CHAPTER 4 PAYMENT REFUSED
Dan stood very still for a moment, staring fixedly at the place where theshadowy figure had disappeared. He wasn't sure what he had seen, or forthat matter whether he had observed anything.
Had his approach frightened away someone who had been loitering at therear windows of the old church? So far as he could see from the road, noone now was lurking in the cemetery. However, the tilted tombstonesoffered many hiding places.
Dan briefly considered ambling over to study the layout but decidedagainst it. The hour was late and he was due home. Besides the old churchstood in an isolated area, easily accessible to tramps who might come upthe slope from the river area.
"No use asking for trouble," he thought. "Whoever was prowling around,probably wasn't doing any harm."
Dan waited a few minutes longer, thinking he might again glimpse theelusive figure. Seeing no one, he trudged on home.
Sunday was a pleasant, quiet day in the Carter household. Dan attendedchurch school in the morning as was his usual custom.
After that came a big dinner, and then a half hour spent with thefunnies. Suddenly he dropped the newspaper as if its pages were chargedwith electricity.
"Wow!"
"What's wrong, Dan?" his Mother inquired from across the room.
"I forgot something important. I've got to rush out to Terry Treuhaft'splace right away!"
"Can't it wait?"
Dan shook his head and explained about the broken window. "I promised theCubs I'd take care of it first thing today, Mom. It sort of slipped mymind. I'll go right now."
He fished two precious dollar bills from his bank. The window shouldn'tcost half that much, he hoped. But to be on the safe side, he would takean extra dollar along.
"Do you want your father to drive you to the cottage?" his motherquestioned.
"I don't mind walking," Dan replied. "See you later."
Leaves were falling fast, dotting walks and highway. Dan shuffled throughthem, enjoying the soft crackle underfoot. He sucked in a deep breath,and then began to whistle because his spirits were high.
Terry Treuhaft was nowhere about when Dan came to the cottage. He rappedon the door. The knock was a bit more forceful than he had intended it tobe.
Almost at once the door was opened by a stout woman in a checkered dress.Dan assumed she must be Mrs. Treuhaft and he could guess by theexpression of her face that she was very annoyed.
"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to knock so hard."
Mrs. Treuhaft did not smile or reply graciously as he had expected her todo. Instead, she fixed him with an unfriendly stare.
"What do you want?" she asked, not opening the door very wide.
Dan explained that he had come to see Mr. Treuhaft.
"He isn't here and won't be for awhile," the woman answered shortly.
Dan reached for his pocketbook. "I want to pay for the window at thechurch," he said. "Do you think a dollar will be enough?"
"Church window?" A strange light flickered in Mrs. Treuhaft's steel grayeyes.
Dan started to tell her what had happened the previous day, but she cuthim short.
"You think a dollar is enough to pay for the damage! Well, the veryidea!"
"It was only a small window," Dan said, startled by the intensity of thewoman's outburst. "But I'll pay whatever you think it will cost toreplace the glass. Two dollars maybe?"
"Two dollars! Why that wouldn't begin to do it. The damage was enormous!Simply enormous! My husband was furious when he learned of it. For yourinformation, he's talking to the church trustees about it now."
Dan could not understand why such a fuss was being made about a windowpane. Hadn't he offered to pay? Why, the incident was being blown up outof all proportion!
"You have a nerve coming here and offering me a dollar!" the woman wenton angrily. "But it proves one thing. You admit you did the damage?"
"Why, yes, we broke the window. It was an accident. We were playing witha basketball and it went wild, through the glass."
"That's all I want to know." The woman nodded with grim satisfaction andclosed the door in Dan's face.
A moment later she flung it open again to add severely: "You'll hear moreabout this later!"
Then she closed the door again.
Puzzled by the woman's strange behavior, Dan started slowly home. He wassorely troubled to learn that the Treuhafts meant to make so much of theaccident. What sum, he wondered, could they demand for a broken window?If two dollars wasn't enough to pay for the glass, he'd really have todig deep into his savings.
"Why, when I drove a baseball through Mrs. Simpson's basement window lastSpring she charged me only seventy-five cents," he reflected. "I guess achurch window must be something special. But that window wasn't stainedglass--just ordinary."
Dan decided not to tell Chub how much the mishap was to cost. He wasquite sure the new Cub had little or no spending money, and couldn't beexpected to help out in any case. Anyway, he'd offered to pay for thedamage. Since the money had been refused, the next move would be up toMr. Treuhaft.
Monday night when Dan went to the church gymnasium for basketballpractice, he still was brooding about the unfortunate accident. However,he did not disturb the other boys by relating what had happened. The Cubstried free throws and worked out a team play which didn't go toosmoothly.
Finally, everyone went upstairs for a special meeting Mr. Hatfield hadcalled. Though the business session had been set for four-thirty sharp,the leader had not yet arrived. This was unusual, for Mr. Hatfield made apoint of punctuality.
The boys talked over interesting places they had thought up for the Dento visit. As time dragged on and still Mr. Hatfield did not come, Bradtried to keep the Cubs interested by discussing plans for the Fridaynight party.
"Anyone found an ice cream freezer yet?" he asked the group.
"We know there are a couple at the old church," Midge finally said. "Weshould be able to get those."
"Don't count on it," Dan interposed. "Old Terry Treuhaft has it in forus. He's really steaming."
"Terry's down on the Cubs?" Brad questioned in surprise. "Why?"
The Cubs looked embarrassed, reluctant to explain. When Brad pressed hisinquiry, Chub stammered:
"It--it was all my fault. I threw a basketball through the churchwindow."
"The blame was partly mine, and I'm paying for it," Dan said quickly. "Iwent out to Treuhaft's place yesterday. He wasn't there and his wife waspretty snippy with me. So I figure we won't get those freezers now."
"There must be others in Webster City. But we'll have to hustle if we getthem in time for Friday. Guess I'd better name a special committee tolook after the job and see that the ice cream is ready in time for theparty. Any volunteers?"
"I'll do my best," Dan offered.
"Good! I'll appoint Chub, Red and Chips to help you. Fred and Midge areto look up the matter of getting ice and rock salt. Mrs. Holloway haspromised to help with the ice cream mixture. What kind'll we have?"
"Tutti fruiti," piped up Chips.
"You would think of something like that, you drip!" Midge accused. "We'rehaving something simple like vanilla."
"Let's compromise on strawberry," Brad suggested. "All in favor, say'aye.' Opposed? The ayes have it."
By this time it was ten minutes to five, and the Cubs began to shiftuneasily in their chairs. Mr. Hatfield never had been so late before.
"I'll bet he's been in an auto accident," Chips began to speculate."Something has happened or he'd be here."
"I could telephone his house," Brad said reluctantly.
He was debating the matter when the Cubs heard an outside church dooropen and close.
"There he is now," Brad exclaimed in relief.
Mr. Hatfield came into the meeting room, his gaze sweeping thesemi-circle of expectant Cubs.
"I am sorry to be late, boys." He spoke stiffly, and in an oddly subduedton
e of voice.
The Cubs knew instantly that something was wrong. Mr. Hatfield didn'tseem at all his usual pleasant, easy-going self. His lips were drawn intoa tight line of disappointment and he was unsmiling.
"We thought something had happened to you," Brad remarked. "Shall westart the meeting with a song or the pledge of allegiance?"
"No, it's too late for a meeting now," Mr. Hatfield replied. "We have avery important matter to discuss."
The Cubs became most attentive, aware that for some reason the group hadincurred the leader's displeasure. As Mr. Hatfield's gaze swept thesemi-circle it lingered for a moment on Dan. The boy had an uncomfortablefeeling that he was being singled out for attention. Had Old TerryTreuhaft complained about the window perhaps?
"Boys, I've just come from an unpleasant meeting," Mr. Hatfield said. "Iwas on my way here when I received a telephone call, asking me to stop atthe office of Richard W. Brady."
"The lawyer?" interposed Brad, recognizing the name.
Mr. Hatfield nodded and went on: "Mr. Brady represents the trustees ofthe Christian Church."
Dan felt a cold lump come into his throat. So his hunch had been right!Old Terry Treuhaft had made trouble about the window.
"I've had a most uncomfortable half hour," Mr. Hatfield resumed. "Mr.Brady has accused our organization of some very dishonorable acts. To putit concisely, he's threatening to sue for $20,000!"