CHAPTER 12 A Debt to Pay
Mr. Kain strode directly to Mr. Hatfield and the two cubs. The angryexpression on his face left no doubt as to his attitude about the fire.
"I might have known something like this would occur!" he began. "Boysnever should be permitted to run wild in a wooded area."
"Just a minute, Mr. Kain," interposed the Cub leader wearily. "Don't jumpto hasty conclusions."
"The bank property has been damaged. We happen to own the woods, youknow. It was a mistake to allow your organization to use this land."
"You're assuming that the Cubs started the fire, Mr. Kain."
"What else should I think? They've been here almost daily, having picnicsand starting fires."
"That isn't true, Mr. Kain," Brad interposed, losing patience. "The Cubshave been careful about fires, knowing how dry the woods are at this timeof year."
"We've eaten cold food," Dan added. "When this fire started, not a Cubwas near the place so far as I know."
The two boys were righteously angry for they felt that the bank employeewas unjustly blaming the Cub organization without having made anyinvestigation of the facts.
Several of the fire fighters who had overheard the remark, were of thesame opinion.
"That's right," spoke up one of the telephone linesmen. "Fact is, if ithadn't been for these two boys, the fire never could have been stopped.The house would have been destroyed for sure. But they saw smoke and gothelp before the fire was too well started."
This information softened Mr. Kain somewhat.
"Is the fire out?" he demanded gruffly.
"Practically so," he was informed. "The leaves are smoldering in a fewplaces. But there's no danger, if the area is watched for awhile."
"We'll be glad to do it," offered Mr. Hatfield.
Mr. Kain made no reply. Abruptly leaving the group, he went to inspectthe smoking, blackened patch of burned-over ground.
Brad, Dan and the other Cubs watched him uneasily. From his manner it wasimpossible to tell whether or not he accepted their statement that theCubs had not been responsible for the fire.
Their eyes red and smarting from the smoke, too tired to care much whatthe bank employee thought, they flung themselves onto the grass to rest.
Mr. Kain presently returned. Immediately it was evident to the Cubs thathis anger remained with him.
"What's he picked up?" Dan muttered, noticing a charred object in theman's hand.
"Looks like a stick," Brad replied.
The object proved to be a half-burned shaft and arrow.
"This may or may not have significance," Mr. Kain said coldly, addressingthe group. "I picked it up in the burned area."
"It looks like too large an arrow to be one of ours," said Dandefensively.
"You've been using bows and arrows here however?"
"Sure," admitted Brad. "We haven't been starting fires with 'em though."
"Nevertheless, the arrow convinces me that the Cubs have been rovingthrough the woods at will, undoubtedly lighting matches and--"
"Cubs are taught to be careful about fire," Brad broke in. "Besides,we've told you--the Cubs weren't here today. Dan and I were the first toarrive."
"The fire may have been slow in starting--possibly it smoldered forhours. But that's neither here nor there. The damage has been done."
"We're mighty sorry, sir," Dan said. "It wasn't our fault, and we did ourbest to check the fire quickly."
"I'm grateful to you for that, boys. All the same, you see my position. Iam responsible to the bank. Of course you understand that I can't permityou to continue to use this property."
The Cubs gazed at Mr. Kain, dumbfounded. It seemed utterly impossiblethat he would send them away after they had worked so hard to save theCastle.
For a long moment no one spoke. Then Dan said:
"Mr. Kain, do you mean we can't finish the filming of our play here?"
The bank employee dropped the charred arrow onto the grass. He stirreduneasily under the steady, almost accusing gaze of the Cubs.
"I know it will inconvenience you," he said flatly. "But I have to thinkof the bank."
"Inconvenience us!" Chips fairly shouted, breaking into the conversation."If we have to go to another place, it means filming all the scenes overagain!"
"We're already working against a deadline," Red added angrily. "Have aheart, Mr. Kain!"
"Sorry, boys. Is Mr. Holloway or your Cub leader around? I'll have toinform them that the organization is not to come here again."
Both Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Holloway had gone to one of the cars whereequipment was being packed. Seeing the two men, Mr. Kain would havestarted off to intercept them, had not Brad stopped him.
"Just a minute, Mr. Kain," he said quietly. "I can't feel that you'rebeing fair. The Cubs have been as careful as they know how to be in usingthis property. We cleaned up the brush and kept all of our promises."
"I'm not blaming anyone," Mr. Kain replied, ill at ease. "Boys will beboys. I'm not saying the fire was started on purpose. But you see myposition. I'm responsible to the bank."
"If you feel we caused the damage, let us pay for it," Dan spoke upsuddenly. "Just give us a chance to finish our play here."
The offer seemed to strike a responsive chord with the bank employee. Hepaused a moment to consider.
"Sure," urged Chips, "the Cubs have money we were saving for costumes andscenery. We could use some of that to pay for the damage."
"Well, I hardly know what to say--" Mr. Kain hesitated.
"No buildings were destroyed," Brad said quickly. "Only a few shrubs."
"You boys did work hard to put out the fire once it started," the bankman admitted. "I suppose an arrangement could be made for you to pay forthe damage."
"Then you'll allow us to finish our play here?" Red demanded.
"Well, if you agree to pay, I suppose I might let you stay on for a weekor two. But no longer."
"How much will we owe?" Brad asked.
He knew that the shrubs which had burned were not rare or valuable ones.Actually, he thought that the fire had done very little damage. Althoughthe blackened area was ugly and disfiguring, new growth quickly wouldcover it.
"Twenty-five dollars should cover it," Mr. Kain said, after a littlethought.
Now to him the amount seemed comparatively small. To the Cubs itrepresented a huge sum. To meet the debt they would be required to poolevery cent they had earned for costumes and perhaps dip into theorganization treasury as well.
Seeing the look of consternation upon the faces of the boys, Mr. Kainamended his calculation.
"Well, I'll be easy on you," he said. "Make it twenty dollars. However,the sum must be paid to the bank no later than tomorrow."
Brad turned to the Cubs of Den 2. "How about it fellows?" he asked. "Canwe do it?"
"We'll have to," decided Dan grimly. "I have three dollars and a halfsaved for my costume. I'll toss that into the kitty."
"How about the Cubs of Den 1?" Brad asked Ross. "Will they help too?"
"You'll have to ask them," he replied. "I know I can't kick in. I'vealready used all my paper route money to buy a costume."
"I thought Mrs. Holloway was making it for you."
"I decided to buy it instead," Ross answered. "No home-made job for me."
With the exception of Ross, all of the Cubs who were present agreed tothe plan. Having pledged themselves, they then sought Mr. Hatfield totell him of their decision.
"If that's what you want to do, it's all right with me," he agreed. "TheCubs always pay their debts. If the bank feels we're responsible for thedamage, then we'll pay whatever they ask."
"Have someone bring the money to the bank tomorrow," Mr. Kain said. "Idon't want to be hard on the boys, but maybe having to spend their owncash will teach them to be more careful."
No one replied. Decidedly uncomfortable, the bank man said good-bye anddrove away.
After he had g
one, however, the Cubs had a great deal to say.
"He doesn't want to be too hard! Oh, no!" Midge mimicked. "We workedmighty hard for that money."
"And now it all goes to the bank when we didn't do a thing except cuttheir old brush!" Red stormed. "It makes me sick."
"We don't have to do it," Brad reminded the Cubs. "For that matter, wecan give up the play."
This the Cubs were unwilling to do.
"If Old Kill-Joy Kain says we owe twenty dollars let's pay it," Danproposed grimly. "We'll have to dig up every penny we saved for ourcostumes. That means making out with any old materials we can lay ourhands on. Time's too short to earn any more money now."
"Fat chance we'll have of winning the grand prize without decent costumesor scenery," Chips said gloomily. "We'll look like a band of tatteredbeggars!"
"All except Ross," said Red, fastening his gaze upon the Den 1 boy."He'll have a perfectly super costume. Maybe, after all, we should awardhim the star part!"