CHAPTER 16 Inside the Log
Jack Phillip's hint that he was in possession of vital informationrelative to the missing money box amazed the Cubs.
Even Mr. Hatfield was so taken by surprise that for the moment he made noattempt to detain the boy.
"Say, are we going to let him get away again?" Brad demanded. "He knowswhat became of that money box!"
"He took it himself, that's why!" muttered Chips. "Who does he think heis, anyhow? Someone that doesn't have to obey the law?"
"Jack does have a few things to explain," Mr. Hatfield said quietly."Now, take it easy, boys. He'll not elude us."
"He's heading for the road now!" Red said excitedly. "If we don't stophim quick, he'll slip away and we may never see him again!"
"We'll head him off," the Cub leader replied, undisturbed. "Brad, you andDan and Midge start through the hollow which is shorter than the pathhe's taken. The rest of us will come up from the rear."
"Sure!" Brad said eagerly. "We'll get him!"
"Just circle in and don't use any force. In fact, don't try to hold himuntil I get there. He has a rifle, you know. It may or may not be loaded,but we're taking no chances."
"We'll be careful," Brad promised, already starting off with Midge andDan.
At a fast lope, the three boys followed the low ground. For aconsiderable distance they were unable to see the boy they pursued.
However, as they came presently to a rise of ground, they glimpsed himoff to the right not far from the main road.
"He's taking it easy," Brad said in relief. "I guess he doesn't suspectwe're following him."
"Shall we show ourselves?" Dan demanded.
"No need to yet, Dan. The minute we do, he'll either defy us or start torun. We'll just keep him in sight until Mr. Hatfield catches up."
"Sure, that's what he told us to do," Midge said nervously. "No tellinghow the kid may react."
Without glancing around, Jack made his way directly to the road. Once hepaused to stare at the crotch of a tree which had been split bylightning.
Another time, hearing the crackle of a stick, he looked quickly over hisshoulder. Brad, Dan and Midge froze in their positions and the boy didnot see them.
"He's heading for the road all right," Brad observed. "We've got to beathim to it."
Dropping back into the hollow, the three Cubs hastened on. Presently,they emerged at a point where they had calculated Jack would come out ofthe woods.
Nor were they mistaken. In a moment, before they fully had caught theirbreath, they saw him coming.
Jack was whistling a slightly off-key tune. Seeing the three boys infront of him, he broke off and stopped dead in his tracks.
The moment was a tense one for the three Cubs. They were relieved thoughthat Jack made no attempt to draw his rifle.
"What's the idea?" he demanded, trying to shove past them.
The Cubs stood their ground.
"Mr. Hatfield wants to talk to you," Brad said pleasantly. "You raised afew points."
"You'll learn nothing more from me!" Jack retorted. "I told you that! Letme past!"
Brad, Dan and Midge refused to move. Jack glared at them, and thenwhirled, evidently intending to run.
However, he found retreat also blocked.
During the brief conversation, Mr. Hatfield, his son, Fred, Chips, Redand Babe quietly had come up from the rear.
"What's the big idea?" Jack repeated furiously. "You got nothing on me!"
At a signal from Mr. Hatfield, the Cubs closed about the boy in a tightcircle.
"Hand over the rifle, Jack," the Cub leader ordered. "You handle it verywell for a boy of your age, but you shouldn't have taken it from Mrs.Jones without her permission."
"Aw, she never used it."
"Nevertheless, it was her property. The rifle, Jack."
The boy seemed on the verge of defying the Cub leader. Then, he thoughtthrough the matter, and with a gesture of contempt, extended the weapon.
"It ain't loaded," the boy muttered. "You got nothing to worry about."
Mr. Hatfield checked the rifle for himself, finding that Jack had spokenthe truth. Evidently he had used his last shot on the rabbit.
"What d'you aim to do? Turn me over to the cops again?"
"That depends on what you tell us, Jack. From the start, we've tried togive you the benefit of every doubt. Your remarks about the tin box,however, were disturbing."
"I didn't take the money!"
"No one has accused you, Jack. It's clear though, that you know plentyabout the matter."
"I read about it in the paper."
"I think you know more than the facts you have read, Jack. Why don't youcome clean?"
"You turned me in!"
"We're law abiding citizens, Jack," Mr. Hatfield argued. "What else couldwe do?"
"I help only my friends."
"We are your friends," the Cub leader insisted. "At least we want to be.Sit down, Jack, and let's talk this over."
Mr. Hatfield brushed off a hollow log which had fallen near the fence,and made room for Jack. The other boys gathered around close enough sothe Institute lad could not hope to make a break for freedom.
"Jack, can't you realize that we're trying to help, not make things hardfor you," Mr. Hatfield attempted to reason with him. "You must return toMrs. Jones' home."
"I was going there anyhow," the boy muttered, his gaze on the ground.
"You weren't running away again?"
"'Course not," Jack said irritably. "I wouldn't go away and take herrifle. I'm not a thief. She's been good to me in her way--better thananyone else."
"I'm glad to hear that!" Mr. Hatfield exclaimed. "I knew you had goodstuff if you'd just give it a chance to come out. Now about the moneybox--"
"I don't know anything about it."
"But you hinted--"
"I was just blowing," Jack said, avoiding Mr. Hatfield's direct gaze."All I know is what I read in the newspaper."
The Cubs were disgusted. But Jack, they knew, did not abide by theirstandards of honor and fair play.
"Let me go now," Jack muttered, getting up from the log. "You got noright to keep me."
"Do we have your word that you'll return to Mrs. Jones' house?" the Cubleader asked.
"I told you I would, didn't I?"
"I'll accept your word, Jack. And here's the rifle. When you return it toMrs. Jones, why not ask her if you may borrow it now and then? She'dlikely give her consent and you wouldn't feel low and sneaking about it.Furthermore, in season you probably could help out by bringing in gamefor the table."
"Maybe she would let me take it," Jack said. "Sure, I'll ask her nexttime. I promise."
Mr. Hatfield smiled and reached out to shake the boy's hand.
"Good luck, Jack," he said. "You'll do all right. I'm confident of it.I--"
An odd expression came over the Cub leader's face. Without finishing whathe had started to say, he stooped down to examine one end of the hollowlog.
The Cubs then saw what had attracted their leader's attention. A bit ofwater-soaked cloth protruded from the end of the log.
"What's this?" Mr. Hatfield murmured.
As the boys watched in amazement, he removed a wadded-up garment. The Cubleader shook it out, revealing a woman's black dress trimmed indiamond-shaped jet buttons.
"Why, that must be the costume stolen from Mrs. Jones' place!" exclaimedBrad as Mr. Hatfield spread the garment over the log.
"Sure, the same one maybe that was worn by the thief who made off withthe money box!" added Dan, becoming highly excited.
Mr. Hatfield carefully examined the diamond-shaped buttons.
"Aren't they the same as the one police found in your desk?" Dandemanded.
"They certainly look the same," the Cub leader admitted. "I wonder howthis dress came to be in the log?"
"Someone must have stuffed it in here just to be rid of it," Bradventured.
His gaze faste
ned upon Jack Phillips. The boy leaned on his rifle,staring at the dress with a fixed, almost frozen expression.
Observing the odd look of his eyes, the Cubs could not fail to wonderwhat he knew of the matter.
"Jack," said Mr. Hatfield, without mincing words, "have you ever seenthis dress before?"
"Have I seen it?" the boy echoed indignantly.
"That's what I asked, Jack."
"No, I never saw the dress before!" the boy answered sullenly. "What'smore I didn't put it in this old log! I had nothing to do with stealingyour money box!"
"Finding this dress here gave me a bad moment," Mr. Hatfield said."Frankly, it's something of a shock."
"Well, blame me! I always get accused of everything whether I did it ornot!"
"No one has accused you of anything, Jack. We only want to get at thetruth of the matter. I have a deep-seated feeling that you might help us,if only you would."
Jack remained silent.
Mr. Hatfield examined the dress and then wrapped it into a tight roll.
"Jack, we'll walk along with you to Mrs. Jones' place," he said. "I thinkthis is the dress that disappeared from her shed. I want to find out forcertain."
"I didn't take it," Jack denied. "What would I want with a woman's dress?If you go back and tell the widow, she'll think I stole it! She'll sendme back to the Institute!"
"Not if you tell a straight story, Jack," Mr. Hatfield reassured him."Come along, boys. We're wasting valuable time."
Jack did not openly defy Mr. Hatfield or the Cubs, but he made it evidentby glances he directed at them that he resented their interference.
As the group approached the old farmhouse, Mrs. Jones saw the boys fromafar. She was waiting at the door when they came up.
"Well, I see you caught the rascal!" she commented grimly.
"We found him," Mr. Hatfield corrected. "Jack wasn't running away though.He said he intended to come back."
"Jack, why do you do it?" the widow asked, taking the rifle from him."Haven't I been good to you?"
"Yes'm," the boy responded, his eyes on the ground.
"I'll fix you some victuals. You must be hungry."
"I've had enough to eat. I'm sorry about taking so much from therefrigerator."
The tight lines around Mrs. Jones' mouth relaxed. "There! I reckon boysare all alike," she remarked. "I had three of my own once. I never couldbreak 'em of taking cookies from the jar."
The widow cordially invited the Cubs into the kitchen. Mr. Hatfielddeclined the invitation for them.
"Mrs. Jones, here is something we wish to show you," he said, exposingthe rolled-up black gown to her gaze. "Did you ever see this dressbefore?"
"Land sakes! It's the dress that disappeared from the shed!"
"You're certain it's the same one?"
"Of course I'm certain. Didn't I wear that dress for six years? Where didyou find it?"
"In a hollow log not far from here."
"Well, of all places! How did it get there?"
"That's what I'd like to know myself. Dan tells me that someone in ablack dress was seen leaving my place on the day the money boxdisappeared."
"A jet button exactly like those on the dress was found by police in Mr.Hatfield's study," Brad contributed.
"My stars! Then you think the money was taken by someone who wore mydress?"
"Naturally, one wonders," Mr. Hatfield replied.
Mrs. Jones gazed searchingly at Jack.
"I didn't do it!" he said, almost fiercely. "Quit lookin' at me likethat! I always get the blame for everything."
"I'm sure Jack didn't take the dress," Mr. Hatfield declared. "As Irecall, Mrs. Jones, I believe you said it disappeared some time ago."
"That's so! Before Jack came here! Land sakes, I guess we get so in thehabit of blaming a boy, that we don't give him the benefit of any doubt."
In a gesture of kindness, she reached out and drew the boy to her. Heresisted, but as her arm remained firm, finally allowed it to remainthrown around his shoulders.
"I'm fairly convinced Jack didn't take the dress," Mr. Hatfield resumed."Unfortunately, I'm afraid I can't say I think he isn't hiding vitalinformation. I believe Jack knows more about the affair than he iswilling to tell."
Mrs. Jones' arm fell from the boy's shoulder. Sternly, she regarded him.
"Jack, is that the truth?"
"Maybe!" The boy regarded her defiantly.
"Then you just tell Mr. Hatfield everything you know!"
"Wild horses can't drag it from me! I'm no snitcher. I don't help anyonewho made it hard for me!"
"You little ninny!" Mrs. Jones exclaimed, losing patience. "I declare, Iwonder if you have an ounce of sense. Now march into the house."
"Yes'm," Jack muttered.
"Everyone come in," Mrs. Jones invited. "We'll thrash this out right hereand now. If there's one thing I can't stand it's nonsense!"
The Cubs trooped into the warm kitchen, fairly overflowing the tiny room.Mr. Hatfield, Babe, Chips and Fred found chairs. Dan perched himself onthe corner of the wood box by the stove. The others stood.
"Jack, I'd try to switch a little sense into you, but I know now itdoesn't do a mite of good," Mrs. Jones sighed. "Now what's wrong with youanyhow?"
"Nothin'."
"Then why don't you speak up and tell Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs what theywant to know?"
"They turned me in!"
"I reckon it was mighty inconsiderate of 'em to give you another chance,"the widow said, her brittle voice edged with sarcasm. "You've had a hardlot here. I've kept you chopping wood every day and helping with thehousework. At night you've had to do your lessons."
"The work wasn't so hard," Jack muttered.
"You've been chained to the house--never could go away--"
"Aw, quit rubbin' it in," Jack pleaded. "I've liked it here. I'm willingto stay."
The widow regarded him steadily.
"You may be willing," she said, "but I don't want you any more."
Jack drew in his breath and for a moment could not reply.
"You--you're sending me back?" he finally stammered.
"Just as fast as I can send for Mr. Wentworth. I did the best I could foryou, Jack. I needed a boy I could depend on that would help me with thework, and act like my own son. Well, you let me down. So I'll go onliving here alone."
The words cut deep into Jack. "I'll do better," he promised. "Pleasedon't send me back to the Institute. I'll cut all the wood you want meto--honest I will. I won't take things out of the ice box again or runoff so often. Only just once in a long while, when I get to feeling tightand mean inside. And I'll tell you ahead that I'm going--I promise!"
"You're promising a heap, Jack," the widow returned dryly. "Only troubleis, you've made a lot of 'em before you never kept."
"I never made any to you."
"Well, that's a fact. You have kept your word such as you've given."
"Then let me have another chance. Just one more!"
"Not unless you tell the truth about that black dress of mine."
"I never took it!" Jack said desperately. "Believe me, I never did!"
"But you know how it came to be in the hollow log?"
"Not for sure," Jack hedged.
"You could make a pretty shrewd guess."
"Maybe."
"Then suppose you come clean and tell the Cubs everything you know."
"Help 'em after they turned me in?"
"Did they really do you such a bad turn seeing to it that you were sentout here to my place?"
"No'm," Jack murmured. "I'm all mixed up. I don't know what to do--"
"I want you to stay with me always, Jack. You're a fine boy."
"You mean that? You ain't just handing me a line so's I'll do what youwant?"
"I really mean it, Jack. You should know by this time that when I give myword I keep it."
Jack debated with himself only a moment longer. Then he arrived at hisdecision.
"I want to stay here," he said
earnestly. "I'll do whatever you tell meto--and I ain't crossin' my fingers when I say it, either! You can switchme whenever you want to and I won't try to take the switch away fromyou."
"Now that's right considerate of you, Jack," Mrs. Jones smiled. "We'llget along fine from now on. And we won't need that switch again."
"I'll fill the woodbox," Jack offered eagerly. "You're most out ofkindling."
Mrs. Jones hauled him up short. "That job can wait, Jack. You gotsomething else more important to do."
"Tell us everything you know about the tin box," Mr. Hatfield urged."You'll be doing the Cubs a real service, Jack. You see, not only myselfbut the entire organization has been under a cloud since the moneydisappeared."
"I ain't sure what became of it, but I may know," Jack admitted.
"Then suppose you tell us," the Cub leader urged.
"I'll show you instead," Jack offered. "Follow me to the woods, and youmay see something kinda interesting!"