CHAPTER 18 A JOLT FOR PAT
Dan and Brad both were excited as the realization came to them that atleast they had a means of establishing the innocence of the Cubs!
Until now, though they had been morally certain that Pat Oswald and hisgang were the real culprits, they had known of no way to prove it.
But a witness miraculously had appeared! The mysterious "Mr. Smith"could, if he chose, speak the words which would clear Den 2. Would heagree to tell what he knew and had seen from the belfry?
"Will you come with us?" Dan repeated his plea. "Please, will you helpthe Cubs?"
"I'd like to, son," the man replied.
"Then come with us now," Brad urged. "We'll take you directly to thechurch trustees."
"Let's not be too hasty," Mr. Smith said. "If I tell what I know, I'llhave to explain how I happened to be roosting here. That could beawkward."
"You want to help the Cubs, don't you?" Dan pleaded. "Isn't it only rightthat the truth should be known?"
"The truth will come out," Mr. Smith promised the boys. "It's a matter oftiming though. I have to think of my own interests. I'm here in WebsterCity for a special purpose. If I should tell now that I've been living inthis belfry--well, it might jeopardize everything I'm after."
"Then you won't go with us to the trustees?" Brad asked, bitterlydisappointed.
"Let's not put it that way, son. I want to help. I will too. I'm prettysure I can identify the boys who damaged this church. The point is, I'dlike to postpone the dramatic announcement for a day or two. Wouldn'tthat be okay?"
"I suppose so," Brad admitted reluctantly.
"I'm getting out of this place right away," the stranger continued. "Assoon as I can pick up mail at the Post Office, I'll see a certain party.Then, it may be I'll be in a position to help you. Or there may be a fewdays delay."
Brad and Dan could not make up their minds that they were not being"stalled." Mr. Smith seemed sincere, yet how could they be sure he merelywas not trying to fool them. Once they parted from him, they might neversee him again.
"How will we know where to find you?" Dan asked dubiously. "We can't comeback here or we'll be accused of breaking in."
"I can't stay here any longer either," the stranger declared. "Tell youwhat! When is your next basketball game?"
"Friday night," Brad informed him.
"I'll see you at the church gymnasium then. That will give me a few daysto wind up my business here. Also, I'll be on hand to identify that boyyou call Pat."
"Say, that might work out all right!" Dan exclaimed. "But how do we knowyou'll keep your promise?"
"You'll have to accept my word."
Brad and Dan knew that they had no choice. They could not force thestranger to accompany them to see the church trustees. If they reportedthe man to police, undoubtedly he would disappear before they couldreturn to his hide-out.
"I'll not fail you," the man promised, smiling as if he had read theirthoughts. "Just one favor. You're to tell no one that you have seen mehere."
"Not even our Cub leader?" Dan asked.
"No one."
The two boys hesitated, reluctant to give such a binding promise.
"I'll agree to come to the game Friday night," Mr. Smith went on, "butonly upon condition that you keep my secret until then. How about it?"
"I guess so," Brad said unwillingly. Dan too nodded his head.
"Cub's honor?"
"Cub's honor," Dan repeated. "We won't tell anyone about seeing youhere."
"I know I can trust you boys," the stranger said. He had gathered up afew belongings, and was stuffing them into a bag. "Don't look sobewildered. Everything will be explained in good time."
"There's one thing I'd like to know right now," Brad said.
"Shoot!"
"Well, maybe you can clear up the mystery of how the ice cream freezerswere delivered to the Cubs. Did you see Pat Oswald and his bunch takethem from the basement here?"
Mr. Smith busied himself polishing his scuffed shoes with an old rag. Hekept smiling to himself, apparently enjoying his own secret.
"You know all about those freezers!" Brad accused.
"Tell us how they happened to be delivered to us!" Dan requested.
"Well, it was like this," Mr. Smith said. "I overheard the Cubs talkingabout needing a couple of freezers. Maybe I shouldn't have done it, but Idug 'em out of the basement here, and left them at the church."
"You certainly put us in a spot," Brad informed him. "We had a swell timemaking the ice cream, but Terry Treuhaft came looking for those freezers.He would have made a fearful fuss, only as it happened, we didn't have'em."
"Someone--we suspect Pat and his bunch--had swiped them," Dan explained,grinning at the recollection.
Now that the incident was half-way forgotten, his resentment at Patgradually was fading.
"I shouldn't have done it," Mr. Smith admitted. "But no one was usingthose freezers. The Cubs needed 'em. So I thought I'd do them a friendlyturn."
"You're certainly all for the Cubs," Dan said, studying the strangercuriously. "Is it because of Chub?"
"Well, I took a shine to the youngster."
Mr. Smith had finished picking up his toilet articles. Now that his hairwas combed, his clothing brushed, he looked entirely presentable.
"You know," Dan said abruptly, "you look a lot like Chub. Sameeyes--hair."
"Say, that's right!" agreed Brad, startled by Dan's observation. "Maybeyou're a relative!"
"Maybe I am," the man admitted. "Maybe I'm a close relative."
"Not his father?" Dan guessed.
"Yes, his father," the stranger repeated, almost defiantly. "Anythingwrong with it? You think he'd be ashamed if he knew the truth?"
"Why, no," Dan stammered. "Why should he be ashamed of you?"
"Because I've neglected him all these years," the man burst out. "BecauseI'm living in this belfry instead of in a decent house or hotel, the wayother folks do. Because I have no job! Because if folks knew I was Chub'sfather they'd say I was no good."
"Not if it weren't true," Dan answered quietly. "Chub's terriblylonesome. He needs a Dad."
"One that he could be proud of," the man answered in a bitter voice."It's better that I go away and never tell him the truth!"
"Would that be fair to Chub?" Brad asked.
"It might be the kindest thing I could do. He has a good home here. I'vechecked into that."
"Chub has a good home," Dan agreed, "but he isn't happy. He's alwaysmooning around, not talking much, but sort of wrapped in his ownthoughts. He needs a Dad."
"Your name isn't Smith," Brad took up the discussion. "Is it Weldon, thesame as Chub's?"
"That's right. He doesn't know who I am though."
Chub's father remained silent for some minutes. Then, apparently havingmade up his mind to tell the Cubs everything about himself, he said:
"Things are coming to a head fast. I expect to pull out of Webster Cityin a few days at the latest. I haven't decided yet whether or not to tellChub that I'm his father. Can I depend upon you boys to keep thesecret--at least for the time being?"
"Of course," Brad said at once.
"We wouldn't tell Chub unless you gave us permission," Dan added. "Thatwouldn't be square."
"My real name is Bruce Weldon," the man disclosed. "I'll not go too muchinto the past, except to say that some years ago through no fault of myown, I lost touch with Chub."
"How?" Brad inquired.
"Well, in a divorce proceeding, his custody was awarded to my wife. Chubwas only a baby then and needed a mother to look after him. I sent moneyregularly for his care. That is, I did until I was wounded while servingat the front. For months, I lay in a hospital, but through a mix-up ofrecords, I was reported missing in action."
"Then what happened?" Dan asked, deeply interested in the story.
"Eventually, I recovered and started checking up. I learned then that mywife had died, and tha
t Chub had been placed in the home of one of herfriends.
"When I inquired there, I discovered that the arrangement hadn't workedout well, and that he had been shifted elsewhere. To make a long storyshort, it took me nearly six months to trace Chub to Webster City.Meanwhile, I'd spent most of my money, and I couldn't take a job, becauseI didn't want to settle down until I found Chub."
"Now that you've found him, why not tell him who you are?" Bradsuggested. "Wouldn't that straighten everything?"
"It's not that simple," Mr. Weldon replied. "I've made a contact withJuvenile Court authorities, but the director isn't satisfied it would befor Chub's best interests to let me have him again. You see, it hinges onmy ability to support him. I know I can get a good job and keep it too,but the court demands proof."
"Have you talked to Mr. Greene?" Dan questioned. "He's real nice andmight help you."
"I know Mr. Greene very well."
"I guess he knows about Chub too," Dan said, recalling the visit of theCubs to Juvenile Court. "Gee, it was sort of funny! I actually thoughtChub might have been in trouble with the court, because everyone thereseemed to be acquainted with him. It was only because they were lookingout for his rights."
"Chub never was in trouble in his life," Mr. Weldon said proudly. "He's amighty good youngster, bright in school too. Mr. Greene assured me ofthat. His only problem is that he isn't very happy."
"Being a Cub though, has helped," Brad said. "He's more sure of himself,and he hardly ever stutters any more unless he's excited."
Mr. Weldon nodded and made the boys a promise. "I'll always stick up forthe Den 2 boys. You know why? They were kind to Chub and didn't teasehim. Now about cleaning up those accusations against the Cubs. Shall wedo it on the night of the basketball game?"
"That would be the best time," Brad agreed. "How will we arrange it?"
"Leave that to me," said Mr. Weldon confidently. "Just have Mr. Greeneattend the game, and if possible the trustees of this church."
"I'll get 'em there, if I have to give them free tickets to the game!"Dan chortled. "Wow! What a sockaroo Pat Oswald has in store! Even if heand his gang win that Friday game, they're going to get the jolt of theirlives!"