The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour | Page 2

of the Bushkill, usually closed its business doors by nine, save
on Saturdays.
This being the case, it was naturally very quiet on Anderson street,
even though electric lights and people abounded on Broad street, the
main thoroughfare, just around the corner.
These lads belonged to a troop of Boy Scouts that had been organized
the preceding summer. They wore the regular khaki suits that always
distinguish members of the far-reaching organization, and one of them
even carried a bugle at his side.
The first speaker was Paul Morrison, the scout leader, to whom much
of the labor of getting the troop started had fallen. Paul was the son of
the leading doctor in Stanhope.
His comrades were the bugler, known as Bobolink, because he chanced
to answer to the name of Robert Oliver Link; Jack Stormways, Paul's
particular chum; and Joe Clausin, the one who had asked his friends to
stroll around in his company, to the feed store, where he expected to
find his father waiting for him.
The lads had been attending a regular weekly meeting of the troop at
one of the churches that offered them the free use of a gymnasium.
"There's no light inside," said Bobolink, in a husky voice, "but the
door's half open, boys!"
This announcement sent another thrill through the group.
Anyone unacquainted with the wearers of the Scout uniforms might
even imagine that they had been attacked by a spasm of fear; but at
least two members of the group had within recent times proven their
valor in a fashion that the people of Stanhope would never forget.
In the preceding volume of this series, issued under the name of "The
Banner Boy Scouts; or, The Struggle for Leadership," I related how the

boys got together and organized their patrol and troop. Of course, there
was considerable opposition, from jealous rivals; but in the end the
boys of Stanhope won their right to a prize banner by excelling the
troops from the neighboring towns in many of the things a true scout
should know and practice. Hence, no one who has perused the first
book of this series will imagine for an instant that any of these lads
were timid, simply because they clustered together, and felt their pulses
quiver with excitement.
"Do you hear that sound again, Joe?" demanded Paul, presently, as all
listened.
"I thought I did just then," answered Joe Clausin, drawing a long breath;
"but perhaps it was only imagination. Dad's been doing more work than
he ought, lately. Mebbe he's been taken with one of his old fainting
spells."
"Say, that's just what it is, I reckon," observed Bobolink, quickly; "or
else he forgot to shut the door when he went home."
"He never could have done that, boys," declared Joe; "you know how
careful he always is about everything. I was just thinkin' about the
Skarff robbery, and wonderin' if those fellows had come back to town.
The police never caught 'em, you remember."
Joe's voice had once more dropped to a whisper. What he said seemed
to make considerable impression on his comrades, for the heads drew
even closer together.
"But why would they want to break open a feed store?" ventured Jack
Stormways, dubiously; "it isn't like the Skarff place, which was a
jewelry shop."
"'Sh!" went on Joe, nervously; "I happen to know that dad keeps quite
some money in his safe about the first of the month, when people pay
their bills. Mother has often told him he ought to put it in the bank; but
he only laughs at her, and says he'd like to see the thief who could open
his safe. Paul, what should we do?"

"Go in, I reckon. Wait till I find my matches," returned the scout leader,
without the least hesitation.
"Oh! what if we should run up against a man hiding there?" suggested
Joe.
"Well, there are four of us, you know, boys. But what are you doing,
Jack?" Paul continued, seeing that his warmest chum was bending
down, as though he might be tugging at something.
"Look here what I've got, fellows! And there's a lot more to be had for
the taking," with which Jack Stormways held up a stout stick of wood,
which, coming with some of the hay or feed that reached the store
during the day, had been cast aside.
Immediately the three others made haste to possess themselves of
similar weapons.
"Ready?" asked Paul, as he prepared to advance boldly into the dense
darkness.
"Sure! We're going to back you up, old fellow. Say the word!" shrilled
Bobolink, close to the other's shoulder.
"Come on, then!"
The lads had hardly advanced five steps when every one caught the
dread sound that Joe claimed to have heard. And Paul, perhaps