CHAPTER 2 The Cubs on Trial
No sooner were the Cubs well beyond the hearing of Saul Dobbs than theybroke into excited argument over whether or not they should havesubmitted to his threats.
"Why didn't we just tell him to go jump in the river?" Chips demandedfuriously. "Just who does he think he is, anyhow?"
"He happens to be Mr. Silverton's foreman," Dan pointed out quietly."Also, he was armed."
"He was only bluffing," Red volunteered his opinion. "I say, why don't wego back there and tell him off?"
Mr. Hatfield paused on the trail. "Aren't you fellows losing sight of animportant fact?" he inquired.
"That we were trespassers?" Dan supplied.
"Exactly. If Mr. Silverton had given us permission to have visited thefarm, then we'd have been within our rights."
"It was my fault," Mr. Holloway took the blame. "I should have telephonedSilverton. Instead, I took it for granted we'd see him at the farm andthat he'd give his okay."
"Considering that he's the foreman, I suppose Dobbs had a right to orderus off the property," Brad said. "But it was the way he did it that gotunder my skin."
"The point is, do we have to take it like meek little lambs?" Reddemanded. "I'm for having it out with him."
"Here too," chimed in Mack. "Where can we find Mr. Silverton?"
"That's what I don't know," admitted the Cub leader. "We might be able toget some information in the village."
"Let's go there now," Midge proposed. "Can't we buy something at one ofthe stores as an excuse for asking a few questions?"
The proposal appealed to the other Cubs and to Mr. Hatfield and Midge'sfather as well. Accordingly, they hiked the half mile to the village ofCamden across the river from Webster City where nearly all of the boyslived.
Having purchased supplies several times before in the town, the Cubscreated little interest as they tramped into Barker's General Store.
"What'll it be this time?" the genial storekeeper inquired after he hadwaited on his other customers.
Noticing that the fruit looked appetizing, Mr. Hatfield said he wouldtake two dozen of the fresh pears.
"Flour? Beef? Bacon?"
"Not today. We're well supplied. Matter of fact, we crossed the rivermore for the excursion than anything else. This rain has kept us ratherclosely confined."
"Sure, the weather has been against you," the storekeeper agreed as heweighed the fruit. "We're due for a turn though."
Skillfully, Mr. Hatfield directed the conversation along the line hewished it to take.
"The Cubs were saying this morning they'd like to visit Silverton'spheasant farm. By the way, who is in charge there?"
"A fellow by the name of Dobbs--Saul Dobbs. He looks after the place forMr. Silverton. A rather disagreeable customer, I'm told."
"I take it he doesn't like visitors at the farm?"
"He drives 'em off," the storekeeper said, handing Mr. Hatfield hischange.
"On orders from Mr. Silverton?"
"That I wouldn't know. But Silverton seems like a fairly decent sort ofchap. Friendly and approachable."
"He doesn't live at the pheasant farm?"
"No, in Webster City. Has an office in the Gardner Building there. Onnice weekends, he drives out to the pheasant farm to look it over, butmostly he lets Dobbs run the place."
"I see," said the Cub leader, pocketing his change. "Well, good morning,sir."
Outside the general store, the Cubs gathered in a group to discuss theirnext move.
"You heard how it stacks up," said Mr. Hatfield. "If we want to visit thefarm, we'll have to see Mr. Silverton. That means a trip into WebsterCity. Is it worth the effort?"
"I wasn't so crazy to see the place at first," said Dan. "But now I am,if only to prove to Saul Dobbs that he can't order us around."
"Same here," agreed Midge promptly.
Red proposed that the Cubs descend upon Mr. Silverton in a delegation.
"That hardly seems wise," replied Mr. Hatfield. "I think someone shouldstay in camp."
"Why not appoint the ones who are to go?" suggested his son Fred.
"Me for one!" urged Chips instantly. "I can give Mr. Silverton an earfulabout that workman of his!"
The Cub leader smiled. "That's what I'm afraid you might do, Chips. Thismission requires diplomacy and tact--you know, smooth talk and control.I'll delegate Brad and Dan."
"How'll we get there?" Dan asked, pleased to have been selected.
"I'll take you in my car," offered Midge's father.
The Cubs hiked back to the river and rowed to their camp. Although therain had ceased, the river, they noted, still was slowly rising.
Mr. Holloway immediately backed his car from the garage, ready for thetrip to Webster City.
"Good luck with Mr. Silverton," Sam Hatfield said as Brad and Dan climbedin beside Mr. Holloway. "Just give him the facts."
"And don't be afraid to talk up!" Chips added.
As the car pulled away, Dan stole a quick glance at Brad. Always he hadadmired the dark-haired older boy who seemed so sure of himself, yetnever was conceited. An outstanding athlete for his age, Brad would enterWebster City High School in the fall.
Dan, nearly ten, and fast growing into a bean pole, was considered oldbeyond his years. Popular with nearly everyone, the sandy-haired,blue-eyed sixth grader entered enthusiastically into all the Den and Packmeetings.
At the Gardner Building twenty minutes later, Mr. Holloway parked the carby a curb meter, and accompanied the boys to Mr. Silverton's fourth floorsuite of offices. A receptionist inquired as to their wishes.
"We'd like to see Mr. Silverton, please," Mr. Holloway requested.
The girl's reply was discouraging. "Mr. Silverton is in an importantconference," she explained. "He may be detained an hour. Isn't theresomething I can do?"
Mr. Holloway explained that his business was with Mr. Silvertonpersonally and turned to Brad and Dan. "How about it fellows?" heinquired. "I'd like to wait, but I have an important business matter tolook after."
"The Cubs will be disappointed if we go back without even seeing Mr.Silverton," said Brad. "Can't Dan and I wait for him?"
"I'm sure you two can present the matter without me," Mr. Holloway said,greatly relieved. "I'll try to get back here in about an hour to pick youup. If Mr. Silverton is able to see you before I return, give him thefacts."
"Yes, sir," grinned Brad. "We'll do our best."
After the Den Dad had gone, Brad and Dan sat down on a bench to wait.They studied a wall calendar and listened to the chatter of a ticker tapestock machine in an adjoining office. Time dragged slowly.
"Mr. Holloway will be coming for us soon," Dan said, ill at ease. "I hopeMr. Silverton doesn't forget we're here."
Just then, the receptionist came out of the inner office. "Mr. Silvertonwill see you now," she announced.
Dan and Brad followed the young woman through a door with frosted glassinto a large comfortable room with thick carpet.
A stout, slightly bald man of nervous manner sat behind a massivemahogany desk.
"Yes?" he inquired, his tone implying that he expected the pair to statethe purpose of their call as briefly as possible. And then, noticingtheir uniforms, he inquired: "Boy Scouts?"
"Brad is," Dan corrected politely. "I'm a Cub, Wolf rank."
"A Cub, eh?" Mr. Silverton repeated. "Is that something new in Scouting?"
"It's a program somewhat similar to scouting only for younger boys andthe whole family--Mothers and Dads," explained Brad.
"You have an organization motto? All that sort of thing?"
"Oh, yes, sir," informed Dan eagerly. "Our motto is: 'Do your best.'Every Bobcat who joins the organization also promises to be Square and toobey the Law of the Cub Pack."
"Interesting. Most interesting," said the stock broker. He doodledfigures on a scratch pad. "But what brings you here, may I inquire?"
"The Cubs would like to ask per
mission to visit your pheasant farm," Bradexplained.
Mr. Silverton frowned at the request. "My foreman, Saul Dobbs, informs methat recently some of the pheasants have been stolen," he saiddiscouragingly. "Furthermore, boys have been sneaking in and scaring thebirds."
"Not the Cubs, sir," said Dan earnestly.
"Perhaps not, but my pheasants represent a considerable investment. Ican't risk losing choice birds. I'm sorry, but if Dobbs told you to stayout, I'm afraid I'll have to back him up."
Dan and Brad exchanged a startled glance. Instantly it dawned upon themthat the foreman already had prejudiced his employer against the Cubs.
"Dobbs told you about our visit this morning?" Dan asked.
"Yes, he telephoned to report you were there. He said you were quiteinsistent upon seeing the farm."
"But, sir, that wasn't exactly true," Brad denied. "We were all walkingalong the trail, when up pops Mr. Dobbs with his revolver. He told us toleave, so we did, without any argument. Mr. Hatfield and Midge's fatherwere along and they'll back me up in the statement."
"You say Dobbs threatened you with a revolver?" Mr. Silverton asked,displeased.
"He didn't exactly threaten us," Dan answered truthfully. "He just puthis hand on the holster to let us know he meant business."
"We wouldn't have turned-tail only we're law abiding and we knew we hadno right on the property without your consent," added Brad.
The straightforward presentation seemed to impress the stock broker, forafter a moment's thought, he asked: "How many boys in your troop?"
"Six in the den, not counting myself," Brad said. "All the boys arestrictly reliable. It's one of the rules of the Cubs that we strive togive good will."
"Cubs believe in being honorable," Dan added, observing that Mr.Silverton was wavering. "You can depend on us not to damage anything onyour farm."
"And why are you so set upon visiting the place?"
"Your preserve has some of the best woodland in the county," said Brad.
"Pheasants are incidental? You wouldn't by chance be wanting to set SaulDobbs in his place?"
Dan and Brad looked at each other and grinned. "I guess that does enterinto it, sir," Brad said truthfully. "He was rather unpleasant and itburned us up."
"Can't say I blame you for your feelings. At times, Dobbs is inclined tobecome somewhat officious. When I gave him permission to carry arevolver, I didn't expect him to use it to frighten boys."
"We weren't exactly alarmed," Brad said. "It was more annoying thananything else."
"You boys impress me favorably," Mr. Silverton continued. "Dobbs, Ithink, gave me a wrong slant on the situation. Now, suppose I shouldagree to allow the Cubs to visit the farm. Will you promise to follow therules?"
"We will, sir," declared Dan eagerly. "I'll guarantee it."
"Then take a look at this map," said the sportsman, whipping a small onefrom the top desk drawer. "All the trails on my property are marked. Now,you may visit the barns, the pheasant runs and the central area near theforeman's house. But this breeding ground, where we keep the Germainpeacock pheasant, is restricted."
Mr. Silverton etched in a small section along the river and highway. "Youagree to stay out of this area?" he asked again.
"We've already given our promise," said Brad.
"Good. Then take this map along," Mr. Silverton said, thrusting it intoDan's hand. "Good afternoon, boys."
Fingering the map, Dan remained facing the sportsman. "Please, sir--"
"Yes, what is it now?"
"May we have a paper, or some authorization? Saul Dobbs may not bewilling to take our word--"
"Yes, to be sure," Mr. Silverton said hurriedly. He scribbled a briefnote on a memorandum sheet which bore his printed name.
"This will take care of it," he said. "You should have no trouble fromnow on with Dobbs."
"I'm sure we won't," said Dan, pocketing the order.
"But remember," Mr. Silverton warned as the boys turned to leave, "you'reon trial. If any of the Cubs disobey instructions, your privileges willend. Now get along with you. I have work to do."