The Banner Boy Scouts Read online

  CHAPTER II

  WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BOY SCOUT

  "Where are the stone throwers?" shouted the merry member of the CarberryTwins, as he danced up and down, eagerly trying to discover some movingobject in the surrounding darkness.

  "Gone like smoke, I guess," laughed Paul, who had really expectedsomething of this sort, judging from past experiences with these sametormentors.

  "Look there, I can see something moving yonder. Get ready to give avolley!" cried Nuthin', pointing as he spoke.

  "H-h-hold on, f-f-fellows, d-d-don't fire yet! It's only our old d-d-duncow!" gasped Bluff, excitedly; as he waved his arms up and down after themanner of a cheer captain at a college football game.

  "They've lit out, that's what," grumbled William, who felt as thoughcheated.

  "All right, then. It's just as well, for a fight would be a mighty poorway of preparing to join the scout movement. You'll learn what I meanlater on when you hear the twelve points of the law that every fellowmust subscribe to," observed Paul, seriously.

  "What d'ye mean, Paul?" demanded Bobolink, quickly.

  "Yes, tell us right now what the twelve rules are," said William.

  "I know, for I read all about them a few days ago," remarked Wallace,readily.

  "All right, then, suppose you call them off. What does a scout promise tobe if allowed to wear the uniform, Wallace?" asked the leader.

  "To be trustworthy, loyal, helpful to others, friendly, courteous, kind,obedient to his superiors, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."

  "Why, it doesn't say a single word about fighting!" ejaculated William.

  "Because a scout must never fight save as a last resort, and then only tosave some weak one from punishment. He must be brave to face danger, tostop a runaway horse; or jump in and keep another from drowning. Do youget on to the meaning of this movement, fellows?" asked Paul, eagerly.The more he read about it the greater became his desire to have a hand inorganizing a Stanhope troop that might compete with those of Aldine andManchester, two rival towns, both on the opposite side of the BushkillRiver, the former a few miles up-stream, and the latter the same distancedown.

  "We do, and I tell you I like it better and better the more I hear ofit," said Jack, earnestly. "Why, I just had an idea it meant being juniorsoldiers, and drilling so as to be ready to invade Canada, or repel theyellow peril when the little Japs swarmed across the Pacific. Count mein, Paul."

  "If I can pass the examination I'm going with you, sure," observedWilliam.

  "All right, but if they take you in just remember that you've got to quityour playing tricks on everybody, William," declared the other CarberryTwin.

  "Listen to him, will you? He's feeling hard on me just because dad gavehim a touch of the cane last night, thinking it was me. As if I was toblame for looking like my brother," the other said, plaintively, thoughchuckling at the same time.

  "You know you fixed it so he'd pounce on me. I'm always in hot waterbecause you must have your fun. 'Taint fair, and I'd have to be an angelnot to kick. Oh! I hope you get to be a scout, because then I'll havesome peace," declared Wallace; but all the others knew very well what adeep and abiding affection there really lay between the Carberry Twins.

  "Let's go home now. No use staying any longer out here, with Ted Slavinand his cronies hanging around, ready to bombard us again. Besides, Iguess Paul wants to wait till he gets his book before telling us any moreabout the game."

  "Right you are, Nuthin'. I only wanted to see how the land lay, and ifyou took to the idea. I'm satisfied already that it's going to make ahit, if we can get a few more fellows to join in with us," said Paul.

  "I know one good recruit I can drum up--Tom Bates," spoke up Albert.

  "And a good addition to the seven now here. That would make our firstpatrol," echoed the leader, quickly.

  "How about inviting some of the Slavin crowd to join us?" asked Bobolink.

  "Well, perhaps we might pick a couple there; but I think you'll have tobe getting up early in the morning to manage it," replied Paul,meaningly.

  "What's that?" asked William.

  "Just this. Ted Slavin has heard our plans. You know that he never likesto see anybody else pull down the plums. What will he do right away,fellows?"

  "Go and see his shadow, Ward Kenwood, and get him to put up the money tostart the ball rolling. My word for it that inside of a week there'll betwo rival Boy Scout troops in little old Stanhope," remarked JackStormways.

  "Say, that would be great, if the other crowd only acted on the square,"ventured William. "We could have all sorts of contests between us. ButI know Ted Slavin too well to believe he'll ever subscribe to the twelverules Wallace mentioned. Why, he'd have to be made all over again to dothat."

  "Look here, Paul, if a fellow has to live up to the rules, however couldthe members of Ted's company be taken into a troop of Boy Scouts?" askedBobolink, who always sought information.

  "I don't believe they ever could. Still, there's no law in the land toprevent any lot of boys from forming a patrol, and calling themselvesscouts. That's my way of looking at it," was the answer the leader gave.

  The lads were now on their way home, the lantern having been secured, andextinguished, lest it invite another bombardment on the part of theirtormentors, doubtless still hovering somewhere nearby.

  No further attack came, however, for which some of them were possiblysorry, particularly William and Bluff, who delighted in strenuous actionat all times.

  On the border of the town the seven separated into three groups, thetwins going off arm in arm, Bluff, Bobolink and A. Cypher forminganother; while Paul and his particular chum made up the third.

  "Well," said Paul, as they headed for the house of his comrade, whichchanced to come before his own, "what do you think of my scheme, Jack?"

  "Immense, that's what. I'm only astonished that nobody else took up withthe idea before. Poor old Stanhope seems to be away behind the times,Paul."

  "Well, I don't know. We've had lots going on this summer to take up ourtime; and then most of us were away during part of the vacation. Thereare other towns just as slow to catch on," returned the other, loyal tothe place of his birth.

  "But now that the ball has been started rolling, just watch how fast itgathers force. I know how you go at these things. And of all the fellowsI ever met, you are the one best fitted to lead in this thing, if Iunderstand the game right. Why, it's just going to fit in with the thingsyou've preached and practiced for years."

  "That's why it appealed so strongly to me, after I really understood whatthe many duties of a scout were supposed to be. But what's the matterwith you, Jack?"

  "Eh? With me? Oh, nothing much, Paul."

  But the other knew better, for he had noticed a frown come over Jack'susually smiling countenance more than once that evening, when the otherthought he was not observed; and from this Paul felt positive his chumwas worrying about something.

  "Of course, if you think it best not to take me in on it, I'm the lastone to bother you, old chap," he went on, when Jack interrupted him.

  "It wasn't that, Paul, not in the least. To tell the truth I've beenthinking it over, and just about made up my mind that I must tell someone, or I'd never sleep easy. And of all my friends you're the oneclosest to me. Yes, I'm going to confess that there is something thatpuzzles me, and fills me with alarm."

  "Say, is it as bad as that, Jack? But how is it you don't want to go toyour own folks? You've got one of the best dads I ever knew, and yourmother, well, few are in the same class with her."

  "That's just it, Paul. I'd hate to have either of them know anythingabout this trouble."

  Paul swung his friend around so that he could see into his face; for theywere just passing a street lamp at the time.

  "Oh! I can look you in the eyes, old fellow. It isn't anythingdisgraceful I've been doing, not at all. But you see," and again thatfrown darkened Jack's brow as unpleasant things presented themselvesbefore his mind's eye, "it's a
family affair, I'm afraid, and must bekept quiet."

  "Now you _have_ got me to guessing good and hard. Suppose you tell mewhat it's all about. I hope your brother, Karl--" and there Paul stopped,for by instinct he seemed to feel that he had guessed the truth the firstshot.

  Jack had given a huge sigh that seemed to well up from his heart.

  "Yes, it's about Karl, only I do hope that it will prove a false alarm,because I just can't believe he'd do such a rotten thing," the other wenton, slowly.

  "But he's only a little fellow after all, Jack?"

  "That's so, but old enough to know better. You shall hear it all, andthen perhaps you'll advise me what to do," went on Paul's chum, witha vein of relief in his voice, as though he felt better already, afterdeciding to share his trouble with another.

  "That's right, and you know that it goes no further, Jack."

  "Karl got into some mischief a week ago, and to punish him father cut offhis allowance of spending money for a whole month. Now, Karl belongs to aboys' club, and I heard that at their last meeting the other day he paidup his dues, and seemed to have plenty of money. The question that isbothering me is, where did he get it?"

  "Oh! is that all? Why, you forget that your brother is a bright chap; andI imagine you'll find he's been earning it some way or other; or perhapshis mother gave it to him. But see here, there's more back of this thanyou've told me?" declared Paul, suddenly.

  "There is," replied his chum. "Listen now, and for goodness sake I hopeyou can cheer me up some, by explaining a mystery that's bothering me.It's about those old coins Uncle Reuben sent to me two years ago. Thereare some twenty-one in the lot. They're copper coins, you know and Idon't suppose worth much. I've always kept them in a little open cedarbox on my table up in the den; you've spoken about them more than once."

  "Sure, I remember all about them; but you don't mean to say--" and therePaul stopped, almost afraid to voice the thought that flashed before hismind.

  "Yes, a bunch of them have gone in a mighty queer way. Why this morningthere were just fourteen left; but to tell the truth I was afraid to goup there at supper time when I came in after our last game of ball on thelot, to see if any more had disappeared."

  "Say it plainly, Jack. Some one is taking your old coins, sent by youruncle, and you're just afraid it's Karl, tempted to get some money inthat way. But where could he sell them, do you think?"

  "There's old Doc. Thomes, who keeps stamps and curios for sale. I've seensome coins in his window often. He would know the value of these, andperhaps be willing to pay something for them. Oh! it's just awful even tosuspect my brother of being guilty of such a mean thing. I hate myselffor allowing it, and have made up my mind just to hide the rest away, andnever say a word."

  "No, I wouldn't do that, Paul. In the first place it isn't fair to Karl."

  "Fair? What can you mean? I wouldn't ever say a word to him, never!"

  "That's just it, but you would _think_ it always; and if he is innocent,why you see what a shame that would be. No, you ought to learn the truth,even though determined to keep your mouth shut afterward. In justice toKarl, you _must_ know!"

  "I believe you are right, old fellow. And I'm going to be guided by whatyou say. Come in with me, won't you?" pleaded Jack.

  "Yes," answered Paul, promptly. "On condition that you take me up to yourden, where we can talk without being disturbed."

  "You have an object in saying that. I believe you want to see foryourself if any more of my coins have disappeared?" declared the other.

  "I acknowledge the corn, for that is just what I wanted to learn, Jack."

  "I suppose the sooner I take the bull by the horns, the quicker we canlearn the truth; so come on in," and taking his chum by the arm Jack ledthe way boldly up to the door of the Stormways' house.

  They managed to pass upstairs to the third floor without attracting anyattention, the family being gathered around a table in the living room,reading.

  No sooner had the lamp been lighted, after the door was closed, than Paulstepped over to the table desk which he knew so well.

  Just as Jack had said, there was a little cedar box standing in plainview, and the coins it held attracted his eye.

  Slowly and deliberately he proceeded to count them, while his chumawaited the result with abated breath, and his eyes turned in anotherdirection.

  "Well?" said Jack, hoarsely, when he saw that the other had dropped allof the coins back, one by one.

  "You said there were fourteen left this morning, didn't you, Jack?"

  "Yes, and now?"

  "I find just eight here, that's all!" came the answer that caused thewretched brother of young Karl Stormways to shiver and sigh dismally.