The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour | Page 8

you! Listen to that,
will you?"
There was a sound that drifted to their ears, and it came from inside the
body of the church, too. Paul could easily imagine that the escaping
bell-ringer must have stumbled while making his way across to some
open window, and upset a small table that he remembered stood close
to the wall.
He lost no time in carrying out the suggestion of Bobolink, who had
already rushed into the dark building, fairly wild to make a capture.
Outside they could hear the boys calling to each other as they ran to
and fro. The sharp, clear bark of a fox told that even in this period of
excitement the scouts did not forget that they possessed a signal which
could be used to tell friend from foe.
As soon as he gained a footing inside the big auditorium Paul held the
lamp above his head. This was done, partly, better to send its rays
around; and at the same time keep his own eyes from being dazzled by
the glow.
"There he is!" shrilled Bobolink, suddenly; "over by the window on the
left!"
Impetuous by nature, he made a dive in the direction indicated, only
speedily to come to grief; for he tripped over some hair cushions that
may have been purposely thrown into the aisle, and measured his
length on the floor.
Paul had himself discovered a moving figure over in the quarter
mentioned. There could not be the slightest doubt about it being a boy,
he believed, and in the hope of at least getting near enough to recognize
the interloper, he hastened forward as fast as policy would permit.
With that lamp in his hand he did not want to follow the sad example of

Bobolink for such an accident might result in setting fire to the
building.
Now the figure began to put on more speed. Evidently the escaping
party believed there was considerable danger of his being caught; and
could guess what must follow if he fell into the hands of the aroused
scouts.
Just in time did Paul discover that a piece of clothes line, probably
taken from a yard close by, had been cleverly fastened across the aisle
about six inches from the floor. It was undoubtedly intended to trip any
who unguardedly came along that way.
"'Ware the rope, fellows!" he called back over his shoulder; for some of
his comrades were pushing hotly after him.
The warning came too late, for there was a crash as one scout made a
dive; and from the various cries that immediately arose Paul judged
that the balance of the detail had swarmed upon the fallen leader, just
as though they had the pigskin oval down on the football field.
By now the escaping figure had reached the open window through
which he must have entered some time previously, taking time to lay
these various traps by means of which he expected to baffle pursuit.
Paul believed that such an ingenious artifice could have originated in
no brain save that of Ted Slavin, or possibly his crony, Ward Kenwood.
Hence he was trying his best to discover something familiar about the
figure now clambering up over the windowsill.
The balance of the scouts had managed to scramble to their feet after
that jarring tumble; and were even then at his heels, grumbling and
limping.
"It's Ted himself, that's what!" called Bobolink, at this exciting
juncture.
The fellow turned his head while crouching in the window, just ready

to drop outside. Paul could hardly keep from laughing at what he saw.
Possibly foreseeing some such predicament as this, and not wishing to
have his identity known if it could be avoided, what had the daring
bell-ringer done but assumed an old mask that might have been a part
of a Valentine night's fun, or even a left-over from last Hallowe'en
frolic.
At any rate it was a coal-black face that Paul saw, with a broad grin
capable of no further expansion.
"Yah! yah! yah!" laughed the pretended darky, as he waved a hand
mockingly in their direction, and then vanished from view.
Paul thought he recognized something familiar about the voice, though
he could not be absolutely certain. And it was not the bully of Stanhope,
Ted Slavin, that he had in mind, either.
There arose a chorus of bitter cries of disappointment, showing how the
scouts felt over the escape of the intruder who had played such a
successful practical joke on the troop.
"He's skidooed!" exclaimed Bobolink, in disgust. "Wouldn't that just jar
you some, fellows?"
"There goes William through the window after him! Bully boy,
William! Hope you get a grip on the sneak!" cried Nuthin, who was
rubbing his right shin as though it had been barked