CHAPTER 4 High Water
As Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs watched, Guy Wentworth leaped from thestalled car.
"Come back here, Jack!" he shouted after the fleeing boy.
The lad, however, had disappeared.
Mr. Wentworth splashed through the high water to the curb. Realizing thathe could not hope to overtake the agile boy, he entered a drugstore,evidently to telephone police.
Upon his return a few minutes later, he paused beside the Hatfield car totalk to the Cub Scout leader.
"What happened?" Mr. Hatfield asked him.
"Oh, Jack Phillips, one of the boys from the Child Study Institute,eluded me. I've notified the police. They may pick him up later tonight,but I doubt it. Jack is as slippery as an eel."
"You were taking him to a boys' industrial school?" Mr. Hatfieldinquired.
"No, to a private boarding home--to a woman named Mrs. Jones," the socialworker replied. "Jack's a real problem."
"I'd judge so," commented Mr. Hatfield.
"He's restless and unstable. Parents are dead. He's been under oursupervision more or less for three years now." Mr. Wentworth drew a longbreath. "It's been a job, I'm telling you. Jack always has an itch to runaway, and get into trouble."
"I take it he didn't look with favor on the idea of being placed in aprivate home?"
"Jack likes to fend for himself," the social worker replied. "He hatesrestriction. That, of course, is what he needs and must have. I'm afraid,despite our efforts, he'll end up in an industrial school."
"Think you'll ever see him again?"
"Oh, the police will pick him up eventually," Mr. Wentworth said. "Theyalways do. But the question is--what to do with him when he is broughtback."
"Well, I hope you think of something," the Cub leader returned. "I hateto think of a boy being sent to an industrial school, if he has any goodin him."
"Jack took advantage of me, when my car stalled in this high water. I seeyou're stuck too. Maybe I can give you a push."
Applying his shoulder, the social worker tried to roll the car backwardtoward higher pavement.
"Don't do that," Mr. Hatfield commanded. "You'll strain yourself. I'llcall a tow car."
"We'll help push," Brad offered, starting to get out into the water.
"No, wait," Mr. Wentworth ordered. "You youngsters oughtn't to freezeyourselves. This water is like ice. I'm already soaked to the knees. Tellyou what! I'll go back to the drugstore and telephone for a tow car thatwill push both autos on through."
The solution seemed the most satisfactory one. Mr. Wentworth started backtoward the drugstore. Half way there, he paused as his ears detected thesound of an approaching vehicle.
A moment later a fire engine, returning from a run, came into view. Thedriver, seeing the water ahead, pulled up.
"Stalled?" he called to Mr. Wentworth.
"That's right."
"Hop back in your car, and we'll give you a shove," the fireman offered.
Both Mr. Wentworth's automobile and Sam Hatfield's sedan were pushedthrough the water. Neither could be started immediately. However, afterthe spark plugs were dried out, both cars were in running order oncemore.
"Many thanks," Mr. Hatfield told the firemen. "I'll be glad to get home.I'm carrying a valuable load tonight."
The firemen, assuming that Mr. Hatfield referred to the carload of CubScouts, made a joking reply. They told the Cub leader that the storm hadbeen a severe one. Several trees had blown down and many streets wereflooded.
Relieved to be on their way once more, Mr. Hatfield drove directly to hisresidence.
"I want to rid myself of this money box first of all," the Cub leadersaid. "Then I'll take you boys home."
"Why don't we stay a few minutes and help you count it?" Brad suggested."The job shouldn't take long."
"Not a bad idea," Mr. Hatfield agreed. "Just so your folks don't worry.Better telephone them and explain that you've been delayed a fewminutes."
The Cub leader carried the money box into the living room. While the boyswere telephoning, he built a fire in the grate.
"Now to count the money," he said when the Cubs had returned to theliving room. "Fred, pull the blinds. We don't need any spectators."
Fred hastened to obey.
"I hope no one followed us here," Dan said uneasily. "That car--"
"Oh, we lost it before we stalled in the high water," Mr. Hatfieldreassured him. "The chances are we imagined we were being trailed."
"Maybe, only I thought--"
"Fellows, just because we found a cash box is no reason for working up ahigh-grade case of the jitters," the Cub leader said. "The importantthing is to maintain a sensible outlook. Now let's count the money."
"Right-o," grinned Dan. "Guess I did let my imagination lead me a race."
With the blinds lowered, the boys opened up the money box. The neatpackages were stacked on the dining-room table.
Mr. Hatfield counted while the others watched and wrote down the tally.
"Two thousand one hundred and seventy-five dollars!" he announced whenthe last bill had been counted.
"Wow! What a haul!" Dan exclaimed.
"What will we do with it?" Brad asked. "Turn everything over to thepolice?"
"That's the only thing to do," Mr. Hatfield declared. "I dislike to bebothered with a lot of questions tonight though."
"Then why not wait until morning before calling police?" Brad suggested."That is, if you think the money will be safe here."
"Oh, I'm not worried on that score, Brad. I'll put the box away and lockall the doors. Yes, I believe I will wait until tomorrow before notifyingthe police. Then they can make a thorough investigation."
Replacing the money in the box, Mr. Hatfield carried it upstairs. A fewminutes later, he returned empty handed.
"Where'd you hide the cash?" Fred asked his father. "Under a mattress?"
"A better place than that, I hope," replied Mr. Hatfield. He did notreveal the hiding place.
Brad and Dan picked up their caps, ready to leave.
Mr. Hatfield again offered to take the boys home.
"Oh, we can walk," Brad said quickly as the Cub leader searched for hiscar keys. "It's less than two blocks."
"Sure," agreed Dan. "You stay here, Mr. Hatfield, and guard that money."
Observing that the rain had ceased, the Cub leader allowed himself to bepersuaded. However, he accompanied the boys to the front door.
"Since you were the ones who found the money, the police probably willwant to question you tomorrow," he warned.
"That's okay," Dan said. "We'll be around."
"I'll call the police station early in the morning," Mr. Hatfieldpromised. "Meanwhile--don't speak to anyone about the box or how much itcontained."
Dan and Brad were rather surprised that the Cub leader should mention thesubject twice.
"You may be certain we won't," Brad promised.
"I should say not," added Dan emphatically.
"All the Cubs can be trusted, I know," Mr. Hatfield declared as he badethe pair good-bye. "Well, boys, I'll see you in the morning. Good nightto you both, and no nightmares about hidden treasure!"