The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour | Page 5

about what was decided. William does a lot of
mysterious winking every time anybody asks him, and only says,
'wait'."
Paul did not seem to be at all concerned. He evidently had full
confidence in the wisdom of the committee that had been appointed by
himself at the last meeting.
"Why, yes," Jack went on, "and Jud Elderkin, as the scout leader of the
Gray Foxes, tried to get Andy Flinn to leak a little; but it was no use.
Andy would joke him, and tell all sorts of funny stories about what we
might do; but it was just joshing. I'm a bit curious myself to know."
"Have you heard anything more about Mr. Clausin?" asked Paul,
seriously.
"I guess nobody has found out much about what was in that tin box,"
replied his chum. "Even Joe says he only knows there were valuable
papers of some sort, which his father is broken-hearted over losing.

You know Mr. Clausin has been just about sick ever since it happened."
"Yes," Paul went on, "and three times now I've heard that the chief of
police has been out there to confer with him. That makes me think Joe's
father must have some sort of idea about who robbed him."
"Oh! well, the fellow will never be caught if it depends on Chief
Billings," declared Jack, somewhat derisively; "I've known him to kick
up a big row more than a few times, after something strange happened;
but when did he get his man? Tell me that, will you, Paul?"
"Still, the Chief is a good police head. He can look mighty fierce, and
generally scares little boys into being good," laughed the scout leader.
"But some others I know snap their fingers at him," Jack went on; "for
instance, you understand as well as I do, that Ted Slavin and his crowd
ride rough-shod over the police force of Stanhope. They have been
threatened with all sorts of horrible punishments; but did you ever
know of one of that bunch to be haled up before the justice?"
"Well, of course you know why," remarked Paul, drily, making a
grimace at the same time to indicate his disgust.
"Sure," responded Jack, without the least hesitation; "Ward Kenwood,
Ted Slavin's crony, stands pat with the Chief. His dad happens to be the
richest man in Stanhope, and something of a politician. Ward threatens
to get the Chief bounced from his job if he makes too much row, and
you know it, Paul. The result is that there's a whole lot of bluster, and
threatening; after which things settle down just as they were, and
nobody is pulled in. It makes me tired."
"Oh! well," laughed the scout leader, "some fine day there will be a
rebellion in Stanhope. Then perhaps we can put in a police head who
will do his duty, no matter if the offender happens to be the son of a
rich banker, or of a railroad track-tender."
"Shucks! that day will be a long time coming," said Jack, shaking his
head in the negative, as if to emphasize his disbelief. "But do you know,

I'm all worked up about that little tin box. There's something connected
with it that Mr. Clausin hasn't told everybody. What could those papers
have been; and why was he looking at them that night? Did the
unknown robber come to the feed-store just on purpose to get hold of
them? Was he especially interested in what that tin box held?"
Paul looked at his chum in surprise.
"You certainly have the fever pretty bad, old fellow," he remarked,
"and to tell you the truth, I've been thinking along the same line myself.
If half a chance offered I'd like to be the one fortunate enough to
recover that box for Mr. Clausin. But of course there isn't the least bit
of hope that way."
Paul could not lift the curtain of the future just then, and see what
strange things were in store for himself and his chum. Had he been
given only a glimpse of that future he would have been deeply thrilled.
"The boys are all assembled, Paul," observed Jack, presently.
Accordingly, the scout leader of the first patrol, and acting scoutmaster
in the absence of Mr. Gordon, found that he had duties to perform. Paul,
in spite of his wishes, had been elected president of the local council,
Jud being the vice-president, Bluff treasurer and Nat Smith secretary.
The meeting was especially called for a certain purpose, and every
fellow knew that the committee appointed to recommend what the
programme for the vacation campaign should be, was about to make its
report.
Consequently, other business lagged, and there was a buzz of
excitement when, with the decks cleared, the chairman of the meeting
called