this uplift movement a day too -soon! Heaven only knows what might not have happened if not for those -dear boys making up their minds that conditions had to change in -Oakvale. I am free to confess that all our efforts to arouse the -citizens had been marked by little success until Hugh and his comrades -took it upon themselves to start the ball rolling." - -"Well," said Mr. Dobbs, the minister, who chanced to be present so as to -congratulate the Ladies' League on the splendid success that was meeting -their efforts, "it has often seemed to me that when Providence wants to -overwhelm bad men in the toils, first of all their common sense is taken -away so that they commit foolish acts that bring about their own -downfall. By great good luck we have managed to turn the tables on these -schemers, and they are hoist by their own petard." - -"And after what has happened," added Mrs. Beverly earnestly, "there -should not be a single dissenting citizen who cares a shred about his or -her reputation. Bold, indeed, must the man or woman be who would dare -side with such desperate rascals as Gaffney and Slimmons. The town is -well rid of an encumbrance, and let us all be thankful in our hearts on -this wonderful day that the sun can look down on our beautiful little -city and not shine on a single evil spot. Our boys and girls can go to -and fro from this time on without that constant anxiety mothers have -been feeling. I wish to state that much of this sense of security, I -believe, we owe to the sterling efforts of Hugh Hardin and his sturdy -comrades of Oakvale Troop. I love every one of them, and shall never be -weary of sounding their praises, for they are boys of whom any town -might well be proud." - -It is human nature to want to be on the winning side. Hugh believed -there would be comparatively little trouble ahead for himself and -comrades. The rapidity with which the men who had been taken to the -lockup were brought to trial and punished for their misdeeds was going -to deter others from attempting opposition. - -In the midst of all this excitement, together with so much cause for -congratulation, Hugh did not forget Tom Sherwood, and what had happened -to brighten his life. The next time he met Tom he found his face radiant -with the joy of living. Any one could see without being much of a reader -of human nature that Tom was thoroughly happy. Many were the conjectures -that his friends gave as to the reason for the boy's sudden return to -his old self. Tom kept his own counsel, and only told those who -persisted in asking questions that a little trouble he had had on his -mind had come out all right. - -Hugh would keep the secret, of that Tom felt assured, and no one need -ever know what terrible fears he had been entertaining on account of -Benjy. - -"Hugh," he went on to say, as he clapped his hand on the shoulder of the -scout master, with a movement that stood for deep affection, "it's all -come out right, and I'm the happiest fellow in Oakvale, let me tell you. -Benjy and I understand each other now, and I'll see to it that after -this never a cloud is going to come between us. Hugh, he's going to drop -over tonight to see you." - -"I hope he doesn't know that I felt worried about him the same way you -did, Tom?" remarked Hugh. - -"Oh! I was too ashamed of my fears to ever tell him about _that_," -replied the other, quickly. "Benjy has been explaining to me what a -fight he had with himself before he could break off connections with -that crowd. I think a dream he had one night had a heap to do with his -making a decision. He wouldn't explain just what it was, only shuddered -as he spoke of it. You can govern yourself as you think best, Hugh, when -you're talking with him." - -"He'll never learn a single thing from me about your worrying, Tom. -Although you haven't said so, I imagine he's coming to make some -inquiries about joining the scouts?" - -"Yes, that's what he's got in mind now, Hugh. He's found himself -interested in a lot of things we've been doing the last year or so. -Somehow, they seem to look different from what they used to. Benjy has -waked up, you see, and once a fellow gets to feel an interest in scout -doings he's bound to go on wanting to know more. When the fever begins -to burn in his veins he never finds any rest until he throws his lot in -with the wearers of the khaki, and starts to learn things for himself." - -"Tell him I expect to be home to-night after supper," said the scout -master, "and will be glad to have him drop over. We need a few more good -fellows to fill out the vacancies in several of the patrols. Lieutenant -Denmead, you understand, may be home the end of this week, and assume -his old position of head of the troop." - -"He'll be surprised to learn what's been going on here during his -absence, believe me," observed Tom, grinning. - -"Oh! I keep in touch with him, and I've written an inkling of what we've -been doing," Hugh admitted. "All the same he'll be pleased to find -Oakvale so changed. The ladies say it must never go back again to where -it was before. We scouts are of the same mind. Homes are going to be -protected against those whose evil influence is all for pulling them -down. That's going to be the slogan of the scouts from now on. Tom, -every new member we take in means one more timber in the structure we're -building on this safe foundation. Work all you can to spread the gospel -of scout activities. There are dozens of fellows still around town who -ought to be given an opportunity to learn the great benefits that go -with scout membership." - -When Benjy came around that same evening, Hugh was primed for him. He -went about his task with diplomacy, knowing that some boys can be led -but never driven. So successfully did Hugh accomplish his labors that -before Tom Sherwood's younger brother left the house he was fairly wild -to have his name brought before the nominating committee at the very -next meeting. - -"I feel that I've already lost a mighty fine time by my silly opposition -to the scouts," Benjy frankly admitted. "I was all wrong, and I guess it -was only my natural pig-headedness that kept me so. But I've seen a -great light, Hugh. They say it's better late than never. I want to enjoy -some of those good times you fellows have. Besides, I expect I've got -something to wipe out, because of late I've given my brother Tom more or -less worry." - -When a scout goes about recruiting in the happy way Hugh did there is -hardly a limit to his capacity for bringing new members into a troop. -Those boys of Oakvale who wore the khaki had been highly favored by -fortune in that opportunities for doing big things had ever knocked at -their door. - -Those readers who have had the pleasure of enjoying many of the previous -books in this series will remember with satisfaction how they followed -the fortunes of Hugh and his chums at the time they set out to improve -the sanitary conditions of the community in which they lived. - -Then there was the time of the great flood in a neighbouring town where -several of the boys chanced to be visiting, during which they proved -that they were made of the right kind of stuff, and won the admiration -of the people of the inundated district. - -The temptation is strong to mention several other instances where scout -pluck and endurance won the day against heavy odds. For example, there -was the time when the lads were camping in the vicinity of a great plant -where a strike broke out, and rioting resulted. It may be remembered how -they took hold and showed what they knew of "first aid to the injured," -winning the approbation of the Red Cross doctor and nurses when later on -they came upon the scene. - -During the County Fair the scouts also played a part that made them many -new friends, acting as messengers and guides to the exhibitors and -visitors, and even running a successful field hospital in the fair -grounds. - -To continue a little further it may also be remembered how they were -unexpectedly called upon to fight the forest fires that threatened to -ruin many farmers and others who had their homes within reach of the -flames. Those boys who read that story will not soon forget how Hugh and -his mates acted their part against heavy odds, and how splendidly they -convinced a doubter that scout activities always made a boy more manly, -as well as rendered him a far better citizen, of which any community -might well be proud. - -Then there was the time some of the Oakvale boys in khaki met with a -remarkable adventure in connection with the motion picture players, -which has been narrated at length in a recent volume. - -Last, but far from least, while mentioning some of these interesting and -instructive facts, it would hardly be fair to omit the occasion, not so -far in the past, when some of those same fellows earned the right to -have their names written on the Scouts' Roll of Honor, as well as -managed to receive the valuable medal which is presented to those -members in good standing who save human life at the risk of their own. -If you have not already enjoyed reading that story lose no time in -securing it, as you will be well repaid for your time and money. - -But passing over these never-to-be-forgotten happenings of the past we -must once more come back to Hugh and his chums at the time they labored -so zealously to create a new moral atmosphere in the home town where -they lived, and of which they were naturally very fond. - -As the spring days went on the difficulties that had at first beset the -reform wave in Oakvale gradually died down, until it seemed as though -things were going along like clockwork. Men, women and children took a -keen interest in helping the matter along. There was a healthy rivalry -between certain cliques of boys with the idea of winning the highest -praise for keeping their section of the town free from all nuisances, -and so long as this spirit lived, the community was bound to profit. - -Once the citizens began to enjoy full freedom from repulsive and -unpleasant customs, they found the change so agreeable that no one had -the temerity to sigh for the old rgime; at least, if he did, he wisely -kept his longings to himself. - -Even the railroad company, that had up to that time absolutely refused -to do anything that would necessitate the expenditure of money, seemed -to have been shamed by the action of the scouts in looking after those -dangerous spots, where the lives of the smaller school children were -placed in danger. - -First, a gate guarded by a flagman was placed at the point of most -danger. That was an entering wedge, and as the citizens sent in a letter -of thanks for the favor the railroad people awoke to the fact that the -Oakvale station was a pretty dingy-looking affair after all. To the -surprise and delight of the population word was received that it had -been unanimously decided at the last meeting of the Directors to build -the finest station on the whole line, of course outside the big cities, -at Oakvale. - -One portion of that communication made some fellows in Oakvale feel -pretty well satisfied, for it was hung up where every one could read it -who wished. This ran after the following fashion, and few there were in -Oakvale who did not know the wording by heart, most of them were so -proud of the distinction: - -"We desire to state for the benefit of those who may have doubted the -substantial benefit of a certain movement that has been sweeping over -the land, that one of the chief reasons why Oakvale is selected for the -honor of this new and beautiful station is the fact that her citizens -have in their midst an organization that has done wonders in improving -the living conditions in their town. We refer to the local scout troop; -and wish to say that having after a full investigation learned how -loyally these boys have striven to do their duty, and served as best -they knew how to uplift the community in which they lived, it is our -earnest hope that other towns and villages along our line may take -pattern of these boys of Oakvale, and hasten to emulate their splendid -example." - -That letter was deemed so precious a recommendation that Hugh afterwards -obtained the right to have it suitably framed. And to this day it hangs -in the meeting-room of the Oakvale Scouts, where any member of the troop -will esteem it a privilege to show it to you if you take the trouble to -drop around. - -Every time Hugh saw Tom on the tennis court swinging that splendid new -racquet, he told himself how unsafe it was for any one to judge wholly -from appearances, and that he must consider the delightful outcome of -that little affair as a never-to-be-forgotten lesson. Circumstantial -evidence has hung many a man who was afterward found to be innocent. -Hugh shivered to remember how Tom, yes, and he himself, had been -condemning Benjy as they might a criminal when, in reality, the other -was only working out a noble scheme to surprise his brother. - -One thing must not be forgotten. Hugh--believing that Tom, in his spirit -of brotherly love, might hasten to buy back those Belgian hares for -Benjy, and thus in a measure weaken the spirit of sacrifice, that had -made the other sell his pets--went around to the bird store early on the -next morning, and purchased the pair of long-eared animals. He planned -to keep them for a while, and then let Tom have them to give to Benjy on -his next birthday, for by that time the other would have obtained all -the good possible from his impulsive action. - -Hugh would have liked very well to have told the story for the sake of -the great good it might do several other fellows whom he knew. This was -not to be considered for a minute, he had too great a consideration for -Tom and his brother to think of causing them embarrassment, as most -likely they must have experienced had their story become common -property. - -Hugh had already begun to figure on the summer campaign, knowing that -the boys would naturally expect to busy themselves with something useful -as well as entertaining. In the end he was able to lay out a plan that -he believed would meet with unanimous approval. Since it is about time -for me to end this story, there is no need of going into particulars. -When the time comes to again write of the Oakvale Scouts' activities we -shall expect to enter at length into the new schemes that would -naturally enlist their attention. At such date we hope to again meet -Hugh and his gallant chums of the Wolf, Otter, Hawk, Fox and Owl -Patrols. Until then let it be adieu, but not farewell. - - - THE END. - - - - - Footnotes - - -[1]See "The Boy Scouts in the Great Flood." - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts for Home Protection, by -Robert Shaler - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS FOR HOME PROTECTION *** - -***** This file should be named 50192-8.txt or 50192-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/1/9/50192/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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} - div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } - div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } - -.clear { clear:both; } -.htab { margin-left:8em; } - /* MAXWIDTH FOR JUVENILE BOOKS */ - p, blockquote, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre.internal dl { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - blockquote { max-width:23em; } - - - div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } -/* book advertisements */ - p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's The Boy Scouts for Home Protection, by Robert Shaler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boy Scouts for Home Protection - -Author: Robert Shaler - -Release Date: October 13, 2015 [EBook #50192] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS FOR HOME PROTECTION *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Boy Scouts for Home Protection" width="500" height="755" /> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<h1>THE BOY SCOUTS -<br /><span class="smaller">FOR</span> -<br />HOME PROTECTION</h1> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">BY</span> -<br />SCOUT MASTER ROBERT SHALER</p> -<p class="center smaller">AUTHOR OF “BOY SCOUTS OF THE SIGNAL CORPS,” “BOY SCOUTS OF -PIONEER CAMP,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,” “BOY -SCOUTS OF THE LIFE SAVING CREW,” “BOY SCOUTS ON PICKET -DUTY,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE FLYING SQUADRON,” “BOY -SCOUTS AND THE PRIZE PENNANT,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE -NAVAL RESERVE,” “BOY SCOUTS IN THE SADDLE,” “BOY -SCOUTS FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT,” “BOY SCOUTS IN -THE GREAT FLOOD,” “BOY SCOUTS OF THE FIELD -HOSPITAL,” “BOY SCOUTS WITH THE RED -CROSS,” “BOY SCOUTS AS COUNTY FAIR -GUIDES,” “BOY SCOUTS AS FOREST FIRE -FIGHTERS,” “BOY SCOUTS WITH THE -MOTION PICTURE PLAYERS,” “BOY -SCOUTS ON THE ROLL OF HONOR,” -ETC., ETC.</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="smaller">NEW YORK</span> -<br />HURST & COMPANY -<br /><span class="smaller">PUBLISHERS</span></p> -</div> -<h2>Sterling Boy Scout Books</h2> -<p class="center"><b><i>Bound in cloth</i></b> <span class="hst"><b><i>Fifteen titles</i></b></span></p> -<dl class="int"><dt>1 Boy Scouts of the Signal Corps.</dt> -<dt>2 Boy Scouts of Pioneer Camp.</dt> -<dt>3 Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey.</dt> -<dt>4 Boy Scouts of the Life Saving Crew.</dt> -<dt>5 Boy Scouts on Picket Duty.</dt> -<dt>6 Boy Scouts of the Flying Squadron.</dt> -<dt>7 Boy Scouts and the Prize Pennant.</dt> -<dt>8 Boy Scouts of the Naval Reserve.</dt> -<dt>9 Boy Scouts in the Saddle.</dt> -<dt>10 Boy Scouts for City Improvement.</dt> -<dt>11 Boy Scouts in the Great Flood.</dt> -<dt>12 Boy Scouts of the Field Hospital.</dt> -<dt>13 Boy Scouts with the Red Cross.</dt> -<dt>14 Boy Scouts as County Fair Guides.</dt> -<dt>15 Boy Scouts as Forest Fire Fighters.</dt></dl> -<p><i>You can purchase any of the above books at -the price you paid for this one, or the publishers -will send any book, postpaid, upon receipt of 25c.</i></p> -<p class="center"><b><span class="large">HURST & CO., Publishers</span> -<br /><span class="small">432 Fourth Avenue, New York</span></b></p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">Copyright, 1915, by <span class="sc">Hurst & Company</span></span></p> -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></span> <span class="small">PAGE</span></dt> -<dt><span class="cn">I. </span><a href="#c1">Time Things Began to Mend</a> 5</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">II. </span><a href="#c2">Help Wanted</a> 15</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">III. </span><a href="#c3">“Strike While the Iron Is Hot!”</a> 29</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IV. </span><a href="#c4">Waiting for the Good News</a> 39</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">V. </span><a href="#c5">Oakvale’s Great Clean-up Day</a> 49</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VI. </span><a href="#c6">The Promise of a Scout</a> 58</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VII. </span><a href="#c7">How the “Uplift” Worked</a> 69</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VIII. </span><a href="#c8">One Use for Woodcraft Knowledge</a> 80</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IX. </span><a href="#c9">The Goal in Sight</a> 92</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">X. </span><a href="#c10">Benjy’s Suspicious Actions</a> 106</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XI. </span><a href="#c11">The Revelation</a> 115</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XII. </span><a href="#c12">Clear Sailing Ahead</a> 124</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIII. </span><a href="#c13">Putting the Clamps On</a> 133</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIV. </span><a href="#c14">For Home Protection</a> 147</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_5">5</div> -<h1 title="">The Boy Scouts For Home Protection.</h1> -<h2 id="c1">CHAPTER I. -<br /><span class="small">TIME THINGS BEGAN TO MEND.</span></h2> -<p>“Here it is springtime again, boys!”</p> -<p>“Yes, and I’m beginning to catch the spring -fever. I just feel—well, <i>torpid</i> would describe -it. I hate to study, or do any work -that requires the least exertion.”</p> -<p>“Hey, Billy, there’s one great exception -you’ll have to make when you say that—you’ve -never let that torpor interfere with your rapid -locomotion when you heard the welcome sound -of the dinner bell.”</p> -<p>The fat boy in the new khaki suit allowed a -broad, good-natured smile to spread over his -freckled face.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_6">6</div> -<p>“Oh, that’s different!” he exclaimed quickly. -“I said <i>work</i>, please remember, Alec, and as -for feeding, why, I always class that under -the head of undiluted, unadulterated pleasure.”</p> -<p>“Well, winter has come and gone, with a -whole lot of talk about town improvement in -the air, and nothing done, just as you were -saying, Hugh.”</p> -<p>The manly looking young fellow who answered -to the name of Hugh Hardin was patrol -leader and assistant scout master. This -could easily be learned by any one at all familiar -with the various devices used by Boy -Scouts to designate rank. On the left sleeve -of his coat, just below the shoulder, he had -first of all two white stripes, and underneath -that a <i>red</i> first-class scout badge.</p> -<p>Hugh, as well as a number of other members -of the Oakvale Troop, had for some time -been authorized to wear certain medals signifying -that at some previous date they had -been instrumental in saving human life at the -risk of their own.</p> -<p>If the reader does not know under what -stirring conditions these medals, typifying the -Boy Scout Roll of Honor, were earned, he can -have the pleasure of reading all the particulars -in previous books of this series, as lack -of time and space prevents our mentioning -them here.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<p>Besides the leader of the Wolf Patrol there -were present on this occasion Billy Worth—the -stout member—Alec Sands—who had once -been Hugh’s most bitter rival for honors, but -since heading the Otter Patrol he had grown -to be very chummy with him—and Buck -Winter.</p> -<p>They attended Oakvale High School and -were dismissed about half-past one in the afternoon. -They thus had considerable advantage -over the boys and girls in the lower -grades.</p> -<p>Indeed, at the late hour in the spring afternoon -mentioned, numerous little folks were -heading homeward in knots, having just been -given their freedom. Hugh and his three companions -had stopped to chat, having met by -accident at that point where traffic was congested—the -wagons from the mills crossing -in one direction and many big and little cars -swinging around various corners.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_8">8</div> -<p>Somehow or other that particular spot always -had a peculiar sort of fascination for -Hugh. It had tragic memories, too, for on -several occasions serious accidents had occurred -here, owing to the speed which some -drivers persisted in making while approaching -the dangerous crossing.</p> -<p>When Buck Winter, the boy who surpassed -most of his chums in animal photography, -spoke to Hugh about the dim prospect of anything -being done in the matter of improving -certain glaring defects in the government of -the town, the scout master frowned and shook -his head.</p> -<p>“I never saw anything hang fire like this,” -he remarked, at the same time watching what -was going on close by with keen interest. -“There’s that crossing over yonder, and some -other bad places where children pass over several -times a day—it ought to be protected but -it isn’t. An officer should be stationed there -morning, noon and night, to see that traffic -slows up when the children are going and coming -from school.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<p>“That’s right, Hugh,” burst out the impulsive -Billy, whose heart was just as big as his -waist was expansive, “and some of these fine -days there’s going to be something awful happening -here! It’ll wake this sleepy old town -up! For one, I don’t believe in waiting till -your horse is stolen before you think to lock -the stable door. ‘A stitch in time saves nine,’ -they say.”</p> -<p>“Just see how the driver of that big touring -car swings down with a rush, will you!” exclaimed -Alec, indignantly. “He sounds his -siren to beat the band, just as if he expected -everybody to scatter like chickens crossing a -road, and run for their lives. It’s a beastly -shame!”</p> -<p>“Something’s got to be done, that’s all!” said -Hugh, with compressed lips, and a flash in his -eye that spoke volumes, as he looked after the -reckless chauffeur of the car, now speeding -away, with a nasty grin of conscious superiority -on his face.</p> -<p>“If I was the mayor of this burgh in place -of spineless old Strunk,” the impetuous Alec -went on to exclaim, “you’d soon hear something -pop. I would call the Council in session, -and have ordinances passed that would -keep these speeders under control. After a -few of them had been locked up for a spell, -as well as heavily fined, you’d notice a big difference.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>“That isn’t all, by any means,” Hugh chimed -in, watching the approach of a bevy of small -school girls with apprehension, for the traffic -seemed to be at its heaviest. “There are a -number of other bad spots in town that need -attention. The railroad crossing is utterly unprotected, -and last summer one man was killed -there, you remember, while twice vehicles have -been wrecked.”</p> -<p>“There were some other things you mentioned -the last time we talked this over, Hugh, -I remember,” said Buck Winter.</p> -<p>“Lots of them,” came the ready reply. “The -whole town has grown careless again. True, -people don’t litter the streets with waste paper -now that they know about the cans placed for -such trash—the scouts cured that evil—but -there are other defects that ought to be attended -to. For instance, some people persist -in keeping garbage standing open for the flies -to breed in. Others have nuisances about -which their neighbors hate to complain of. I -know six or seven places where this sort of -thing is going on, and I reckon the scouts could -trace dozens, if once they had the authority to -start in on the job.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>“Oh, I guess I know what you’ve got in -mind, Hugh!” exclaimed Billy, with sudden -animation. “I was reading the other day how -that very thing is being carried out with great -success right down in New York City. Boys -are given badges to wear, and are called the -Auxiliary Police, or something like that. They -have their precincts to watch, and report every -sort of nuisance or infraction of the law to -their friend, the police captain, who sees that -it is abated. They say you would be surprised -to see how well the boys do their duty. Things -have taken on a new look since the scheme was -started.”</p> -<p>“It could be done here a whole lot easier -than in such a big city,” affirmed Hugh, eagerly. -“We haven’t got such a raft of ignorant -foreigners to handle, you see. A good -many people up here have just fallen into careless -ways, and all they need is to be waked -up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>“We did that other job first class,” said -Billy, proudly, “and we’d win out again if only -we had half a chance. But I don’t know what -keeps on interfering. They must be asleep, -and only some terrible accident will startle -them to action.”</p> -<p>“Some of the boys have told me in secret -about a blind tiger that is being operated since -the saloons were shut out of Oakvale,” declared -Hugh. “Then I’ve also learned that -some of the mill hands get together and gamble, -which is against the law. The police, -thinking of the votes those fellows can control, -seem to wink at such things. There’s -no use talking, the women of Oakvale have got -to be roused, and join hands with every church -in town to clean up the place again, this time -for good. The scouts stand ready to do their -part.”</p> -<p>“Every time!” added Billy, sonorously, as -he whacked Buck Winter on his back, as if to -emphasize his remark.</p> -<p>“There are heaps of things that ought to be -bettered,” asserted Alec. “They never will be -until the scouts and the women join hands -with all the good people of Oakvale for a genuine -old clean-up time. All they seem to want -is a leader. Everybody is waiting for some -one else to make the start. Hugh, I wouldn’t -be surprised if it’s going to be up to you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>“I was talking with Professor Marvin, the -school principal, only yesterday,” said the scout -master, “and he agreed with me that there -was great need of all the moral forces in the -community uniting for a big fight before -things got too bad. He said he would see -Mayor Strunk last night, and asked me, as acting -in place of Lieutenant Denmead, who is -away, to drop around to his house this evening, -for he had invited the mayor, Mrs. Marsh and -several of the leading ladies of the T. I. A., to -take supper with him.”</p> -<p>“Good for that!” cried Billy. “Make sure -you rub it in like everything, Hugh, once you -get the chance. I hope to hear great news tomorrow -morning, and I’ll be ready, for one, to -take off my coat and get busy with a broom—of -course, figuratively speaking, I mean.”</p> -<p>Alec nodded his head as if pleased.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>“Something in the air tells me there are going -to be warm doings in this town before a -great while,” he asserted positively. “It’s always -darkest before dawn, they say, and things -have about reached their limit here. Once the -new broom gets agoing it’ll sweep out a lot of -nuisances that have been an eyesore to all decent -people for a long while back. My folks -get quite worked up every time they begin to -talk about certain things that are objectionable.”</p> -<p>“I’m going to begin and make a list of nuisances -right off,” said Buck Winter.</p> -<p>“Well, I don’t like the way you look at me -when you say that, Buck,” complained Billy, -in affected uneasiness. “I’m going to reform, -sure I am. Gimme half a chance, and I’ll -even try to reduce my weight, if that bothers -you, though I’d hate to cut my rations down to -half.”</p> -<p>“Now look at all those vehicles and cars -coming along from four directions at once!” -exclaimed Alec. “That bunch of kids on the -curb has been waiting all of five minutes for -a half-decent chance to cross, but do you see -any driver holding up to let them go over? -They’re a lot of selfish and reckless—— Say, -hold on, kids, don’t you dare to try it! Oh! -Hugh, look there, one of them has run out! -Hi! hi! Hold your horses—stop that car!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<h2 id="c2">CHAPTER II. -<br /><span class="small">HELP WANTED.</span></h2> -<p>Hugh Hardin was known to be a boy of action. -When other fellows were stupefied by -some sudden peril, Hugh was doing things.</p> -<p>So in the present instance. He saw the peril -of the child even before Alec did, but without -uttering a single word, Hugh darted forward -as an arrow from the bow, or a hawk pouncing -upon some bird.</p> -<p>It was all over in a flash. Alec and the -others had started to jump forward, but they -would have been too late to be of any real service. -Hugh, however, darted in among the -congested wagons and moving cars, and, -snatching the frightened little child from under the -very hoofs of a team, carried her across -to the other side of the street.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>There was considerable confusion, for drivers -were shouting at each other and chauffeurs -were trying to push their way past the congested -crossing. Apparently they were more -concerned with the fact that there had been a -mix-up than because a precious human life had -just been in jeopardy.</p> -<p>Alec, backed by the other two scouts, -pushed out on the street and held up their -hands to stop the traffic until the cluster of -school children could cross. Some of the -drivers seemed to think it a joke, being held up -in this fashion by boys in khaki, and laughed -good-naturedly at it; but others swore, and -made threatening gestures with their whips.</p> -<p>Then, the children having crossed in safety, -thanks to their protectors, Alec gave the signal -for the wagons and cars to proceed with -as much show of authority as any member of -the traffic squad in a great city could assume.</p> -<p>The boys were “boiling over” with indignation, -as Billy aptly expressed it, as they walked -down the street toward the heart of Oakvale. -More than ever, Hugh was now determined -not to rest until something had been done toward -an eradication of the numerous nuisances -that infested the town.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>“I’m going to attend that little, informal -meeting to-night, boys,” he told his chums, -“and unless I miss my guess something will be -done. If only the women folks can stir up -Mayor Strunk! I understand that several of -the pastors will drop in during the evening, -and it begins to look as though the last straw -has been put on the camel’s back.”</p> -<p>“I only wish,” ventured Billy, wheezing -still from his recent violent exertions, “that -some of them had seen what happened just -now, and how that poor little Anita Burns -would most likely have been run over but for -Hugh here. It was an object lesson that might -have moved even such an old mossback as -Mayor Strunk, or Chief Wallis, of the police -force.”</p> -<p>“Wait!” was what Hugh told him, and a -short time later the group separated.</p> -<p>Hugh performed the errand that had taken -him to the business section of town, and then, -inspired by a desire to do a little preliminary -work along the lines he had had in mind, he -dropped over and greeted the head of the local -police.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>Chief Waller liked Hugh, for he knew what -a manly young fellow the other had always -proven himself to be. Besides, Hugh was -something of a favorite with the better element -of Oakvale’s population. He had led a -number of movements that, by their success, -had brought more or less fame to Oakvale, -particulars of which may be found in the -earlier books of this series.</p> -<p>So Hugh, using considerable diplomacy, began -talking about other things, and after he -managed to get the chief in good humor, he -introduced the subject that was nearest his -heart.</p> -<p>“The women are bound to have the town -cleaned up, Chief,” he went on to say, “and -you know that when they once set their minds -on anything it’s got to happen. They expect -to have all sorts of help from you and your -men; and the scouts mean to offer their services -as they did once before. It’s a great thing -to be on the winning side, Chief, so I heard -Doctor Kane say to the minister the other day -when they were talking over this very matter.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<p>Now, the Chief was a shrewd man. He -knew on which side his bread was buttered. -It was true that the politicians and their votes -had put him in his present comfortable berth, -but the Chief was a married man, and he realized -from experience that the home “influence” -could be counted on to sway elections -when once the people were thoroughly aroused.</p> -<p>“There’s just this about it, Hugh,” he said, -impressively. “If the women want a clean -town, they’re going to have it, and nothing can -stop them. If they get this movement started -they can count on the police backing ’em up. -All we want is to know just where we stand.”</p> -<p>Thus encouraged, Hugh went on to tell what -he had read about the boys of the big metropolis -being made Auxiliary Police, and wearing -badges that were meant to be respected by the -populace.</p> -<p>Chief Wallis apparently had never read -about the movement. He seemed to be interested, -however, for it was plain to be seen that -if things had to be done that offended the -politicians, there would be a scapegoat handy -on whose shoulders the blame could be cast.</p> -<p>“Well, now, to tell you the truth, Hugh, that -isn’t such a bad idea,” he went on to say. -“Boys can find out heaps of things that are -beyond my men; and once we learned about -these nuisances we’d soon abate ’em. All we -want is to be shown.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>Hugh understood well enough that the police -knew about most of those infractions of -the law, but that for various reasons they had -pretended not to see them. If only the moral -elements of the town were aroused, and firmly -demanded a cessation of the law breaking, no -doubt the scales would fall from the eyes of -the police like magic. It always happens that -way, Hugh understood.</p> -<p>Still, Hugh felt that he had gained a point -in arousing the interest of the head of the -police. It was better to have a combined force -working against the evils than a divided one. -If the officer realized that his retention in -office depended on his active co-operation with -the ladies’ league, and the various associations -connected with the town churches, he would -work like a beaver to do his duty.</p> -<p>After leaving Police Headquarters, Hugh -started for his home. His mind, very naturally, -was filled with the matters that just then -took precedence above all others. Since the -preceding fall, Hugh had been trying to figure -out how things could be brought to a focus, -for they seemed to gradually get worse.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<p>He was in sight of the white picket fence -enclosing the Hardin grounds when he heard -his name called in a boy’s voice. Turning -around, he discovered that it was Tom Sherwood, -one of the members of the Otter Patrol, -who came hurrying along in his wake.</p> -<p>Tom had long been known as an exponent -of water athletics and surveying. He meant -to become a civil engineer when he left school, -and anything connected with this work always -interested the boy greatly.</p> -<p>More than a few times, when others of the -scouts would go off on a junketing trip such -as a school picnic, Tom might have been seen -tramping across lots, with a theodolite over his -shoulder, accompanied by some boy he had influenced -to assist him as chain bearer—bound -to some field where he could practice his pet -hobby to his heart’s content.</p> -<p>Hugh noticed that Tom had a long face -when he drew near. This surprised him because -as a rule the other was a cheery fellow, -and wont to give back smile for smile. It also -told Hugh that Tom must have followed him -with some purpose in view, for somehow a -number of the members of the troop seemed -to consider Hugh in the light of a mentor, and -often came to him for advice, strange as it -might seem, considering the fact that they -were all boys.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>“Why, hello, Tom! What’s the hurry?” he -called out, as the other scout drew near.</p> -<p>“Let me get my breath a bit, Hugh, and I’ll -tell you,” panted Tom, which fact seemed to -prove that he must have run quite some distance -in order to overtake the scout master.</p> -<p>Possibly his mind being so filled with the -idea of town improvement and the contemplated -uplift movement, Hugh immediately -began to wonder if the agitation of his boy -friend could spring from anything he had -learned bearing on this subject.</p> -<p>At any rate, he would soon know, for Tom -was getting his breath back again. He looked -confused, almost ashamed, Hugh thought. -There was an expression amounting to positive -pain on his face, and it also showed in -the way he eyed Hugh, as if he hardly knew -where to begin.</p> -<p>They leaned against the nearby fence, as -boys are wont to do when talking. Presently -Tom broke the silence.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>“Of course, you’re wondering what under -the sun I’m going to say, Hugh. I can see it -in your eyes. Well, I had made up my mind -to ask your advice the very next time I saw -you, because I happen to know you’ve managed -to get a number of other fellows out of -bad holes before this.”</p> -<p>“Well, you’ve certainly got me guessing -good and hard, Tom,” said Hugh, with a smile -of encouragement. “But if there’s anything -I can do to help out, tell me what’s gone wrong -now.”</p> -<p>Tom drew an extra long breath.</p> -<p>“The fact of the matter is, Hugh, I’m worried -about Benjy, and as I haven’t any father -to go to, and women don’t understand boys -as well as men do, I hardly knew who to talk -it over with till I happened to think of you.”</p> -<p>Hugh was immediately interested, though -at the same time relieved to know that Tom -was not in any trouble on his own account. -Benjy Sherwood was the younger brother of -Tom, a bright, aggressive sort of boy, whose -faults possibly lay along the line of wanting -to have his own way most of the time.</p> -<p>“What’s he been doing to bother you so, -Tom?” Hugh asked, quietly and soothingly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>“Why, you know that Benjy is a pretty high-spirited -boy,” began Tom. “I’ve tried to check -him several times, but he just won’t listen to -me, and in so many words gives me to understand -he knows his own business, and that I’d -better attend to mine.”</p> -<p>“Oh, but that’s generally the way with -younger brothers,” said Hugh. “Lots of the -fellows will tell you that. So far as I’ve seen, -Benjy is no different from the rest. It’s too -bad he hasn’t a father, though, because as you -said, I believe a man can control such high-spirited -boys a lot better than most mothers, -who don’t exactly understand how a boy feels.”</p> -<p>“Well, here’s the way it stands,” continued -Tom confidentially. “Benjy has been giving -mother and me more or less anxiety by going -with several fellows that I don’t approve of at -all. I happen to know he’s been smoking cigarettes. -I didn’t dare tell mother. She has -such a silly dislike for tobacco in every shape, -you know. Worse than that, I’m afraid Benjy -has been led into playing cards for money.”</p> -<p>Hugh shook his head as though worried at -hearing this.</p> -<p>“What reasons have you for saying that, -Tom?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<p>“Several,” the other immediately replied. -“For one thing, I found part of a burned card -in our kitchen stove one day not long ago. I -supposed Benjy discovered he had it in his -pocket, and wanted to destroy it before some -one found it on him.”</p> -<p>“That might be so,” Hugh mused, “and then -again he might have had some better reason -for wanting to get rid of the cards. Perhaps -he’s realized, that he was doing something that -would grieve his mother, and so made a clean -sweep of things.”</p> -<p>Tom sighed.</p> -<p>“I only wish I could believe that, Hugh. I’m -a whole lot afraid Benjy doesn’t give up things -he likes so easily. Then there was another -suspicious circumstance. I’ll tell you about -it, Hugh. Just three days ago I found that -Benjy had gone and opened his little savings -bank at home, in which I knew he had something -like three dollars, which he had been laying -up towards his summer vacation down at -the seashore. When I asked him what he had -done with the money he got red in the face, -and told me hurriedly that the money was his, -and he guessed he could do what he pleased -with it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>“And you fear he has used it to pay some -debt he owed over the cards—is that it, Tom?” -asked the scout master, secretly afraid lest -there might be some truth back of Tom’s declaration.</p> -<p>“That’s what flashed through my mind, -Hugh,” the other confessed; “and, oh, you -can’t understand how it’s worried me! Why, -I’ve laid awake nights since then wondering -what I could do to save poor Benjy. In spite -of his high temper, he’s a fine boy, if I do say -it myself, and I love him with my whole heart -and soul. Mother almost worships him. You -know he looks so like father! And, Hugh, the -idea struck me that perhaps you could think of -some way we might make him change his -habits.”</p> -<p>Hugh would not have been human if he did -not feel highly complimented by this blind faith -that Tom Sherwood seemed to feel toward him. -At the same time, it added to the burdens he -was bearing; for as assistant scout master, -with Lieutenant Denmead, the regular official -head of the troop, away from town so often, -it seemed as though Hugh had more than his -share of trouble.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>“I’ll do all I can to help you out, Tom,” he -said. “Perhaps I may find a good chance to -talk with Benjy, and get him interested in the -scout movement, for he’s really old enough -now to think of joining the troop.”</p> -<p>“If you could only do that, Hugh, I’m sure -it would make a great difference,” Tom hastened -to exclaim. “Joining the scouts has -been a good thing for thousands of boys all -over the country. They are put on their -honor. No fellow can subscribe to the twelve -cardinal rules of the organization with his -whole heart and still do things that he would -be ashamed to have his folks at home know. -I hope you can coax Benjy into joining. I tried -it once or twice, but somehow he didn’t seem -to enthuse worth a cent. But there’s Benjy -coming down the street right now. Guess I’ll -be going.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>“Leave it to me,” said Hugh, as he shook -hands with Tom, who was turning away. -“I’ve had some experience in approaching fellows -who pretend to scoff at scout doings, and -perhaps I can manage Benjy. I’m glad you -spoke to me, Tom. Be sure it’ll go no further. -So-long! Meeting to-morrow night, -remember!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<h2 id="c3">CHAPTER III. -<br /><span class="small">“STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!”</span></h2> -<p>Hugh made up his mind, on the spur of the -moment, that it might be unwise for him to attempt -anything at once. He wanted a little -time to think things over, and lay out some -plan of campaign, for Hugh did not, as a -rule, believe in doing things hastily.</p> -<p>Besides, Benjy must have noticed him talking -with Tom, and would immediately jump to -the conclusion that it was a conspiracy between -them. The result would be disastrous for the -success of any future missionary work.</p> -<p>When Benjy came face to face with Hugh, -the latter spoke pleasantly. He noticed that -the boy colored up, and, although he answered -the friendly salutation, he immediately assumed -a reckless, indifferent air, and went -along whistling as though he had noticed their -heads together, and would snap his fingers at -them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>Hugh found himself wondering whether it -could be conscious guilt that made Benjy fire -up so, or simply boyish indignation over being -suspected and watched in that way.</p> -<p>“It’s going to be some job managing that -boy,” the scout master candidly admitted to -himself; but, then, somehow, he always found -additional interest in a task that tried his patience, -and his powers of endurance, for there -could be very little satisfaction in beating an -antagonist who was handicapped.</p> -<p>Hugh was unusually quiet on that evening -at the supper table, a fact his folks may have -noticed. But then they were accustomed to -seeing the boy look grave, for owing to the -position he held in the scouts, Hugh often had -to wrestle with matters that did not give most -of the other fellows a moment’s thought.</p> -<p>Later on, Hugh, having gotten his lessons, -observed that he was going over to the home -of Professor Marvin, where there was to be -a little meeting of people interested in town -improvement.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>The smile that broke over the face of his -mother at hearing him say this so modestly -told of the pride she took in the fact that -Hugh, as the assistant scout master, should -be consulted at all when events of considerable -magnitude connected with uplift movements -were being discussed.</p> -<p>It certainly must make any mother’s heart -beat with joy when realizing that her son, -though only a boy in years, had become a factor -in town, that he has to be consulted, and his -aid asked whenever there is a movement on -foot looking to bettering conditions of living -in the community.</p> -<p>When Hugh reached the house where Professor -Marvin lived, he found a little company -assembled. Besides a number of the leading -ladies identified with the league that had already -done so much for the betterment of the -town, there were three pastors present, the -mayor of Oakvale, Doctor Kane, always to -be relied on in things of this sort, and three -influential citizens, who like many other people -had begun to despair of any concerted -movement directed to change the wretched -conditions then prevailing.</p> -<p>There had been rambling talk going on. -Evidently they had been waiting for the arrival -of Mayor Strunk, whom Hugh had seen -pass in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>Mr. Marvin now opened the meeting, which -he said would be an informal affair.</p> -<p>“We know that every person in Oakvale -who has taken the trouble to pay any attention -to the way things are going,” he began to say, -“has been pained by the conditions prevailing. -It is the consensus of opinion that something -must be done, and that immediately, to better -things. The only question that has kept this -movement from crystallizing before has been -the lack of cohesion; no one seemed to be able -to present a proper plan that would unite all -the different organizations interested in the -good name of our town. And that is the object -of this meeting to-night. We must all get -together, and put our shoulders to the wheel.”</p> -<p>Mayor Strunk, seeing that most eyes were -immediately directed toward his quarter, got -up to say his little piece. As usual, he was for -procrastination. He had attended several -other meetings during the winter just passed -and always advised going slowly, so as not to -make any mistake. The ladies had now become -indignant, and quite out of patience with -him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>So when the suave politician commenced by -saying that he realized as well as any one the -need of something being done to improve living -in Oakvale, and then went on to repeat the -old advice not to be too hasty, because Rome -was not built in a day, and all that sort of -thing, there were quick glances passing -around, and one lady had to be held down by -main force, so eager was she to take the -speaker to task, regardless of parliamentary -rules.</p> -<p>Hardly had the mayor finished speaking, -than she was on her feet, with flashing eyes. -A ripple of applause greeted her taking the -floor, because those present understood how -fluently Mrs. Beverly could speak when her -heart was full of a subject.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>“Mayor Strunk advises delay, and delay,” -she broke out with, indignantly. “I decline -to agree with his policy. I have heard it advocated -many times before, and nothing was -ever done. The time to strike is when the iron -is hot! Conditions are daily growing more -unbearable. To-day our fair town has fallen -from the position we once so proudly boasted. -There are hidden snares for the feet of our -young men and boys, about which the police -must know. They should be wiped out pitilessly. -There are numberless nuisances that -are painful to the eyes and noses of sensitive -people; these should be rigorously pursued -with fines and other penalties until they are -abated. If we have not laws on the books to -cover all these offences let us see to it that -they are immediately placed there. Then there -is another crying evil that should be stopped -without delay. I refer to several dangerous -crossings where accidents have been known to -happen, and at any day a terrible tragedy may -stun the community. Listen while I tell you -something that by the merest accident I witnessed -myself, and only a few hours ago.”</p> -<p>Then, in graphic language, she went on to -describe the affair at the crossing.</p> -<p>“Those little children were anxious to get -home. They waited all of five minutes, and -there was not the first chance given them to -cross over, so stupid and selfish have the drivers -and chauffeurs in Oakvale become, because -the law is not strictly enforced. Then that one -little chit, Anita Burns, bravely started across, -eager to get to where an anxious mother -waited for her. I saw a team of horses towering -over her, and my heart literally stood -in my mouth with fear.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>She had everybody intensely interested by -this time. Hugh drew back a little for he -feared she might mention him by name, and -he shrank from publicity.</p> -<p>“Just in the nick of time I saw a boy dart -forward,” continued the lady passionately. -“He was lost to my sight for a brief period, -and then when I thought I should faint with -fear and suspense, I saw him appear on the -opposite walk, carrying the child, uninjured, -in his arms. He set her down on her feet, -waved his hand to her, and then walked off -with several of his scout chums, just as unconcerned, -apparently, as though it might be nothing -unusual; nor was it, my friends, for by this -time we have all become accustomed to hear -about—Hugh Hardin doing valiant things like -that.”</p> -<p>She paused, because there was a wild outburst -of cheers.</p> -<p>Hugh was as red as fire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<p>“If I had known that you saw that little -happening, Mrs. Beverly, and meant to speak -of it here, I might not have come over, though -I certainly did want to hear what was said and -done,” Hugh managed to stammer, at which -there was another round of cheers accompanied -by hand clapping.</p> -<p>“That is the best part of it all, Hugh,” said -the lady. “The fellow who can do a clever -thing like that and still shrink from publicity, -doubly wins our admiration. But, my friends, -I only mentioned the incident to show you how -at any day there may take place a terrible -tragedy at one of these unprotected crossings, -where our innocent children have to pass over, -going to and coming home from school. Now -what shall we do about it? Must we wait until -a fatality comes about before we combine all -forces for good to crush these menaces to our -peace and happiness? I say to you the hour -has struck, and the women of this town are -at last determined to sweep every obstacle out -of their way in order to attain their end.”</p> -<p>Mayor Strunk threw up his hands.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<p>“I surrender, ladies!” he hastened to exclaim, -with the air of a man who knew how -to get in out of the wet when it began raining. -“Just as you say, the time for delay has passed, -and from this night forward you can count -on me as being with you, heart and soul. That -little girl, Anita Burns, is my own grandchild, -some of you may remember, and if anything -had happened to her could I ever forgive myself? -I guess it needed something like this to -take the scales from my eyes.”</p> -<p>Everybody looked happy when they heard -the mayor say this. Really, it had been his -system of procrastination that had kept matters -from reaching a climax long before. No -one professed to understand just why he should -have acted as he did, since his position as -mayor carried no salary with it.</p> -<p>Professor Marvin later on called upon -Hugh, as representing the scouts of Oakvale, -to outline the idea he had in mind of having -the boys made assistant police, with authority -to wear badges, and power to order arrests in -cases of emergency.</p> -<p>The mayor was somewhat dubious about the -propriety of so radical a proceeding.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>“It would be almost revolutionary,” he observed, -“but then we happen to know how well -Hugh can be trusted to keep his troop under -strict control, and they have before this amply -proven worthy of the citizens’ full trust. -I shall call a meeting of the town council for -to-morrow night, and as many of you as can, -be present; I’d be glad of your backing when -this scheme is thrashed out there.”</p> -<p>So at last the uplift movement had come to -Oakvale, thanks in part to Hugh Hardin and -his fellow scouts.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<h2 id="c4">CHAPTER IV. -<br /><span class="small">WAITING FOR THE GOOD NEWS.</span></h2> -<p>“For home protection! That’s the slogan, -fellows, Hugh has given us. We’re going to -take our coats off, figuratively speaking, you -understand, and purify the atmosphere around -the place we live in.”</p> -<p>When Billy Worth gave utterance to these -rather boastful remarks he was standing, with -a bunch of other fellows in khaki, near the -building where the town council, as called together -by the mayor, was still in session.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>Undoubtedly the fathers of Oakvale were -having a warm discussion, since they had been -at it for more than two hours. Indeed, the -scouts had held their meeting in the room under -the church, and made all their arrangements -for carrying out their part of the programme, -if everything went smoothly as they -expected. A goodly number of the energetic -lads had immediately, after the meeting was -adjourned, decided to hurry around to ascertain -what had happened at the council chamber, -to which citizens were admitted to the -capacity of the room, but the line was drawn -at fellows under the voting age.</p> -<p>“Yes,” Jack Durham immediately added, -with his characteristic energy, “Oakvale is -going to take its periodical bath, so to speak. -This time we’ll scrub to the bone, and make -an extra clean job of it.”</p> -<p>“The impudent drivers and chauffeurs must -be made to respect the law, if fines and imprisonment -will do the trick!” asserted Dick Ballamy, -who, for a wonder, seemed able to turn -his thoughts from fishing to a subject that -was of far more importance.</p> -<p>“Huh! Not only that,” Sam Winter burst -out impetuously, “but those sneaking dives -known as ‘speak-easies’ have got to be -squelched. Some people don’t believe any -liquor is being sold in Oakvale just because -we’re called a dry town. That fire the other -day proved the foolishness of that joke, let me -tell you, boys.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>“Just what it did!” declared Mark Trowbridge, -who often lisped when he talked, an -infirmity that was likely to follow him through -life; “why, I thaw with my own eyeth two barrelth -of bottleth half covered with a blanket, -that had been carried from the cobbler’th -thop.”</p> -<p>“Worse than that, even,” asserted Arthur -Cameron in disgust. “I saw a man deliberately -lift the cover, take out a bottle, and drain -it there, with a dozen people standing around -and laughing. Shows you how some of our -laws are being made a joke. The police are -aware of what’s going on, too; but they believe -the sentiment of the town has heretofore -been against enforcing certain statutes.”</p> -<p>“Well, they’re going to get a rude shock -pretty soon, believe me,” said Billy. “Half an -hour ago the mayor and Council sent for Chief -Andy Wallis. He’s in there with them now, -listening to the law being laid down. I reckon -the Chief knows by this time that it’s going to -be a clean town or we get a new head of police. -The women have taken things in hand, -and mean to purify the atmosphere, so that -Oakvale boys and girls can breathe without -being contaminated.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>“How fast the news spread all over town -this morning,” observed Walter Osborne, the -leader of the Hawk Patrol, a fine, manly looking -fellow well liked by all his associates of -the troop. “Why, my mother says they were -talking of it in every store she visited, and father -added that he was buttonholed half a -dozen times by men who seemed chock full of -the subject.”</p> -<p>“Old Doc Kane,” added Sam Winter, “carried -the news wherever he went. He said it -was going to be next door to a millennium for -Oakvale, and that when the movement had exhausted -its force he expected to have his business -reduced one-half, because of the improved -sanitary conditions that would prevail. That -was one of the Doc’s little jokes.”</p> -<p>“He’s loaded to the muzzle with ammunition -meant to boost the good cause along,” asserted -another scout. “It’s among the mill -people the good doctor does most of his missionary -work. He knows how much a clean -town means to fellows who haven’t comfortable -homes to spend evenings in.”</p> -<p>“Of course, there’s no danger that the members -of the town Council will try to dodge the -question again, as they’ve done so many -times?” Jack Durham was saying.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<p>Billy gave a scoffing laugh.</p> -<p>“Not much they will!” he ejaculated; “with -that wide-awake Mrs. Marsh present, backed -by a lady who can strike out from the shoulder -like Mrs. Beverly.”</p> -<p>“Besides,” added Walter, “don’t forget what -Hugh told us about the sudden change of front -on the part of Mayor Strunk. He saw a great -light when he learned how his favorite little -granddaughter had come near being run over -by a team at that dangerous crossing of the -three roads in town.”</p> -<p>“Then there’s another thing that’s bound to -cut some figure in the decision of the town -Council to-night,” said Billy. “Public sentiment -has been aroused, and is at white heat. -It seems as if everything combined to happen -all at once, for this very afternoon old Mr. -Merkle was knocked down by a speeding car -that got away without anybody learning its -number. He was badly hurt, and they took -him to the hospital; but we’ve been told that -the brave old chap, nearly eighty-five years of -age, has sent a message of cheer to the ladies -from his bed, telling them that he glories in -being a martyr to the good cause.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<p>“Every fellow take off his hat to old Mr. -Merkle, for he’s made of the stuff our Revolutionary -fathers had in them when this country -dared defy Great Britain,” and as Walter -Osborne said this, each scout raised his campaign -hat with a touch of respect for the grand -old hero lying on his bed of pain, yet able to -think of the reform movement that was sweeping -through the town.</p> -<p>“Here comes Hugh now!” called out a fellow -on the outskirts of the group.</p> -<p>“And he looks as if he felt satisfied with the -way things were going,” another hastened to -say.</p> -<p>The young assistant scout master quickly -joined them. He was besieged by numerous -questions. Indeed, so thick and fast did these -come that Hugh laughed and threw up his -hands, as though to shield himself from a fall -of hailstones.</p> -<p>“Hold up, fellows,” he told them; “what -do you take me for? When you send them -at me like that it makes me feel as the street -urchin did who crawled into an empty sugar -hogshead, and, seeing the riches around him, -wished for a thousand tongues. Give me a -fair chance and I’ll tell what little I’ve been -able to pick up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>Accordingly they quieted down, though still -pressing around Hugh, and hanging on his -every word. Confidence in their leader is one -of the highest attributes of praise scouts can -show; and the members of Oakvale Troop felt -this to the limit in the boy who had been elected -to serve them in that capacity. So often had -Hugh Hardin proved his ability to fill his exalted -position that no one ever dreamed nowadays -of contesting the leadership with him.</p> -<p>“I managed to interview Zack Huffman,” -explained Hugh, “who had been inside, but -had to go home to his family because his wife -is sick. He could stop only a minute or so -to talk, but he told me the sentiment was overwhelmingly -in favor of carrying out the whole -sweeping programme. The ladies have got in -the saddle, so he said, and mean to ride at the -head of the procession. You remember Zack -is something of a scholar, and you ought to -have heard him tell how they expect to beat -the record of Hercules in cleaning the Augean -stables.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>“Hurrah for Zack!” cried one enthusiastic -scout, for the boys were by this time so roused -up over matters that they felt in the mood to -cheer anybody and anything that favored their -cause.</p> -<p>“Every now and then,” continued Hugh, “I -could hear applause from above there. I’ve -got an idea Mrs. Beverly was talking. If she -was, you can wager not a single member of the -Council will dare vote against the mayor’s programme -after it’s been announced. It’s going -to be carried with a whirl.”</p> -<p>“If it is, we ought to burn a few barrels to -celebrate to-night!” suggested Sam Winter, -for such a programme always pleased him immensely.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<p>“Hold on,” Hugh instantly told him. “We -want none of that sort of thing to-night. For -once let’s show that boys can be dignified. This -is no Fourth of July affair. Some of the -church people have even contemplated holding -prayer meetings after the Council adjourns, if -everything seems favorable, for their hearts -are right in this uplift movement. It wouldn’t -seem just the right thing for scouts to be seen -running like wild Indians all over town, and -shouting their lungs out. We’ll just go home -in a quiet way, and get ready to commence -business on Monday. Time enough for a jubilee -when the ladies appoint a day for celebrating -the victory. Just now we’ve got work, -and plenty of it, ahead of us.”</p> -<p>“Hugh, you’re right!” asserted Arthur Cameron.</p> -<p>“Forget that I said it, Hugh!” begged the -impulsive Sam, abashed by the argument advanced -by the scout master, because his better -sense told him that was the proper way of -looking at it.</p> -<p>“Hey, there comes Chief Wallis out of the -Council chamber!” called a voice, and immediately -every fellow turned his eyes in that direction, -anxious to decide for himself what -the appearance of the head of the police force -would indicate.</p> -<p>Chief Wallis walked straight toward them. -His face was inscrutable, but as he reached -the group of scouts, with Hugh at their head, -he thrilled the boys by raising a hand in salute.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>“Come in and see me on Monday, Hugh,” -the Chief said, dramatically, “and we’ll fix it -up about what sort of badge you and your -fellow Assistant Police can wear. The women -have carried the day, and Oakvale is going to -be purged,” and as he strode on the boys broke -into a series of stirring cheers.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<h2 id="c5">CHAPTER V. -<br /><span class="small">OAKVALE’S GREAT CLEAN-UP DAY.</span></h2> -<p>According to the universal agreement, every -pastor in Oakvale made some mention in his -sermon on the following Sunday of the new -movement that had been inaugurated by the -better elements in the town. They urged every -one of their flocks who wanted to see a cleaner -Oakvale, morally and actually, to back up the -committee.</p> -<p>It was the talk of the day wherever two or -more persons came together, and there were -places where the action of the town Council -was either severely criticized or else condemned. -No one need be told that as a rule -these were the dens of vice that had been -insulting the law and flaunting their brazen -defiance in the teeth of the citizens.</p> -<p>Everybody seemed to be waiting with pent-up -breath to see whether things would begin to -move immediately Monday opened up.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>By noon on Monday posters began to appear -all over town, signed by the mayor, stating -in concise, legal phrases how from that -hour forward the law was going to be strictly -enforced to the letter, and telling all about the -plan to enlist the active co-operation of the Boy -Scouts in helping to make a clean town.</p> -<p>After school that afternoon the fellows belonging -to Oakvale Troop to the number of -thirty marched to police headquarters. That -three of the boys did not respond to roll call -before marching through the streets, Hugh ascertained, -was because in two instances they -were sick at home with a mild attack of grippe, -while the third boy was evidently kept away -because he had an uncle who was believed to -be the worst offender on the list, so that his -folks were hardly in favor of appearing to go -against their own flesh and blood.</p> -<p>But the boys, as they marched the full length -of the main street, were cheered by shoppers -and shopkeepers and clerks, as well as others -who crowded to the doors and windows. For -it was well known what part Hugh and his -fellow scouts were going to take in the redemption -of Oakvale. Their previous success in -ridding the town of cluttering rubbish gave -people confidence in their ability to do even -greater things.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>The Chief had his men lined up in front of -the headquarters. He believed in doing things -according to rule, and meant to receive the -scouts as fellow workers in the good cause.</p> -<p>To hear the speech Chief Wallis made the -new Assistant Police any one would have believed -his heart had always been in the laudable -enterprise of trying to clean up the dives, -and protect the dangerous crossings. Perhaps -it had, but the Chief being a politician dared -not show his hand so long as he felt that public -sentiment was against any change of policy. -He knew better now. He had heard the ringing -words that fell from Mrs. Beverly’s lips, -which speech, according to all accounts, eclipsed -any oration ever delivered in the town hall; the -Chief was fully enlisted in the cause.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>“We will have official badges made without -delay for each and every member of the Assistant -Police,” he told the listening boys, who -interrupted his speech with frequent cheers. -“In the meanwhile, as the posters issued by -His Honor the Mayor state, your regular -scout emblem will be badge enough, and must -be respected everywhere within the limits of -this town. Possibly some people will at first -be inclined to treat your show of authority as -a joke, and laugh at any orders you may issue. -After a few of them have been arrested by my -regular officers, and either fined or placed in -jail for some days, they will have their eyes -opened.”</p> -<p>Then the Chief went on to explain just what -their line of work would consist of, and where -they must draw the line. Certain duties they -could proceed to carry out, but the regular officers -would be used to make most arrests, especially -where there was any danger involved.</p> -<p>“You understand,” he told them, “it is not -intended that the boys operating with this -movement are going to become spies, to find -out what their neighbors may be doing, but we -expect you to keep your eyes open to discover -any glaring infraction of the laws, as mentioned -in that poster, and your leader will -thereupon report any such discovery at headquarters, -from where it will be attended to.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>He then earnestly besought them to be on -their dignity, and guard against any unnecessary -show of being conceited, or too proud of -their new positions.</p> -<p>“Go about your work without any display -of authority. People will begin by sneering at -you, but if you do your duty faithfully they -will soon come to respect your badge. Never -forget that the best people of the community -are behind you in all you may attempt. Hugh, -we look to you to be a safe guide for your followers, -and the mayor told me to inform you -that he expects every scout to do his part manfully. -That’s about all I have to say to you -to-day, though from time to time I expect to -confer with your leader, and lay out new plans. -I salute you all again as members in full standing -of the Police Force of Oakvale.”</p> -<p>Hugh had his plans pretty well laid out, -though everything could not be accomplished -at once. He had selected certain members of -the troop for duty at the dangerous crossings, -beginning on the very next morning. In doing -this, Hugh had used much discretion, for he -expected that there would be more or less -trouble, since drivers and chauffeurs had become -so accustomed to having their own way -that they would object strenuously to any interference.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>It turned out, however, that Chief Wallis -foresaw this very source of trouble, and had -delegated several officers to stand near by in -readiness to arrest the first driver who failed -to pull up when a scout raised his white-gloved -hand as an order for him to do so.</p> -<p>That was a pretty warm day in sections at -police headquarters. Arrests came in quick -succession, as though a regular scheme had -been arranged to make the new order a laughing-stock. -But the mayor had a magistrate -ready, and those who were brought in charged -with breaking the traffic rules, as well as in -some cases resisting an officer had heavy fines -imposed upon them, with the alternative of -several days in the lockup if they refused to -settle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>It was astonishing how quickly the news -went around that the mayor actually meant to -stand by the ladies and the scouts in the crusade. -For the first time that evening in many -moons, every questionable and shady resort -about Oakvale was closed as tight as a drum, -as Billy Worth explained it, after a walk about -town.</p> -<p>“Why,” he told Hugh, with glistening eyes, -“you can see the fellows who used to spend -most of their time in those places standing on -the street corners watching to see what next -is going to happen. They look dazed and -glum, I tell you; yes, and ugly, too, because -their business is going to be all busted up. -They’re telling each other that the way things -are starting in it looks like more than just a -joke.”</p> -<p>“‘A new broom sweeps clean!’” quoted -Hugh. “I never doubted but what once the -people of this town woke up it could be done, -and in a hurry. The only question is how long -will it last? A whole lot of persons will soon -get tired of the novelty, and public sentiment -may swing around to indifference again. That -is what we have to fear more than anything -else. Those bad men will just wait for things -to take a change, and as scouts we’ve got to -see to it that the enthusiasm never dies out.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>After an exciting day, Hugh felt pretty tired -that Monday evening. He had received special -reports from all the scouts who had been on -duty. These covered a multitude of things -from difficulties at the crossings when traffic -was held up at such times as the smaller children -were going to and from school, to infractions -of the laws of cleanliness and health -persisted in by certain citizens who ought to -have known better.</p> -<p>Hugh carefully read every one of these reports, -and they were numerous, for the boys -had been extremely vigilant, as if to prove -their right to be called Auxiliary Police. Hugh -used his own discretion about keeping some of -these reports. A few he smiled at, and made -a mental note to warn the writer that it was -not intended to enter into private property in -order to spy around, but that the complaints -must be of such things as offended the public -eye or ear or nose; after which he tore these up.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>The others he carefully filed with a good -deal of satisfaction, to be later on submitted to -Chief Wallis, after copies had been taken for -the scout records. On the whole, Hugh believed -the boys had made good that day, despite -all the novelty of the thing, and the -troubles they had met with. As time passed -on and people came more and more to recognize -them as a part of the regular system for -carrying out the laws that were upon the -books, much of this friction would die away, -and the wheels of machinery could be expected -to move more smoothly.</p> -<p>Hugh, feeling that he must not neglect his -studies on account of this outside occupation, -had just taken out his books, and was about to -settle down to an hour or so of “grind,” when -he heard the doorbell ring.</p> -<p>Then he caught a familiar voice asking if he -were at home. It was Tom Sherwood, stationed -that day at the most dangerous crossing -in all Oakvale, and who Hugh understood, -from all accounts, had acquitted himself splendidly.</p> -<p>The sound of Tom’s voice suddenly recalled -to Hugh’s mind the fact that he had promised -to help the other. It had been utterly impossible -for Hugh to attempt anything along the -lines he had suggested, concerning an interview -with Benjy Sherwood, for his day had -been crammed full of duties, great and small.</p> -<p>But when Tom burst into his room impetuously -Hugh could see from his face that the -other had more bad news to communicate.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<h2 id="c6">CHAPTER VI. -<br /><span class="small">THE PROMISE OF A SCOUT.</span></h2> -<p>“Hello, Tom! Glad to have you drop around -to see me!” was the friendly and cheery salute -of the scout master, as he nodded to the -newcomer.</p> -<p>Boys do not usually wait on ceremony when -visiting, so Tom, without bothering to be asked -to take a seat, dropped into an easy-chair.</p> -<p>Like most fellows of his age, Hugh had his -room fitted up in as cozy a fashion as suited -his fancy. There were the customary college -flags decorating the walls, and some well-selected -pictures that showed the bent of Hugh’s -mind toward art, a small matter, perhaps, in -the opinion of most people, but of moment with -any one really desirous of knowing the nature -of the boy who lives and sleeps inside those -walls.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<p>One thing Hugh had noticed particularly. -This was the exceeding great care his guest -took in making sure that he had properly -closed the door after him when entering the -room. As a rule, Tom was inclined to be more -or less careless in this respect, being a breezy -sort of a chap. Hugh guessed that there might -be a reason for this unusual caution, and it so -proved.</p> -<p>“Hugh, it’s getting worse all the time!” was -the first remark the newcomer made, and in -a low voice, at that, as if he did not by any -chance want to be overheard by others in the -adjoining room.</p> -<p>Hugh could easily guess what those depressing -words meant. If he had entertained any -sort of doubt, the sigh that followed would -have dispelled them. Tom was in deeper -trouble than ever, and that active younger -brother of his, Benjy, was undoubtedly the -cause.</p> -<p>“What’s Benjy been doing now, Tom?” he -asked, in as soothing a voice as he could summon -to his aid.</p> -<p>Tom scratched his head, as though a trifle -puzzled to know just how to begin.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>“To tell you the truth, Hugh, I don’t know -what he is after, but he’s doing some mighty -queer stunts. I never knew him to try to steal -before.”</p> -<p>“Oh, come, that’s a pretty hard word to use, -Tom!” remonstrated the scout master, trying -to appear unbelieving, although he had felt a -little chill on hearing Tom say what he did.</p> -<p>Poor Tom shook his head as if very downcast.</p> -<p>“You don’t know how much it knocks me to -even suspect such a thing, Hugh,” he presently -managed to say, and there was a plain tremor -to his voice, usually so robust and strong. “In -spite of his headstrong ways, Benjy has always -been such a lovable fellow that—well, -I’d go through fire and water for him if I could -do him any good.”</p> -<p>“I’m sure you would,” ventured Hugh, consolingly, -as the other boy stopped, to gulp several -times, as though nearly choking with emotion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>“Ever since he started going with the set -that trains with the newcomer in Oakvale, -Park Norris,” commenced Tom, “Benjy seems -to have changed ever so much, and all for the -worse. It worries me heaps, and I don’t know -how I’m to get him back again. He seems -to listen, with a curl to his lip, whenever I -speak about it, and I’m sure I try to act the big -brother to him, with my arm about his shoulders.”</p> -<p>“Tell me what’s happened since I saw you -last, Tom,” urged the scout master, desirous -of getting at the “meat in the cocoanut” as -quickly as possible, for he had an hour or so -to put in at studying, and, besides, was pretty -tired after a strenuous day.</p> -<p>“I will, Hugh. That was what brought me -here to see you. When we talked matters -over before, you promised to help me.”</p> -<p>“I repeat that promise, Tom. As the temporary -head of the troop, I could do no less; -and as your old chum I’d go far out of my -way to give a helping hand to Tom Sherwood.”</p> -<p>The other heaved a sigh, and his eyes glistened -with a sudden moisture.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>“Thank you, Hugh,” he managed to say, -half steadily. “I knew I could depend on you. -I wanted to keep these things from our mother -as long as I could. She doesn’t suspect anything -like the truth, for I heard her say only -the other day when Benjy had been rather irritable -that she feared he must be unwell, and -perhaps she ought to have Doctor Kane drop -in to look him over.”</p> -<p>“There may be a little truth in that, Tom, -don’t you know!” suggested Hugh, but the -other boy shook his head ominously in the -negative.</p> -<p>“I’d like to believe it, Hugh,” he said. “It -would be only a matter of a dose of calomel or -some other medicine that old Doc Kane likes -to give, and my brother would be himself again. -But there’s something more than that the matter. -However, I said I’d start in and tell what -happened, and so here goes, Hugh.”</p> -<p>“Please get to the facts as soon as you can, -Tom,” requested the other.</p> -<p>“It happened this very afternoon,” began -Tom. “I came home, and started up to my -room to get something or other, when in the -glass at the end of the hall I happened to see -something move through the open door. You -know, Hugh, I have a little room all my own -at our house, and Benjy’s is at the other end -of the hall. When I saw that it was my -brother in my room I was surprised, for of -late he hasn’t bothered dropping in to visit -with me like he used to be so fond of doing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<p>“Well, to make a long story short, Hugh, -something tempted me to move softly along the -hall and look in past the partly open door. -Hugh, would you believe me, I was shocked -to see Benjy, whom I once believed the soul of -honor, actually rummaging in my trunk.”</p> -<p>“Do you keep your trunk locked?” asked -Hugh quickly.</p> -<p>“Not as a rule,” replied Tom, “unless I happen -to have something in it I don’t want a servant -to see, or some Christmas presents I’ve hid -away. I guess it wasn’t locked to-day, in fact, -I know it wasn’t.”</p> -<p>“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” said the scout -master, really relieved. “Younger brothers -often think they have a right to rummage -when the notion strikes them, I understand. -Why should you think it so strange, Tom?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>“Perhaps I wouldn’t have felt so badly about -it some time ago,” admitted Tom; “but so -many suspicious things have happened, you -see, to make me think Benjy is going along the -fast road. There was his taking that money -from his savings bank, and answering me so -impudently when I asked him what he was -spending it for, instead of waiting till the -Fourth of July. Hugh, I keep my own savings -bank lying in my trunk, along with a lot -of other stuff!”</p> -<p>“Do you think he meant to open that, and -extract some of the contents?” asked Hugh, -feeling uncomfortably chilly at the thought.</p> -<p>“I’d hate to say what terrible thoughts -chased through my brain when I saw him turning -things upside down as though he couldn’t -find what he was looking for,” the grieved Tom -went on to remark.</p> -<p>“What did you do?” inquired Hugh.</p> -<p>“The first thing I thought of doing was to -step right in and ask him what he meant by -getting in my trunk while I was away. But -somehow, Hugh, I just couldn’t bring myself -to do that, so I slipped down to the head of the -stairs, and then started to whistle, and make a -noise with my feet, as if I might be coming up -from the lower floor.”</p> -<p>“Yes,” said Hugh, greatly interested, as -Tom paused to gulp again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>“When I stepped into my room, Benjy had -managed to get the trunk closed, for I had -heard the lid bang down. He was going -around looking up at the walls in the most innocent -way possible, and as soon as I came in -he asked me if I would mind lending him my -old tennis racquet for a little while.”</p> -<p>“Well, perhaps he wanted to have a game -with some of the fellows over on the courts,” -explained Hugh. “I noticed that several sets -were on this afternoon for the first time this -season. You were always a crackerjack at tennis, -Tom, and it may run in the blood with all -the Sherwoods.”</p> -<p>“That’s just where the trouble comes in, -Hugh. Benjy never cared a red cent for playing, -though I often wanted him to take a hand. -No, I’m afraid that was just a sudden idea that -flashed into his head, so that I wouldn’t think -it strange that I should find him prowling in -my room. Besides, he was as red as a beet -when he asked me that simple question, and -mother would never have thought he looked -pale and sick if she had only seen him <i>then</i>.”</p> -<p>“You didn’t say anything to him, of course, -Tom?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>“If you mean accuse him in any way, Hugh, -certainly not,” came the ready answer. “To -tell you the truth, my heart was just too full -and too sore to think of scolding, or anything -like that. I stepped over to where my old -racquet stood behind the door, for I meant to -have it restrung this spring, as it was getting -in poor shape at the close of last season; and I -handed it to Benjy, trying to look natural, too. -I’m afraid, though, he must have seen something -queer in my face, for I noticed he gave -me a quick stare just as he took the racquet -and hurried off, with muttered thanks.”</p> -<p>Hugh pondered over the matter. He hardly -knew what to say. It might be a very innocent -thing, on the part of Benjy. Again, there -was a chance that the worst Tom feared might -be only too true.</p> -<p>Hugh did not like the new boy in town, Park -Norris. He had too much spending money -for his own good, and it was said that his influence -was not of the best upon several fellows -who seemed to be fascinated by his manner -and ways.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<p>“I’ll tell you what, Tom,” the scout master -presently remarked seriously, “leave this matter -with me, and I promise you I’ll take it up -very soon. I’ll try and learn how much Benjy -is under the influence of Park Norris, and -then find out if I can’t win his confidence. I -seem to have a pretty good knack that way; at -least, fellows tell me so, and I glory in it, too.”</p> -<p>“Oh, I’m sure that if only you could get -Benjy to promise to break off with the set he’s -been running with, Hugh, it would come out -all right. It’s the cigarette and card habit -I’m most afraid of. He’s such a lovable boy, -you know, and I guess he is more easily led -than I. So Park Norris has managed to get -a grip on him. I don’t know of a single fellow -who could win him back to his old way of living -as well as you.”</p> -<p>“I give you my promise, Tom, remember, -and I think I have the reputation of always -keeping my word. I’ll do everything I can to -make Benjy see that he’s on the wrong track. -Will that satisfy you, old fellow?”</p> -<p>Tom suddenly clutched his friend’s hand -and squeezed it convulsively.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>“Oh, thank you, Hugh, thank you ever so -much!” he went on to say, trying to restrain -his emotion. “I’ve got such confidence in your -way of doing things that somehow I seem to -believe it’s just bound to come out all right, -now that you’re going to go up against the evil -influence of that Park Norris. Benjy will give -in if he’s approached in the right spirit, and -nobody knows how better to do that than you.”</p> -<p>“Try and keep on feeling that way, Tom,” -advised the other, as his visitor picked up his -hat preparatory to leaving. “Above all things -don’t let Benjy see that you suspect him. Be -particularly kind to him. Every time you do -things for him it’s going to be a fresh stab at -his conscience, you know. In the end it’ll -make my job the easier. That’s all there is -to do. Leave the rest to me, Tom.”</p> -<p>And the look of brimming gratitude which -Tom Sherwood gave his chum spoke more eloquently -than any words he could have uttered -would have done. When he went forth again -into the night air his brain was calmed by the -thought that Hugh had again promised to help -him; and past experiences and observation told -Tom that the young scout master nearly always -did everything he attempted.</p> -<p>Hugh, on his part, had hard work keeping -his mind on his studies the rest of the evening.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<h2 id="c7">CHAPTER VII. -<br /><span class="small">HOW THE “UPLIFT” WORKED.</span></h2> -<p>As the days went by, every one became convinced -that a great change, and for the better, -had come upon Oakvale. The scouts had entered -upon their share in the uplift with boyish -enthusiasm. They had already, most of -them, seen service along somewhat similar -lines, and felt as though they were veterans. -Besides, they were constantly encouraged by -the kind words and praise of the women whose -weighty influence was back of the movement -to encourage everything that was for the betterment -of conditions in and around Oakvale, -so as to make it a model town for clean living.</p> -<p>There were mistakes, plenty of them, but -the scouts learned from experience, and it -might be noticed that the same fellow seldom -if ever committed the same blunder.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>As the days went by, they became more -and more proficient in their tasks, earning -hearty praise from all those who were so -deeply interested in the work. After a few -drivers and chauffeurs had been fined, and -some of them locked up for a spell, they began -to realize that the scouts were not to be reckoned -with as a big joke. When a boy, in the -now respected khaki, standing in the middle of -the street at that dangerous crossing, held up -his white-gloved hand, traffic came to a sudden -stop, and there was safe passage across for -the groups of small children on the way to -and from school.</p> -<p>It only delayed things for a minute at the -most, but precious young lives were rendered -safe from accident. Those boys who were -given this privilege in regular rotation showed -by their manner that they felt proud to fulfill -their duties; nor did they in any instance abuse -the privilege their badges gave them above -their fellows.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>What had at first seemed like a lark in the -eyes of other boys not members of the troop -presently became a serious matter. When -some of them started to annoy members of the -new Auxiliary Police they were soon startled -by a visit at their homes by the stern Chief -himself, who warned their folks that a second -offense would mean severe punishment. Possibly -some of those parents took it upon themselves -to start operations by selecting a nice -stout switch and keeping it in view.</p> -<p>However, gradually order came out of -chaos. Hugh worked faithfully trying to remedy -whatever proved to be faulty, and, of -course, there were numberless things that constantly -required attention.</p> -<p>Those were busy days for the regular police, -and it kept them on the go, warning offenders -against the sanitary code that affairs -must be speedily altered; for those wide-awake -eyes of the thirty scouts on duty all the time -seemed to discover a myriad of things that -were not being conducted according to law, -and were a disgrace to any decent community.</p> -<p>The mayor was now heart and soul in the -work. He realized that he had the backing of -the solid people of the town, as well as all the -church members, and the women besides.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>Once Oakvale had experienced the delight -of being really clean it would require an upheaval -to make them change back to old conditions. -There was an element, however, as -is always the case in every community, that -looked upon these happenings with more or -less angry mutterings and frowns, for with -the change had passed their source of gain and -livelihood. They knew better than to talk -openly against the new order of things, but -whenever and wherever the opportunity arose -they would try to excite derision for the “uplift” -movement.</p> -<p>It seemed as though these people who loved -darkness rather than light felt especially sore -toward Hugh Hardin and his scouts. They -believed that somehow the khaki boys were -the backbone of the whole business, as they -were the ones whose eyes detected offenses and -reported the same to headquarters every day. -With a score and a half of bright lads constantly -on the scent it was difficult for anything -unlawful to escape notice.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>Without the help given by Hugh and his -scouts the movement could never have attained -such wonderful success from the beginning—that -was as good as acknowledged by almost -every one on both sides. It was not singular -then that some of the lower elements, finding -themselves hedged about with so many difficulties -in gaining a livelihood in such a spick-and-span -town, should get their heads together -with the object of devising some shrewd -method by means of which the old conditions -might be brought back again.</p> -<p>Plainly then to do this the easiest way -would be to conjure up some means whereby -the new order of things would be brought into -contempt. Hugh himself had more than once -been given obscure threats that unless he relaxed -his vigilance and shut his eyes to certain -things if they started up again, he would find -himself in a peck of trouble.</p> -<p>Not once did the boy flinch, even though he -felt that some of these men were of a desperate -nature, and would descend to almost -any mean depths when their former lawless -habits were interfered with. Hugh consulted -with the minister, Mr. Dobbs, and the mayor -of Oakvale, both of whom promised to stand -by the scouts through any difficulty.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>These things aroused the women greatly -when they heard of them. Plainly the enemies -of the community were becoming alarmed, -thinking they had been cast out for good. If -conditions did not soon improve there would -have to be considerable emigration to other -communities that did not have ambitions to -merit the name of “Spotless Town.” But it -was believed that before they yielded up the -fight these people would very likely make one -last great effort to turn the tables on the reformers.</p> -<p>They had been engaging legal talent in Oakvale -to look up the law and ascertain whether -the mayor had not overstepped his authority -when he ordered certain resorts closed where -young fellows had been in the habit of congregating -to play pool. Although no actual proof -had as yet been produced, it was widely understood -that other games far less innocent had -also been played there, and that indeed liquor -could be procured on the premises by those -who “knew the ropes.”</p> -<p>But there were other lawyers on the side of -the mayor, backed by the women and the reform -element. They made certain that things -were kept within the bounds granted by the -law. Then the town Council, now wholly committed -to the new order of things, announced -themselves ready to pass any additional law -necessary to continue things as they were.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>A week later and Hugh began to breathe -easier. He felt that matters had advanced so -far that they could plume themselves on making -the movement a success. He was every -day hoping to hear that the elements they had -cause to fear were commencing to leave town. -As long as they continued to abide in Oakvale -the danger was that of a snake “scotched, not -killed,” and liable to come to life again at any -time.</p> -<p>All this while he had not found a good -chance to keep his promise to Tom Sherwood, -mostly on account of the press of business. -With so many things depending on him while -acting in the place of Lieutenant Denmead, -still absent from home, as well as his studying -for the spring examinations, Hugh certainly -had his hands full.</p> -<p>But whenever he happened to meet Tom, -and saw that look of entreaty on the other’s -face, Hugh took himself to task for not finding -time to enter upon the little side campaign for -the redemption of Benjy Sherwood.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<p>So far as he knew, the latter did not seem -to be in the company of the Norris boy on the -various occasions when Hugh had noticed the -latter on the street. That was no reason, however, -that Benjy did not seek his society at -other times, and perhaps visit at Park’s house, -where possibly cards were not prohibited as a -source of boyish amusement.</p> -<p>“I’m going to start something doing in that -direction by to-morrow,” Hugh was telling -himself as he walked toward home one afternoon, -after making a report to the Chief and -receiving the usual congratulations on his proficiency.</p> -<p>It was the sight of Benjy across the way -that caused him to say that, for the other had -come out of the store where all sorts of games, -from baseball goods and skates down to playing -cards, were for sale and exhibited in the -windows.</p> -<p>It seemed to Hugh, although he admitted -that perhaps his imagination made him think -so, that Benjy Sherwood glanced to the right -and left as he came out, as a fellow might who -was trying to hide something, or else felt conscience -stricken. He noticed that the other -was also trying to keep a package he carried -close to his body as he walked on.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>Suddenly Hugh saw Benjy turn and hurry -down a side street, almost running, in fact. -He hardly knew what to make of this until, -chancing to look further along, he discovered -Tom Sherwood in sight. It hardly seemed -likely that the other had noticed his younger -brother’s very suspicious action in wanting to -elude him.</p> -<p>Hugh felt a strange fascination in connection -with the matter. It was growing more -interesting than ever, and more mysterious, -he admitted. What had Benjy been doing in -that store that he should dislike to have his -brother see him, and actually turn and slink -away?</p> -<p>“I’ll know something about this before a -great while,” Hugh was telling himself as he -walked slowly on, trying to figure out what -his best plan of campaign might be under the -circumstances. As a wise scout he always -tried to make ample preparations before starting -in on a game.</p> -<p>As once before, Hugh had gotten almost -within sight of his home fence when he heard -his name called from the rear. It was not -Tom Sherwood this time who came running -after him, but Ralph Kenyon.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>Ralph had always been a great favorite of -Hugh’s. There was a time when the other had -been making money trapping small fur-bearing -animals up above Oakvale, and proving -himself quite a woodsman, in so far as having -a knowledge of the habits of these four-footed -forest denizens went.</p> -<p>That was before Ralph became interested -in the scouts and finally joined the troop. He -could not be induced to set a single cruel steel -trap now, because he looked at things in an -entirely different light from those other days. -But he was without a peer in the whole troop -when it came to a question of following a trail, -or being able to understand what the thousand-and-one -little signs in the woods stood for.</p> -<p>Ralph looked excited, Hugh saw, as the -other drew near, and the first thing the scout -master thought the cause to be some fresh insult -from the rough element in town opposed -to the new conditions.</p> -<p>Hugh was ready to turn right-about face -and go back to the office of the Chief, if -Ralph’s complaint seemed serious enough to -warrant it. He was determined that the work -so well begun should not be put back by any -underhand methods.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>Ralph soon came up, gulping in big draughts -of air. His face was red, and what seemed to -be a look of indignation, according to Hugh’s -mind, could be seen there.</p> -<p>“Something got twisted and needs straightening -out, eh, Ralph?” asked the scout master -pleasantly.</p> -<p>“Worse than that, I’m afraid, Hugh,” replied -Ralph.</p> -<p>“None of the boys hurt, I hope?” quickly -inquired Hugh, for the one thing he had been -dreading was an open rupture between the -rival forces in town, with stones flying and a -near-riot in the process of forming.</p> -<p>“Well, not yet, Hugh, but if things keep on -there’s going to be the dickens to pay,” panted -Ralph, leaning against the fence as he spoke. -“Fact is, those gamblers and law breakers have -got desperate, and they’ve schemed to put us -scouts in a bad hole, so the mayor will have -to discharge us and start the whole uplift game -tumbling in the soup; that’s what makes me -look so scared like, Hugh!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<h2 id="c8">CHAPTER VIII. -<br /><span class="small">ONE USE FOR WOODCRAFT KNOWLEDGE.</span></h2> -<p>“What do you mean by putting us scouts in -a bad hole, Ralph?” asked Hugh, quickly, for -what the other boy had said startled him.</p> -<p>Ralph glanced hurriedly about, as though to -make absolutely certain that no eavesdroppers -were near by to overhear what he said. Then -he drew closer to Hugh and assumed a most -mysterious manner that could not help having -an effect upon the surprised scout chief.</p> -<p>“Oh! they’re as mad as hops, let me tell you, -Hugh,” Ralph commenced.</p> -<p>“Of course you mean, Ralph, those fellows -who were hurt when we put the lid tight on -Oakvale, and stopped their sneaky business, -whatever it may have been?”</p> -<p>“Yes, and they’ve got together and mean to -fight back, that’s how it stands now, Hugh,” -he was told.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>“We knew they had employed lawyers and -were meaning to do everything they could to -get the mayor’s acts called unconstitutional,” -Hugh remarked.</p> -<p>“Oh! they’ve made up their minds, I guess,” -Ralph continued hastily, “that when it comes -to a show-down of law they haven’t got a -chance to win out. Hugh, let me tell you again -some of that bunch are the most desperate -men going. Why, nobody would ever have believed -we had such monsters here in little old -Oakvale.”</p> -<p>“Whew! you’re going pretty strong when -you use a word like that, Ralph!”</p> -<p>“They deserve it every time, I tell you,” -persisted the other. “What else would you -call men who even scheme to have a store in -this town robbed, and then fix it so that marked -bills or pieces of jewelry will be found in the -pockets of certain scouts, you among the number?”</p> -<p>Hugh stared hard at Ralph as though he -could hardly believe his ears.</p> -<p>“You haven’t been dreaming that, have you, -Ralph?” he finally asked, as he took hold of -the other’s sleeve and drew him around so that -he could look straight into Ralph’s eyes, which, -however, did not waver before his gaze.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<p>“Not much I haven’t, Hugh,” he was told -like a flash. “I give you my word of honor I -heard that very scheme spoken of by three of -the leading spirits in this fight against a clean -town—Gaffney, who used to run that poolroom; -Slimmons, the retired boxer, who used -to be athletic trainer at the schools before -somehow he took to drinking so heavy they -had to drop him (and he’s hung around Gaffney’s -place ever since trying to pick up some -sort of living giving boxing lessons, etc.). -There was a third man present, but he doesn’t -really live in town. I suspect he’s been interested -on the quiet in dodging the law here by -supplying shady resorts with booze, and is -losing money as long as they stay shut up.”</p> -<p>“Where did all this take place, tell me, -Ralph?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>“Listen then, Hugh. I happened to be coming -across lots down at the bowling alley corner -when I saw those three men dodge into -the place. You know it’s been closed to play -ever since they found things were going on -there that had no business in Oakvale. Well, -I thought there was something queer about -the way those three men acted before they -dodged in, and my old sense of investigation -at once began to urge me to take a peek and -see what they might be up to. If any sort of -game was going on, the police ought to know, -you understand, Hugh?”</p> -<p>“Yes, and you were acting within your -rights as a member of the regular police force, -in figuring on doing so,” the other assured -him.</p> -<p>Ralph smiled grimly as though pleased to receive -that reassurance from the one in whom -he placed unlimited confidence.</p> -<p>“Well, it was as easy as falling off a log for -me to discover a window that I could crawl -through,” Ralph went on to say, “and nobody -saw me do it either. I haven’t been watching -mink, otter, and foxes pull off their sly tricks -without learning a thing or two. So once I -got inside the old building it wasn’t much of a -job to find where they were sitting, jabbering -away like everything, in low voices, as if they -didn’t want to be heard outside.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>“Hugh, I couldn’t begin to repeat what I -heard. All of them were excited, and in dead -earnest, too. Each one had suggestions to -make that sometimes made my blood run cold. -Their well-paying business has been closed up, -you see, and that’s what makes them so bent -on striking a blow to end this silly ‘racket,’ as -they contemptuously call the uplift movement.</p> -<p>“And, Hugh, just as I said in the beginning, -they’re actually planning to have a robbery -committed, and manage it so that some of the -stuff that’s taken will be found on a number -of the scouts. Just how this is to be done they -hadn’t fully settled; but it’s all going to be -fixed this very night, so that before another -forty-eight hours have passed the dirty game -can be worked. Why, I never dreamed so -dreadful a thing would come slap up against -us scouts. They want the people of Oakvale -to suspect us of being common, every-day -thieves.”</p> -<p>“Don’t worry, Ralph,” said Hugh, firmly. -“I don’t believe the game could have been carried -out successfully at any time, even if none -of us so much as suspected a thing. Now that -you’ve warned us, why, it’s bound to fall flat. -Mayor Strunk and the women of this town -know the scouts too well to ever believe they’d -disgrace their uniforms and honor badges by -stealing.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>“Do you know, Hugh, while I lay there -straining my ears like everything so’s not to -lose much of what those plotters said, I was -thinking what a bully thing it would be if the -scouts could turn the tables on ’em.”</p> -<p>“You mean, Ralph, fix things so the fellows -who actually did the robbery would be nabbed -in the act—with the goods on—before they -found a chance to deposit any of the plunder -in the pockets of the scouts, or at their homes, -where it would be found when a search -started?”</p> -<p>“That’s what I had in mind,” confessed the -other, eagerly.</p> -<p>“It would be just what they deserved,” declared -Hugh, “and what some folks would call -retribution. We would save ourselves a whole -lot of trouble and explanations, and at the -same time might get rid of an undesirable -bunch of crooked people that Oakvale never -would miss.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>“Of course you understand, Hugh, that I -was so worked up by what I managed to hear, -I felt nervous about staying too long, for fear -those men found me out. I tell you they’re -mad enough to do almost anything to us -scouts. So I concluded it would be wise to -creep back, and get out of that same window -again before anything happened to me. This I -proceeded to do, and say, I breathed free again -when I found myself under the blue sky once -more.”</p> -<p>“The last you saw of them they were still -sitting in the old bowling alley place talking -things over, eh, Ralph?”</p> -<p>“Yes, and figuring on how soon they could -do that nasty job, too, Hugh. From all I heard -they won’t let the grass grow under their feet -before getting things moving.”</p> -<p>“If only we knew whose store was to be -robbed we would have something to work on,” -suggested the scout leader, invitingly.</p> -<p>“Oh! I think I know that much even now,” -admitted Ralph. “They seemed to be talking -about the easiest way to get in, and I heard -them mention old Mr. Ainslee several times, as -if it was to be his jewelry store.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>Hugh would not have been human if he had -not felt a chilling sensation pass over him upon -learning to what extreme lengths the enemies -of reform were willing to go in order to accomplish -their purpose. This was to upset the -prevailing conditions, and put the town back -into the old rut that was winked at by the -police and authorities, it being impolitic to -notice them too closely.</p> -<p>His determination was immediately taken, -for Hugh could often reach a conclusion as -speedily as on other occasions he took time to -make up his mind.</p> -<p>“Ralph, I was headed for home when you -stopped me,” he went on to explain, “but after -hearing what you’ve just said, I want to have -Mr. Dobbs and the mayor know what those -desperate men are thinking of doing. Would -you mind coming with me and repeating your -story to them?”</p> -<p>“Not a bit, Hugh; fact is, I expected that -you would ask me to do so, and I’d made up -my mind what to say. Sure, I’ll go along, and -repeat every word.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>Accordingly the pair trudged their way to -the parsonage, and were fortunate enough to -find the minister in his study. Mr. Dobbs was -a venerable man who always took a great interest -in all the activities of the Oakvale boys. -The scouts had no more sincere friend and -advocate than he proved to be, even when the -organization had been young, and much doubt -had been expressed among the better people of -the town as to the wisdom of allowing such a -movement to crystallize.</p> -<p>He greeted the boys with his customary -warmth.</p> -<p>“I’m very glad to have you drop in on me -this way,” he told them. “If it is in search of -any advice or other assistance, I shall be glad -to know what I can do for boys I think so -highly of. Tell me what your errand is this -time, Hugh, my son.”</p> -<p>Of course the parson was highly indignant -when he heard to what actual depths of depravity -some of those men were willing to descend -in order to undo the work of the loyal -scouts, and the better elements among the residents -of Oakvale.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>“It all goes to prove how fearfully lax we -had become here,” he observed after Ralph -had told all he knew. “It also shows what a -crying necessity for a radical cleaning-up -movement there must have been when such -criminal elements, working to undermine the -characters of our young men and boys, as -these, could effect a lodgment in our town. It -was high time we woke up and took our coats -off for business. Ralph, I want to thank you -in the name of every respectable woman and -mother in Oakvale for what you have discovered -this day. ‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ -they say, and before we are through with Gaffney, -Slimmons and Company, they will realize -that they have been up against a threshing -machine.”</p> -<p>Hugh liked to hear the old minister talk like -that, for he understood that Mr. Dobbs was -really a Civil War veteran, and in the old days -had once been known as the “Fighting Parson.” -If those unruly men fancied that because -he was a shepherd of a flock he would -not fight to save his pet lambs from the devouring -wolves they made the greatest mistake -of their whole lives.</p> -<p>So Mr. Dobbs quickly got the mayor on the -wire and asked him to come over to the parsonage -without a moment’s delay; also to -fetch Doctor Kane along with him if he could -possibly do so.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>“I’ve got something to communicate that -will give you an electric shock, if that hint will -cause you to speed your car any the faster, -Mr. Mayor,” the boys heard the minister say -in conclusion.</p> -<p>It was not a great while before they arrived, -for apparently the mayor had either met Doctor -Kane on the street or managed to find him -at his house. Then once more Ralph was influenced -to tell his startling story. He had -deeply interested listeners. Hugh could see -the mayor gritting his teeth as he had a way -of doing when thoroughly aroused.</p> -<p>“These two wide-awake scouts have suggested,” -said Mr. Dobbs, after everything had -been told, “that we keep very quiet about this -discovery, and lay a trap so that when the -robbery is actually attempted we may arrest -those who are implicated. If they are caught -in the act, before they can have any opportunity -to place the blame on any one else, we -will have no trouble of ridding our town of unworthy -citizens. Mr. Mayor, it rests with you -to decide.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<p>“Nothing would please me better!” exclaimed -the mayor, strenuously. “Before we -go into details with regard to any plan I want -to thank these brave boys from the bottom of -my heart on account of what the scouts have -done and are doing to purge Oakvale of every -element that stands, as a blot on a town’s fair -name.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<h2 id="c9">CHAPTER IX. -<br /><span class="small">THE GOAL IN SIGHT.</span></h2> -<p>It was fine of the mayor to say that. Had -the women who had labored so long and so -arduously in order to accomplish this end -overheard what he remarked, they might have -whispered among themselves that it was a -great pity Mr. Strunk could not have reached -the desired resolution many months previously.</p> -<p>But then “better late than never,” and if his -eyes were now opened to the enormity of the -offenses that had previously been winked at -as unavoidable in a bustling community of -Oakvale’s size and rapid growth, there was -good hope of the future.</p> -<p>Before Hugh and Ralph left the parsonage -to hurry home to supper they had heard the -whole thing thrashed out, and even found their -opinions asked by the trio of deeply interested -gentlemen.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>A plan was fairly well arranged that would -serve as a trap, for from what Ralph had -caught, the conspirators would not be in position -to attempt the daring robbery until then. -In fact, as Ralph very well understood, it was -actually Hugh who proposed the idea upon -which the minister, Doctor Kane and the -mayor finally settled as promising the best results. -But then Ralph saw nothing strange -about that, for as a member of the scouts he -was accustomed to have Hugh Hardin naturally -take the lead in almost everything.</p> -<p>Ralph was greatly pleased. He considered, -and rightly, too, Hugh told him, that once -again his knowledge of woodcraft and the -Indian art of creeping up close to an enemy’s -camp had proved of value to the cause he represented. -Many fellows similarly situated, -even if they had thought to make the attempt, -might have bungled, and only brought down -some sort of chastisement on their own heads -for their temerity.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>It was to remain a dead secret; even the rest -of the scouts would not be told why Hugh -ordered them to be at their place of meeting on -the following night, prepared to have a number -of the stoutest and most adept chosen for -a special mission.</p> -<p>The mayor promised to see Chief Wallis on -the following morning and get him interested -in the matter, so that he and several of his -men could have a hand in trapping the thieves. -Just as likely as not these men would be in a -desperate mood, and liable to show fight when -they realized how completely the tables had -been turned upon them. Hence it was deemed -wise to have some of the regulars on the police -force handy in order to assist the scouts make -the arrests.</p> -<p>No doubt the home folks at the Hardin and -Kenyon domiciles must have thought the boys -were unusually serious all that evening, perhaps -absent-minded, for often they would -start when spoken to suddenly, as though -wrapped up in some far-away subject.</p> -<p>However, as it was known that their hearts -were concerned in the successful carrying out -of the cleaning up of Oakvale, allowances -were made for them. Fond mothers, though, -may have found themselves wondering if it -were really wise to allow such weights to rest -upon young shoulders.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>Another day came around, and its duties -were taken up by the scouts with their accustomed -alacrity. Every fellow seemed to vie -with his mates in doing his share of the work -in a way that would allow of no fault finding. -There was indeed what might be called a -healthy rivalry among the scouts, to see who -could command the highest number of clean -scores; for Hugh had arranged matters in the -shape of a contest, to make it more interesting.</p> -<p>The opposition had not yet died out, for -when men have fallen into certain bad habits -that become as second nature, it is most difficult -to break the bonds binding them.</p> -<p>True, the drivers and chauffeurs in and -about Oakvale had by degrees become accustomed -to the new order of things, which was -moving along as smoothly as clockwork. They -found there was absolutely no need of any -friction, and that while occasionally held up -by the amateur “traffic cop” in order to allow -a safe passage for a squad of school children, -they really lost little or no time. Besides, a -vast amount of argument and hard words was -saved by this orderly way of running things -at congested crossings.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>Already the new system had borne fruit, -for the railway company, while not compelled -to do so by any town ordinance, doubtless falling -in with the general scheme of uplift, stationed -a flagman at the perilous crossing, who -would be on duty from six in the morning -until sundown.</p> -<p>Those of the scouts who had the duty of -searching for infractions of the health code -ran across the greatest trouble, because they -were dealing with private individuals, some of -whom nursed petty “grouches” against them -because compelled to do what the boys demanded -or take the chances of being summoned -before a Squire and heavily fined.</p> -<p>Hugh used considerable diplomacy in dealing -with these offenders. He did not wish the -scouts to make any enemies when it could be -avoided. So when there happened to be some -stubborn fellow who firmly believed he had a -right to do things that were offensive to the -neighbors and the community at large, just -because he was on his own grounds, and -threatened to go to law to resist, Hugh tried -other measures besides violence and threats.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>In several instances he performed what -seemed next door to miracles, in the eyes of -the boys, and the amused people as well. Hugh -could “blarney” most any one into coming -around to his way of thinking, given half a -chance, was what Billy Worth always said, -and in fact the young scout master proved the -truth of this assertion in several instances.</p> -<p>One crabbed and rich old fellow in particular, -who had little to do with his neighbors, -but persisted in keeping several fierce dogs -that barked most of the night, upon being -threatened with the passage of a new law that -would proclaim such animals within the corporate -limits of the town a public nuisance if -complaint were handed in signed by six neighbors, -told them they could pass all the regulations -they wanted and he would take out an -injunction, which by the delay of the law -would allow him to do about as he pleased the -rest of his life.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<p>Judge Coffin, from the town of Lawrence, -whose acquaintance some of the scouts had -made at the time of the famous flood,<a class="fn" id="fr_1" href="#fn_1">[1]</a> -when they were enabled to save several lives and -win the esteem of the entire community, -chancing to visit Oakvale on some official business -just about that time, confided to Hugh -the fact that unfortunately what Mr. Griffin -claimed was true, and that by successive injunctions -it was possible to fend off a decision -for months, sometimes years.</p> -<p>This was not the worst of it, for if one man -could baffle the desire of the community in -that way his example might become contagious -and the precedent thus set be copied -by others, until all the good the reform wave -had done would be lost.</p> -<p>So clever Hugh had figured out it was essential -that Mr. Griffin be won over to the cause, -even if it took much of his spare time to accomplish -the seemingly impossible result.</p> -<p>Like a wise general, Hugh first looked over -the field. He knew that when a battle is to -be fought the side that knows the various conformations -of the ground always possesses an -advantage over those less posted.</p> -<p>In making all sorts of inquiries Hugh -learned a lot about the past of this crabbed -old man who seemed so like vinegar. There -was a reason, it seemed, for his “drawing -within his shell,” and refusing to have more -than casual communication with his neighbors.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p>Mr. Griffin had suffered a cruel shock many -years before, losing his wife and two lovely -children in a fire. One girl was left to him, -and she grew up to womanhood, gave him a -great deal of trouble, and finally ran away -with a worthless fellow. Some years afterwards, -the old gentleman, now become estranged -from the world that had treated him -so cruelly, went away, and came back with a -child he announced as his grandson, the last -of his stock, for the daughter had died.</p> -<p>Alas! this little boy was a cripple and deformed. -Hugh had seen him several times, -but the old man kept a strict watch, and allowed -no intruders in his grounds where those -dogs roamed at night time.</p> -<p>The hunchback was now all of ten years of -age, and when Hugh saw Mr. Griffin buying -some boys’ books before Christmas he understood -that the little fellow at least must love -to read.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>Here then was the scheme which Hugh -worked out. He had plenty of books that told -of the doings of Boy Scouts. Besides, he had -an old manual that he could easily spare. So -he bribed the grocer’s boy, who daily visited -the Griffin home, and admitted that he chatted -with the hunchback frequently, to give Archibald -the package of books on the sly, and tell -him the leader of the Wolf Patrol had sent -them with his compliments to help a “shut-in” -realize what scout life meant.</p> -<p>Hugh heard from his kind act, for on the -very next day he received a splendid little note -from the boy, thanking him heartily for his -thoughtfulness, and saying that he would devour -those books “ferociously,” he was so -“crazy” about reading of what boys more fortunate -than himself were doing.</p> -<p>Hugh kept it up after that, and before long -there was a most friendly feeling springing -up between the two. One fine day Hugh was -surprised to have Mr. Griffin stop him on the -street, and he realized that the severe look -could leave the face of the well-named man -when he chose to drop the mask.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>“My little grandchild has been telling me -about your kindness in sending him books to -read,” the gentleman started to say. “Now, I -have been very particular about the type of -books I select for him, because I want the poor -little fellow to know only the better side of -life. At first I was afraid you had broken -down the barrier I have erected, but when I -came to look over the handbook of the scouts, -and found what a splendid foundation the organization -is built upon I felt sure that books -written along similar lines could do a boy only -good. I am pleased to say that upon glancing -over those you sent him, I have been immensely -satisfied.”</p> -<p>He offered his hand to Hugh, something no -boy in Oakvale had ever known Mr. Griffin to -do in all the years past. Hugh flushed with a -sense of satisfaction upon realizing that he -was on the road to success, and that his diagnosis -of the stern old gentleman’s real nature -had not been amiss.</p> -<p>“I am glad you do not think I was playing -a mean part in getting those books to Archibald,” -he said, simply. “We scouts feel for -any chap who is deprived of the glorious -chances we have to spend many good times in -the open. I thought he would be glad to learn -about scout life, even if he could never hope -to enjoy it himself.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>“What is more to the point,” continued Mr. -Griffin, “I’ve had my eyes opened to the fact -that it is a bad thing for any man to allow -himself to remain in ignorance with what is -going on around him as the years progress. I -am ashamed to admit that I never dreamed -there had been such a vast revolution in the -training of boys during the years I’ve kept -aloof from the world. I’ve seen mention of -the scouts many times in my papers, but never -took the trouble to investigate—in fact, -treated the whole matter as somewhat of a -military movement copied after the Old World -methods. I am delighted to learn that such -is not the case.”</p> -<p>Then he went on to say Archibald was eager -to meet Hugh, and that if only he could come -over and take supper with them that evening -it would give both of the “shut-ins” great -pleasure indeed.</p> -<p>Such luck Hugh had hardly anticipated, but -he was only too glad to accept the invitation -in the spirit it was given.</p> -<p>“I have some more really splendid books I -want you to let him read,” he went on to say -with spirit. “If you don’t object I’ll come -over this very evening,” for, as we happen to -know, the scout master believed in “striking -when the iron is hot.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>After that it was easy for Hugh. Once he -had gained entrance to the Griffin home he -found a means for occupying a place in the -hearts of both the hunchback boy and his -grandfather. By a wise system of approaching -the subject discreetly Hugh quickly found -a way of getting Mr. Griffin to change his -mind about keeping those noisy dogs.</p> -<p>It was once more a case of the gentle sun’s -rays accomplishing what even the most violent -wind could not do.</p> -<p>Hugh never boasted of his victories, but in -some way the truth became known. Possibly -Mr. Griffin, now mingling more than in the -past with his neighbors, secretly amused, told -it himself. At any rate it served to add to -the laurels Hugh had already won as a diplomat, -as well as a scout leader.</p> -<p>So the good work went on. This incident -connected with Mr. Griffin and his pests of -barking dogs was only one example of how -the scouts managed to accomplish their ends. -It is not by mere promises of prosecution alone -that nuisances can be abated, for sometimes -reason goes a great ways toward effecting a -cure.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>A few threats had been made, but so far -none of the boys had really suffered actual -violence. Truth to tell, the cowards who had -been bullies knew that when they assailed the -scout uniform they really went up against the -entire vested authority of the town as represented -by the mayor, the police, and the better -element of the citizens.</p> -<p>Speedy retaliation had fallen upon those astonished -offenders who had laughed at the -warnings given by the Auxiliary Police. They -realized that because a fellow is under a man’s -size and wears a khaki uniform, it is no sign -that he cannot enforce his authority.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>Things had apparently been going on swimmingly, -and there seemed every indication -that victory was in sight when Ralph by accident -overheard that plot to bring about the -undoing of the scouts in the estimation of the -town people. It was plainly the last desperate -effort of the opposition. If they were beaten -in this round the chances were there would -be a clean sweep to crown the efforts of those -who were working so hard for home protection -in Oakvale. It would have been proven -conclusively that a new rule must hereafter -be reckoned with, which was founded on -<i>order</i> and the rights of the community as -against private privileges.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<h2 id="c10">CHAPTER X. -<br /><span class="small">BENJY’S SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS.</span></h2> -<p>Really, it was strange how things crowded -into that particular day. Hugh was down -doing some errand in the shopping district of -the town when, by the merest accident, he -chanced to see Benjy Sherwood again.</p> -<p>The sight of Tom’s high-strung younger -brother would be apt to interest Hugh at any -time nowadays, for it caused him to remember -that he had as yet been unable to carry his -promise into effect, owing to the great rush of -matters accumulating on his shoulders.</p> -<p>He was particularly interested, however, -when he saw what the boy was doing, for -plainly Benjy had some silver coins in his hand -which he was counting.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>Hugh jumped to a conclusion that gave him -a bad feeling in the region of his heart. When -a fellow is seen coming out of a bird store -where all sorts of pets are kept, and counting -silver coins from one hand to the other, the -most natural conclusion is that he must have -been selling something there, and wants to -make sure he has received the right amount.</p> -<p>Hugh chanced to know that Benjy had been -deeply interested in Belgian hares, and received -a present of a handsome pair of them -on Christmas, of which he had been exceedingly -fond. Hugh wondered if it could be -possible that the boy, hard pressed for the -means to pay some “debt of honor,” as he considered -it, had actually sacrificed his pets.</p> -<p>The thought of what a hold that gaming -habit must have gained upon poor Benjy filled -the scout master with dismay. He took a few -steps past the store, and then felt compelled -to yield to an irresistible impulse to make -sure; so, turning back, he walked into the -place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>Hugh had often been there before, for he -was himself interested in fancy pigeons, and -had a coop of “homers” at home from which -he anticipated raising some fine youngsters, -which he could take many miles from home -and find awaiting him on his return. Indeed, -he aspired some day to possess famous fliers -that might cover a thousand miles, and still -find their way home inside of a few days.</p> -<p>So Hugh strolled around looking at the -coops containing all sorts of pets both in fur -and feather, from cunning pet dogs to fowls -with pedigrees, and parrots that could say -dozens of strange phrases, or even sing in a -croaking fashion.</p> -<p>Finally Hugh approached the owner of the -shop, who was busily engaged with some work.</p> -<p>“Do you happen to have any Belgian hares, -Mr. Huggins?” he asked, in a casual way, as -though he had looked around and failed to -notice any in the various cages or runs.</p> -<p>“Why, that reminds me I forgot to put that -pair in the cage, I was so busy after the boy -left,” remarked the owner of the store, as he -hurried over to an old basket that had a cover -to it, and from which he drew a struggling -object with long ears, which he tossed into an -empty cage, to be presently followed by a second.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>Hugh’s last doubt was now laid. He had -recognized the Belgian hares by certain well-remembered -marks, as once the property of -Benjy Sherwood, who must have sacrificed -them for a particular object.</p> -<p>When Hugh remembered what he feared -that object might be he found himself shivering, -he was so sorry for poor Tom, whose -heart seemed so sore these days.</p> -<p>More than ever was Hugh bothered to know -just how he should go about gaining the confidence -of that high-strung lad. He had found -a way to gain the heart of such a scoffer and -doubter as Mr. Griffin, whom everybody -deemed beyond hope. Surely there must be -some method he could apply to reach Benjy’s -confidence, so that he might coax him to join -the scouts, and drop those suspicious companions.</p> -<p>“I’ll start right in to-morrow,” Hugh told -himself, vigorously, as he left the pet shop -and headed for home. “Until this other business -is settled and the coast cleared, I mustn’t -allow myself to be tempted to take up any side -issues. But if all goes well, and to-morrow -sees things turn our way, as I hope, then I -promise myself that I’ll turn to Tom’s trouble -and help him out.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<p>All the rest of that afternoon he could not -keep his thoughts away from what he had -learned about Benjy. It seemed as if the boy -must be sinking fast in the quicksands of the -treacherous stream into which he had so boldly -waded. Unless prompt measures were taken -for his rescue, Hugh feared Benjy would ere -long be so deeply involved that such a thing -as saving him must become three times as -difficult.</p> -<p>“I’ll drop over and see Tom to-night,” he -promised himself, as he sat awaiting the summons -to supper. “I don’t remember meeting -him all day, that is, to speak to. He’s beginning -to believe by this time that I’ve about -forgotten my promise. Poor Tom, I’m sorry -for him as can be, and only hope we can convince -Benjy he can get three times as much -real fun out of joining the scouts as keeping -company with that tough crowd.”</p> -<p>Hugh was not as sanguine as his words -might indicate. He knew what a grip habit -can take upon most boys, and how once they -yield to the allurements of vices it proves very -difficult for them to break away, or even acknowledge -they are on the wrong path.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>He had several half-formed plans, any one -of which he might be able to work upon, after -he had consulted with Tom. The latter was -one of the sturdiest of the scouts, and Hugh -particularly wanted him to be present on that -night watch. He partly feared Tom might -not feel inclined to come forth, and it was -partly with the intention of gaining his consent -that Hugh meant to drop around after supper -and see him.</p> -<p>It happened several things came up to delay -him. First a report was brought in by a -member of the troop that was of sufficient -importance to merit immediate attention. So -Hugh had to talk with Chief Wallis over the -wire. Then something else arose that took -another half-hour of his precious time.</p> -<p>When finally the decks were cleared it was -almost half-past seven, and the meeting had -been called for eight.</p> -<p>“I must hustle if I mean to have a talk with -Tom before we both go over to the meeting -room,” was what Hugh told himself, as he -snatched up his cap and made for the door.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>He had hardly gained the street before he -ran across two of the boys heading in the -direction of the church, where a room had -been placed at the disposal of the troop, together -with the free use of electric light, and -heat in winter time.</p> -<p>At the next corner, however, Hugh stopped -short.</p> -<p>“Sorry I can’t go all the way with you, -Chester and Dale, but I’ve got an errand over -at Tom Sherwood’s house. I’ll be with you -later on, and will fetch Tom with me. My -lips are sealed about the object of this special -meeting until then, so there’s no use trying to -coax me to speak. Those who are selected -will be told everything, and the rest put on -their honor not to say a word about anything -they suspect to-night.”</p> -<p>“Wow! you certainly have got us all guessing -good and hard, Hugh,” laughed Dale -Evans, who belonged to the Otter Patrol. “I -sure hope I’ll be one of those lucky chosen -ones, so I can know what all this mystery -means.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>“Oh! any old thing is liable to happen in -such exciting times as these,” said Chester -Brownell, who was one of the best athletes in -the troop, and would assuredly be picked out -by Hugh as one of the guards of the night; -though Chester, being in complete ignorance -concerning matters, could not know this.</p> -<p>Hugh hurried as best he could toward the -Sherwood home, which was some distance -away from the corner where he parted company -with the other scouts. There was little -chance that Tom might have already started -for the rendezvous, but somehow Hugh suspected -the other was feeling too anxious to -take any pleasure in going to a called meeting, -when he could just as well stay at home and -worry his mind with those questions that -would not down.</p> -<p>Tom himself came to the door in answer to -his knock, and seemed to be a little surprised -to find who was there. Hugh thought he -looked more gloomy than ever, though possibly -that had been a faint gleam of revived -hope that flittered athwart Tom’s long face at -seeing the scout master.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>“I thought you mightn’t come out to-night, -Tom,” said Hugh, as he pushed in without -even waiting for an invitation, “and so I made -up my mind to step over and be sure of you. -Fact is, Tom, there’s going to be something -planned of great importance to our cause. -I’ve depended on you to be one of six or eight -of the brawniest fellows in the troop to stand -by and help us win a great victory.”</p> -<p>Tom looked somewhat impressed, though he -shook his head sadly as he went on to say in -reply:</p> -<p>“Well, I had almost made up my mind, -Hugh, that I didn’t care to go out to-night. -Fact is, to tell you the truth, I’m so miserable -these days that I don’t seem to care whether -school keeps or not—lost my appetite, and -even think of resigning from the scouts.”</p> -<p>Hugh slapped him on the back in his cheery -fashion.</p> -<p>“Don’t let me hear you make that threat -again, Tom,” he said, in pretended severity. -“We need you too much every day to let you -go. Besides, your influence is going to count -for a heap after the town is cleared up. You -don’t know how much it means to have a scout -in good standing in a family. But what ails -you, Tom? Has anything new happened to -give you the blues again?”</p> -<p>“Yes,” came the reply, accompanied with -a deep sigh from the heart.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<h2 id="c11">CHAPTER XI. -<br /><span class="small">THE REVELATION.</span></h2> -<p>“Tell me what it is all about, Tom, won’t -you?” asked Hugh, as he followed the other -upstairs to his own room. Somehow, Tom -seemed to feel that they ought to be alone so -his mother might not overhear what passed -between them.</p> -<p>“I’ll just close the door, Hugh, before I say -anything,” remarked Tom, “though for that -matter there’s no danger Benjy will interrupt -us, because he’s gone off for the evening. This -time I’m glad to tell you it’s to a sociable -they’re having over at our church for the -young people.”</p> -<p>His manner when saying this showed that -Tom would be a happy fellow, indeed, if he -could only know that every night Benjy was -away from home, he was enjoying himself in -similar innocent amusements as on this particular -occasion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>“It’s this way, you see, Hugh,” he continued, -after finding a seat close to his visitor, -“for a little while now Benjy’s been acting -mighty decent, and I’ve come to let myself take -on more hope than I had the last time you and -I talked it over. He seems more like his old -self, and was even asking some questions -about the scouts, though up to now he’s never -seemed to care a thing about our organization, -you remember. But it was too good to -last, Hugh.”</p> -<p>Remembering what he had seen that afternoon, -with Benjy counting silver coins he had -received from the bird fancier, Hugh himself -was obliged to mentally confess that it looked -very much that way.</p> -<p>“Go on, please, Tom!” he urged when the -other paused.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>“Well, this is how it happened,” explained -the other, slowly, as though he hated to talk -about such a painful subject, and had to force -himself to take it up only because he knew it -was necessary he should enter into details. -“After supper this evening, just before Benjy -went out, he gave me a quick look when he -thought I wasn’t paying any attention, and -then slipped upstairs. I waited for a little -while, and then just couldn’t stand it any -longer, so I managed to leave the sitting room -and go up the back stairs.</p> -<p>“Keeping on my tiptoes, I moved along the -upper hall in the half shadows to where I -could watch the door of my room. It was -partly open, and there was a light inside, but -I couldn’t see Benjy at all, though I could hear -him moving about as if looking for something. -Then the light suddenly went out, and he came -out. Hugh, it made me as cold as ice when -I even heard him chuckling to himself as he -hurried to his own room, just as if he thought -he had played a good joke on me.”</p> -<p>“Of course he didn’t know you were so -close to him?” asked Hugh when Tom stopped -talking to swallow as though something -seemed to be choking him.</p> -<p>“No, and as soon as he disappeared in his -own room I slipped downstairs again, and took -up the book I had been reading. He went off -a few minutes afterwards, and called out -good-night to all as cheery as he used to in -the old days before he got going with that -tough set.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>“Did you come up here and look around to -find out what he had been doing?” asked the -scout master.</p> -<p>“I wanted to the worst kind, Hugh, but it -seemed as if I just couldn’t. I was almost -afraid to look for fear of making some more -discoveries that would upset me. Why, Hugh, -honest to goodness, I feel so weary this very -night you would think I was an old man, and -yet I’ll be sixteen to-morrow, you remember.”</p> -<p>“Well,” Hugh told him, “it’s always my -principle, when I’ve got a disagreeable task to -perform, to get at it right away. The longer -you wait, Tom, the worse it gets for you. The -only way is to shut your teeth hard together, -and pitch in.”</p> -<p>“I guess you’re right, Hugh—sure you must -be. I’ve been silly to hold back. No matter -what I learn, the truth can’t be any worse than -this terrible uncertainty that’s gripping me, -and making me shiver as if I had the ague -again.” He jumped from his seat as though -determined to carry his words into effect.</p> -<p>“I suppose the first thing I ought to look at -is my trunk, eh, Hugh?” he went on to say, -fumbling in a pocket for his keys.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>“Well, you know better than I do where -you keep your valuables,” said the other, trying -to appear merry, though somehow, Tom -did not respond to any appreciable extent. “I -see that since that other time I was up here -you’ve changed your way of leaving your -trunk unlocked.”</p> -<p>Tom flushed, and shook his head.</p> -<p>“Oh! I tell you it galled me to think I was -locking it against my own brother,” he said, -tremulously, “but then I remembered that it -is a sin to put temptation in the path of any -fellow whose weakness you know. Though -for that matter a common key would unlock -this trunk.”</p> -<p>He soon threw back the lid and bent over, -fumbling through the contents. Hugh stood -close by, watching him with more or less curiosity -and interest. He saw that Tom was evidently -in fear and trembling, as though constantly -dreading lest he make some unpleasant -discovery.</p> -<p>As he proceeded he seemed to regain a portion -of his former confidence.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>“Here’s my little savings bank all right, -Hugh, and no one could ever manage to get -anything out of that in the short time he was -in my room, even if the trunk could be opened. -So far as I can see, nothing has been taken out -of here.”</p> -<p>When he allowed the lid to drop again Tom -was looking more or less relieved. Evidently -his main concern had been in connection with -the money, he had in that little metal bank, for -if Benjy had meant to take anything it would -seem that ready cash would tempt him more -than all else.</p> -<p>“Oh! perhaps, Hugh, he didn’t come in here -for that,” he broke out with. “I remember -now that sometimes in the past when Benjy -was going out to a party he used to want to -fix his tie, and brush his hair before the mirror -in my room, for he said the light was better -here. It may have been that, Hugh, you -know.”</p> -<p>The scout master understood that poor Tom -was like a drowning man clutching at a straw -in hopes of keeping himself afloat. Hugh himself -might have been inclined to look at the -matter from much the same standpoint only -for that strange incident of the afternoon, -which he could not explain, try as he might, -save along very unpleasant lines.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>“Let’s hope so, Tom,” he hastened to say, -“though now you’re about it, in order to ease -your mind, and leave no stone unturned, I -should think you had better make a clean -sweep in here.”</p> -<p>“Do you mean search every drawer in my -chiffonier and dresser, Hugh?” demanded -Tom. “I can do that easily enough, but surely -he wouldn’t think to take any of my clothes. -I might tell if he’d mussed around in the -drawers searching for my savings bank, -though, because I keep everything just so; and -the clean shirt I expect to wear to-morrow -morning I placed on the top of the pile. That’s -my habit as a scout to have things kept as -neat as wax. Why, Hugh, my mother laughs -at me, and calls me a fussy old maid, you -know, all on account of those habits of thrift -and preparedness.”</p> -<p>He started in at the bureau drawers for -some reason or other, and as he opened each -one and ran his eye over the contents, Tom -continued to talk.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>“Seems like nothing has been bothered that -I can notice, Hugh. Here’s another drawer -containing some of my surveying instruments, -for, with Bud Morgan, I’m still interested -along those lines, though of late I haven’t -been out afield with him. I was a little afraid -one of these instruments might be gone. You -see, they’re worth considerable money, and -were made a present to me by an old uncle -who’s interested in my career. But, so far as I -can see, not a single thing is missing, Hugh.”</p> -<p>There was a positive air of relief in Tom’s -voice when he said this. Undoubtedly the -contents of that drawer of instruments had -been giving him more anxiety than he had confessed, -and he was glad that no unpleasant -discovery had developed.</p> -<p>“The rest will be just an apology of a -search, Hugh, because, you see, there’s absolutely -nothing worth taking besides these -things. Still, to satisfy my mind as you say, -perhaps I’d just better run through the -drawers of the chiffonier.”</p> -<p>He started at the top one. Hugh indolently -watched his progress downward, never -dreaming that there would come anything out -of the ordinary. Suddenly, as Tom started to -open the drawer that he said contained his -clean shirts, the scout master saw him give a -big start.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>“Why, what’s this?” Tom stammered, at the -same time taking out a long package carefully -tied up, and with something written on the -outside. Hugh also noticed that an envelope -was pinned on to the paper covering.</p> -<p>Somehow or other Hugh experienced a -thrill. It was as if he had a premonition that -something in the nature of a great surprise -was coming. Tom was staring hard at what -he saw written on the paper. Then he snatched -the note, and with trembling hands commenced -to get at the enclosure, while the scout -master strove to analyze his feelings from the -flitting expressions that chased each other -across his face.</p> -<p>He saw Tom read on, first with incredulity, -then sheer amazement, and finally a look of -supreme joy came upon his countenance that -spoke even louder than his words could the -revelation that had come to his faithful heart.</p> -<p>“Oh! Hugh! Hugh! would you believe it, -Benjy’s all right? He’s—he’s—oh! I’m so -happy I hardly know what to say! Read his -note, Hugh, please!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<h2 id="c12">CHAPTER XII. -<br /><span class="small">CLEAR SAILING AHEAD.</span></h2> -<p>Hugh took the missive from Tom’s hand, -and at the same time managed to see what was -written on the outside of the carefully done-up -package that the other had laid on the top of -the chiffonier.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“To Brother Tom: Wishing him many -happy returns of his birthday. From -Benjy!”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Even before Hugh read a single word in -the note he believed he had a pretty clear comprehension -as to the true state of affairs. His -heart, too, was bounding with sudden relief -over the happy outcome of the troublesome -matter, although it was not to be expected that, -being an outsider, Hugh could feel one-quarter -the joy that filled Tom’s soul.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>The letter ran as follows:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Dear Tom:</p> -<p>“Here’s the best thing I could think of -to get you. It’s a whole lot better than -your old racket ever was, which I am having -repaired for my own use. I’ve taken -a liking to tennis lately. And, Tom, you’ll -be glad to know I’ve thrown that whole -crowd overboard, and I mean to make an -application to join the scouts the first -chance I get. Perhaps you would like to -propose my name. Many happy returns -of the day, Tom. I’m beginning to realize -what a whole lot I owe you for keeping -everlastingly at me, even when I kept -turning you down. But I want to forget -all that now, for it can never happen again -with me.</p> -<p><span class="jr">“Your brother, Benjy.”</span></p> -</blockquote> -<p>Hugh folded up that note with a feeling of -delight he had seldom experienced before. -Then Benjy was turning out to be a splendid -sort of fellow! Hugh anticipated he might -prove to be that once he made up his mind to -break away from those evil connections that -were pulling him into the mire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>He must have been really hunting for the -old tennis racquet on that other occasion when -caught rummaging through Tom’s trunk. He -had appeared confused because he feared his -secret might be discovered. He had not only -taken every cent he had in his bank to pay for -the new racquet, but had actually sold his valuable -Belgian hares in order to make up the -amount he still owed at the sporting goods -store.</p> -<p>By now Tom had snatched up the package -and managed to get it undone. He uttered -cries of sincere admiration and delight when -he saw what an elegant tennis racquet was revealed. -His eyes were swimming with tears -as he looked at Hugh.</p> -<p>“Oh! Hugh!” he stammered, “will I ever be -able to forgive myself for thinking all those -bad things about him? I never felt so ashamed -in my life as I do now. But I’m going to make -amends for it, see if I don’t, Hugh. Look -what a dandy racquet he got me, will you? -Spent every cent he had saved for his Fourth.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>Hugh hardly knew whether he ought to relate -what he had discovered. The temptation -to do so overcame his scruples. Besides, now -that Benjy’s innocence had been assured, he -thought it too good to be hidden under a bushel -by silence.</p> -<p>“I’m going to tell you something, Tom,” he -went on to say, with a smile. “Queer, isn’t it, -that often the very things we fear for most -turn out to be for the very best?”</p> -<p>Tom immediately began to show new interest. -How his fine eyes sparkled, and upon his -face that worried look could no longer be seen.</p> -<p>“What! is there anything more good coming, -Hugh?” he cried, eagerly.</p> -<p>“You’ll have to judge for yourself,” replied -the scout master, after which he proceeded to -relate how he had seen Benjy coming out of the -bird store kept by Mr. Huggins, and counting -some silver, also how the discovery had filled -him with dismay.</p> -<p>“It was only natural it should, you understand, -Tom,” he went on to say in apology, -“after what we suspected. But I made up my -mind I would learn what he had been doing in -there.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<p>When Tom heard about the selling of -Benjy’s pet Belgian hares he lowered his head -suddenly as though he did not want his friend -to see that his eyes were swimming, for as a -rule, boys have a prejudice against appearing -weak. Hugh respected his brotherly emotion, -for he knew that it must be complete joy that -affected the other now, and not anxiety.</p> -<p>By the time Hugh finished speaking Tom -managed to get a fresh grip on himself, even -though his voice did tremble somewhat.</p> -<p>“Hugh, I’m bound to redeem those long-eared -little animals if I have to borrow the -money to do it with!” he exclaimed. “To think -of his making that great big sacrifice just for -me! I know how fond Benjy’s been of his -pets! Oh! Hugh, when you came in here little -did I dream what glorious news there was -going to be sprung on me! I was feeling away -down in the cellar, and now, well, I seem to be -on the roof looking up into the beautiful -heavens!”</p> -<p>That was not such a bad description of -Tom’s feelings, considering the fact that he -was only a matter-of-fact boy, and struggling -along under unusual emotion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>Hugh did not attempt to explain how possibly -it might be just as well to allow Benjy to -make his sacrifice. It gave the boy more or -less satisfaction, and would always be a link -connecting him with his brother. Later on -Hugh might urge upon Tom the wisdom of letting -matters stand just as they were.</p> -<p>He handled the racquet and praised its good -qualities.</p> -<p>“It was pretty smart of the boy hiding it in -the drawer containing your shirts,” Hugh -went on to say, laughing; “especially as he -figured that to-morrow was your regular morning -for putting on a clean one, and you would -be sure to discover the package the first thing -on your birthday.”</p> -<p>“Wasn’t it, though?” said Tom, chuckling. -“That shows, Tom, that Benjy would make a -good scout, because he has the sense of observation -well developed to start with.”</p> -<p>“Just what it does, Tom, and some day before -long I hope to see your brother wearing -the honored khaki. It’s a proud family that can -boast of <i>two</i> scouts, let me tell you. And once -Benjy joins—no danger of his ever going back. -A world will open up to his eyes that he never -dreamed existed. Old things will have passed -away and everything become new, once he has -put on the magic spectacles of scoutcraft. I’ve -been told that by a dozen fellows, and I know -what a change it makes in most boys.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>Tom began to wrap the precious racquet -carefully up again in the paper that had been -around it when he made his startling discovery. -How tenderly he handled the present given by -his brother. Hugh even thought that all other -gifts showered on Tom in times past must sink -into utter insignificance when compared with -this special one; for it represented, in his eyes, -the dissolution of those serious doubts that had -of late been weighing down his spirits until his -heart felt like lead.</p> -<p>“I’m meaning to put it back just where I -found it, you see, Hugh,” he explained, “and -make things look as if no one had touched it. -Luckily the envelope wasn’t sealed, so I didn’t -destroy the same. You may wonder why I do -that, and I’ll tell you. I want to open it again -in the morning just as if I had found it for the -first time. Then there’s another reason, you -see, Hugh; Benjy might get home to-night -ahead of me, and finding that I hadn’t shown -up yet, take a notion to step in here just to have -a last peep and a pat at his package. I -wouldn’t like him to know I had been investigating -ahead of time, you understand, Hugh.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>The scout master could read between the -lines. He realized that not for the world -would repentant Tom want Benjy to suspect -he had been looking all through his room in the -fear and expectation of making a distressing -discovery that would implicate the younger -brother. Nor could Hugh blame the other for -wanting to conceal such a humiliating thing as -this.</p> -<p>Accordingly the packet was carefully put on -top of the clean shirts in the drawer. To all -appearances it lay just as Benjy had placed it, -and if he did peep in the receptacle, there was -nothing to tell him that the well-tied bundle -had been disturbed.</p> -<p>“There, that’s a big load off my shoulders,” -said Tom, with a look of relief. “Now, Hugh, -I’m ready to go with you, and do anything you -ask of me. Why, I feel that light-hearted I -could almost fly,” and he flapped his arms as -though they were wings, an action that caused -Hugh to laugh aloud.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>“Well, just hold your horses a bit, Tom,” he -advised. “I have need of your services to-night, -and it would be a shame to have you take -a flight. Suppose you get your cap and come -along with me to the meeting.”</p> -<p>“There must be something serious doing, -Hugh, if all this mystery counts for anything.”</p> -<p>“There certainly is, Tom. You’ll learn about -it as soon as I’ve picked out the scouts I want -to serve with me. They’re all going to be -husky fellows like yourself.”</p> -<p>“You’ve got me worked up to top-notch -speed, Hugh, with what you say,” said Tom, -scurrying around, and looking for his cap, -which he found behind a chair where it had -evidently fallen when he tossed it aside earlier -in the evening. “But no matter what it all -means I’m with you to the last lick. I feel as -if I could whip my weight in wildcats. Lead -the way, and every scout you want will follow -you, Hugh.”</p> -<p>And so the twain passed out and headed for -the rendezvous, where they were likely to find -full twenty-five fellows in khaki impatiently -awaiting the coming of their leader, and an explanation -of this unusual “called” meeting.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<h2 id="c13">CHAPTER XIII. -<br /><span class="small">PUTTING THE CLAMPS ON.</span></h2> -<p>Hugh had figured it all out, and decided that -the first thing he would do after the business -part of the meeting had been carried through, -would be to pick the fellows who were to help -guard the jewelry establishment with some of -the regular police force, so as to surprise the -thieves, if they should come as expected.</p> -<p>He believed it might be unwise to tell the -others anything about the plan of campaign. -This was not because he had reason to suspect -the loyalty of a single scout, but boys will talk -as well as girls, and unwittingly a fellow might -let something escape him that, through devious -channels, would be carried to the ears of those -who were concerned in the contemplated raid -on the store.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>This plan was carried out to the letter. -Those whose names were not on the list of -lucky ones felt a little aggrieved, but at the -same time they knew it would do no good to -enter a complaint. Hugh had promised they -were to be given full particulars as soon as -possible. He assured them also that it was a -move in the interests of the grand project that -engaged their labors—cleaning up Oakvale.</p> -<p>Once he found himself left with seven stout -chums, Hugh proceeded to gather them around -him, and explained what was in the air. He -had a most attentive audience, and it would -have been amusing to any one interested in -boys to watch the expressions of wonder and -growing delight that gradually crept over their -faces as they drank in his words.</p> -<p>Say what you will, the seed of adventure has -always taken root deep down in the hearts of -every healthy boy. The mere fact that they -were scouts, and had promised to observe the -rules of the organization whose badge they so -proudly wore, did not mean that they must -stifle this feeling, which, if directed along the -right channels, does a boy ten times as much -good as harm.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<p>Dozens of eager questions poured in upon -Hugh as soon as he had managed to tell them -about the dastardly plot that had been hatched -up by those desperate men who realized they -were getting near the end of their rope, and -that the energy of the scouts was primarily responsible -for the whole thing.</p> -<p>Hugh acted with considerable patience and -answered as best he might. He realized that -under similar conditions he, too, might have -felt inclined to ask for further information, because -it was a tremendous subject, truth to tell, -and difficult to grapple with in the beginning.</p> -<p>“We’ll make our way by a round-about route -to a place appointed,” he went on to explain, -“and there we’ll find Chief Wallis waiting for -us. He will have three of his men along with -him, all that can be spared from their night -duties. Between us we’ll probably fix it so -that a complete cordon will be thrown around -the jewelry store they’ve picked out for robbery.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>How they hung upon his every word! Hugh -would know just how to place them in order -that they might be able to throw themselves -upon the night prowlers after the latter had -actually started to break into the store. Hugh -had explained that they must not be premature -in unmasking their batteries, or the thieves -might find a loophole by means of which they -could escape from the meshes of the law.</p> -<p>When Hugh decided that it was time they -started to effect a junction with the regular -police; he warned his followers for the last -time how to act.</p> -<p>“If it comes to actual fighting,” he said, impressively, -“remember, you must leave <i>that</i> to -the officers, who are armed to bear the brunt of -the attack. We can throw ourselves on any -fellow, if the chance offers, and hold him down. -But all that will be arranged exactly after we -meet the other guards.”</p> -<p>He took them along an unfrequented street -and by making several detours, the little group -finally found the threatened store looming up -close by.</p> -<p>Hugh gave a prearranged signal and received -a soft reply.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>“The Chief is over there in that dense shadow,” -he whispered to the rest. “We must slip -along and join him. First, Tom, here, can go, -and drop down when he finds himself in the -dark spot. Then Alec will follow, and in regular -order Buck, Ralph, Jack, Bud and Sam are -to imitate him. I’ll fetch up the rear. Make a -move, Tom.”</p> -<p>They were all on their mettle, and besides, -had the reputation of being clever scouts, well -versed in most of the secrets of woodcraft. -Consequently the maneuver was carried out -without a single hitch. Before many minutes -passed Hugh, having arrived on the spot, -found his chums crouching there close by the -Chief.</p> -<p>In low whispers the head of the Oakvale -police force now explained their plan of campaign. -It was not known whether any hostile -eye kept watch over the threatened store or not, -but they must always believe that such might -be the case, and act accordingly.</p> -<p>That principle was also in line with a scout’s -education, and pleased the boys exceedingly. -They had been taught never to underestimate -an enemy, and that it were far better to waste -time in taking precautions than have over-confidence -ruin the best-laid plan.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>One of the police and three of the scouts -were to remain outside the building, and their -part in the enterprise was easily guessed. If -the thieves were like most of their class they -would very likely leave one of their number -without to keep watch and give a signal should -any sudden peril loom up. It was to secure -that sentry that the force detailed to stay in -the open had been marked off.</p> -<p>Hugh with the rest and the Chief meant to -enter the store. He had visited it often and -ought to be well acquainted with its every detail. -Even at that Hugh never left a thing to -chance when he could help it. That very afternoon, -after he had left Ralph and the others, -the boy had made some sort of excuse to drop -in at Ainslee’s establishment. With his scout -ability he had been able to make a mental map, -and had noted every particular of the store, so -that he believed he could, if necessary, get -around in the dark without colliding with -showcases or pillars or counters.</p> -<p>Chief Wallis must have found a way to communicate -with the proprietor of the store, for -he certainly had a key that opened the side -door, through which numerous shadowy figures -now silently slipped.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>Here again Hugh proved of considerable -value, for it was he who really directed the -others where to hide so that they might divide -their force. The Chief had a pocket electric -light along with him, but he hesitated to make -use of it, lest some one passing and repassing -the front of the store, and looking in, take -notice of the strange glow, and communicate -the alarm to his fellows.</p> -<p>Talking was absolutely forbidden among the -scouts. They could only indicate the tremendous -interest they were taking in the proceedings -by numerous sly digs in the ribs, after the -manner of lively boys unduly repressed. None -of these were given with such vigor as to elicit -a gasp or groan.</p> -<p>How still it seemed after they had been -posted in their hiding places. Some of the -scouts must have thought they could actually -hear the beating of their own hearts, such was -the stress under which they labored.</p> -<p>Luckily Hugh had used discretion when -making his selections. He had not chosen them -merely for brawn alone, but for an ability to -keep a good grip on their spirits, and bravely -face exciting conditions that might well try the -nerves of experienced officers.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<p>An hour passed. It did not slip by, as most -of the waiting scouts would have readily -agreed. In fact, that was one of the longest -hours they ever knew, and as ten boomed from -the church clock, they could hardly believe their -ears, for surely, they figured, it must be that a -longer time had elapsed.</p> -<p>Hugh allowed them a chance to change their -positions when cramped, but insisted that it -be done with due regard to caution. They -could not tell when suspicious ears would be -listening for any sound to indicate trouble. -When the thieves did come they would do so—silently, -and without any trumpet to announce -their mission.</p> -<p>The second hour was worse by far than the -first. How their lower limbs did seem to want -to “go to sleep,” as the boys termed it when -circulation of blood ceased, and a species of -numbness resulted. Various were the remedies -resorted to in order to overcome this unpleasant -feeling. When eleven struck some of the -crouching figures moved uneasily and came as -near groaning as they dared.</p> -<p>Still, it could not be long now before something -was likely to happen, Hugh whispered to -Tom, with orders to pass it along the line, and -then become mute again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<p>Hugh himself was wondering whether or -not all these preparations were doomed to disappointment. -What if the grand scheme had -fallen through, or the intended robbery been -postponed because of good and sufficient reasons? -He felt that he would be grievously disappointed, -for somehow he had come to set -much store on being able to strike this telling -blow against the worst of the offenders of decency -in Oakvale.</p> -<p>He had an impression that this would mark -the final effort to break down the new order of -things; that if the robbery of the jewelry establishment, -and the subsequent placing of the -crime at the door of certain innocent parties, -could be balked in its perpetration, the last barrier -would have yielded, and after that the reform -people would have a clean order of -things.</p> -<p>It must have been pretty near the midnight -hour when a door was heard to close. That -little piece of carelessness on the part of the -thieves was likely to cost them dear in the end, -since it gave ample warning of their coming.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<p>One soft hiss from Hugh and every scout -flattened himself as low as he could, so that -discovery might not follow in case those who -had entered the store produced any sort of -light.</p> -<p>They were not experts in this profession, -Hugh guessed, for they took certain chances -of being discovered while at work. Nevertheless, -they depended on the vigilance of their -outpost stationed on the street, as well as the -reputation acquired by the town night officers -for shirking their work when on beat.</p> -<p>When it was seen that the two men had actually -commenced operations on the big safe, as -though meaning to break into it, and have “the -game as well as the name” now that they had -gone to all this trouble, the concealed boys -could hardly keep from leaping up and throwing -themselves upon the robbers. Only the -mastery which Hugh possessed over them prevented -such a break; for it had become second -nature now with them to wait for orders before -making a move.</p> -<p>Apparently, there was no need of waiting -further before showing their hand. Those -outside could take warning when they heard a -sudden sound of confusion within, and pounce -upon the “outlook.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>The Chief had reserved to himself the giving -of the signal, and every one, man and boy -alike, knew what his particular part in the -surprise attack was to be. If everything went -right it would be like the mechanical action of -clockwork machinery. Hugh hoped no cog in -the wheel would miss connections, because that -might interfere with the ultimate success of -the whole scheme.</p> -<p>The two men were bending low when there -came a sharp exclamation. They would have -started up like a flash, but even then their -action was just a trifle too late, for something -heavy dropped upon them, and flattened both -out upon the floor.</p> -<p>It was really the body of the Chief that had -accomplished this coup. Before either one of -the astonished rascals could squirm out from -under his ponderous form the scouts became -as busy as beavers. Hugh flashed the little -light handed over to him by the Chief, and kept -it playing full upon the focussing point where -all their interest was centred. Consequently -Tom, Sam and the rest of the fellows had no -trouble in distributing themselves along the -length of the recumbent figures of the disturbed -thieves.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>Hugh felt sure that, as Billy Worth would -have said, it “was all over but the shouting,” -when he saw how well pinned down the desperate -rascals found themselves. He advanced -closer so as to be in a position to carry out any -wishes of the astute police head, such as slipping -the waiting handcuffs over the wrists of -the prisoners, and rendering them harmless, so -that they might be stood up and looked over.</p> -<p>Several loud outcries from beyond the door -announced that those who had been given the -task of trapping the third member of the audacious -set had taken a hint just as soon as they -heard the first sound within the store. They -soon came into the building pushing a man before -them, who was lined up with the other -pair.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>Three more disgusted-looking fellows had -likely never before been paraded in front of the -scouts. Just as Hugh and Ralph had suspected, -they turned out to be Gaffney, the former -owner of the poolroom and gymnasium -that had been abolished by orders of council; -Slimmons, once the athletic trainer in the public -schools before he took so heavily to drink -that he had to be let go; and that third man, a -stranger whom Hugh believed must be secretly -interested in seeing Oakvale’s reform movement -slump, perhaps because he had some connection -with the interests of those who had -been defying the law.</p> -<p>Caught in the act, it was likely to go hard -with the three. Gaffney did tell his mates not -to open their mouths, but to leave it to him to -get them clear. Hugh believed they were leaning -on a broken reed if they entertained any -hope that political influence was going to keep -the outraged law from taking its course. That -day had gone for Oakvale, and the degrading -elements which such men as Gaffney represented, -would have to emigrate to other quarters -if they hoped to be able to continue to ply -their evil vocations.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>The trio of prisoners were marched through -the now deserted streets to the lockup, where -Chief Wallis would see to it that there was no -chance for a getaway. The seven scouts, who -accompanied Hugh and the little group of officers -surrounding the prisoners, would never -be able to forget the exciting experiences of -that night. It would have to go down upon the -annals of scout achievements, and serve to add -one more glorious event to the string of exploits -carried to a successful conclusion by the -boys of the Oakvale Troop.</p> -<p>Before Hugh dismissed his followers he took -occasion to thank them warmly for having -acquitted themselves so splendidly. Tom Sherwood, -in particular, squeezed his hand with -peculiar emphasis at parting, as he said in a -happy tone:</p> -<p>“This has been a white letter night for me, -Hugh, and one I’ll never, never forget. You -know why, Hugh, and the first thing to-morrow -morning I’m going to buy those Belgian -hares back if they are still in the market. So -good night, and thank you a thousand times, -Hugh. It’s bound to be a happy birthday for -me, I tell you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<h2 id="c14">CHAPTER XIV. -<br /><span class="small">FOR HOME PROTECTION.</span></h2> -<p>On the following morning, when the news -was circulated through Oakvale that some of -the disorderly elements had attempted to make -a raid on the Ainslee jewelry establishment, -great was the consternation of the good people -of the town. Then when it was added that -the supposed robbery was only a part of a -miserable scheme to try and bring the organization -of Boy Scouts into disrepute, the indignation -of the citizens knew no bounds.</p> -<p>“It is the culminating stroke of wickedness,” -Mrs. Marsh declared as she spoke at a hurriedly -arranged meeting of the best ladies in -the town, “and proves that we did not commence -this uplift movement a day too soon! -Heaven only knows what might not have happened -if not for those dear boys making up -their minds that conditions had to change in -Oakvale. I am free to confess that all our efforts -to arouse the citizens had been marked -by little success until Hugh and his comrades -took it upon themselves to start the ball rolling.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>“Well,” said Mr. Dobbs, the minister, who -chanced to be present so as to congratulate the -Ladies’ League on the splendid success that -was meeting their efforts, “it has often seemed -to me that when Providence wants to overwhelm -bad men in the toils, first of all their -common sense is taken away so that they commit -foolish acts that bring about their own -downfall. By great good luck we have managed -to turn the tables on these schemers, and -they are hoist by their own petard.”</p> -<p>“And after what has happened,” added Mrs. -Beverly earnestly, “there should not be a single -dissenting citizen who cares a shred about his -or her reputation. Bold, indeed, must the man -or woman be who would dare side with such -desperate rascals as Gaffney and Slimmons. -The town is well rid of an encumbrance, and -let us all be thankful in our hearts on this wonderful -day that the sun can look down on our -beautiful little city and not shine on a single -evil spot. Our boys and girls can go to and -fro from this time on without that constant -anxiety mothers have been feeling. I wish to -state that much of this sense of security, I believe, -we owe to the sterling efforts of Hugh -Hardin and his sturdy comrades of Oakvale -Troop. I love every one of them, and shall -never be weary of sounding their praises, for -they are boys of whom any town might well be -proud.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>It is human nature to want to be on the winning -side. Hugh believed there would be comparatively -little trouble ahead for himself and -comrades. The rapidity with which the men -who had been taken to the lockup were brought -to trial and punished for their misdeeds was -going to deter others from attempting opposition.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>In the midst of all this excitement, together -with so much cause for congratulation, Hugh -did not forget Tom Sherwood, and what had -happened to brighten his life. The next time -he met Tom he found his face radiant with -the joy of living. Any one could see without -being much of a reader of human nature that -Tom was thoroughly happy. Many were the -conjectures that his friends gave as to the reason -for the boy’s sudden return to his old self. -Tom kept his own counsel, and only told those -who persisted in asking questions that a little -trouble he had had on his mind had come out -all right.</p> -<p>Hugh would keep the secret, of that Tom -felt assured, and no one need ever know what -terrible fears he had been entertaining on account -of Benjy.</p> -<p>“Hugh,” he went on to say, as he clapped his -hand on the shoulder of the scout master, with -a movement that stood for deep affection, “it’s -all come out right, and I’m the happiest fellow -in Oakvale, let me tell you. Benjy and I understand -each other now, and I’ll see to it that -after this never a cloud is going to come between -us. Hugh, he’s going to drop over tonight -to see you.”</p> -<p>“I hope he doesn’t know that I felt worried -about him the same way you did, Tom?” remarked -Hugh.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<p>“Oh! I was too ashamed of my fears to ever -tell him about <i>that</i>,” replied the other, quickly. -“Benjy has been explaining to me what a fight -he had with himself before he could break off -connections with that crowd. I think a dream -he had one night had a heap to do with his -making a decision. He wouldn’t explain just -what it was, only shuddered as he spoke of it. -You can govern yourself as you think best, -Hugh, when you’re talking with him.”</p> -<p>“He’ll never learn a single thing from me -about your worrying, Tom. Although you -haven’t said so, I imagine he’s coming to make -some inquiries about joining the scouts?”</p> -<p>“Yes, that’s what he’s got in mind now, -Hugh. He’s found himself interested in a lot -of things we’ve been doing the last year or so. -Somehow, they seem to look different from -what they used to. Benjy has waked up, you -see, and once a fellow gets to feel an interest -in scout doings he’s bound to go on wanting to -know more. When the fever begins to burn -in his veins he never finds any rest until he -throws his lot in with the wearers of the khaki, -and starts to learn things for himself.”</p> -<p>“Tell him I expect to be home to-night after -supper,” said the scout master, “and will be -glad to have him drop over. We need a few -more good fellows to fill out the vacancies in -several of the patrols. Lieutenant Denmead, -you understand, may be home the end of this -week, and assume his old position of head of -the troop.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>“He’ll be surprised to learn what’s been -going on here during his absence, believe me,” -observed Tom, grinning.</p> -<p>“Oh! I keep in touch with him, and I’ve written -an inkling of what we’ve been doing,” -Hugh admitted. “All the same he’ll be pleased -to find Oakvale so changed. The ladies say it -must never go back again to where it was -before. We scouts are of the same mind. -Homes are going to be protected against those -whose evil influence is all for pulling them -down. That’s going to be the slogan of the -scouts from now on. Tom, every new member -we take in means one more timber in the structure -we’re building on this safe foundation. -Work all you can to spread the gospel of scout -activities. There are dozens of fellows still -around town who ought to be given an opportunity -to learn the great benefits that go with -scout membership.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>When Benjy came around that same evening, -Hugh was primed for him. He went -about his task with diplomacy, knowing that -some boys can be led but never driven. So successfully -did Hugh accomplish his labors that -before Tom Sherwood’s younger brother left -the house he was fairly wild to have his name -brought before the nominating committee at -the very next meeting.</p> -<p>“I feel that I’ve already lost a mighty fine -time by my silly opposition to the scouts,” -Benjy frankly admitted. “I was all wrong, -and I guess it was only my natural pig-headedness -that kept me so. But I’ve seen a great -light, Hugh. They say it’s better late than -never. I want to enjoy some of those good -times you fellows have. Besides, I expect I’ve -got something to wipe out, because of late I’ve -given my brother Tom more or less worry.”</p> -<p>When a scout goes about recruiting in the -happy way Hugh did there is hardly a limit to -his capacity for bringing new members into a -troop. Those boys of Oakvale who wore the -khaki had been highly favored by fortune in -that opportunities for doing big things had ever -knocked at their door.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<p>Those readers who have had the pleasure of -enjoying many of the previous books in this -series will remember with satisfaction how -they followed the fortunes of Hugh and his -chums at the time they set out to improve the -sanitary conditions of the community in which -they lived.</p> -<p>Then there was the time of the great flood -in a neighbouring town where several of the -boys chanced to be visiting, during which they -proved that they were made of the right kind -of stuff, and won the admiration of the people -of the inundated district.</p> -<p>The temptation is strong to mention several -other instances where scout pluck and -endurance won the day against heavy odds. -For example, there was the time when the -lads were camping in the vicinity of a great -plant where a strike broke out, and rioting resulted. -It may be remembered how they took -hold and showed what they knew of “first aid -to the injured,” winning the approbation of -the Red Cross doctor and nurses when later on -they came upon the scene.</p> -<p>During the County Fair the scouts also -played a part that made them many new -friends, acting as messengers and guides to -the exhibitors and visitors, and even running -a successful field hospital in the fair grounds.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<p>To continue a little further it may also be -remembered how they were unexpectedly -called upon to fight the forest fires that threatened -to ruin many farmers and others who had -their homes within reach of the flames. Those -boys who read that story will not soon forget -how Hugh and his mates acted their part -against heavy odds, and how splendidly they -convinced a doubter that scout activities always -made a boy more manly, as well as rendered -him a far better citizen, of which any -community might well be proud.</p> -<p>Then there was the time some of the Oakvale -boys in khaki met with a remarkable adventure -in connection with the motion picture -players, which has been narrated at length in -a recent volume.</p> -<p>Last, but far from least, while mentioning -some of these interesting and instructive facts, -it would hardly be fair to omit the occasion, -not so far in the past, when some of those -same fellows earned the right to have their -names written on the Scouts’ Roll of Honor, -as well as managed to receive the valuable -medal which is presented to those members in -good standing who save human life at the risk -of their own. If you have not already enjoyed -reading that story lose no time in securing -it, as you will be well repaid for your -time and money.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<p>But passing over these never-to-be-forgotten -happenings of the past we must once more -come back to Hugh and his chums at the time -they labored so zealously to create a new moral -atmosphere in the home town where they lived, -and of which they were naturally very fond.</p> -<p>As the spring days went on the difficulties -that had at first beset the reform wave in Oakvale -gradually died down, until it seemed as -though things were going along like clockwork. -Men, women and children took a keen interest -in helping the matter along. There was a -healthy rivalry between certain cliques of boys -with the idea of winning the highest praise for -keeping their section of the town free from all -nuisances, and so long as this spirit lived, the -community was bound to profit.</p> -<p>Once the citizens began to enjoy full freedom -from repulsive and unpleasant customs, -they found the change so agreeable that no one -had the temerity to sigh for the old régime; at -least, if he did, he wisely kept his longings to -himself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>Even the railroad company, that had up to -that time absolutely refused to do anything -that would necessitate the expenditure of -money, seemed to have been shamed by the action -of the scouts in looking after those dangerous -spots, where the lives of the smaller -school children were placed in danger.</p> -<p>First, a gate guarded by a flagman was -placed at the point of most danger. That was -an entering wedge, and as the citizens sent in -a letter of thanks for the favor the railroad -people awoke to the fact that the Oakvale station -was a pretty dingy-looking affair after all. -To the surprise and delight of the population -word was received that it had been unanimously -decided at the last meeting of the Directors -to build the finest station on the whole -line, of course outside the big cities, at Oakvale.</p> -<p>One portion of that communication made -some fellows in Oakvale feel pretty well satisfied, -for it was hung up where every one could -read it who wished. This ran after the following -fashion, and few there were in Oakvale -who did not know the wording by heart, most -of them were so proud of the distinction:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>“We desire to state for the benefit of those -who may have doubted the substantial benefit -of a certain movement that has been sweeping -over the land, that one of the chief reasons -why Oakvale is selected for the honor of this -new and beautiful station is the fact that her -citizens have in their midst an organization -that has done wonders in improving the living -conditions in their town. We refer to the local -scout troop; and wish to say that having -after a full investigation learned how loyally -these boys have striven to do their duty, and -served as best they knew how to uplift the -community in which they lived, it is our earnest -hope that other towns and villages along -our line may take pattern of these boys of -Oakvale, and hasten to emulate their splendid -example.”</p> -<p>That letter was deemed so precious a recommendation -that Hugh afterwards obtained the -right to have it suitably framed. And to this -day it hangs in the meeting-room of the Oakvale -Scouts, where any member of the troop -will esteem it a privilege to show it to you if -you take the trouble to drop around.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<p>Every time Hugh saw Tom on the tennis -court swinging that splendid new racquet, he -told himself how unsafe it was for any one to -judge wholly from appearances, and that he -must consider the delightful outcome of that -little affair as a never-to-be-forgotten lesson. -Circumstantial evidence has hung many a man -who was afterward found to be innocent. -Hugh shivered to remember how Tom, yes, -and he himself, had been condemning Benjy -as they might a criminal when, in reality, the -other was only working out a noble scheme to -surprise his brother.</p> -<p>One thing must not be forgotten. Hugh—believing -that Tom, in his spirit of brotherly -love, might hasten to buy back those Belgian -hares for Benjy, and thus in a measure weaken -the spirit of sacrifice, that had made the other -sell his pets—went around to the bird store -early on the next morning, and purchased the -pair of long-eared animals. He planned to -keep them for a while, and then let Tom have -them to give to Benjy on his next birthday, for -by that time the other would have obtained all -the good possible from his impulsive action.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>Hugh would have liked very well to have -told the story for the sake of the great good it -might do several other fellows whom he knew. -This was not to be considered for a minute, -he had too great a consideration for Tom and -his brother to think of causing them embarrassment, -as most likely they must have experienced -had their story become common property.</p> -<p>Hugh had already begun to figure on the -summer campaign, knowing that the boys -would naturally expect to busy themselves with -something useful as well as entertaining. In -the end he was able to lay out a plan that he -believed would meet with unanimous approval. -Since it is about time for me to end this story, -there is no need of going into particulars. -When the time comes to again write of the -Oakvale Scouts’ activities we shall expect to -enter at length into the new schemes that -would naturally enlist their attention. At such -date we hope to again meet Hugh and his gallant -chums of the Wolf, Otter, Hawk, Fox and -Owl Patrols. Until then let it be adieu, but -not farewell.</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">THE END.</span></p> -<h2>Footnotes</h2> -<div class="fnblock"><div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_1" href="#fr_1">[1]</a>See “The Boy Scouts in the Great Flood.” -</div> -</div> -<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul><li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li></ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts for Home Protection, by -Robert Shaler - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS FOR HOME PROTECTION *** - -***** This file should be named 50192-h.htm or 50192-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/1/9/50192/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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