CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIN BOX
"Give the assembly call, Number Three!"
Presently, in answer to Paul's order, the clear, sweet notes of a buglesounded through the big gymnasium under the church. More than a score oflads of all sizes began to pass in from the outside, where they had beenchattering like so many magpies; for it was now Summer, with vacation athand.
After telling the bugler to sound the call for the meeting, Paul, whooften had charge in place of the regular scoutmaster, Mr. Gordon,watched the coming of the boys through the open basement door.
"Everybody on hand to-night, I guess, Paul," observed his chum Jack, ashe laid his hand on the shoulder of the leader of the Red Fox patrol.
Thus far there were three patrols in Stanhope troop. As the first toorganize had chosen to be known as the Red Fox, it pleased the otherssimply to call their patrols by the names of Gray and Black Fox.
In one corner of the room reposed a splendid banner of silk, upon whichhad been sewn a wonderfully life-like representation of a fox's headdone in colors. Strangely enough, to some it seemed red, while otherswere just as fully of the opinion that it could be called gray or black,so cleverly had the silken threads been arranged.
This banner was the one offered by the old Quaker, Mr. Westervelt, inthe preceding Autumn, to be given to the troop that excelled in variousscout tactics and knowledge. The contest had been confined to the threetroops along the Bushkill River; and while both Aldine and Manchestercarried off some honors, the boys of Stanhope had counted as many asboth combined.
When the banner was presented to the winners their totem had beeningeniously fashioned upon its shimmering folds. Every member ofStanhope troop felt a thrill of pardonable pride whenever his eyes fellupon the proof of their efficiency.
"What makes you say that, Jack?" asked the young scout leader,smilingly, when he heard his chum comment on the full attendance.
"Oh! well," laughed the other, "you know the boys understand that we'regoing to discuss where we expect to spend our vacation this year. Everyfellow is just wild to hear what the committee has settled on."
"I sent a communication I received from our absent scoutmaster over towhere the committee sat the other night," remarked Paul. "He recommendeda certain place for a hike and camp; but I'm just as much in the dark asthe rest about what was decided. William does a lot of mysteriouswinking every time anybody asks him, and only says, 'wait'."
Paul did not seem to be at all concerned. He evidently had fullconfidence in the wisdom of the committee that had been appointed byhimself at the last meeting.
"Why, yes," Jack went on, "and Jud Elderkin, as the scout leader of theGray Foxes, tried to get Andy Flinn to leak a little; but it was no use.Andy would joke him, and tell all sorts of funny stories about what we_might_ do; but it was just joshing. I'm a bit curious myself to know."
"Have you heard anything more about Mr. Clausin?" asked Paul, seriously.
"I guess nobody has found out much about what was in that tin box,"replied his chum. "Even Joe says he only knows there were valuablepapers of some sort, which his father is broken-hearted over losing. Youknow Mr. Clausin has been just about sick ever since it happened."
"Yes," Paul went on, "and three times now I've heard that the chief ofpolice has been out there to confer with him. That makes me think Joe'sfather must have some sort of idea about who robbed him."
"Oh! well, the fellow will never be caught if it depends on ChiefBillings," declared Jack, somewhat derisively; "I've known him to kickup a big row more than a few times, after something strange happened;but when did he get his man? Tell me that, will you, Paul?"
"Still, the Chief is a good police head. He can look mighty fierce, andgenerally scares little boys into being good," laughed the scout leader.
"But some others I know snap their fingers at him," Jack went on; "forinstance, you understand as well as I do, that Ted Slavin and his crowdride rough-shod over the police force of Stanhope. They have beenthreatened with all sorts of horrible punishments; but did you ever knowof one of that bunch to be haled up before the justice?"
"Well, of course you know why," remarked Paul, drily, making a grimaceat the same time to indicate his disgust.
"Sure," responded Jack, without the least hesitation; "Ward Kenwood, TedSlavin's crony, stands pat with the Chief. His dad happens to be therichest man in Stanhope, and something of a politician. Ward threatensto get the Chief bounced from his job if he makes too much row, and youknow it, Paul. The result is that there's a whole lot of bluster, andthreatening; after which things settle down just as they were, andnobody is pulled in. It makes me tired."
"Oh! well," laughed the scout leader, "some fine day there will be arebellion in Stanhope. Then perhaps we can put in a police head who willdo his duty, no matter if the offender happens to be the son of a richbanker, or of a railroad track-tender."
"Shucks! that day will be a long time coming," said Jack, shaking hishead in the negative, as if to emphasize his disbelief. "But do youknow, I'm all worked up about that little tin box. There's somethingconnected with it that Mr. Clausin hasn't told everybody. What couldthose papers have been; and why was he looking at them that night? Didthe unknown robber come to the feed-store just on purpose to get hold ofthem? Was he especially interested in what that tin box held?"
Paul looked at his chum in surprise.
"You certainly have the fever pretty bad, old fellow," he remarked, "andto tell you the truth, I've been thinking along the same line myself. Ifhalf a chance offered I'd like to be the one fortunate enough to recoverthat box for Mr. Clausin. But of course there isn't the least bit ofhope that way."
Paul could not lift the curtain of the future just then, and see whatstrange things were in store for himself and his chum. Had he been givenonly a glimpse of that future he would have been deeply thrilled.
"The boys are all assembled, Paul," observed Jack, presently.
Accordingly, the scout leader of the first patrol, and actingscoutmaster in the absence of Mr. Gordon, found that he had duties toperform. Paul, in spite of his wishes, had been elected president of thelocal council, Jud being the vice-president, Bluff treasurer and NatSmith secretary.
The meeting was especially called for a certain purpose, and everyfellow knew that the committee appointed to recommend what the programmefor the vacation campaign should be, was about to make its report.
Consequently, other business lagged, and there was a buzz of excitementwhen, with the decks cleared, the chairman of the meeting called uponthe spokesman of that committee to stand up.
William, the humorous member of the Carberry twins, immediately bouncederect; and it happened that he stood just under the framed chartergranted by the National Committee to Stanhope Troop. Every eye was gluedupon his face, for it had been a matter of considerable speculationamong the scouts as to where they might "hike" for the Summer vacation,so as to have the most fun.
William was the exact image of his brother Wallace, though theirdispositions could hardly have been more unlike. The former was brimmingover with a high sense of humor, and dearly loved to play all manner ofpractical jokes. His greatest delight it seemed, was to pose as thesteady-going Wallace, and puzzle people who looked to the other Carberrytwin as an example of what a studious lad should be.
Still, William as a rule never reached the point of cruelty in hisjokes; and in this respect he differed from Ted Slavin, who seldomcounted the cost when carrying out some horse-play that had taken hisfancy.
The spokesman of the committee looked around at the many eager faces,and then bowed gravely. William could assume the airs of a serene judgewhen the humor seized him. And yet in his natural condition he was themost rollicking fellow in the troop, being somewhat addicted to presentday slang, just as Bobolink and some others were.
"Fellow members of the Banner Boy Scouts," he began, when a roar arose."Cut that all out, William!"
"Yes, give us the dope straight. Where
are we going to hike?"
"Hit it up, old war-horse! We want the facts, and we want 'em bad. Getdown to business, and whisper it!"
William smiled as these and many other cries greeted him. It pleased himto keep his comrades on the anxious-seat a little longer; but whenthreatening gestures were beginning to prove that the patience of theassembled scouts had about reached its limit, he was wise enough tosurrender.
So he held up his hand, with the little finger crossed by the thumb--thetrue scout's salute. Instantly the tumult ceased.
"Gentlemen," the chairman of the selected three went on, "this committeehas decided, after much powwowing, and looking into all sorts ofpropositions, that the country to the north offers the best field for arecord hike, and a camp in the wilderness; where the scouts can discoverjust how much they have learned this past Winter of woods lore. So it'sback to the tall timber for us next week!"
"Hear! hear!"
"Wow! that sounds good to me all right!"
"But just what tall timber, Mr. Chairman? Tell us that, won't you?"
Once more William made the signal for silence, and every scout becamemute. At least they had learned the value of obedience, and that is oneof the cardinal virtues in a Boy Scout's ritual.
"This committee recommends that we hike away up to RattlesnakeMountain," William went on to say, "and explore the country thereabouts,which has not been visited by a boy of Stanhope, in this presentgeneration, at least. That is all for me; and now I'll skidoo!" withwhich the chairman dropped down into his chair again with becomingmodesty.
Then arose a great uproar. Cheers rang out in hearty boyish manner, asthough the committee had struck a popular fancy when it decided upon theneighborhood of Rattlesnake Mountain for the Summer camp.
This elevation could be seen from the town on the Bushkill. It had agrim look even on the clearest days; and there were so many stories toldabout the dangers to be encountered in that enchanted region that boysusually talked in whispers about a prospective trip of explorationthere.
Thus far it was not on record that any of the Stanhope lads had everwandered that far afield, every expedition having given up before theslopes of the lofty mountain were reached.
There were claims set forth by some fellows of Manchester, to the effectthat they had climbed half way up to the crest, and met with manythrilling adventures among strange caves which they found aboundingthere. But Stanhope boys always smiled, and looked very knowing whenthey heard about this trip. They believed it originated mainly in theimaginations of those rivals from the nearby town.
It can be seen, therefore, with what elation the announcement of Williamwas received. All felt that there was a glorious future beckoning themon. Boys delight in adventure; and surely the mysterious mountain thathad so long been unknown ground to them, offered great possibilities.
Every one seemed to have some particular way of expressing hissatisfaction.
"The greatest thing ever!" exclaimed Albert Cypher, who by reason of hisname, was known among his comrades as Nuthin.
"Yes, all to the good! Back to the woods for me, and old RattlesnakeMountain to be the stamping ground for the Banner Boy Scouts!" chirpedBobolink, making his voice seem to come from Wallace Carberry, who wasnever known to indulge in the least bit of slang. Bobolink was tryinghard to be a ventriloquist, and occasionally he succeeded in a way tobring roars of laughter from the crowd.
"W-w-whoop her up!" chanted Bluff Shipley, whose impediment of speechoften gave him much trouble, especially when he was at all excited.
One by one the assembled scouts were expressing their individualopinions concerning the proposed pilgrimage, when Paul put it up to themeeting to ratify.
A storm of "ayes" greeted the move that this report of the committee beaccepted; and the "hike" to Rattlesnake Mountain be made the basis oftheir Summer campaign.
Hardly had the roar of voices that followed this acceptance died awaythan there was a sudden and startling interruption to the proceedings. Asentinel, who, in accordance with military tactics, had been postedoutside the church, came hurrying in, and whispered in the ear of thechairman, who immediately arose.
"Comrades," said Paul, in a low but tense voice, "our sentry reportsthat he has found a window in the back of the church basement open, andlooking in discovered moving figures. Our meeting has been spied upon bythose who want to learn our secrets."
"It's sure that Slavin bunch, fellows! Come on, and let's get our hookson the sneaks before they fade away!" shouted Bobolink, jumping to hisfeet excitedly.