THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 WILLIAM P. HREDHJ
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 OF KENDALLVILLE
 
 Stories by 
 
 Brewer Corcoran 
 
 * 
 
 The Road to Le Reve 
 
 $1.35; carriage paid, $1.50 
 
 The Barbarian ; or Will Brad 
 ford's School Days at St. 
 Jo's $1-50 
 
 The Boy Scouts of Kendall- 
 ville $1.50 
 
 THE PAGE COMPANY 
 53 Beacon Street Boston, Mass.
 
 " HE WAS ON THE EDGE OF THAT CLIFF " 
 
 (See page 264)
 
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 The Boy Scouts 
 of Kendallville 
 
 
 By 
 
 BREWER CORCORAN 
 
 Author of 
 "The Road to Le Reve," "The Barbarian," etc. 
 
 
 Illustrated by 
 
 CHARLES E. MEISTER 
 
 
 Published with the approval of 
 "THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA" 
 
 
 THE PAGE COMPANY 
 
 BOSTON ** MDCCCCXVm 
 
 ^@&"&' I V^ 1 '&@&@"& I '@' !
 
 Copyright, 1918, 
 BY THE PAGE COMPANY 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 First Impression, May, 1918
 
 TO 
 
 MY VERY GOOD FRIENDS 
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 OF 
 VINEYARD HAVEN
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTEB PAGE 
 
 I MR. HALL SETS A TRAP i 
 
 II A GOOD DEED 21 
 
 III SOMETHING is STOLEN 40 
 
 IV BACK FROM THE FRONT ....... 58 
 
 V THE BEAVER PATROL 81 
 
 VI A GRAVE DECISION 102 
 
 VII THE MAN IN OLIVE DRAB 123 
 
 VIII AN ULTIMATUM 144 
 
 IX THE MARCH PAST 165 
 
 X A MIDNIGHT FIRE 181 
 
 XI BIG BROTHERS 198 
 
 XII OUT OF THE AIR 217 
 
 XIII THE WEAK LINK 231 
 
 XIV STEPHEN KENDALL SPEAKS 253
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " HE WAS ON THE EDGE OF THAT CLIFF. " (See 
 
 page 264) Frontispiece 
 
 " ' I'M NO THIEF '" 54 
 
 " ' THAT'S WHAT DAL . . . DID THAT NIGHT 
 
 " SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE " ' " 99 
 
 " KENDALL . . . HALF LIFTED HIM " . 197 
 
 " THE BOY'S EYES NEVER FALTERED " . 245 
 
 " THEY FOUND THEIR REWARD FOR THOROUGH 
 NESS " 259
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS OF 
 KENDALLVILLE 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 MR. HALL SETS A TRAP 
 
 FOR the fourth time in three minutes the man in 
 the oil-grimed apron glanced at the clock above the 
 distant door. " About here," he announced, slam 
 ming the blued skeleton of an automatic pistol into a 
 well-filled tray, " is where I call it a day." 
 
 " You could finish 'em all before the whistle." 
 " Sure ! And I could make a hit with old Wein- 
 berg, if I could learn to live without sleep. Gal 
 lery play to the boss won't get you anywhere, Dick. 
 You put in your little old eight hours per and you 
 pull out your little old pink envelope Saturday noon, 
 and the rest of the time you do your little old best 
 to remember you're supposed to be human, and that 
 Weinberg will look so when he's dead." He swept
 
 2 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 his tools into the drawer and looked at the lad to 
 his right. " Come on," he invited ; " we've time to 
 wash before she blows." 
 
 The youngster's lips became a straight line and his 
 well-shaped head shook decisively as he picked up 
 another piece of blued steel. " These guns may go 
 to the trenches, Jim," he said in a low tone. " From 
 the way the work's being rushed, I guess they're 
 needed over there. I can't help thinking a few 
 minutes of our time might mean some chap's life in 
 France. Finish up that one. An automatic must 
 be pretty handy when a man's poking a bayonet at 
 you." 
 
 " If I had your imagination," stated the man, as 
 he turned away, " I'd make up plays for the movies. 
 About two more years at a bench and you'll begin to 
 get wise you're only a part of a Kendall machine, 
 and that all your brain's supposed to do is keep your 
 ears from bumping together. But, before that, 
 your kid ideas may get a lot of men in wrong. 
 People have beaten the whistle for years ; it's not up 
 to you to queer a good game."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 3 
 
 The boy's face flushed and he looked quickly up 
 from his work. " I'm not queering any one's game, 
 Jim," he asserted, " and, what's more, no one's go 
 ing to queer mine. I may be working for the Ken 
 dalls but I'm my own boss in some things. You'll 
 feel better when you've had something to eat." He 
 laughed good-naturedly. " Eat a couple of suppers 
 and you'll be ready to purr when someone scratches 
 your ear." 
 
 The man looked back over his shoulder and an 
 answering smile flashed across his keen face. 
 " You're a good kid," he granted, " but, some day, 
 someone'll forget to wait for the laugh at the end of 
 your stump speech and bat you one." 
 
 " I'm not afraid of foul tips," chuckled the boy. 
 " Good-night, and don't eat your meat raw. 
 Your bark's too fierce now." 
 
 " Night, Dickie. See you in the morning." He 
 waved a hand which, a moment before, was almost 
 a clenched fist, and hurried down the narrow aisle 
 between the long row of work benches and whirring 
 machines, growling, now and then, at men who
 
 4 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 growled at him, for, from his progress toward the 
 stairs, it was easy to see that Jim Scott was no gen 
 eral favorite among the hundred odd workers in the 
 big department. 
 
 He had drifted into Kendall ville with the flood 
 tide which rose in response to the far-flung adver 
 tisements for skilled mechanics to augment the old 
 force which had made the Kendall Arms Company 
 famous for its pistols long before the Hun was ready 
 to make his red gulp at Europe. Lean, wiry, ag 
 gressive, apparently as full of selfish ideas as a 
 loaded Kendall is full of death, he made few friends 
 and kept them fewer days. There was something 
 about him which made the old conservative inhabi 
 tants of the New England village distrust him, 
 and the majority of the new-comers were quick to 
 see that the ideas and practices of the Kendalls were 
 good, and that one who openly set out to run things 
 according to his own lights was one whose light 
 was apt to be extinguished suddenly and, therefore, 
 not an attractive companion to be left with in the 
 dark.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 5 
 
 If any knew where Scott had learned his trade, 
 or, where he came from last, they had not learned 
 the news from him. Always ready to talk of any 
 subject but himself, he asked no more confidence 
 than he gave. That he was a good workman was 
 beyond dispute; that he promised to become a dis 
 turbing influence in Kendallville was a well- 
 grounded suspicion. Yet, in spite of the more or 
 less mystery which hung over his past, there was 
 a greater mystery in the fact that Dick Hall, gen 
 erally so retiring and of so few words, appeared 
 ready to be his friend. 
 
 Dick was well into his second year as a Kendall 
 employee when Scott had put in an appearance, and 
 been assigned to the next place at the long bench, 
 where the pistol frames came from the machines, 
 to have rough edges filed smooth. At first the 
 other's chatter had disturbed him, yet, within the 
 month, he had learned to hear it only as he heard the 
 rasp and rumble of the machines at his back. But 
 he heard other things more distinctly. Always 
 ready to defend the under dog, he took Scott's grow-
 
 6 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ing unpopularity unto himself and his big, generous 
 heart made the youngster go out of his way time 
 after time to prove to Scott that he could have one 
 friend in the factory, if he chose. 
 
 It bothered some of the old timers. Dick had 
 been born in Kendallville. His father had been 
 foreman of the very room in which the son now 
 worked, and the day when failing health had made 
 Tom Hall's resignation imperative had been a sad 
 one for employer and employees alike. There 
 wasn't an old workman who did not hope that the 
 slender son, who came into the room a week after 
 his departure, would broaden until he could fill 
 the father's position in the plant as capably as he had 
 endeavored to fill it as a wage earner. But they did 
 not like his quiet acceptance of Jim Scott. 
 
 Not one, but several, of the men who had been 
 with the Kendalls since the time when the Kendall 
 .45 was the vital part of a plainsman's pack and the 
 Kendall automatic a thing still undreamed of in 
 " Bullet " Kendall's great brain, took it upon them 
 selves to drop a quiet hint to the lad to see less of the
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE T 
 
 talkative new-comer. Dick took their hints as he 
 took everything, calmly, and with a smile which 
 seemed strangely unfathomable on the face of a boy 
 still under eighteen. 
 
 Yet already the lad was learning to think for him 
 self as well as how to work for others. It ages any 
 boy to be snatched from a desk in a village high 
 school and as abruptly deposited before a work 
 bench, with the knowledge that the bread and butter 
 for four people depends upon his ability to hold the 
 new job. Dick had faced this change without the 
 visible quiver of a lip. Grim necessity banished day 
 dreams of a course at a technical school ; loyalty to 
 his invalid father and to his sister and younger 
 brother drove all possible selfish considerations from 
 his mind. If he had hoped to blaze an unknown 
 trail, he settled as gamely into a wheelworn road, 
 and he had the respect of all Kendallville for his 
 grit, and the love of all Kendallville for his cheer 
 fulness. 
 
 Bob Robinson, the tightest-mouthed old English 
 man who ever served apprenticeship in Sheffield,
 
 8 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 went far toward showing the attitude of the elders 
 as he shut down his machine that night at the -roar 
 of the whistle and started for the wash room. " A 
 day's work is a day's work," he said, as he shuffled 
 past on tired feet, " and more than that is poor 
 work." 
 
 " Just going to finish up this one/' retorted Dick, 
 without taking his eyes from the dull, blue steel. 
 
 "And there you re right, my lad. Finish what 
 you start, but don't start what you're too weary to 
 finish well." He stopped and squinted over the 
 boy's shoulder. " Since when have you been finish 
 ing triggers ? " he demanded gruffly. 
 
 Dick stiffened, but, the next instant, his eyes be 
 gan to twinkle as he leaned further over his task. 
 " Might have to do it some day," he answered eva 
 sively ; " it's well to know how." 
 
 The old man snorted. " That slacker Scott's quit 
 early and you're shielding him," he charged. 
 
 "It's not a question of shielding; it's a question 
 of getting out the guns." 
 
 " And it's men like Scott who ought to be made
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 9 
 
 to 'face them," growled Robinson. " I know the 
 breed. It's short shift they're giving them in the 
 old country this day. Tis time we over here learned 
 that trade as well. Leave be, boy ! " 
 
 " Sure ! " Dick's grin was cheerful now and, as 
 he straightened, he dropped the finished part into 
 its box on Scott's bench, then wiped his hands on a 
 bit of waste. " Gee, but I'll be glad to get home! 
 I'm hungry. Can I go along with you? " 
 
 The old mechanic puffed out his cheeks, inclined 
 at first, to be a bit stuffy because the lad had neg 
 lected his advice ; but then he caught the broader 
 view, and his red face grew even redder. " 'Tis 
 come to a pretty pass when babes teach their elders," 
 he grumbled. " Come, Richard ; you're Tom's own 
 boy and I'd like to break a cane over your back. 
 But let Scott be the slacker, I say. Even a dog's 
 known by the company he keeps." Together they 
 left the shop. 
 
 " Hello, Dickie ! " greeted a good-looking young 
 ster, slapping the broad back as he rushed past. 
 " See you later? "
 
 10 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Not to-night, Jim. Going to stay home with 
 Pop." 
 
 " All right," he called cheerily. " We'll get you 
 some day. You can't keep out from where you 
 belong." 
 
 " Young Farnsworth running loose nights and 
 trying to get you into pool rooms with him?" de 
 manded Mr. Robinson, fiercely. 
 
 " Jimmie's not that sort." 
 
 " Then what's he mean by trying to lure you 
 out ? " he insisted, his natural suspicion far from 
 satisfied. 
 
 " Oh, it's just one of his kid jokes, I guess. He's 
 been picking on me to join some Boy Scouts." 
 
 " Never heard of 'em." 
 
 " It's an organization founded by a fellow coun 
 tryman of yours, Mr. Robinson, General Baden 
 Powell." 
 
 " Then it's a little bit of all right," declared the 
 man promptly, " and you join right quick." 
 
 " I'll think it over," promised Dick, doing his 
 level best to keep his face straight. But stolid Mr.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 11 
 
 Robinson saw no joke. His loyalty to the old coun 
 try was too deep to permit that, and, all the way to 
 the Hall cottage, he spun yarns about the deeds of 
 B. P. in South Africa and of the English army all 
 over the world. 
 
 Dick, in spite of his interest, was not sorry to bid 
 the slow-moving mechanic good night and his pace 
 quickened as he hurried up the short path to the 
 steps, humming softly to himself and already be 
 ginning to feel rested. 
 
 Even as he opened the door, he heard a gay call 
 from the kitchen, and, the next moment, his sister 
 was shaking a reproving finger at him. " You're 
 late, Dick," she charged, " and it's your fault if 
 supper's spoiled." 
 
 " If that's all I ever have to worry about," he 
 laughed, throwing off his coat and giving her rosy 
 cheek a pat as he pushed past to wash his face and 
 hands again, " I'm going to have a calm and placid 
 life. You're some cook, Sally! How's Pop, this 
 evening? " 
 
 " Still the same lazy good-for-nothing," an-
 
 12 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 swered a cheery voice from the little front room. 
 " Anything new at the factory? " 
 
 " Nothing but another rumor of more hands." 
 
 " Bullet's certainly doing his bit to help the right 
 side," said the voice wistfully. " Wish I could do 
 my share." 
 
 " Mr. Kendall asked after you to-day," announced 
 the boy quickly. 
 
 "Which one?" 
 
 " Mr. Stephen." 
 
 " There's a man worth molding yourself after, 
 Dick." 
 
 " So I've heard you say," chuckled the son. 
 " Scared me to death, though. I always expect to 
 be fired when he stops to say something. He barks 
 like one of his own guns. I'd rather have old ' Bul 
 let ' stalking round." 
 
 " They're both strong men," stated the father 
 firmly, " fair, square and on the job, and they want 
 their people the same." 
 
 The boy came to the doorway, the towel still in 
 his hand. "What's the matter, Pop?" he asked;
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 13 
 
 " losing your sense of humor, or am I really leading 
 your pet goat round on a string ? " 
 
 The thin, white father half turned in the in 
 valid's chair and looked up into the dancing brown 
 eyes of his handsome, well-built boy. " Any time 
 you get my goat, kid, you tie a bell on it and pin 
 a medal on your swelled out chest," advised Mr. 
 Hall solemnly. " Are you going to push me in to 
 supper, or leave me here to starve to death ? " 
 
 " If I take you in, will you promise not to tell 
 any stories about Steve Kendall ? " 
 
 " But Sally likes 'em. Sally's a young woman 
 of excellent taste." 
 
 " Sally's a young woman who's cooked an excel 
 lent supper that's losing all its taste," called the girl 
 from the kitchen. " You two stop fighting and 
 come along." 
 
 " Now will you be good, Pop ? " 
 
 " Looks 'sif we'd have to be, son. No wise man 
 invites troubles with the cook. Guess I can walk 
 to-night." 
 
 " Guess you won't try," vetoed the youngster and
 
 14 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 with that he caught the back of the chair and pushed 
 it gently to the supper table. " Where's the kid ? " 
 he demanded, glancing at his sister. 
 
 " Reading, I suppose. Nelson ! " 
 
 " In a minute," agreed a muffled voice. 
 
 " Where's he hiding this time? " 
 
 " Bedroom., I guess. He offered to help me with 
 the pudding, but all he'd do was eat currants and 
 I shooed him out." 
 
 "Come on, Nelse!" 
 
 " Yes, sir." The reply was prompt and the boy 
 came running in, his eyes sparkling. " Some 
 story ! " he announced. " That guy Stevenson was 
 no piker when it came to describing a pirate." 
 
 " Glad to hear he's improving your English, 
 youngster," suggested the father. 
 
 " Everybody pick on little Nelson ! " exclaimed 
 the boy. "Go ahead; I'll get even on that meat. 
 About three slices, Dick, and then let Sis see how 
 much potato she dares decorate it with." 
 
 " I envy you that appetite," declared Mr. Hall. 
 " I've forgotten what it is to be hungry."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 15 
 
 " I'm sorry, father ; I do the best " 
 
 " Stop right there, Sister," he commanded. 
 " You're the best little cook who ever happened, 
 and everything you make is fine." 
 
 " Certainly is," agreed Dick promptly. 
 
 " And, if you don't believe I'm on that band 
 wagon/' chimed in Nelson, "just test me with a 
 dash more of that potato." 
 
 The girl flushed with delight, for there was no 
 more mistaking the sincerity of their praise than 
 there was danger in overlooking their steadfast loy 
 alty to her. And, in this, she was like the rest. 
 No one could suggest criticism of a Hall to a Hall. 
 They might joke and scold and tease each other, but 
 that was as much jealously guarded family privi 
 lege as it was a prominent family characteristic. 
 
 The latter was well proved during the remainder 
 of the meal, and Nelson and his untamed appetite 
 were the chief sufferers. To have heard the father 
 enter into the fun, one never would have dreamed 
 that he knew his days were numbered, or was con 
 scious that the world contained such a thing as
 
 16 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 suffering. Since the death of his wife, when Nel 
 son was a baby, and especially since his own col 
 lapse two years before, he had tried his best to live 
 for his children and for them alone he clung to the 
 slender thread of life. 
 
 Of the four, he alone had to make pretense of 
 eating, and, while they watched him covertly, none 
 referred to his lack of appetite until all three were 
 through. Then Nelson, gulping a last mouthful of 
 pudding with a mighty effort, leaned back in his 
 chair and folded his hands across his stomach. 
 " When Pop's through gorging himself, Sis, wake 
 me up," he suggested and promptly began to snore. 
 
 " Just going to have one more dab, boy." 
 
 " Not another bit," the girl stated sternly, playing 
 a game too long familiar to be pathetic now; 
 " you've eaten too much already. Run along into 
 the other room, Nelse, and I'll do the dishes." 
 
 Two disgusted snores came in instant protest, yet, 
 before Dick could move the invalid's chair from the 
 table, little Nelse had his hands full of dishes and 
 was as busy as a contented bee,
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 17 
 
 The elder son moved the father back into the 
 front room and lit the lamp on the round center 
 table. " Feelin' any better this evening? " 
 
 " 'Bout as well as I ever will, old man," came 
 the unexpected answer in even tones. " I'm a bad 
 drag on a lad your age, but the two youngsters need 
 me awhile longer." 
 
 " Don't ! " he cried chokingly. 
 
 " I'm not going to quit, Dick; I'm not that sort 
 It isn't in a Hall. But you asked me and neither of 
 us is afraid of the truth." 
 
 " Of course you're not going to quit," he asserted 
 gamely. " But don't ever say you're a drag. I 
 owe you everything I have and I'm doing what little 
 I can to repay you, now that I have the chance." 
 
 " You've done that a thousandfold. You're 
 growing into the kind of man your mother knew 
 you'd be. She was worth working for, Dickie." 
 
 " So are you," he said huskily; " so are the kids. 
 I wish she could see them now." 
 
 " Perhaps she can," murmured the father. " So 
 long as we all live straight lives, I believe she can.
 
 18 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 By the way, Nelson's school report fell off this 
 month. He isn't getting into bad company, is he? " 
 
 " Not that I've heard of. I'll look round a bit 
 more carefully to-morrow. There' re a lot of new 
 boys in town, came with the new gangs at the 
 plant." 
 
 " Keep your eye on him ; I can't, not that way, 
 you know." 
 
 " There ought to be some better way of watching 
 that whole young crowd," said Dick thoughtfully. 
 " Why don't you put it up to Mr. Kendall the next 
 time he comes to see you? He's usually ready to 
 lend a hand in anything of that sort." 
 
 " I was talking about it this afternoon with Mr. 
 Tregressor." 
 
 " That new minister ? " 
 
 " Ah-ah ! He's a good deal of a man, too, 
 human all the way through. And he understands 
 other people's troubles because he's been through 
 trouble himself. He's a Canadian and one son's 
 been killed at the front already, while another is on 
 the way home, crippled for life."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 19 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 The man nodded thoughtfully. " I know how 
 young Tregressor's going to feel," he began. 
 
 " Please, let's talk of something else. You did 
 your bit with General Miles in Porto Rico, and you 
 gave your health to your country. I'm as proud of 
 that as if they'd given you the Medal of Honor. 
 But we're not going to discuss it ; it's happened, and 
 that's all there is to it." 
 
 The father glanced up. " Going to keep the old 
 man cheerful, are you ? " he said. " Good ! I'll help 
 you. Toss me that book and I'll read myself into a 
 better mood." 
 
 Dick did not hand him the book, but said : 
 
 " Let me read to you." 
 
 " Couldn't think of it." 
 
 " Haven't a thing to do." 
 
 "Sure?" 
 
 " Absolutely." 
 
 "Not a thing?" 
 
 " Not a thing." 
 
 " Fine ! Then put on your hat and coat and run
 
 20 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 up to Mr. Tregressor's. I told him you'd be up 
 there this evening." 
 
 " You set a trap for me," declared the boy, smil 
 ing in spite of himself. 
 
 "And you fell into it head first. Go along; I 
 want to read." 
 
 " But why should I go ? I never go anywhere." 
 
 " That's the first reason ; the second's that Mr. 
 Tregressor wants to see you." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 Mr. Hall picked up his book, opened it, then 
 peered over the top. " If I had your curiosity," he 
 chuckled, " I'd go ask him." 
 
 " If I had your disposition," laughed the boy, as 
 he rose and laid his hand on the feeble shoulder for 
 an instant, " I'd I'd " 
 
 "You'd what?" 
 
 " I'd ask for nothing else in this world," blurted 
 Dick and ran out of the room.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 . A GOOD DEED 
 
 As Dick came out into the cold, spring night, the 
 smile faded from his lips and he began to suspect 
 that his father had had a far more definite purpose 
 than mere whim in sending him to see Mr. Tregres- 
 sor. Yet, try as he would, he could not discover 
 any explanation for his mission. He knew the min 
 ister by sight. From the first there had been some- 
 tiling strangely appealing in the calm, strong face 
 and the straight and upright bearing of the stocky, 
 broad-shouldered man who had a nod and a cheerful 
 word for all. But Dick was not one to force ac 
 quaintanceship, and Mr. Tregressor apparently had 
 had other things to do besides halting hurrying boys 
 on their way to and from work. 
 
 His curiosity became so sharpened that it crowded 
 other thoughts from his mind, and, for once, he 
 walked with head bowed and eyes fixed on the snow. 
 
 21
 
 22 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Only an amused chuckle close to his ear brought 
 him back to realities, and the knowledge that Jim 
 Scott had fallen into step at his side. " Say! " he 
 exclaimed, " bray louder next time and don't scare 
 a chap out of a year's growth." 
 
 " Quit walking in your sleep, or you'll get run 
 over by a steam roller some day," advised Jim, 
 " Why the big bluff at making people think you're 
 thinking?" 
 
 " I sure was in a trance ! " Dick agreed. " If you 
 hadn't come along, I'd probably have been run in for 
 blocking traffic at the corner." 
 
 " You find any traffic to block in this hole-in-the- 
 ground and I'll pin a medal on you. This is the 
 deadest village that ever escaped being put on a 
 map." 
 
 " Then why stick round ? " 
 
 The man looked at him quizzically, then shrugged 
 his shoulders. " I've got to eat," he offered, " and, 
 to eat, I've got to work. The working's plentier 
 than the eating here, but I guess I'll stick round 
 awhile longer. If they had sense enough to start
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 23 
 
 a union here, we men would come nearer getting 
 what's coming to us, and that Kendall bunch 
 wouldn't throw out their chests so far." 
 
 " Don't think they object to unions ; they pay more 
 than union scale, anyway. I don't believe you'll 
 find better folks to work for anywhere in the United 
 States." 
 
 " Oh, you moss-backs all talk that way," said 
 Scott disgustedly. " It's because you don't know 
 what you want." 
 
 " I know what you want," retorted Dick good- 
 naturedly, " and that's a punching bag in front of 
 you all the time. Don't you ever get sick of kick 
 ing?" 
 
 Again the man glanced at him out of the corner 
 of his eyes. Then his whole attitude changed. 
 " Guess not," he said carelessly ; " it's good exercise 
 and sometimes turns into a good game." 
 
 " What do you mean? " 
 
 " Nothin' much. Where you headed ? " 
 
 " Going up on the hill to see Mr. Tregressor." 
 
 " Don't know him."
 
 24 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Neither do I." 
 
 " Then why do it ? Come on and take in the 
 movies." 
 
 " Have to save the pennies up my way." 
 
 " My treat." 
 
 " Much obliged. Made it a rule to accept nothing 
 I can't afford to return. Understand, don't you, 
 old fellow?" 
 
 " As much as I do a lot of your other crazy ideas, 
 youngster. You might break over, to keep me from 
 hating myself alone." 
 
 Dick shook his head. " Nothing doing ! " he re 
 peated as they rounded the main corner of the town. 
 
 " Hello, Dick ! " a man of about thirty called, as 
 he recognized the boy and stepped out of the crowd 
 hovering before the door of a pool and news room. 
 " What's brought you down town? " 
 
 " Hello ! " the boy responded cordially. " I'm 
 passing through your city." 
 
 " Better stop over a couple of trains. We peo 
 ple," he went on, nodding to the rest in front of the 
 store, " are going to shoot a game of pool. Don't
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 25 
 
 suppose it would do us any good to ask you?" 
 
 " Does me a lot of good to have you think of it, 
 but I can't." 
 
 " Let me in ? " suggested Scott. " I invented that 
 game." 
 
 Harry Lane looked at him a second time. It 
 was plain to see that he was not wildly enthusiastic. 
 " It's an open game," he said; " if you want to take 
 a chance, come to it." 
 
 " So long, then ! " called Dick, as he went on. 
 " See you both in the morning." 
 
 "What's the matter with that kid?" demanded 
 Scott, as he turned toward the store. 
 
 " No one round here ever found anything the mat 
 ter with him. If he doesn't want to hang round a 
 pool room with us loafers, though, that's our hard 
 luck. Dick Hall's a corker and don't you make 
 any bad bets against that." 
 
 " It was no reason for his acting so bloomin' 
 superior." 
 
 " Say, look here ; you came to Kendallville on 
 your own invitation and you went to work for the
 
 26 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Kendalls because you were the one to ask for a job 
 and you're coming in here on your own bid, not 
 ours. The rest's up to you. Get me ? " 
 
 " Sure ! Some day you'll wake up. Until then, 
 I'll take my naps alone at the movies. I don't horn 
 in where I'm not wanted." 
 
 " Suit yourself ; I was going out of my way to 
 be decent to a friend of Dick's." Without another 
 word he went inside, leaving Scott to find amuse 
 ment where he chose. But it was not at the 
 movies. 
 
 As Dick left the main thoroughfare for a darker 
 street, his steps began to lag and he caught himself 
 wondering how he was going to begin a conversa 
 tion with a man he'd never spoken to. Yet scarcely 
 had he rung the Tregressors' bell, and stepped inside 
 the quickly opened door, before he found himself 
 shaking hands with the white-haired man, and as 
 serting that he was glad to be there. 
 
 " The evening's little more than a baby, Hall," 
 the man said, with a smile which seemed to bubble 
 from the depths of clear, deep-seeing blue eyes,
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 27 
 
 " so come into my study and we'll let it grow a bit 
 older, while we get acquainted. I've wanted to 
 know your father's son for some time. I'm feeling 
 especially partial toward sons to-night ; I've just had 
 a wire that my own boy has reached Montreal and 
 is coming to see me as fast as the trains will bring 
 him." 
 
 " Is that the one who's been in the trenches ? " 
 " The one who was there and who has come 
 back." 
 
 " I know about the other one. Father told me." 
 The minister held open the door while the young 
 ster passed into the cosy, lamp-lit study. " Did he? 
 I'm glad of that. He was a good son and a good 
 soldier. No man could ask that more be said of 
 him. But so's this old fellow who's coming home," 
 he added in a tone which astounded Dick, used 
 as he was to cheerfulness and bravery. " You'll 
 like Dal. There never lived a cleaner sportsman." 
 " Will he stay long? " The question was more to 
 cover his feeling of awkwardness over being in a 
 strange house than for any other reason. Even as
 
 28 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 he asked it, his host nodded toward a chair and Dick 
 sank into it as if it was a sure refuge from embar 
 rassment. 
 
 " Can't say. He's never been much for idling, 
 but he's earned a rest during these last two years. I 
 hope he'll stay; possibly he'll find work here. A 
 man with but one arm is of no further use at the 
 front. Dal will enjoy your father; old soldiers love 
 to spin their yarns." 
 
 " But father's service in Porto Rico was a small 
 thing compared to what your son has been through, 
 sir." 
 
 " No service is small, my boy, when it is done with 
 a whole heart for one's country." 
 
 " Oh, I didn't mean that ! " cried Dick, thoroughly 
 uncomfortable at being misunderstood. " I meant 
 that father'd have to do all the listening. He didn't 
 see any real fighting, you know. It was the climate 
 and the fever which broke him." 
 
 " He took his chance, like any other brave man 
 would, and he's paying the cost, like every true man 
 does without a whimper. His life here in Ken-
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 29 
 
 dallville is a better sermon than I'll ever preach, my 
 boy. You can't put self-sacrifice and true unselfish 
 ness into mere words." 
 
 " I guess that's right," Dick agreed, looking at the 
 man in the big chair across the book-littered table, 
 with big, honest, brown eyes, " I guess, when you 
 come to figure things down as far as they'll go, 
 unselfishness is the biggest thing in the world." 
 
 " It's seemed so to me during the forty years I've 
 been preaching it. But I didn't ask you here for 1 
 this but " He stopped abruptly and a pleased 
 smile flashed across his thin lips. " That's the bell," 
 he exclaimed, springing to his feet and starting for 
 the door. " It must be some of my youngsters. 
 They usually turn up about this time, when they 
 can't find anything better to do." 
 
 Dick, surprised at the change which had come 
 over him, and, marveling at his almost boyish haste, 
 rose, too, and stood by the table, uncomfortably 
 shifting from one foot to the other. In the hall, he 
 heard excited babblings and the booming of the bass 
 voice above the boyish trebles ; then, into the room,
 
 30 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 piled four excited boys of about fifteen, followed by 
 the beaming Mr. Tregressor. 
 
 " And here," proclaimed Jimmie Farnsworth, 
 stopping abruptly, " is the leading citizen who 
 couldn't get out to-night! How-do-do and hello, 
 Dick. Did you change your mind when you 
 changed to your best coat ? " 
 
 " Dick Hall ! " mumbled little Ned West. " Dick 
 Hall!" 
 
 " I'll vote that Mr. Tregressor caught him in one 
 of those traps he was explaining last week," ex 
 claimed Nick Root, the incorrigible. 
 
 " You're wrong, Nick," contradicted Mr. Tregres 
 sor, as he pushed Hal Winslow toward a convenient 
 chair and turned to close the door. " All I did was 
 to be conceited enough to think I'd make good bait 
 for your trap. I've lured him here; it's you fel 
 lows' work to catch him." 
 
 Dick looked from one pleased face to another and 
 a helpless grin began to crinkle the corners of his 
 mouth. " I seem to be it," he acknowledged, " but 
 I don't get the answer."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 31 
 
 " We're the ones who're going to get that," de 
 clared Nick. " You sit down in that chair and don't 
 say ' yes ' till I snap my fingers." 
 
 " All you do, Nick," asserted Jim Farnsworth, 
 " is to go into that corner before you're put there 
 and, when you get there, keep quiet. Dick's a wily 
 bird and the sort of noise you make would scare a 
 flock of crows." 
 
 "Why not let Mr. Tregressor talk?" suggested 
 West mildly. " He can say it better than we can." 
 
 "Which same is a fine compliment not!" 
 snorted Nick disgustedly. 
 
 " It's Jim's work," stated Mr. Tregressor, cross 
 ing to his own chair and looking about the room 
 contentedly. "I'm going to take a back seat so that 
 Nick won't be lonely." 
 
 " My modesty's always bringing me some re 
 ward," grinned Nick. " Begin the big talk, Jimmie, 
 and I'll applaud just where you made me promise 
 to." 
 
 " You'll keep still, and that's a command," re 
 torted Jimmie.
 
 32 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Yes, Jim," Nick, instantly serious, added to 
 Dick's wonderment. 
 
 " You see," began Jim slowly, turning toward 
 Dick. " Mr. Tregressor had the idea that some of 
 us fellows were not making as much of ourselves as 
 we might and he invited us four up to supper one 
 night and explained the Boy Scouts and, the more 
 he explained, the more of a hit it made with us. 
 Here were we chaps, living within half an 
 hour's walk of the woods, and knowing noth 
 ing about them, except where the swimming hole 
 is and when chestnuts ought to be ripe. Then, 
 the next Saturday, he took us on a hike and showed 
 us how we thought we'd seen things, but really 
 hadn't had our eyes open. And he cooked us the 
 bulliest dinner over a regular camp fire and taught 
 us how to do it, too." 
 
 " Only everything you cooked the next week 
 tasted like hard boiled smoke," threw in Nick. 
 
 " It was all right the time after," declared Jim 
 belligerently. " We've certainly learned a lot about 
 camping, Dick. And we organized a Scout patrol,
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 33 
 
 Mr. Tregressor got a commission as our scout mas 
 ter and Hank Winn and Ted Field joined. That 
 gave us full membership and we got to work on the 
 real part of Scouting, which is learning how to be 
 prepared for everything. We meet here once a 
 week. You wouldn't come when I asked you to," 
 he finished in a hurt voice, " but we want you to 
 join." 
 
 " But you just said your membership was full, 
 Jim." 
 
 " Our patrol is full, but we want you to start a 
 new one," burst out Ned West, and then turned 
 scarlet because every one remained silent. 
 
 It was Dick's turn to take a long breath now. He 
 liked these boys, even. though they were all younger, 
 and he liked Mr. Tregressor more than he had ever 
 supposed he would come to like a man in so short a 
 time. " 'Fraid I'm too old," he offered, desperate. 
 
 " No boy is too old to be a Scout and no man is 
 too old to live up to Scout law," said Mr. Tregressor 
 quietly. " Don't make an over-hasty decision, Dick. 
 We're all in earnest in asking you to do this. You
 
 34 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 can bring in the older fellows by forming a patrol of 
 your own." 
 
 :c They might join if you asked 'em ; they wouldn't 
 for me." 
 
 The man smiled. " It wouldn't hurt you to try, 
 would it ? " he asked. 
 
 " I don't suppose it would," acknowledged the boy 
 slowly. " But, honestly, I haven't time to go out in 
 the woods. I have to work, and, when I'm not in 
 the shop, I like to hang round with father and the 
 kids. I've never joined anything. Saturday after 
 noons are about my only holidays and I've always 
 played ball then when I could. I'd hate to give that 
 up. It sounds selfish, I know, but I love baseball 
 and I don't care much about the woods, except when 
 there's a brook," he added. 
 
 " You give up ball and there'd be a riot in town," 
 prophesied Nick. " As for the woods, you don't 
 like 'em because you don't know 'em, I used to 
 look for bears every time I heard a twig snap, and, 
 as for meetin' a rabbit face to face not for mine ! 
 Now I can imitate three birds."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 35 
 
 " One of 'em's a parrot," stated Jim. " If you 
 want to air any more of your personal history, wig 
 wag it." 
 
 " You couldn't read it, if I did: I'm too fast for 
 you/' 
 
 " You're not. I taught you the code." 
 
 " Then catch this." Nick was on his feet in a 
 flash. His arms began to swing, up, down, up 
 down, first right, then to the left, then poising, hesi 
 tating, sweeping in the clean-cut arcs of the two- 
 arm semaphore code. For a moment Jim Farns- 
 worth followed him intently but then turned to Mr. 
 Tregressor, a foolish smile playing around the cor 
 ners of his mouth. " Is it real ? " he asked. 
 
 The man's glance was fixed on the rapidly flying 
 arms but he nodded slightly, as if too intent to an 
 swer in any other way. An instant later the arms 
 stopped, and Nick, snapping his hand to his forehead 
 in salute, sat down, his eyes dancing. 
 
 " Fine work ! " Mr. Tregressor exclaimed. 
 " Fine ! " Then, turning to the sheepish patrol 
 leader he decoded the message. " ' Signal,' " he
 
 36 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 snapped ; " * Don't boast until you can make 
 good!'" 
 
 " I'm it," announced Jim, heartily. " That cer 
 tainly was shooting it some, Nick. You put it all 
 over me." 
 
 " Do you mean to say that he was talking with his 
 arms ? " asked Dick. " Did all that Indian club bus 
 iness mean something to you people? " 
 
 " It certainly did to Mr. Tregressor and it should 
 have to the rest of us," confessed Jim, " only it came 
 a bit too fast. That was really flag signaling, only 
 Nick did it with his arms, instead of flags." 
 
 "Who taught him?" 
 
 " Mr. Tregressor. Nick's specializing in signal 
 ing now, so's to get the Scout merit badge for it. 
 It's only one of the thirty or forty phases of real 
 Scouting." 
 
 " What are some of the others? " 
 
 " Woodcraft, scholarship, civics, first aid, life- 
 saving, mechanics, athletics." 
 
 "Hold on," begged Dick. "You lads haven't 
 learned all about all those things."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 37 
 
 " 'Course we haven't. But we may in time. 
 Each one of us specializes." 
 
 " That signal stuff appeals to me," confessed Dick. 
 " A couple of fellows could have a lot of fun with 
 that." 
 
 " It might come in very useful some time, too," 
 threw in Mr. Tregressor ; " most things Scouts learn 
 have a way of coming in handy at unexpected mo 
 ments. You could pick it up very quickly, Dick. 
 But, after all, it's a very minor phase of real Scout 
 ing; it's only one little strand in the big rope which 
 means ' Be Prepared.' ' 
 
 " I guess it's about all I'd have time for, if I went 
 into the thing," mused the boy. " Honestly, seeing 
 Nick do that makes me jealous! " 
 
 " I'll be glad to teach you what I know," offered 
 Nick, suddenly modest. " It's not very hard, or I'd 
 never have learned it. I'm ivory above the eye 
 brows." 
 
 " He isn't boasting now," chuckled Jimmie. 
 
 Nick glared at him. Dick, who had known the 
 hot-headed youngster all his life, expected an out-
 
 38 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 burst. But, instead, Nick winked solemnly. " He 
 hasn't learned that there's a merit badge for ' Safety 
 First ' or he'd never have risked that. But, seri 
 ously, Scouting has helped me to quit boast- 
 ing." 
 
 " It seems to do all sorts of things," exclaimed 
 Dick. " There must be something behind what you 
 fellows have said, though. Suppose you let Mr. 
 Tregressor talk. If I couldn't go in for it, maybe 
 you'd let Nelson have a chance. The kid needs just 
 this sort of thing." 
 
 " I'll be glad to tell you all I can," agreed Mr. 
 Tregressor, and straightway began a brief account 
 of how General Baden Powell founded the Boy 
 Scouts and how the movement spread to America, 
 grew and flourished. Then he described the organ 
 ization and aim of the Scouts and told of the Scout 
 Law and object and, above all else, how every Scout 
 thinks of others before he thinks of himself and 
 tries so to shape his life that he can look every man 
 and boy squarely in the eye. " And," he concluded, 
 " if there ever was a boy who wouldn't have to
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 39 
 
 change his ways in order to live up to our ideals, 
 it's you, Dick Hall. We need you." 
 
 For a long minute there was silence and the five 
 watched the set and crimson face of the boy they 
 hoped would give them his aid. Dick's mind was 
 turning over many things, and, now and then, his 
 teeth closed on his under lip. At last he looked up 
 and his eyes met the steady gaze of Mr. Tregressor. 
 " If I can be of any use to any one," he said slowly, 
 " I don't see how I could honestly refuse to do my 
 
 " Then you'll come in and organize a patrol of 
 part." 
 your own ? " 
 
 " I'll do my best, Jim." 
 
 " Wow ! " triumphed Nick Root. " This is where 
 we four have done one good deed for to-day."
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 SOMETHING IS STOLEN 
 
 As Dick went home that night, his mind was bus 
 ier with this strange signaling of which Nick, notori 
 ously the laziest boy in the crowd, had proved him 
 self master, than with the more important features 
 of Scouting. It had touched some chord within 
 him ; he wanted to learn the code Nick had so val 
 iantly tried to explain. But, later, came a different 
 feeling, almost a sensation of guilt at having impul 
 sively given his word to undertake something which 
 was bound to make grave inroads into the time he 
 gave to his home. But, before he had a chance to 
 become confused in his thoughts, his father wormed 
 the whole story from him, and, to Dick's vast relief, 
 was enthusiastic in his approval and the boy began 
 to study the flags that very night. 
 
 His father's endorsement gave the spur needed to 
 overcome his innate modesty about approaching 
 
 40
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 41 
 
 others with a proposition already growing close to 
 his heart. And, although his manner was strangely 
 diffident when he began to talk with Ted Knight and 
 Bud Carter, two of the fellows Mr. Tregressor had 
 asked him to see, his enthusiasm soon overcame his 
 discomfort, and, " playing up " the advantages and 
 fun they all might have after learning the code, he 
 won them over, not only to that, but to the greater 
 thing that Scouting offered a background against 
 which character might be built. 
 
 Together they went to the fourth boy, but in Billy 
 Defoe they met a tartar. Try as they would they 
 could not make him take their arguments seriously. 
 " I'll do most anything for you fellows," he offered, 
 " but I want something with more kick than this. 
 Besides, I'm not geen on Tregressor. First thing I 
 knew, he'd want me to lay off having any fun." 
 
 They tried him three or four times, for he was far 
 from being as unreasonable as he made himself out, 
 and they all liked him. But when the others gave 
 up in despair, Dick became the more determined 
 to succeed.
 
 42 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The problem became so interesting that he not 
 only talked it over with Mr. Tregressor, but began 
 to try out his arguments on Scott, and Jim, always 
 ready to discuss any topic on earth, entered into 
 the spirit of the debate, and, as he worked, seemed 
 to enjoy thoroughly trying to tangle the boy in his 
 explanations and confuse him in his statements. 
 
 It became almost a game, and they were at it 
 in full swing one afternoon, their tongues going 
 at the same time, although their eyes and fingers 
 were busy with their work. It was because of this 
 that the usually alert Scott did not notice that quick 
 ened atmosphere which discloses the presence of one 
 of the powers-that-be in every mill. 
 
 Down the aisle came a man of about thirty-five, 
 his step neither fast nor slow, his eyes never still. 
 The older workmen nodded gravely as he passed 
 and in their greeting was both respect and a frank 
 show of friendliness. But the newer men bent 
 further over their work, as if to impress him with 
 their industry, and it was on one of them that his 
 keen, all-seeing glance rested longest.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 43 
 
 With only an occasional stop to examine some 
 piece of work, he came on, until directly behind the 
 chattering pair. A quick frown flashed across his 
 high forehead as he caught snatches of their conver 
 sation and became aware that it was entirely foreign 
 to the factory. His head turned, as if looking for 
 Weinberg, the foreman, but the next moment 
 he stepped forward, and touched Dick on the 
 arm. 
 
 " Let's see that frame you're working on, Hall," 
 he said, in an absolutely emotionless voice. 
 
 Dick jumped at the touch, turned, and, when he 
 recognized the younger Mr. Kendall, nodded 
 brightly. Almost in one motion, he drew it across 
 his apron to remove the last trace of oil, and held 
 it out. " It's nice steel," he volunteered, " and 
 they're cutting so clean on the machines now that 
 it makes it easy for us." 
 
 "Yes?" Mr. Kendall ran his eyes, then his rin 
 gers, across the clean-cut angles and openings. 
 " Don't let familiarity make you careless. You've 
 got to have your mind on your work. Take that
 
 44 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 piece in and leave it on the foreman's desk on your 
 way home to-night." 
 
 This time the boy's face flushed. " That's not 
 necessarily a complaint, Hall," Mr. Kendall said, 
 with the trace of a smile. " Remember, there are 
 better jobs than this one." He turned abruptly and 
 picked a piece from Scott's tray. " There's an edge 
 which will not pass inspection," he announced. 
 " How long have you been here ? " 
 
 " Month." 
 
 " Is that all you've learned ? " asked Mr. Kendall, 
 his eyes meeting Scott's. 
 
 " Do you mean you're not satisfied with results," 
 the man demanded in so calm a tone that Dick looked 
 up in wonderment. 
 
 " I didn't say that. I'll give you a bit of friendly 
 advice, too: Don't overlook too many little 
 things." 
 
 " You needn't worry," retorted Scott indiffer 
 ently. " When I finish a job, your inspectors won't 
 have to go over my work." With that he ex 
 tended his hand for the frame Mr. Kendall still
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 45 
 
 balanced in his fingers, and, to Dick's added amaze 
 ment, dropped it back in the tray for finished work. 
 For a moment, the boy expected an explosion, but, 
 instead Mr. Kendall nodded once more, and started 
 on down the room. 
 
 But before he had taken a dozen steps, he wheeled 
 and came back. " By the way, Hall," he said, " Mr. 
 Tregressor tells me he's succeeded in interesting you 
 in his work amongst the youngsters in town. If 
 any of them should ask you, tell them I'm behind 
 it. It's a fine influence. Get Scott into it." 
 
 " Guess that's what I was really trying to do," 
 confessed Dick. 
 
 " Keep it up, outside shop hours," advised the 
 man, and, this time, went on through the door with 
 out stopping at Weinberg's office in the corner. 
 
 For perhaps three minutes, Dick worked in 
 silence, then his feelings got the better of him. 
 "Jim," he asked, "was that meant for a call? " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Was the boss trimming us for talking too 
 much?"
 
 46 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " He wasn't trimming you," he growled ; " get 
 back on the job. I've got troubles of my own." 
 
 For the next hour Scott would not reply even to 
 the most casual remark, nor could Dick imagine 
 what was the trouble. Certainly he could see little 
 in what Mr. Kendall had said to make the man sulk 
 so openly. But if he had been able to read what 
 was going on in Jim Scott's active brain, he would 
 have thought of him as anything but a sulker. 
 
 From time to time, he was vaguely conscious that 
 Scott was watching the door of the foreman's 
 cubby-hole room, and, whenever Weinberg came out 
 on his frequent tours of inspection, he thought that 
 Jim's eyes followed Weinberg's progress more 
 closely than his file followed his work. He knew 
 that his friend hated the big foreman, for he never 
 missed a chance to anger him, and, once or twice, 
 Dick had been afraid their clashes would result in 
 Jim's instantaneous discharge, for Weinberg was 
 short of patience and over-proud of his authority. 
 
 It was close to five o'clock when Scott saw Wein 
 berg, on his final rounds for the day, approaching
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 47 
 
 with all the air of a Roman emperor inspecting his 
 slaves. He bent low over his bench, but, just as 
 the foreman was behind him, he lifted the pistol 
 frame he held and patted it tenderly. " The only 
 thing that's keeping me on this bum job," he an 
 nounced to Dick, " is the hope that every gun I help 
 make'll kill fifty Huns." 
 
 The even step behind him never changed. " Wish 
 they'd start a night shift so we'd turn out more," 
 he said. 
 
 Weinberg stopped. "If Kendall methods do not 
 please," he snapped, " you know what you may do." 
 
 " Sure! But I'm waiting for the old U. S. to go 
 in. I'd rather kill mine under my own flag, wouldn't 
 you? Oh, I forgot! You're a German, aren't 
 you," he said with a rasping laugh. 
 
 " I am American and " 
 
 " Then don't get hot under the collar," advised 
 Scott carelessly. " No one's trying to start a race 
 riot, me least of all. Only I do hope I'm going to 
 live to jab a bayonet at a Hun." 
 
 Weinberg was controlling himself with increasing
 
 48 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 difficulty. He wanted an outlet for his temper and 
 he looked about for an excuse. At that moment 
 Dick snapped the file with which he was working. 
 " Ach ! " exploded the foreman. " Always care 
 less. It shall be stopped from your pay." 
 
 The injustice left the boy speechless. It was 
 an accident that was all in the day's work. How 
 ever, Dick knew that not only was the man furious 
 but that he had borne a grudge against him ever 
 since Tom Hall had openly protested to the Ken 
 dalls against the man's appointment to his old fore- 
 manship. Nor had Dick's own thoroughness in 
 thrashing Weinberg's big son Oscar, for bullying 
 small boys, added to the foreman's love. 
 
 Tempted now to protest against injustice, it was 
 Scott's scarcely breathed "Easy!" which calmed 
 him quicker than any warning he had ever re 
 ceived and he picked up another file with a low- 
 spoken " All right, sir." 
 
 His docility gave the foreman an even greater 
 sense of authority. " Of carelessness from you we 
 have had sufficient," he said, in his stern, precise
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 49 
 
 English. " I will not have careless boys in my de 
 partment. Before, I have warned you. I warn not 
 a third time. You are a disturbing force here." 
 
 This time it was Dick who gave the warning, for 
 he saw Scott's feet shift and the muscles in his 
 arms twitch. Some sixth sense came to Wein- 
 berg's rescue and told him that he had gone far 
 enough. With a low growl, he wheeled about and 
 walked away, his chin in the air. 
 
 " For a real ' American,' he stood a good deal," 
 observed Jim with a grin. " He's got mighty good 
 self-control, blast him ! " 
 
 " I shouldn't think he had any." 
 
 " You and I never seem to agree. When are you 
 going to take Kendall's advice and start missionary 
 work on me? " 
 
 " Not in working hours," declared Dick fervently. 
 " My job looks good to me, even if I haven't the 
 strangle hold on it I thought I had." 
 
 " Sorry I got Weinberg down on you ; didn't 
 mean to do that." 
 
 " 'S all right, Jim. He's been looking for a
 
 50 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 chance to get me for months. He's equally sore 
 at you." 
 
 " Don't worry about me, young fellow ; my eye 
 teeth came through my gums years ago. I never 
 keep a job long anywhere." With that he picked up 
 his tools, and, whistling between his teeth, went to 
 work. 
 
 But the incident had made the boy uneasy and it 
 was hard for him to concentrate his attention on his 
 task again. Whenever his eyes wandered, he saw 
 Scott bent over his bench and it came as an even 
 greater surprise when he caught the low-uttered ex 
 clamation of satisfaction and heard Scott's tools 
 clatter into the drawer. " What's up ? " he de 
 manded. 
 
 " Going to call it a day." 
 
 " It's only 5 130, Jim." 
 
 " Guess that clock's wrong." 
 
 "ButWeinberg?" 
 
 " Just gone out with Schwartz." 
 
 " What's Schwartz doing up here ? " 
 
 " Search me ! Maybe they're going to have a
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 51 
 
 loyal Americans meeting to-night; maybe he just 
 wanted to gossip with his pal." 
 
 " But Schwartz never comes up here," said the 
 boy thoughtfully. " The tempering room crowd say 
 he's always picking on them." 
 
 " Maybe he's going there to pick some more," re 
 torted Jim with a shrug ; " that's their worry. Good 
 night." He slammed the drawer closed and hur 
 ried toward the exit through which the two foremen 
 had disappeared. 
 
 His effrontery in following them astounded the 
 boy. It was adding needless risk to the big one he 
 took. He did not want Jim to lose his job, espe 
 cially for a breach of shop rules. He was worried, 
 but he tried to drown his worry in his work and to 
 confine his speculations as to why Mr. Kendall 
 had ordered him to take that frame to Weinberg's 
 room. 
 
 He was examining it for the third time when some 
 presentiment caused him to look round. His jaw 
 dropped and his eyes grew wide. Scott was going 
 into Weinberg's office. He must have met the fore-
 
 52 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 man on the stairs and have been ordered back to 
 await the foreman's wrath. 
 
 It made Dick almost sick to think of Jim dis 
 graced, and every few seconds he turned to look 
 for the coming of the foreman. But, inside of 
 three minutes, Scott came out of the office as casu 
 ally as he had entered, and Dick, seeing him stroll 
 down the other stairway, gave a great sigh of relief. 
 It was evident that Jim had been sent into the closely 
 guarded room on some errand. 
 
 As is always the case, he found that worrying over 
 another's trouble had added to his own. When the 
 whistle blew, he was nearly a full piece behind his 
 schedule. Thinking he could catch up in five extra 
 minutes, he went at his filing like an angry bee. It 
 took longer than he had expected, and when he came 
 to put his things away he found the shop deserted. 
 Grabbing die frame Mr. Kendall had referred to, he 
 started on the run for the foreman's office. Open 
 ing the door, he darted in, laid the piece on the 
 desk and started out again at full speed but, as he 
 turned the corner, a big arm barred his way.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 53 
 
 " What were you doing in my room? " demanded 
 Weinberg. 
 
 " Mr. Kendall ordered me to leave a frame there." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " He didn't tell me that. Supposed he explained 
 to you." 
 
 " Urn ! Where did you put it ? " 
 
 " On your desk." 
 
 "So! Goodnight." 
 
 Hardly had Dick gotten into the swing of his 
 work the next morning before one of the helpers 
 ran up to him. " Old Weinberg wants you in his 
 office," he announced breathlessly, " and, believe 
 me, he's some ugly." 
 
 " All right." He put down his file, but as he 
 turned from his bench, Scott looked up. 
 
 " Don't let him bluff you into anything," he ad 
 vised. 
 
 " Don't worry about me." In spite of his non 
 chalance, however, Dick began to worry a little 
 about himself. It was the first time he had been 
 summoned into that room. Weinberg made it a
 
 54 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 point to see his men at their work, unless it was 
 something unusually important. 
 
 As Dick went into the office, the big foreman 
 turned slowly in the chair before the desk. " Close 
 the door," he ordered. " Come over here and stand 
 where I can see your face." For a long moment he 
 studied the boy's features through half -closed eyes, 
 then, resting a hand on each knee, he shot forward 
 his bullet-shaped head. " So you are the thief," he 
 announced, his voice booming like a gun. 
 
 "Thief! What are you talking about?" Dick 
 was so astonished that his voice broke. 
 
 The foreman, quick to take this as a sign of 
 weakness, was as quick to change his whole man 
 ner. Aggressive brutality faded into sly cunning 
 and a sneering smile spread across the thick lips. 
 " So ! " he exclaimed. " It was that you thought 
 old Weinberg a sleeping oaf ? That which you stole 
 from this desk last night, put back." 
 
 The boy's face was white with an indignation 
 which shook every fiber in his body. " I'm no 
 thief," he cried.
 
 I'M NO THIEF
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 55 
 
 Weinberg's head moved in well-assumed sorrow. 
 "Is it that you take me to be simple? Is it that 
 you forget that I caught you here and that your ex 
 cuse for being here was as stupid as you think I am 
 stupid ? " He straightened, and, shaking a finger 
 close to the boy's face, said, " There is nothing which 
 you can gain by lying. You were in here ; you stole ; 
 you are the only one who came in here; none of 
 my men come here unless ordered by me." 
 
 " But Mr. Kendall himself ordered me here." 
 
 " Was it that he, too, ordered you to steal from 
 my desk ? Some one came in here ; some one stole ; 
 you are the one who was here ; you are the thief." 
 
 Dick, in spite of the shock and of his anger at 
 being accused of dishonesty, tried to calm himself so 
 that he might think clearly. Then, in a flash, came 
 remembrance of Scott's visit to this same room. If 
 a theft had been committed, Scott was the thief. 
 The knowledge sickened him. He could not believe 
 that the man whom he had accepted as a friend had 
 proved dishonest. The thought drove his own pre 
 dicament from his mind and all his loyalty asserted
 
 56 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 itself. No matter how circumstances might point an 
 incriminating finger, he would no more believe evil 
 of Jim Scott than he would of himself. 
 
 " Come," said the foreman, in an insinuating 
 tone, strangely out of keeping with the aggressive 
 poise of his body ; " restore that which you took and 
 I will be the strong man with the weakling. You 
 shall have one more chance, not because I believe 
 you to be honest, but because I am generous. It 
 was you who abused my son; I will return good 
 for evil." 
 
 " I don't want generosity," declared the boy, " I 
 want justice. I'm going to have it." 
 
 " So ! Who are you to say what you will have 
 and what you will not have? You will have that 
 which I am pleased to give you. You will return 
 that which you stole within one hour, or it shall be 
 known that you are a thief." 
 
 " But I've taken nothing. I don't even know what 
 you've lost." 
 
 " Do not add lies to the theft. If you did not 
 take it, you know who did. It is for you to return
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 57 
 
 it. If it is not within my hand within the hour, 
 you go to Mr. Kendall as a thief and tell him that no 
 boy who is dishonest works under me. But to me 
 you shall return that which you stole. My word is 
 good."
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 BACK FROM THE FRONT 
 
 DICK went out of that office in a daze. Never 
 before had his honesty been questioned; never had 
 anyone dared doubt his word. Vaguely, he began to 
 realize how desperate was his plight, to grasp the full 
 scope of the plot the crafty foreman had sprung. 
 Try as he would, he could see no way out. Even if 
 he found, and returned that mysterious thing which 
 had been stolen, he would still be held guilty. He 
 could see no way of proving his innocence. 
 
 But, slowly, the courage which had kept him fight 
 ing for the past two years began to return, and, with 
 it came the remembrance that friendship was the 
 greatest thing in the world. All that he had to do 
 was to tell Jim Scott the whole story and his friend 
 would find some way to clear him. For, even now 
 he would not believe that Jim could really be guilty. 
 
 His step became more firm as he hurried past busy 
 
 58
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 59 
 
 workmen and whirring machines. To his relief, Jim 
 was watching for his return. " What's up ? " he 
 asked, with a smile which was far different from the 
 expression on the boy's face. 
 
 " Someone stole something out of Weinberg's of 
 fice last night. He's accused me and given me an 
 hour to return it." 
 
 Scott raised his eyebrows. " And if you don't 
 make good ? " 
 
 " I'm fired for being a thief." 
 
 " Didn't swipe it, did you ? " 
 
 " You know I didn't." 
 
 " Then what you goin' to do about it? " 
 
 " Don't know. Thought I'd like to talk it over 
 with you. Thought you might see some way out." 
 
 Scott's eyes met the lad's squarely. " You don't 
 think I'm the thief, do you?" he asked in a calm 
 voice. 
 
 Dick's teeth closed over his lower lip. " Jim," he 
 said with an effort, " I don't know what's been 
 taken, or who took it, but you've always played the 
 game with me and I'm going to with you. I saw
 
 60 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 you go into that room last night when Weinberg 
 was out. I was the last person to leave this shop 
 and no one went into the office but you. He claims 
 that whatever was taken, was taken then. I know I 
 didn't take anything." 
 
 " But you're mighty sure I did," retorted Scott 
 coldly. 
 
 " I'm nothing of the sort," answered Dick. " I'm 
 only telling you what I know about what hap 
 pened. I'm not accusing you of anything; I'm 
 not asking you to tell me anything; I'm only 
 talking to you as I'd expect you to talk to 
 me." 
 
 " And you're hoping I'll go to Weinberg and give 
 it back." 
 
 " I know that you'll do the square thing, if you 
 know anything about it." 
 
 " Did you tell Weinberg that you saw me go in 
 there?" 
 
 " Course not." 
 
 " And you're the only one he suspects ? " 
 
 " Yes."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 61 
 
 "Then," announced Scott calmly, "you'll have 
 to take your medicine." 
 
 Dick gasped. All his hopes went glimmering, 
 and with them his belief in human nature. With 
 out a word he took off his apron and put his tools in 
 the drawer. " I'd rather counted on you," he 
 gulped. " I'll have to fight this out alone, now. 
 But don't you think I won't win out. And you 
 needn't worry about my giving you away." 
 
 " It's because I have taken the trouble to know 
 you that I'm sure you won't," Scott muttered under 
 his breath. " Also, you may find that I'm not such 
 a bad friend as you suppose," he added, as the boy 
 walked away. 
 
 Dick's steps dragged as he went to the locker room 
 in the basement. His one idea was to get away 
 where he could be alone and think. He realized the 
 factory would be an utterly impossible place for him 
 if others thought him a thief, and he knew Wein- 
 berg well enough to be certain he would not keep 
 the charge to himself. He had hoped to work for 
 the Kendalls all his life, to make himself invaluable
 
 62 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 to them, even to win a place in the office some day 
 and be Stephen Kendall's right hand man. Now 
 that was all ended. He would have to find other 
 work and it would have to be far from Kendall- 
 ville. 
 
 As he put on his coat, another feeling came over 
 him. It was here he had done his first work, 
 earned his first dollar, played his part among men. 
 The very thought of leaving the noise, the smell of 
 oily steel, the friendly workmen, made him home 
 sick. Then, too, there was Mr. Kendall, who, in 
 his aloof way, had been his friend. The desire to 
 thank him for having given him his first chance 
 became too strong to be resisted, and, without con 
 sidering that he had been ordered to report to him, 
 he started for the main offices. 
 
 Too absorbed in his troubles to look about, he did 
 not see Jim Scott coming out of the separate build 
 ing in the south corner of the factory yard. But it 
 was apparent that Scott was not so blind. He 
 turned sharply and ran into the factory through the 
 engine room.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 63 
 
 As Dick came into the office he felt as if every 
 book-keeper was looking at him and saying, 
 " There's a thief. Look at that thief, Dick Hall ! " 
 He almost jumped when Jimmie Farnsworth ran 
 up with a cheery, " Hello ! Come over to see if 
 we've a vacant foremanship on the new night shift 
 for you ? " 
 
 "Night shift?" repeated Dick absently. 
 
 " Surest thing you know ! Begins work as soon 
 as we can get the hands. War's making the busi 
 ness boom." 
 
 " Is Mr. Stephen busy, Jim? " 
 
 " No," chuckled the youngster, " no. He doesn't 
 do a thing but sit round and read the newspapers. 
 Want to get him to go skating with you ? " 
 
 " I'd like to see him a minute, if I could." 
 
 " Well, seeing you're a pal and a Scout, I'll take 
 a chance," agreed Jimmie and dashed through the 
 swinging gate toward the private office in the corner. 
 
 He came back at full speed. " Caught him," he 
 panted; "go right in, but make it short. We're 
 busy over here."
 
 64 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Ordinarily, Jimmie's assumption of equality with 
 the owners would have amused Dick, for he had 
 not had experience enough in the office to appreciate 
 that one of Stephen Kendall's new ideas was to make 
 his people feel that they were as much a part of the 
 Kendall Arms Company as his father or himself. 
 But he went on without more than a word of 
 thanks. 
 
 Mr. Kendall glanced up from a sheaf of papers 
 spread on the desk before him. "What is it?" 
 he asked. 
 
 There was a strange friendliness in the usually 
 crisp voice which confused the lad. All at once he 
 seemed to see the human side of this strong, self- 
 contained man. There was a light in the depths 
 of the usually cold eyes which was somehow dif 
 ferent, which made Dick suddenly understand why 
 the men who had grown up with Steve Kendall 
 were ready to follow him blindly. The remem 
 brance of his errand brought a sharp stab to 
 his heart, but he gritted his teeth and stepped for 
 ward.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 65 
 
 " I've come to thank you for all you've done for 
 me," he blurted. 
 
 "Got a better job?" 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 " Not dissatisfied with us ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Think you ought to be paid more ? " 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 " Care to tell me the trouble, Dick? " 
 
 The unexpected use of his Christian name brought 
 a lump into his throat. The keen blue eyes did not 
 leave his face for an instant, and Mr. Kendall saw 
 that the youngster's burden was far too heavy for 
 his shoulders long before Dick realized how desper 
 ately close he was to breaking. 
 
 " Just give that door a push. The noise bothers 
 me this morning. Been working hard over these 
 new contracts and my nerves are jumpy. Now," 
 he went on, in the same easy voice, " let's have the 
 whole story." 
 
 Haltingly, at first, then with a rush, Dick poured 
 out the tale and the man allowed him to finish with-
 
 66 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 out interruption. " So," he announced with a gulp, 
 " I've got to go." 
 
 "I don't see it in that light," stated Mr. Ken 
 dall promptly. 
 
 " Wha what do you mean ? " 
 
 " I mean that if someone had accused me of do 
 ing something crooked, and if my conscience was 
 clear, I'd everlastingly stick and fight. You were 
 saying something like that to Scott only yesterday. 
 Why don't you practice what you preach ? " 
 
 " But how can I ? Weinberg would fire me." 
 
 " As long as I was the one who gave you that 
 job, I think I'll be the one to take it away, when 
 the time comes." 
 
 " Do you mean it? Do you really mean it? " 
 
 The man rose, and, coming round the corner of 
 the desk, put his hand on the boy's heaving shoulder. 
 " I don't mean it in the way you think," he said 
 kindly. " I don't mean that I'll go over the head of 
 one of my foremen. That would be fatal to our 
 whole organization. And I do not want trouble 
 with Weinberg. But there are other ways. You
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 67 
 
 believe in yourself, but you've taken it for granted 
 that others don't believe in you. That's not true 
 modesty. You've made a good name here, yet 
 you're ready to lose it without making a fight. It 
 isn't the fellow who runs away who comes out on 
 top; it's the man who sticks and faces odds with a 
 smile and it isn't like you to quit cold." 
 
 Dick bit his lips. The idea that anyone thought 
 him a coward hurt almost as much as that anyone 
 could think him a thief. Yet, after all, wasn't Mr. 
 Kendall right? Red waves of shame surged up into 
 his cheeks and he knew that Mr. Kendall was. 
 " I'll go back and fight it out," he stated between 
 tight-shut teeth. 
 
 A strange smile flickered across the man's face. 
 " I knew you had the sand," he said, " but, hold up 
 a minute. Learn not to jump at conclusions, too. 
 I can't put you back on the old job without forcing 
 the issue with Mr. Weinberg. If I'm to help you, 
 you must help me. You'll have to go on the night 
 shift when it starts next week, and I want nothing 
 said until then about my giving you the job."
 
 68 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " I'd rather face Weinberg," admitted Dick; " I'd 
 rather fight him in the open, but," he added gamely, 
 " I'll do whatever you say." 
 
 " That's more like it. The hardest part," he 
 added with an encouraging pat on the back, " will 
 be loafing till Monday," 
 
 Dick appreciated that even before he had left the 
 office; knew that by walking out of the factory he 
 had made his first mistake; knew that Weinberg 
 would jump at the conclusion that he had admitted 
 his guilt by his act. But big, friendly Stephen 
 Kendall had asked him, Dick Hall, to help him by 
 keeping quiet, and while he could not understand, 
 he would do that as loyally as he would fight for 
 himself. But the question of how to explain the 
 four days of idleness to his father was now the 
 burning problem. 
 
 He met it in the only straightforward, manly way 
 and it drew the man and boy even closer together, 
 for the father understood on the instant how any 
 breath of suspicion would seer his son and he went 
 deeper than Stephen Kendall had gone in showing
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 69 
 
 him the bravery of an honest fight against injustice. 
 
 What Dick did not know was his father's anxiety 
 over the true cause for Weinberg's accusation. Nor 
 could he guess Weinberg's object in not telling the 
 boy what had been stolen. As for Scott's part in 
 the affair, Dick had kept that to himself. None 
 should ever say that he had leveled the finger of 
 suspicion. 
 
 But within twenty-four hours he began to feel the 
 full weight of this same finger. If Weinberg him 
 self did not speak, he made no effort to curb the wild 
 tongue of his son, and, while many listened to the 
 youth's highly colored story of Dick's disgrace, at 
 least one did not. Of the loyalty of Billy Defoe, 
 the Weinberg cub's bruised and battered face bore 
 eloquent testimony. 
 
 The news of this championship came quickly to 
 Dick, and while it both comforted and cheered, he 
 found it took all his courage to face his friends, for, 
 boylike, he was supersensitive and thought the 
 older men must suspect him because, out of well 
 meant sympathy, they kept their true indignation
 
 70 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 to themselves. If Mr. Kendall's strange request 
 for silence had not sealed his lips everything would 
 have been easier. 
 
 As for Jim Farnsworth, Nick Root and the two 
 other youngsters with whom he had spent that eve 
 ning at Mr. Tregressor's, they left no room for him 
 to doubt their real friendship, and their way of ex 
 pressing it had a new effect on Defoe. Unknown to 
 Dick, Jimmie had a long talk with him. It was 
 not until Dick chanced to meet Mr. Tregressor on 
 the street, that he in any way connected the new 
 bond which had drawn all the lads closer, with the 
 Scouts. He had quite expected they would drop 
 him now. The old minister's hearty command to 
 report at his home the following evening made his 
 heavy heart leap. Certainly this Scouting was the 
 real thing. 
 
 He found himself counting the hours, and, to 
 make them pass the more quickly, he plunged into 
 the study of wig-wagging and Scout law. It 
 pleased him, too, to discover that Carter and Knight 
 had received similar invitations from Mr. Tregres-
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 71 
 
 sor and were as nervous about them as he had been 
 over his first call. 
 
 Yet, in spite of their early enthusiasm, it was a 
 rather quiet group of boys who appeared at the 
 minister's home. Dick was astounded at Defoe's 
 presence, nor did the lad offer any explanation for 
 his unexpected switch to the Scouts. Carter and 
 Knight, too, were visibly embarrassed over finding 
 themselves in strange surroundings and the younger 
 lads were all more or less concerned lest something 
 should crop out which would bring up the topic 
 of Dick's trouble, the one thing which was on all 
 their minds. 
 
 Mr. Tregressor, however, was as clever at peek 
 ing beneath boyhood's rough upper crust as he was 
 at the lesser task of putting guests at their ease. 
 Even the over-conscious Defoe found his host's 
 mood contagious, and was soon talking and laugh 
 ing with the rest, for to-night there was a subtle 
 something about Mr. Tregressor which made them 
 all feel like putting their best foot forward. Every 
 once in a while a smile crinkled the wrinkled face
 
 72 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 and the blue eyes glowed with a pleasure the man 
 made no attempt to conceal. 
 
 " It's fine to have all my boys here again," he 
 exclaimed, pushing a dish of candy nearer the none- 
 too-backward Nick. " I'm delighted you three fel 
 lows have come," he went on, turning to Carter, De 
 foe and Knight. " Dick was a bit afraid you 
 wouldn't be interested in the Scouts, but I've yet 
 to find the boy who isn't when he knows their ob 
 ject." 
 
 Bud Carter crossed his legs more comfortably and 
 sank further back in the easy chair. " It's become 
 a habit to follow old Dick," he acknowledged, " and, 
 this time, this signaling stuff made a base hit with 
 me. I've ahvays had a bug for the navy. I'd like 
 to get in as a wireless operator and anything I can 
 learn in that line helps." 
 
 "Why not take up the real wireless? That's a 
 part of Scout work." 
 
 " Really ! Me for it ! When do we begin ? " 
 
 " Where do I come in? " interrupted Defoe. " I 
 never saw a ship and I'd get sea-sick if I did. I
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 73 
 
 don't want any navy for mine. The old drawing 
 board looks good to me, and, if I can ever learn the 
 trade, I guess the Kendalls will give me a chance in 
 the drafting room." 
 
 " You can take that up for a part of your Scout 
 work, Defoe." 
 
 " Say ! " chuckled Bud. " Dick didn't tell us this 
 was a high school. We thought it was taking walks 
 and cooking dinners while you waved flags." 
 
 " I thought I'd tell you the things you were 
 usually keen about," admitted Dick; "I knew the 
 rest would work itself out." 
 
 " Maybe it will, but it's slow coming. Let's get 
 started." 
 
 Mr. Tregressor was accustomed to boyish en- 
 thusiams, but the eagerness of these lads to gain 
 knowledge which would be of practical value pleased 
 him quite as much as had Dick's more quiet ac 
 ceptance of the ideals of Scouting. He knew that 
 his part was to blend the two extremes and to mix 
 wisely the ideals with the out-of-doors features, the 
 major appeal to the less mature lads, to whom school
 
 74 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 and factory furnished almost as much real study as 
 they could assimilate comfortably. 
 
 For a few minutes neither Carter nor Defoe took 
 kindly to starting as Tenderfeet, but then they 
 grasped the wisdom of the plan of organization, and 
 Mr. Tregressor was more than pleased with their 
 whole-hearted approval and knew that Dick had 
 chosen his first men wisely. 
 
 " It's going to take some reading to get up on 
 all those things," admitted Defoe, " but I guess it 
 won't hurt me any. I've been spending a whole lot 
 of time doing nothing in particular." 
 
 " When it comes down to knowing the civil gov 
 ernment of this village, I can at least answer that," 
 sighed Bud; "just say ' Bullet' and you've said it 
 all. Even Mr. Steve takes his orders from his 
 father. Say," he exclaimed, overcome with the 
 shock of an original idea, " let's all go see old Bullet 
 about Dick. We've got an organization. He'll 
 listen to us." 
 
 There was a moment's sorry silence as Bud real 
 ized he. had crashed into forbidden ground with both
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 75 
 
 clumsy feet. But, before he could get in deeper, 
 Mr. Tregressor came to his rescue. " You haven't 
 that sort of organization," he said. " Of course you 
 fellows will stand together, but you must do it in a 
 way which will not interfere with each other's rights 
 as individuals. You must stand on your own feet 
 to be strong men; you must learn to rely on your 
 own judgment and learn how to form that judgment 
 correctly. To do that you must know yourselves. 
 You must be self-reliant; you must be prepared. 
 Why, once I knew a man But I'm not going to 
 do all the talking," he added with a smile. " You 
 four organize your new patrol over there in the cor 
 ner, while I put Nick through his signals." 
 
 "Fine!" agreed Defoe. "But I can see Bud 
 organizing anything while that kid's doing some 
 thing he wants to learn. We'll just elect Dick 
 leader and let him do the bossing." 
 
 " But I don't want to," protested Dick, " I " 
 " Don't remember hearing anyone ask you 
 whether you did or not," laughed Ted Knight. 
 " Bill's motion's carried three to one."
 
 76 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 This off-hand election to leadership of the new 
 patrol did more than anything else could have done 
 to prove to Dick that they were all behind him, and 
 knowing better than they what the position stood 
 for, he was determined to prove himself worthy 
 of filling it. " If you fellows believe in me," he 
 began, 
 
 "Oh, forget it!" exclaimed Bud. 
 
 " Weinberg's only a half-baked cross section of a 
 sausage," declared Billy. " They ought to run all 
 the Germans out of the country." 
 
 "Who's bombing the Hun?" demanded a big 
 voice from the doorway. " There's still enough of 
 me left to help him carry on." 
 
 Mr. Tregressor was on his feet, his face alight. 
 " Dal ! " he cried. " Is this the way you've learned 
 to obey orders? I told you not to come in till 
 8:30." 
 
 " Three minutes past zero, Gov'nor. So this is 
 your squad! Recruiting looks a bit dull but ma 
 terial good. Hello, fellows ! " 
 
 " My son, boys,'' announced Mr. Tregressor.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 77 
 
 "Dal arrived just before supper, and I was saving 
 him as a surprise/' His eyes glowed with pride as 
 he laid a hand affectionately on the empty sleeve of 
 the lithe, handsome man who had burst in. Then 
 he introduced them in turn, lingering over the cere 
 mony, as if he were giving each boy the treat of his 
 life and, to Mr. Tregresssor, it was just that. 
 " Now sit down, Dal," he ordered, when he had 
 gone the rounds, " and tell these fellows something 
 about real wig-wagging." 
 
 " But I want to hear more about the German sau 
 sage you're going to run out of the country. I'm 
 still interested in sausages on the run. Which one's 
 camping on the trail of the Hun ? " 
 
 Billy Defoe's face portrayed his very real em 
 barrassment over being brought into the lime-light, 
 and, in his confusion, he began to blurt out the whole 
 story of Weinberg's injustice. Twice Dick tried to 
 stop him, but both times Dal Tregressor silenced him 
 with a shake of the head. " Carry on, youngster," 
 he ordered; "it sounds true to form." 
 
 But when Bill had finished, the soldier turned
 
 78 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 squarely on Dick. "What was stolen?" he de 
 manded. 
 
 " Don't know." 
 
 " You people here make munitions, don't you ? 
 What you got Germans in the place for ? " 
 
 " Easy, Dal, easy! You're not in Flanders." 
 
 " Apparently not. Anybody in this country 
 awake yet? If a German foreman had started 
 something with me, youngster, I'd have stuck round 
 till he was sick of trying to finish it." 
 
 If Dick had been uncomfortable before, it was as 
 nothing to his sensations now as he felt the soldier 
 eyeing him with what he mistook for contempt. He 
 had never wanted to justify himself so much as 
 before this veteran, but he could not speak unless 
 he went against Mr. Kendall's orders, without in 
 volving Jim Scott. 
 
 Tregressor was quick to note the boy's distress, 
 and, like the big, whole-souled man he was, wheeled 
 round on Dick. " Don't get the idea I'm criticizing 
 you, Hall," he said ; " you look like the sort of chap 
 who'd play off his own bat and play square. But it
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 79 
 
 makes me mad all the way through to see how you 
 Americans are letting the Germans put it all over 
 you. You'll wake up some day, and what all we 
 people over across have been hoping is that it won't 
 be too late. But take this from me and remember 
 it : I've carried a Kendall gun into places where it's 
 argued for my life, but I'd have been a big sight 
 more scared if I'd known a German foreman had 
 had a hand in its making. That's what I think of 
 Fritzie. Having eased that out of my system, I'll 
 try to be civilized again. Father, you didn't know 
 you'd reared a barbarian, did you? " he added, with 
 a good-natured laugh. " Somehow life over there 
 makes a man want to talk as straight as he lives "or 
 dies. Is that real candy ? " 
 
 " It is," asserted Mr. Tregressor, " but it's not 
 for you, nor will it be, until you learn not to preach 
 hate to my boys." 
 
 " Now what do you chaps think of that! " he ex 
 claimed, looking about the circle with an expression 
 which almost convulsed them. " Do you suppose he 
 has Prussian blood in him to make him show such
 
 80 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 cruelty? Let's test him." He reached out his one 
 hand and filled it with chocolates. " But not till 
 you say so," he added in a quiet voice, glancing at 
 his father. 
 
 " God bless you, boy! I was only joking." The 
 old man's eyes were moist as he moved the dish 
 nearer. " But, if you're going to commandeer these 
 boys' candy, you've got to make some return." 
 
 " I think," piped up Nick, whose eyes, for the past 
 five minutes, had been as wide as his mouth, " I think 
 you ought to tell us something about the war." 
 
 " Please ! Please ! " they chorused. 
 
 " Fin not much of a yarner," he laughed, " but 
 I've a sneaking suspicion I was lured in here by that 
 innocent looking old party for some such desperate 
 purpose. We were talking about seeing things 
 through awhile ago," he said, crossing his knees 
 and snuggling comfortably into the easy chair, as if 
 such things felt good again ; " suppose I tell you the 
 story of the man who didn't know he was licked."
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE BEAVER PATROL 
 
 " I'M going to call this chap Vic La Motte because 
 that wasn't his name," began Tregressor with an 
 inclusive smile. " He walked like an Indian be 
 cause he had walked a long way into the White 
 North with real Indians. He was a dead shot, be 
 cause, if he hadn't been, he would have been dead 
 years before. And he was the cleanest fighting, 
 straightest living dare-devil who ever came wander 
 ing into Ottawa, and that's some tribute!" 
 
 " Where'd he wander in from? " queried the ever- 
 curious Nick. 
 
 " Some way or other, you don't ask that sort of 
 chap that question," the man answered with a slight 
 smile. " He tells you what he wants you to know, 
 and you let it go at that. From what he dropped 
 later, though, I'd have taken my one guess that he 
 
 81
 
 82 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 was up round the Saskatchewan country when some 
 thing gave him the hunch there'd be more excite 
 ment presently in the East and he hit the trail with 
 both feet. 
 
 " Chap I knew, who'd been in the Northwestern 
 Mounted, introduced him to me. The war was 
 about four hours old then and all three of us were 
 anxious to find out how we were going to get into 
 the game. The ex-policeman was all for the cavalry 
 thought the war was going to be won on horse 
 back and hated to walk, anyway. He's fighting a 
 biplane now," he threw in, " but La Motte was all 
 for keeping only his feet under him. I felt about 
 the same way. Never did like to be nursemaid to 
 a horse. Anyway, it broke up the party, for the 
 Northwest man headed back for Alberta and left 
 Vic and me running round in circles wondering 
 whether the Kilties or the Rifles would be sent across 
 first." 
 
 " Never did understand why you didn't go to 
 Montreal and enlist in Will's regiment," said Mr. 
 Tregressor in a low voice.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 83 
 
 " I did think of it, Gov'nor, but then, Will he 
 was an officer, you know and, in those days I was 
 foolish about such things. Anyway, first thing 
 I knew, there were rumors of a new regiment to be 
 formed, and, after I heard 'em, I couldn't think of 
 anything but how I was going to squeeze into it." 
 
 " Supposed all regiments wanted recruits," ven 
 tured Dick. 
 
 " They do. But some of 'em are fussier than 
 others. This one wanted only veterans of the South 
 African war or men who " He stopped and his 
 eyes began to twinkle. " I'll be making myself out 
 a desirable party next," he laughed. " I knew a 
 captain; that's how they let me in." 
 
 " He'd known him in the Klondike," explained 
 his father. " They'd been through all any two 
 men could experience." 
 
 "We thought we had then," admitted Dal 
 thoughtfully. " Anyway, they accepted me, and 
 when I told La Motte, he started for headquarters 
 like a musher after a string of runaway huskies." 
 
 " What's that like ? " begged Jimmie Farnsworth.
 
 84 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Man chasing a dog team. But he came back 
 about as sociable as a wounded grizzly. Said they'd 
 told him he was under weight, lacked fighting ex 
 perience, and had had no military training. He 
 managed to pack his temper as far as a telegraph 
 office without its exploding, and th'en he set a few 
 wires afire. I never did see those answers, but they 
 did some good up at headquarters. Also, they 
 added to Vic's troubles. They showed he was an 
 American. I believe he finally proved Lexington, 
 Ky., was in the Hudson Bay country, but the 
 major always was a better judge of men than map 
 work. 
 
 " ' Thought they could keep me from doing my 
 bit for the queen,' he snorted, when he came back to 
 the room where we were living. 
 
 " I was mean enough to suggest that a king 
 ruled the empire and he'd better be more careful, 
 but he reckoned it didn't matter 'so long as the 
 fightin's goin' to be good.' All he had to do now 
 was gain three or four pounds over night. ' And 
 what's that between friends ? ' he chuckled. ' I
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 85 
 
 haven't begun to fight that outfit yet. I'm flat broke, 
 but here's where I go out and eat what you'd call a 
 re-past.' " 
 
 "Why didn't you give him some money, Dal? 
 It wasn't like you." 
 
 " He'd gotten me curious, too," confessed Tre- 
 gressor. " I didn't want to spoil any fun. A lot 
 of the fellows were keen for Vic by this time, and 
 we all wanted to see how far he'd go on his own. 
 One of the other regiments had sent word they'd 
 taken him on, but he told their sergeant he was 
 going with us in spite of us. So, what's he do that 
 night, but breeze into the biggest restaurant in 
 Ottawa, call for the proprietor to come forward and 
 slap a hand on each of his shoulders when he did. 
 
 " ' You're a Canadian,' he charged ; ' so'm I. But 
 I ain't as much of a Canadian by five pounds as I 
 got to be at 9:30 to-morrow mornin'. Do I feed 
 here?' 
 
 " The proprietor caught the point. So did about 
 fifty people at the tables. ' You do ! ' he declared 
 and there was a yell from all round the room.
 
 86 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " ' It's goin' to be some eats, brother,' warned 
 Vic. 
 
 " * You're the one who's running the risk, old son,' 
 answered the proprietor. 
 
 " ' Then bring on the meat/ dared La Motte, sit 
 ting down at a table all alone, with about ten of us 
 lads lined up behind him and all the room cheering. 
 
 " He didn't go at it like a starved man, but just 
 thoughtful and workmanlike, and he didn't mind all 
 the talk, or the men and women crowding up to shake 
 his hand. He just ate and ate and ate, and the 
 waiters began to fight for the privilege of bringing 
 him things. It was when a fresh young reporter 
 came bustling in to get the story, though, that Vic 
 put down his knife. 
 
 " ' Stranger,' he drawled, all the fun gone from 
 those cold, gray eyes, ' this ain't any special joke 
 with me, or with the gent who's settin' up the 
 chuck. If you're lookin' for trouble, go enlist and 
 be of some use to your country. Mush ! ' 
 
 " He mushed," Dal added with a reminiscent 
 chuckle.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 87 
 
 " Thought mush was something you ate," ob 
 served Jimmie Farnsworth, his eyes big. 
 
 " Keep quiet, you ! " Nick's voice was disgusted. 
 
 " Klondike slang for hike," explained Dal kindly. 
 " La Motte went back to work, though, as if noth 
 ing had happened, but he was even more popular 
 with that crowd. They'd have given him Ottawa, 
 if he'd asked 'em for it. As it was, one old chap, 
 with two sons already with the flag, begged the priv 
 ilege of taking Vic home for the rest of the night 
 and breakfast, with the right to drive him to the re 
 cruiting office in the morning. They went out to 
 gether, arm in arm, the band playing 'em through 
 the door and everyone yelling their heads off. Ot 
 tawa was some enthusiastic in those days, fellows." 
 
 " But did the recruiting office accept him? " asked 
 Ned West anxiously. 
 
 Tregressor shook his head sorrowfully. " He'd 
 had another steak for breakfast, but, when they put 
 him on the scales, even the lieutenant said things. 
 La Motte was a pound shy." 
 
 " Gee, but that was tough luck! "
 
 88 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " It sure was, Hall. We all thought it was Vic 
 for the Kilties. But the old boy only laughed. 
 * Wait till I get me a lung full of air,' he said ; * then 
 give me another whirl at those scales. I'm gettin' 
 heavier every minute.' ' 
 
 " They gave him the chance, but only because he 
 was so game. None of them thought he'd ever 
 make the weight." 
 
 "Did he?" 
 
 Tregressor nodded owlishly. " I've always sus 
 pected the old man who brought him down town in 
 his car. I think he put his foot on the scales when 
 everyone was looking out the window. But Vic 
 claims not. Just said you couldn't keep a good 
 man down, even in weight. Whatever it was, he 
 gained six pounds in thirty seconds. He signed the 
 muster roll before he'd stop to put his clothes back 
 on." 
 
 " Then what happened ? " It was Bud Carter 
 who spoke, but the elder Tregressor's face was the 
 most pleased. 
 
 " They herded us into training camp mighty soon,
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 89 
 
 youngster, and set us to work. And it was work, 
 believe me, it was real work! Yet that man La 
 Motte never seemed to get fed up on it. He 
 must have had a heap of army training sometime, 
 somewhere. They discovered that in short order. 
 He was a corporal before that day when the Prin 
 cess Patricia herself gave us the colors she'd em 
 broidered and told us good-by and good luck. And 
 let me tell you one thing," he added grimly ; " these 
 colors have dripped red but never been stained. 
 Princess Pat will never be ashamed of Her Own." 
 
 " Nor will Canada," cried his father ; " nor the 
 empire. The Princess Pats and the Light Brigade 
 march up to immortality side by side." 
 
 For a moment his big son looked at him with eyes 
 suddenly tender. Then, as if to cover his feelings, 
 he gave a short, gay laugh. " Don't you believe 
 it, Gov'nor. It takes better than cavalry to keep 
 pace with the Pats. At least," he added, "that's 
 what La Motte said, when we'd finished our first 
 route march." 
 
 " They gave us plenty of 'em, too," he went on.
 
 90 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Word kept coming from over there to send men 
 and the Pats had first call because most of us were 
 veterans. We went over that first winter and got 
 our first bath in Flanders mud and our first sight of 
 the Boche parapet before we'd forgotten New 
 Year's. And all the Tommies wondered what we'd 
 do when we went over the top." 
 
 " It got on the nerve of a lot of us, that wonder 
 ing if we Maple Leaf men had back-bone and it 
 especially got Vic La Motte. Also there was a Hun 
 machine gun in front of our position it was near 
 St. Eloi which made him unusually peevish. He 
 took it as a sort of personal insult, and got to shoot 
 ing at it on all impossible occasions. The Hun got 
 equally peevish at him and quite a lot of people got 
 hurt on both sides of No Man's Land. They did 
 on ours, anyway, and, as all our boys were fair 
 shots, Fritzie must have got his, too." 
 
 " Vic grouched about that gun till he got the lieu 
 tenant's goat, and the lieutenant kicked to the cap 
 tain till the captain got sore and carried it up to the 
 major, who finally said ' all right.' Then the glad
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 91 
 
 tidings filtered their way back to Vic and he picked 
 out half a dozen chaps who could crawl up and slap 
 a mountain sheep on the nose and they went over 
 the top." 
 
 " Back in the trench we didn't dare breathe for 
 fear the Hun'd hear and start something. Every 
 once in a while a flare would go up and light the 
 wire, but those seven chaps would bury their noses 
 in the mud and play dead. I've known long ten 
 minutes, I've been in a wing which was in the air, 
 I've been down to my last clip and wondering where 
 the next cartridge'd come from, I've shivered in a 
 support trench under drum fire and I've been in shell 
 holes while the machine guns played over the edges 
 like garden hose, but I've never dripped so much 
 cold sweat as while we waited for something to 
 start that night." 
 
 " And it broke, believe me, it broke ! But it 
 wasn't the bombs of our men; it was the rattle of 
 that machine gun. The Hun crew had spotted 'em 
 under the light of a star shell. We tried to cover 
 'em. We turned loose everything we had. So did
 
 92 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Fritzie. For twenty minutes it was a regular show. 
 Then it died down, broke out again, died down and 
 only the snipers stayed on the job." 
 
 " Were they all dead ? " asked Dick in a low 
 tone. 
 
 " After what'd happened, it seemed plausible," 
 retorted Tregressor gruffly. " We'd started a scrap 
 along quite a front and the messages which came in 
 didn't seem to soothe anyone but the high command 
 who sent 'em. It was all the officers could do to 
 keep the companies in the front lines from going 
 over and having it out with Fritz then and there." 
 
 " But right in the middle of our growling came 
 a ' Bang ! Bang ! ' We saw a flash in that machine 
 gun emplacement, then the rifle fire began. If 
 they'd ever have cut loose the guns, nothing on 
 earth could have held the Pats. The whole show 
 was going again only, this time, La Motte's ma 
 chine gun seemed kind of disinterested and still." 
 
 " Well, anyway," he said, drawing a long breath, 
 "nobody knew what had started the second scrap 
 till just before dawn. Then something rolled over
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 93 
 
 our sand bags and crashed down into the trench. 
 They dug it out and discovered it was La Motte. 
 He only had three or four holes in him so, when he 
 spotted the lieutenant, he stiffened up against the 
 trench wall and tried to salute. But he crumpled." 
 " We didn't get the whole story till after the big 
 fight. Then only a few of us were left to hear it. 
 He'd played dead out there in the mud, laid still, 
 with bombs hung all over him like candies on a 
 Christmas tree, while the bullets swept overhead. If 
 one had grazed him then, he'd have gone to pieces 
 like a shrapnel. But, when the fire had died down, 
 he'd wiggled forward. He knew his men were all 
 down; he expected to go West any second himself. 
 But, before he went out, he wanted that Hun gun. 
 He'd started out to get it and he was going to. 
 He did. He crept up till he could lob a couple of 
 bombs into it. Then he lobbed 'em. That was the 
 banging we'd heard. It was what started the second 
 party, too. He tried to crawl for it but they 
 dropped him with bullets in both legs. That would 
 have discouraged any man but Vic. He pulled him-
 
 94 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 self the rest of the way, pulled himself on his belly 
 till he could roll over the top of the fire trench. It 
 would have finished anyone else, but he didn't know 
 when he was licked. Last time I saw him he was 
 charging through the smoke * somewhere in France ' 
 hunting the Hun who'd winged him. They say in 
 the Pats," finished Tregressor, " that Vic La Motte 
 would lick the Prussian guard, and then go hunting 
 for a real fight." 
 
 " I'd like to know that man," declared Dick. 
 " He's certainly gritty." 
 
 " Physical courage isn't the greatest courage," 
 stated Mr. Tregressor soberly, " nor is it always the 
 bravest man who faces the rain of steel and charges 
 home. I like Dai's Vic La Motte as much as any 
 of you do, but after all, he was only doing a thing 
 it was his privilege to do. Now I'm going to tell 
 you a story." 
 
 "Gee, but I'm glad I came!" chortled Nick. 
 " It's a big night to-night." 
 
 " It will be full of bad luck for you, if you don't 
 shut up," prophesied Jimmie. " Most of the time
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 95 
 
 we have to listen to you whether we want to or not 
 but, from now on, you play safe and imitate a zero 
 without a rim." 
 
 " I'm through, Mr. Tregressor. Didn't mean to 
 butt in." 
 
 " It's all right, Nick, or will be, if my tale comes 
 up to your expectations. It's about another soldier 
 in the Princess Pats, not a soldier who didn't know 
 when he was licked, but of one who put his fellow 
 man above himself." 
 
 " He, too," he began, his elbows on his knees, 
 his hands clasped and his eyes fixed on Dick Hall, 
 " he, too, went out from the old Dominion in the 
 first contingent. He went through all that Vic La 
 Motte did and more. He fought in that thin, red 
 line which saved the Empire, he went through that 
 terrible day at Hooge and he came back to can 
 tonments unscathed, while the Pats once more as 
 similated a depot brigade and changed themselves 
 again from a band of tattered heroes into the same 
 undying fighting machine. 
 
 " Again and again they took their place in the
 
 96 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 first line and again and again they came back to fill 
 the gaps in the ranks. Nothing seemed able to 
 daunt them ; nothing could make them falter, for the 
 spirits of those who had gone hovered over the flag. 
 I don't know the full story of this man," he went 
 on, in an even quieter voice, yet in his every word 
 there was a tingle which each boy felt in some 
 strange way ; " I don't suppose I shall ever know 
 it. The Maple Leaf men do, rather than talk. But 
 this much I heard ; this much I know." 
 
 " Over there is a little, shell-wrecked village, one 
 of hundreds where men and women and children 
 lived in peace and happiness before the guns began 
 to boom. I haven't seen it; I don't want to see it. 
 I'd rather picture it as it used to be. It isn't a 
 home town any more ; it's just ' somewhere in 
 France.' " 
 
 " But then it wasn't in France. The Germans 
 held it ; the Princess Pats were in the trenches on 
 its western edge. One day came the order to ad 
 vance. The stage was set. The guns had blasted 
 a path. , At the signal they went over, the shrapnel
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 97 
 
 and high explosives bursting in their faces, their 
 own curtain of fire creeping on ahead." 
 
 " They went through, some of them, and they 
 went beyond, still fewer of them. But when the 
 German counter-attack was spent, that little town 
 was again ' somewhere in France.' " 
 
 " Yet out in that new No Man's Land lay the dead 
 and wounded of the Princess Pats and on them the 
 defeated enemy vented his rage. No man could live 
 out there in the open. Only those who had 
 struggled into shell holes could hope for a few hours 
 more of life. All day the Pats held, hoping for 
 the sorely needed support which did not come. 
 All day they listened to the cries grow weaker and 
 fewer." 
 
 " Then came the night. I've lived through it so 
 often in my own sleepless nights that I believe I can 
 imagine some little part of the things those boys 
 lived through. I can almost see the white light of 
 those flares Dal told you about; I can almost hear 
 the vicious splutter of those machine guns, as they 
 searched out the wounded. But no man who did
 
 98 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 not go through it can know what the Maple Leaf 
 men went through." 
 
 " An officer wrote this much of the story of that 
 night to me. He was in a trench angle, studying 
 the German position, when a private of the Pats 
 came up to him. Their words must have been few. 
 Men do not talk much under such circumstances. 
 I can see that soldier's crisp salute; I can see him 
 lean his rifle against the trench ; I can see him tighten 
 his belt, then look at his automatic. Then I can see 
 him crawl over the parapet and squirm out into the 
 steel-torn night." 
 
 " And then," he said, his voice still lower, " I 
 can imagine the whisper that ran down that thin- 
 held line, as the word was passed that a man was 
 out. Like them, I've counted the seconds in my 
 own night, like them, I've prayed for the safety of 
 all such men who go to the succor of the wounded. 
 That's courage; that's the acme of heroism; that's 
 offering one's life for a friend." 
 
 " And that's what he did," he said, straightening 
 suddenly, his blue eyes swimming with unconscious
 
 THAT'S WHAT DAL . . . DID THAT NIGHT '' SOMEWHERE 
 IN FRANCE " ' "
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 99 
 
 tears as he turned to his own boy, " that's what Dal 
 Tregressor of the Princess Pats did that night 
 ' somewhere in France ' and the second of the three 
 wounded men he brought back from the living dead 
 was the Vic La Motte he's held up to you as a 
 hero." 
 
 For perhaps ten seconds not a boy spoke, and 
 only the soldier's gruff, uncomfortable " What you 
 tell 'em that for ? " broke the silence. Then Nick 
 Root surged to his feet. " Gee ! " he cried. " Let's 
 do something! Let's get out the flag." 
 
 Jimmie Farnsworth was up. Out from its place 
 by the book cases he brought the Scout's Stars and 
 Stripes. His hand shook a little as he straightened 
 out the folds and saw the rest come to attention. 
 Then, Mr. Tregressor leading, they repeated that 
 pledge of allegiance to the flag which opens every 
 Scout meeting. 
 
 It was Dick who first stepped up to Dal Tregres 
 sor. " I'd like to shake hands," he said bluntly. 
 " Your story was a corker, but your father's was 
 better. Both of 'em make a fellow ashamed when
 
 100 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 he remembers how many times he's come near quit 
 ting." 
 
 Tregressor caught his father's eye, and took what 
 he would have termed punishment like the soldier he 
 was. Each boy wanted to shake his hand; each 
 tried to express what was in his heart. Dal had 
 not been more uncomfortable when a very high 
 personage had pinned the Victoria Cross on his 
 tunic. 
 
 " Look here," he finally broke out, " suppose we 
 forget this stuff and be friends. I like that flag 
 idea. A flag means a lot to a chap after he's 
 marched under one. You seem to be getting the 
 right idea about yours. If you're all Boy Scouts, 
 why don't you drill ? " 
 
 " We're in no way a military organization, Dal," 
 stated his father emphatically. 
 
 " Oh ! Thought I might be of some use to you.' 
 
 Dick turned and looked deep into the calm gray 
 eyes. " You can be a whole lot of use to some of 
 us," he said. " They've asked me to organize a new 
 patrol ; will you be our scout master ? "
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 101 
 
 " Splendid! " cried Mr. Tregressor. " Dal would 
 be invaluable." 
 
 " Traid not," he answered with a smile. " Don't 
 know the game, Gov'nor. It's each man where he 
 fits best. I'll do my bit from the outside in some 
 way." 
 
 " If you say so, you will." There was more than 
 a trace of disappointment in the old man's face. 
 " If you say so, you will, Dal," he repeated. 
 
 " Name your patrol for him, Dick," exploded 
 Nick Root. " Call it the Beaver. That's the Cana 
 dian eagle." 
 
 Even Dal Tregressor roared. " Go ahead," he 
 agreed. " But you fellows who belong to it," he 
 added soberly, " must never forget that the beaver 
 is a tremendous thing to live up to. I'll give you 
 another motto to go with your ' Be Prepared ' ; ' Do 
 it with a laugh.' "
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 A GRAVE DECISION 
 
 NEVER had a night been so welcome as that when 
 Dick went down to join the new shift; never a boy 
 more delighted than he when told to report to old 
 Ben Robinson, raised to night foreman of the as 
 sembling room. The thought that he had been 
 promoted to a better job, the knowledge that Mr. 
 Kendall had chosen this way of showing both his 
 gratitude for silence and satisfaction over industry, 
 gave him far more of a thrill than did the fact that 
 his pay envelope would henceforth be fatter. 
 
 He liked both Mr. Robinson and his methods, and 
 believed he would like all the new men whom he 
 saw around him. As for the old ones, there were 
 few who did not find opportunity to express their 
 satisfaction over his good luck. But three things 
 remained to trouble him : The least was Mr. Ken 
 dall's reason for inflicting such a trial on him, the 
 
 102
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 103 
 
 second was Weinberg's ill-concealed anger at his 
 being re-employed and the greatest, his continued 
 effort to find an explanation for Scott's action. 
 
 Having to work at the wrong end of the day cut 
 him off from most of his younger friends, but, 
 although he offered to resign his leadership of the 
 Beaver Patrol, the rest would not listen. Bud Car 
 ter was appointed assistant leader, but with iron 
 clad instructions from all the members to do noth 
 ing without Dick's sanction. The boy spent a good 
 part of this new spare time in the afternoon studying 
 Scout law and signaling, and it was not many weeks 
 before he was almost an expert with the flags and 
 began to turn longing eyes toward wireless. 
 
 While he took solid satisfaction in self-improve 
 ment, his greatest pleasure came from the strange 
 friendship which began to ripen between Dal Tre- 
 gressor and himself. As March drifted to a close, 
 the two were more and more together, for the man 
 needed comradeship and dreaded to be left alone 
 with the vivid memories of what he had gone 
 through. He would have applied for work in the
 
 104 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 factory had he had two good hands ; he would have 
 gone back to Canada had he not seen how his father 
 clung to him and needed him to help bear the grief 
 over that other son who slept in France. 
 
 Tregressor insisted that Dick spend at least an 
 hour a day out of doors and they took long tramps 
 together over muddy roads and soggy fields. It was 
 on these hikes that Dick heard the stories of the 
 trenches and came to understand the war which, 
 daily, was coming closer and closer to the United 
 States. 
 
 Then came that day in early April when President 
 Wilson's speech to Congress proved a speech to the 
 democracy of the world. Over night, Kendallville 
 changed from an indifferent village to a throbbing, 
 vital bit of the United States. The drawn, anxious 
 expression on Stephen Kendall's face gave way to a 
 confident smile as he read telegram after telegram 
 which was rushed to his office, and a new life bub 
 bled throughout the shops. Rumors were whirling 
 this way and that. Every one was on edge. Over 
 time would seem like playtime if the guns they made
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 105 
 
 were going to bark beneath the Stars and Stripes 
 at last. 
 
 On his way to work one night within the week, 
 Dick heard someone calling wildly to him, and, the 
 next moment, Bud Carter dashed up. " I've got it," 
 he cried. " I've just heard and I've got it." 
 
 " If I've only one guess," grinned Dick, " it isn't 
 sense. Get your feet back on earth, Bud." 
 
 "Not on your life! My feet are through with 
 that stuff. I've passed my exams." 
 
 " What are you talking about? " 
 
 "Wireless! Navy! Oh, glory! Won't Mr. 
 Tregressor be pleased, though. He taught it all 
 to me, that and a heap more. The greatest thing 
 you ever did, Dick Hall, was getting me into the 
 Scouts. It gave me my chance." 
 
 " For the love of Mike, talk sense ! What's hap 
 pened? " 
 
 " Well," he grinned, taking a friendly punch at 
 Dick's chest, " I heard the navy wanted wireless men 
 and I wanted the navy. We're in the war now. I 
 want to be sticking round when we take our first
 
 106 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 wallop at a submarine. I saw my chance and I 
 made a try at the exams. Mr. Tregressor'd coached 
 me a pile at night," he threw in excitedly, " and, 
 say, those exams were a cinch! Knew I'd killed 
 'em. Passed the physical exam., too. Now I'm 
 ordered to report at Newport. Get me, you old 
 land lubber? I'm a part of the big gray fleet and 
 I'm going to help can the Kaiser. Whoopee ! " 
 
 With another swing, this time at Dick's aston 
 ished head, he rushed on to impart his wonderful 
 news to Mr. Tregressor, whom he stoutly believed 
 to be the source of all his luck. Later, he was to 
 learn that luck and preparedness were far different 
 things. But that was when he was far from Ken- 
 dallville, and great, oily waves curled in from a 
 storm-swept sea. 
 
 Within the next twenty-four hours Dick heard 
 that Bill Defoe and Longshanks Bliss, the newest 
 tenderfoot of the Beaver patrol, had gained their 
 parents' consent to enlist. Bill's attitude was far 
 different from that of Bud, his life-long running 
 mate.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 107 
 
 " I had to do it," he said with new soberness. 
 " None of my family's ever carried a gun and it's 
 time some Defoe did his best to pay back the country 
 for all it's done for us." 
 
 " Are you going into the navy with Bud ? " 
 
 " No, I get sea-sick whenever I think of a ship. 
 The infantry's what's going to see the whole game. 
 I'm going into the regulars." 
 
 " Have you talked it over with Dal? " 
 
 " I haven't talked with any one ; I didn't need to. 
 I know what I want to do, Dick. Maybe I won't 
 come back, but I guess I will. But, if I don't, I'll 
 know that I've done the best I could and I'll try to 
 do it with a grin." 
 
 Dick wanted to say much but, somehow, he could 
 not put his thoughts into words, nor could Bill find 
 any more to offer. For a moment the two looked 
 into each other's eyes, and, for a moment, as all their 
 years of comradeship passed before them, their 
 hands met. 
 
 " Good luck, Bill ! " said Dick ; " it's like you to 
 do this."
 
 108 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Good luck, Dick ! See you to-morrow before I 
 go." 
 
 With that they parted, Dick to go on to the fac 
 tory and the work which had, somehow, lost half its 
 zest, his brain busy with the parts his friends were 
 to play in the great war, busy with the part Dal 
 Tregressor had already played, and busier yet with 
 the part he could fill. 
 
 It was that same night that Stephen Kendall 
 appeared among his men while they were eating their 
 midnight lunch. To the older men, he seemed again 
 the lad, fresh from college, as he leaned against a 
 set of lockers and took big bites from an apple. 
 " I've been put on the night shift, too," he announced 
 with a smile. " My father believes that one of us 
 should be on the job all the time, and, between us, 
 it's going to be some job! We've been lucky 
 enough to get a big contract, and, if we make good, 
 more should come." 
 
 " We're with you," cried half a dozen men. 
 
 It was the chance he had hoped for. " I know 
 that," he said with sudden seriousness. " You
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 109 
 
 older men have always stood side by side with us, 
 and you new men are showing you're willing to do 
 the same. The government's going to need men. 
 Neither the army or navy is at full strength. 
 It's the instinct of every American to do his all 
 when his country needs him. I don't want to 
 keep a man here from enlisting. My father and 
 I have talked this over; any man who en 
 lists will find his place open when the war's 
 over." 
 
 The sharp yell of approval brought more color to 
 his face, but he checked the enthusiasm with a quick, 
 " Hold up ! There's another side to consider, and it 
 isn't as selfish as it sounds at first. You men are 
 making arms for your army. You're doing your 
 part here. If all of you who are of enlistment age 
 should join the colors you'd put us in a bad predica 
 ment. Think that over before you decide. If they 
 pass the draft law, I imagine you all will be ex 
 empted. I'm not asking you to go against your 
 ideas of duty," he finished ; " I'm only trying my 
 best to think of my country. That's why I'm stay-
 
 110 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ing here myself. I've refused a commission, and 
 it was the hardest thing I ever did." 
 
 It was one of the new men who started the cheer 
 ing which Stephen Kendall could not stop. Even 
 old Robinson was yelling. A dozen men were shak 
 ing the " big boss's " hands. Never before had he 
 begun to appreciate his popularity. 
 
 " I'll tell you what I'd like to do," he announced, 
 when quiet had been partially restored, " and that's 
 start a home guard company. Not that we'll have 
 trouble here," he added quickly, as he saw the men 
 glance from one to the other, " that's guarded 
 against already. We've always had good watch 
 men. But it seems wise to my father to strengthen 
 that force, too. You men will all be given passes 
 to-morrow and you'll not be admitted inside the 
 new fence till you show them. So don't leave them 
 at home and have to go back." 
 
 "Has anything happened, sir?" asked Robinson 
 anxiously. 
 
 " No, nor do we intend that anything shall. The 
 plant has become too valuable for us to take unnec-
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 111 
 
 essary risks. Caution's better than regrets, Robin 
 son. That's why no visitors will be allowed, no 
 strangers permitted near the place." 
 
 " What about this home guard thing? " asked one 
 of the new men; " I've been in the militia; I'll take 
 another chance." 
 
 " Good enough !. My idea's to have regular drills 
 and men like you can help teach those of us who are 
 weak on drilling." 
 
 " Guess I ain't much of a teacher ; I was only a 
 corporal." 
 
 " That's more than I've ever been," acknowledged 
 Mr. Kendall. " Suppose you act as sergeant now, 
 and talk it over with the men on this shift. See 
 how the idea takes hold. Urge the youngsters, and 
 the men over military age, to join. We'll leave the 
 rest to settle their own problems." 
 
 Dick, eating his sandwich and pie on the edge of 
 the crowd, had listened intently, but the more he 
 thought, the less this idea of a home guard appealed 
 to him. It might be all right for the old fellows, 
 but, somehow or other, he felt that he'd be ashamed
 
 112 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 to march with them when he might be marching at 
 Bill Defoe's side, or crouching with him in a bullet- 
 swept trench. 
 
 He liked what Stephen Kendall had said about 
 the men being free to go or stay, liked the idea that 
 he was doing his part in the big work and that he 
 was needed. But, as he went back to his bench, he 
 began to wonder how much he really was needed, 
 how vital a part he was playing. 
 
 He glanced down the brilliantly lighted shop. 
 All the men looked older than he. Many were gray 
 haired, the fathers of the boys he played with. It 
 was important work they were on, their care and 
 attention to minute detail proved that. Dick found 
 himself wondering, more and more, if some older 
 man could not take his place and so free him to play 
 a young man's part. 
 
 It was not because Bud and Bill and Longshanks 
 had already gone that he felt this new, haunting 
 spirit of unrest; it was not Dal Tregressor's stories 
 or example which made him study the assembled 
 automatic in his hands ; it was not the thought that
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 113 
 
 his father had gone out in '98 which made his fingers 
 tighten on the grip and his head go up. It was the 
 tingle of patriotism in his blood, the thrill at the 
 knowledge that he was an American, the conscious 
 pride which made his jaw square when he realized 
 that the Stars and Stripes were up which made him, 
 then and there, decide that there was but one thing 
 for him to do. 
 
 He could hardly wait for morning to tell his 
 father that another Hall was going to the colors. 
 He knew he was young, but he had heard his father, 
 say, time after time, that the young man was the 
 fighting man. Beyond that his thoughts were not 
 of himself. He forgot his hard-earned proficiency 
 in signaling, his value as a mechanic, everything ex 
 cept that his country needed men, and that he wanted 
 to do his bit with a pack upon his back and a rifle 
 in his hand. 
 
 The little house was silent when he arrived there 
 with the dawn, and, although he crept into bed, sleep 
 came only after regiment upon regiment had 
 marched in" review before his imagination, their col-
 
 114 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ors snapping in the wind, their men swinging past 
 with easy stride. For, somehow, Dal Tregressor's 
 picture of war had faded and he could see only the 
 glamour of action and feel only the thrill of the 
 unknown. 
 
 Dick awoke at ten o'clock and went down to find 
 his father alone and deep in the paper, but he laid 
 it aside as the boy came in. " Mornin', Dick," he 
 said ; " big news this morning. The Kaiser's found 
 the trouble he's been looking for. The call's out 
 for more men." 
 
 " I imagined so from what I heard last night. 
 Coming out while I eat ? " 
 
 "Sure!" 
 
 Dick pushed the wheeled chair out into the kitchen 
 and to a place opposite his at the table and then 
 began to eat. " Your old regiment ordered out, 
 Pop ? " he asked between bites. 
 
 " Dunno. It's been on the Border. They're not 
 giving out much about our men. But I know one 
 thing; if that crowd isn't sent across they'll be the 
 maddest bunch that ever wore khaki."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 115 
 
 " They must be a great crowd," sighed Dick; " I'd 
 like to see them." 
 
 " I wish you could, my boy ; I wish you could be 
 one of 'em." 
 
 Slowly, and very quietly, Dick laid down his knife 
 and looked up into his father's glowing eyes. 
 "Why can't I be ?" he asked. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " What I said. Why can't I enlist, as you did 
 in '98? Why shouldn't another Hall go out with 
 the old regiment ? " 
 
 For a long moment the two looked across the 
 table and deep into each other's souls, but the face of 
 the one grew red and that of the other more pallid. 
 It was Tom Hall who heard the tramp of marching 
 men now. To him, it was very real. Now he 
 thought of his boy. "Of course you want to go," 
 he said; " I couldn't bear it if you didn't." 
 
 " Then I can ? " cried the lad ; " you'll give your 
 consent ? " 
 
 " If you want it," was the even retort; " if you 
 believe your duty is with the colors."
 
 116 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "I'll be eighteen in a few weeks," stated Dick. 
 " They'll take me." 
 
 " Yes, they'll take you, and be glad to get your 
 sort. You've the makings of a fine soldier. 
 You've a level head and you'll obey. Those are the 
 two great things, those and good health." 
 
 " I wonder if I could get into, your old com 
 pany?" 
 
 " I guess there're some of the old officers left who 
 may remember me. I can ask, if you finally decide 
 that your duty lies in that way." 
 
 " What other way could it lie ? " cried the boy, 
 puzzled. " Certainly a fellow's first duty is to his 
 country." 
 
 " I'd be the last man to dispute that, Dick. But, 
 before you take such a vital step, you ought to make 
 sure that you're doing your country your greatest 
 good by fighting." 
 
 Dick's eyes grew round with astonishment. That 
 his father should even hint that he might be of 
 greater use anywhere but in the front line, bewil 
 dered him. The man saw his plight and it made his
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 117 
 
 own hard part the harder. " Have you talked this 
 over with Stephen Kendall?" he asked; "has he 
 said anything to the men ? " 
 
 " Why, yes. He came in last night and said he'd 
 keep any one's place open who enlisted." 
 
 "Was that all?" 
 
 " He said something about men who made guns 
 doing their part. I don't remember much about 
 that. I knew it would be easy enough to get some 
 one to fill my place." 
 
 Tom Hall took a long, deep breath. " But how 
 about filling it here at home, Dick ? " 
 
 " You and the kids want me to go." 
 
 " Yes, want you to go but can we spare you? " 
 
 "Father!" 
 
 " Well ? " came the even question, 
 
 " It sounds almost selfish," gasped Dick. 
 
 Even under the pain, the man's face never 
 changed nor did the tone of his voice vary. " Are 
 you sure you've a clear idea of either selfishness or 
 patriotism ? " he asked gently. " I know you're 
 willing to go, to stand whatever comes, to give your
 
 118 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 life. I know the spirit you'd do it in, for I've done 
 it myself. Leave that aside; forget your age for 
 you are a boy, even if you've done a man's work 
 and carried a man's burden for two years; forget 
 everything but the country we'd both die for. Are 
 you serving your country best by enlisting? " 
 
 " It's the only way I can give it anything," said 
 the boy. 
 
 " Stop and think, son. I know it's hard for you 
 but you've no idea how hard it is for me. Here I 
 am, tied to a chair and a bed, helpless, sick, no good. 
 No, wait ! " he commanded with more sternness than 
 he had ever shown. " I'm an old soldier, and I can 
 face things eyes front. If I had even part of a 
 man's strength, I'd tell you to go, to take my old 
 place in the ranks, to carry on. But, Dick, I'm help 
 less; I'm dependent on you; Sally and Nelson are 
 dependent on you. The little we've saved wouldn't 
 support the youngsters after they'd put me in a sol 
 diers' home. We give the nation one fighting man 
 and three mill stones." 
 
 Slowly Dick's lips parted and his hands, clutched
 
 OF KE:NDALLVILLE 119 
 
 on the table before him, tightened until the knuckles 
 became white. " That's true," he muttered, " all 
 true." 
 
 " Yes," Mr. Hall repeated in a low voice ; " it's 
 true as true. I gave gladly and with a laugh, but I'd 
 have taken a slacker's shame if I could have saved 
 my boy his chance. I'm not saying you're not to 
 do as you think best," he added. " If you think it is 
 your duty to go, go and we three will love you and 
 do our part to be as brave as you. It's for you to 
 decide." 
 
 " I'm a slacker whatever I do." 
 
 " No," came the gentle contradiction, " no son of 
 mine can be that ; it's not in the blood." 
 
 " If I stay, they'll say I am." 
 
 "If you're going because you care what people 
 say," declared Mr. Hall sharply, " you'll go in some 
 other regiment than mine. There's no place for a 
 coward in the old crowd." 
 
 "Father, that's unfair !" 
 
 " No, the truth is never unfair. You and I are 
 facing the truth more squarely now than we ever
 
 120 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 have before, and we're both suffering, Dick. Don't 
 think it's easy for a father to say the things I've 
 said. Whatever you do, you're going to do for 
 your country, not to satisfy the gossip of Kendall- 
 ville. It's the United States first, last and all the 
 time." 
 
 The young head sunk low on the extended arms 
 and there was a suggestion of a tremble in the strong 
 young shoulders which made the man long to lean 
 across the table and lay a comforting hand upon 
 them. But, instead of that, Tom Hall drew himself 
 up in his cushioned chair and his throbbing back 
 stiffened until it was as rigid as in those old days 
 when he had stood at attention as the flag went by. 
 The fight was for the boy alone. 
 
 For a long time the room was absolutely still. 
 Then, slowly, Dick straightened and his wide, dry 
 eyes searched his father's face. " If I stay," he 
 asked, " if I stay and make pistols, if I work over 
 time, if I do all that my strength will stand, will I 
 be doing a little bit of my part? " 
 
 "What do you think?"
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 121 
 
 " I'm asking you." 
 
 " But I'd rather you'd tell me. It's for you to 
 answer your own conscience in this. I've shown 
 you your problem; it's for you to solve." 
 
 " Mr. Stephen said they needed men at the plant." 
 
 " You're not to consider what he said. You're 
 answering your country's need." 
 
 " I owe you three " 
 
 " You've more than paid the Halls," broke in his 
 father ; " it's your duty to your country now. You 
 owe everything to her." 
 
 " But, father," he begged, " help me ! What do 
 you want me to do ? " 
 
 It was almost more than the man could stand. 
 But his jaw was determined when he answered. 
 " I want you to be a man," he said, " and play a 
 man's part honestly, squarely and with head up. I 
 want you to do your duty as you see it, and, which 
 ever thing you do, I'll give you my hand and say 
 ' God bless you, boy.' ' 
 
 " I know you will," Dick said with a quick gulp ;
 
 122 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " you're that sort. You're game through and 
 through." His chair went slowly back and slowly 
 he came to his feet, his eyes still on his father's face. 
 " And I'll be game," he cried. " I'll try to be as 
 game as you. I'll fight here."
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE MAN IN OLIVE DRAB 
 
 DICK went back to his work in a more contented 
 spirit than he had felt since his experience with 
 Weinberg. There was a new incentive now, and he 
 felt a greater eagerness in assembling the guns it 
 would be another's privilege to fire. For a night or 
 so he was conscious that Stephen Kendall was mak 
 ing more frequent rounds of the shops, and more 
 than once the man stopped to talk with him. Obliv 
 ious, however, of Mr. Kendall's growing personal 
 interest in him, a summons to the office on the third 
 night came almost as another shock. 
 
 But his reception was the real surprise. " Come 
 on in," said Mr. Kendall kindly. " Sometimes cir 
 cumstances warrant breaking all rules, and I want 
 to talk of an outside affair in your working time. 
 You know young Tregressor? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 123
 
 124 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Sit down and tell me about him." 
 
 " That's quite an order," Dick admitted with a 
 twinkle in his eye. " He's all white and true blue." 
 
 " Where's the red come in? " 
 
 It was the first attempt at a joke of which Dick 
 had known Mr. Kendall to be guilty. It made him 
 more at his ease. " His blood's all red," he flashed 
 back ; " all that he didn't spill in France." 
 
 " Could he work, i f he wanted to ? " 
 
 " He wants to badly enough, but he says no one 
 wants a one-armed man hanging round." 
 
 " How does he know ? Has he tried for a job ? " 
 
 " I don't think so." 
 
 "Sure?" 
 
 " Pretty sure. He'd have told me, I guess ; we're 
 pals." 
 
 " Would you recommend him for an important 
 position, one where he'd have a good many men 
 under him, and a tremendous responsibility? " 
 
 " I'd trust him anywhere, if that's what you 
 mean." 
 
 " Guess it's nearer what I did mean than I put
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 125 
 
 it," confessed Mr. Kendall. " Dick," he said in a 
 sober voice, after a moment's consideration, " we've 
 been tipped off to watch the factory even more 
 closely. I'm going to establish a regular guard, 
 and it's not only to be equipped for real trouble, but 
 ordered to go and meet trouble half way. Tregres- 
 sor doesn't look like a chap who'd be afraid of any 
 thing on two feet." 
 
 " Give him the chance," begged Dick. " Oh, do 
 
 give him the chance. He's just the man for the 
 
 
 job. He'd eat it alive. It would let him stay here 
 
 with his father, too." 
 
 Mr. Kendall leaned back in his chair and studied 
 the excited young face. " It's a good job," he said 
 slowly, " good pay and certainly plenty of responsi 
 bility. You're not the first of my men I've talked 
 it over with. I want a man they'll all trust, for, if 
 they didn't trust him, they might think he distrusted 
 them and was watching them. That would make 
 trouble instantly. Two out of the four recom 
 mended you," he added. 
 
 "Me! When Dal Tregressor is here? Me?
 
 126 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Why, they're crazy! Dai's the man you want." 
 
 Mr. Kendall made no effort to conceal his pleas 
 ure. " That's what I call loyalty," he declared, 
 " both to your friend and to us. There are mighty 
 few young men who'd step aside like that, but I'll be 
 as honest with you as you've been with me. I was 
 going to offer Tregressor the place, if you said he 
 was all right. They said you knew him best. I 
 was going to do it, though, because I'm not as gen 
 erous as you are. I wanted you somewhere else." 
 
 Dick flushed crimson and did his best to stammer 
 his thanks. 
 
 " I'm starting the home guard I spoke of the other 
 night," the man went on, his hands clasped behind 
 his head. " I'm going to have but one set rule ; 
 Members must be citizens. I'll get in the men from 
 the factory ; I want you to get the lads of the Scouts 
 who are old enough." 
 
 " I'll do anything I can to help. But it won't in 
 terfere with my work in the shop, will it ? I'm try 
 ing to do my bit there." 
 
 " You'll have to do your bit in a good many places
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE - 127 
 
 before we're through with this," stated Mr. Kendall 
 soberly; "we all will. If it does interfere, you'll 
 have to find time for it some way. You can get a 
 fine start with the lads in your Beaver patrol." 
 
 " Three have enlisted," stated Dick with pride. 
 
 " There are some left. They'll make a strong 
 backbone. You can build around them, for they 
 have learned how to carry out orders. I want 
 twenty fellows between sixteen and nineteen. Can 
 you get them?" 
 
 " I can try. That won't let in Jim Farnsworth 
 and Nick Root. They're leaders in the younger 
 bunch. They'll be sorry to be left out." 
 
 " Take care of them in some other way." 
 
 Dick thought for a moment. " Jim works in this 
 office," he ventured. " He does all sorts of things. 
 Why couldn't you let the kids be sort of a messenger 
 company around the shops and the town? They 
 could wear their uniforms all the time, and that 
 would give any one a right to ask them to do any 
 thing. They'd be living up to their Scout oath." 
 
 " Fine ! That's up to you, too. I won't interfere
 
 128 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 with that in any way. Only, hereafter, all our boys 
 in the office are in Scout uniform." 
 
 " But some of 'em don't belong," ventured Dick. 
 
 " Tell 'em I want them to," was the prompt reply. 
 
 " If you'd just as soon," said Dick, " I'd rather 
 not. We don't want members forced in." 
 
 " That's sound sense," admitted Mr. Kendall. 
 " Don't blame you. But I reckon they'll come in 
 without either of us saying anything. They are 
 good youngsters and they'll not only want to wear 
 the uniforms, but they'll be still more anxious to do 
 their bit. You'll fix that; it's not worrying me." 
 
 "I'll do my best," promised Dick. "We can 
 count on most of 'em, I'm sure. This home guard 
 thing won't mean that the fellows can't enlist in 
 the army, will it? " 
 
 " Well, hardly ! About the last thing I want, is 
 to be strung up as a traitor. I'm thinking of the 
 United States first, last and all the time, but just now 
 the Kendall Arms Company seems to be a vital bit 
 of the country. Figure it that anything you do here 
 is keeping full the line of supplies."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 129 
 
 " I'll try to think of it as even more." 
 
 " You're not far wrong, either. A lot of us 
 would find it easier to do our fighting in France." 
 
 " Do you really think so ? " he asked eagerly. 
 
 " I know so. And, what's more, I imagine I know 
 why Tom Hall's boy isn't going across with those 
 three friends of his." 
 
 Dick winced, but, somehow or other, the man's 
 honesty and insight made him strangely comfort 
 able. " When are you going to tell Dal ? " he asked. 
 
 Mr. Kendall was quick to understand his eager 
 ness to change the subject. " Suppose you tell him 
 I want to see him," he suggested. " You might tell 
 him what I want, too. You might also tell your 
 father that you're to be my first lieutenant in the 
 home guard. It may interest him more than it ap 
 peared to interest you." 
 
 " Do you mean that I'm to be one of the offi 
 cers?" gasped Dick. 
 
 " Exactly." 
 
 " I'm too young. I've had no experience. 
 There're a million reasons why I couldn't."
 
 130 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "Are there?" laughed Mr. Kendall as he rose. 
 " Well, there are only two reasons why you're 
 going to do it ; one's because I want you ; the other's 
 because this time the job's seeking the man. Now 
 go back to work. We've both a lot to do. But, 
 Dick," he called, as the boy was going out, " remem 
 ber that you're to come to me if you need help. 
 George North is my second lieutenant, and you're 
 to feel as free as he does to come here at any 
 time." 
 
 If one thing more had been needed to con 
 vince Dick that he was in the midst of an as 
 tounding dream it was this final announcement. 
 George North, next to the Kendalls, was the 
 man to whom all Kendallville looked up. Mid 
 dle-aged, reserved, upright, the cashier of the 
 town's one bank, he was the adviser of all who 
 were in difficulties. And now here was he, Dick 
 Hall, made the third of a triumvirate to lead 
 the town! The men of the factory were Ken 
 dall's, the men of the village, North's, and the 
 boys of both had been assigned to him to lead!
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 131 
 
 He began to see that background of the Boy 
 Scouts. 
 
 He went to work at this new task in characteris 
 tic fashion. For a couple of days none but Dal Tre- 
 gressor knew the secret. But he also kept his eyes 
 and ears open, and he found himself studying the 
 chaps he had grown up with through new eyes. 
 
 Dal was a constant inspiration. Enthusiastic 
 over his own chance, he was still more enthusiastic 
 over Stephen Kendall. He routed Dick out of the 
 house late the next afternoon and made him put 
 away his book on signaling to tramp out into the 
 country. " This book stuff's all right in its place, 
 lad," he said, " but you and I've got to give theory 
 the grand old go-by now, and go over the top at 
 practical things. The big boss has told me the 
 whole tale. How are you comin' on with your 
 stint?" 
 
 " Getting 'em lined up in my mind," he answered, 
 as they came into the street. " I've some good fel 
 lows and some who're not worth a rap." 
 
 " Then put the best of the good ones over the good
 
 132 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ones and go at the ruck yourself, old son. You 
 want the whole bunch behind you." 
 
 " I know it. I'm going to have 'em." 
 
 "Good talk, that! You'll get 'em, if you feel 
 that way. Wish I had you for my second in com 
 mand." 
 
 "Who've you got?" 
 
 " No one yet. Kendall came out, like the gentle 
 man he is and the officer he ought to be, and said 
 he'd given me a job and told me to fill it and not 
 bother him with excuses. We both knew he ought 
 to have given me more time to organize, but I guess 
 that's up to me now." 
 
 "Gee!" 
 
 " It's the way to play the game. Put a man on 
 his own, if you want him to fight. How much 
 funny-business am I going to stand for round that 
 fence when my reputation's at stake? Exactly one 
 little bit of none at all." 
 
 " Would you shoot to kill, Dal ? " 
 
 " I've done it before this," he admitted with un 
 expected grimness, " If the Boche gets excited
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 133 
 
 round here, he'll find he overlooked one good hand." 
 
 " But there's not so many German-Americans 
 here after all." 
 
 " Say, get over that, will you ! Those two words 
 don't mix any more. Either they're Americans or 
 they're Huns. You don't hear us Britishers talk 
 ing about German-Englishmen or German-Can 
 adians. Don't do it here. A man's loyal to one 
 flag only." 
 
 " But you fought under the Canadian and now 
 you're talking United States." 
 
 " Sure I am ! " agreed Dal cheerfully. " The two 
 flags are going to rustle on the same pole in Flan 
 ders; you bet I'm not going to be the one to un 
 twine 'em over here. Hello! What's doin'? 
 Looks like khaki to me. Let's give him the once 
 over and the glad hand." 
 
 Dick looked down the street and saw a half a 
 dozen men from the night shift gathered about a 
 man in olive drab. A soldier was a novelty in Ken- 
 dallville, and the boy's blood tingled at the sight of 
 the uniform. " You bet I'll go ! " he agreed.
 
 134 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Wonder if they've opened a recruiting office 
 here?" 
 
 " Reckon so. They can't get at it too soon. He's 
 a sergeant," he said, catching a glimpse of chevrons. 
 " And an old timer, too. Look at the set of those 
 shoulders and the way he's got his chin pulled in. 
 Can't beat the regular non-com, when it comes to 
 side, swank and scrap, old top." 
 
 The soldier was talking with one of the younger 
 men in a low voice, answering his questions easily 
 but holding the conversation in his chosen channel. 
 Yet he was not so engrossed that he did not know 
 all that was going on about him. From the moment 
 Tregressor and Hall had come in sight, he had kept 
 them in the corner of his eye, for there was a swing 
 about the Canadian which brought a smile to his 
 lips and a spring to the lad's step which made him 
 nod approvingly. 
 
 " Hello ! " exclaimed Dal with a cordiality new to 
 all the local men. " Gunning recruits? " 
 
 The sergeant smiled openly now. " Not if I can 
 get veterans. Which outfit' d you serve with? "
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 135 
 
 Dal laughed joyously as he held out his hand. 
 " Glad to meet a lad in uniform," he stated. 
 " Funny, how when you've once worn one, the old 
 setting-up stuff shows through anything." 
 
 " Better get back into one again, old man. Go 
 ing to be a lot doing over across." 
 
 " Wish I could," said Dal, wistfully. 
 
 " Can if you want. We're looking for fellows 
 like you and your pal." 
 
 " Want to bad enough, but wanting won't get me 
 there. No rookie snatcher'd wink at that." He 
 held up his wristless left arm. 
 
 " Tough luck ! " exclaimed the sergeant dis 
 appointedly. "Machine?" 
 
 " Ah-ah. Machine gun." 
 
 "What's that?" The question came sharp and 
 terse. 
 
 " He's a veteran of the Princess Pats," said Dick, 
 speaking for the first time. 
 
 For just a second the old sergeant looked at Dal, 
 then his heels clicked and his hand snapped up in 
 salute.
 
 136 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Carry on ! " growled Tregressor, embarrassed 
 beyond words at this public tribute. " I only did my 
 bit." 
 
 "And a fine bit it was, I'll bet my hat!" cried 
 the American. " I knew you'd seen service, the 
 second you rounded that corner. So you've been 
 where I'm going! Can you beat it? Say men," 
 he demanded looking about him, " I ask, can you 
 beat it ? You can't. This man's done the thing we 
 all ought to be breaking our necks for the chance to 
 do. Look him over. Is there a live wire here who 
 doesn't want to be like him? " 
 
 "Quit it!" ordered Dal. "I'm no side show." 
 
 "You bet you're not," declared the sergeant; 
 " you're the big show in the main tent. You're the 
 walking, breathing, living image of what these chaps 
 might be if they'd get into olive drab instead of 
 greasy overalls. We're going to show the Kaiser 
 some regiments the Princess Pats won't be ashamed 
 to charge home with," he cried. " Who's for one 
 of 'em ? Are you fellows going to stick here mak 
 ing guns when you could shoot 'em ? Who's going
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 137 
 
 to be the first to put Kendallville on the map ? " 
 
 " Three of the fellows have gone already," of 
 fered Dick, resenting this suggestion that his native 
 town was not doing its share. 
 
 The sergeant whirled around. It was the chance 
 he'd been working for. " Friends of yours? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Coin' to let 'em fight while you hang back and 
 talk about 'em? Coin' to let somebody else carry 
 the old flag while you stick round home and sing 
 ' The Star Spangled Banner ' with the women folks ? 
 Well, that's being one kind of soldier. Only," he 
 added, " you didn't size up that way when I first 
 caught you between my sights. You looked like the 
 kind who'd step up with the first bunch and sign 
 on." 
 
 Dick, smarting under the sting of the sergeant's 
 tongue, went white, then red, then white again. It 
 was only with a great effort that he controlled him 
 self. 
 
 " If fighting's the whole game," he asked, 
 facing the soldier squarely, " how's it happen you're
 
 138 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 not with your company? You looked, at first, like 
 the sort who'd rather scrap than yap." 
 
 The quick chuckle which rippled through the 
 crowd added to the sergeant's quick temper and he 
 stiffened like a ram-rod. " A soldier's first duty 
 is to obey orders," he retorted, his voice crisp. 
 " My colonel detailed me to this and we go where 
 we're ordered and we're ordered where we're of the 
 most good." 
 
 " Maybe that works outside the army," suggested 
 Dick ; " Maybe some other people have to do one 
 thing when they'd rather do another. Think that 
 over before you go shooting wild." 
 
 " Are you tryin' to teach me my business, young 
 feller?" 
 
 Dal Tregressor's laugh rang out clear and true, 
 and the anxious crowd turned toward him in utter 
 amazement. " Looks like he's caught you in the 
 wire, old son," he cried, catching the soldier's arm 
 with his hand and tucking his other arm into Dick's 
 elbow. " You both think you're firing Jack John 
 sons, when all you're doing is letting off flares.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 139 
 
 You're blowing up each other's trenches without do 
 ing a bit of good. Turn off the gas, both of you, 
 before you poison a good field. You're starting a 
 raid before you're organized for it, old fighting 
 cock. Let's get right back into the dug-outs and 
 line up your plan of campaign. Shelling hornets 
 doesn't bag Bodies." 
 
 The sergeant was quick to recognize the sense of 
 this, and, already was as sorry as the boy over what 
 had occurred. " I'd take that only from a chap 
 w y ho'd made good," he acknowledged. " Always 
 did talk too much. But I'm going to talk a whole 
 lot more before I'm through with you," he promised 
 the crowd, " and, old Pat, here, is coming back 
 with me." 
 
 " I'll try anything once," agreed Tregressor. 
 " Let's dope out a real campaign first, though." 
 
 " You're on ! But, say," exclaimed the sergeant 
 before the three had gone twenty steps, " I'd started 
 out to find an old bunkie when you fellows came 
 into range. Know a chap named Tom Hall here? " 
 
 " I do," admitted Dick.
 
 140 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Lead me to him, son. He'll straighten us all 
 out, and give us a fresh start. Grandest old 
 scout who ever chawed a bean, Tom. Know him 
 well?" 
 
 " Fairly. He's my father." 
 
 The sergeant halted and his jaw dropped as he 
 looked Dick over from head to foot. " Wallop 
 me ! " he said disgustedly. " Give me the butt 
 strike! Let me eat my chevrons. And me stand 
 ing there on a soap box telling Tom's boy he was 
 afraid to fight ! Say, youngster, you've proved you 
 were a man once, do it again. Shake? " 
 
 "Sure!" cried Dick. "I didn't care much. 
 I'd settled it all with myself and nothing any one 
 says matters much. But let's hurry. Father will 
 be wild to see you." 
 
 " Then there'll be a couple of wild men loose in 
 Kendallville. Hike along and hear a real American 
 army fanning bee, Pat. Last time I saw Hall he 
 was perched on the string piece of a Ponce wharf, 
 batty with fever and bawlin' cause they wouldn't 
 let him swim to Cuba and get a fight. And me
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 141 
 
 tryin' to tell that man's boy where he got off ! Good 
 night!" 
 
 Dal couldn't help laughing at the other's frank 
 disgust, and, inside of thirty seconds, all three 
 were swinging up the street, thoroughly friendly. 
 As they went along, the sergeant was more and 
 more amazed to notice how every one found some 
 thing to say to Dick, and his headstrong action be 
 gan to get back on his nerves. He saw that this 
 youngster could make or break his work in the 
 village. But then he remembered that it was 
 Tom Hall's son, and things began to look rosy 
 again. 
 
 " Hello ! " he exclaimed, breaking off in the mid 
 dle of a story about his old tent-mate. " There's a 
 chap I've seen somewhere." 
 
 Both Dal and Dick glanced up. Toward them 
 came Jim Scott, and, with him, his hands em 
 phasizing his statements, walked Weinberg. 
 
 " What are they doing out of the factory this 
 time of day? " queried Dick. 
 
 " Search me ! " replied Dal. " Maybe they've
 
 142 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 been transferred to the night shift. Heard the boss 
 was planning some changes." 
 
 " Then there's trouble ahead for me," prophesied 
 the boy. 
 
 " What's wrong? Say, I've sure run across that 
 guy somewhere. Never could place faces. What's 
 his name ? " 
 
 " Scott." 
 
 The soldier shook his head but his eyes remained 
 fixed on Jim. As the two parties came together, the 
 sergeant hesitated, as if about to speak, but Scott 
 looked at him squarely, and, with a gruff " Hello! " 
 to Tregressor, walked past. 
 
 " Sure didn't know me," admitted the sergeant. 
 " But I'll bet a week's pay I saw that gink hanging 
 round a strike riot we discouraged out Idaho way. 
 I can almost locate him, but his name wasn't Scott 
 there. It was Delaney, or Delancy, or something 
 like that. Who's that he's with ? Looks like a Ger 
 man." 
 
 "Weinberg; foreman in the Kendall finishing 
 room."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 143 
 
 
 
 "Say!" he exclaimed. "What are those fel 
 lows doing, sleeping on their backs ? This isn't the 
 time to let Germans make our guns." 
 
 " He's been in town some time," announced Tre- 
 gressor. " I felt the same way at first. He's been 
 in this country some years, though; says he's for 
 the U. S. against the Vaterland." 
 
 " You believe it, do you ? Well, you've fought 
 'em; I've only read about 'em. But, believe me, if 
 I saw Delaney and a German talking together in 
 my town I'd keep an eye peeled every minute of 
 all the time, 'specially if there happened to be a 
 munitions plant handy." 
 
 " If you mean Scott, he's all right," asserted Dal. 
 " You've mixed him up with some one else." 
 
 " Not on your life, Pat ! I've got him fixed with 
 that strike sure. I'll remember the rest before long. 
 I remember that face now. If he wasn't a crook, 
 he was mixed up with the other crooks some way." 
 
 " Dick knows him better than I do. He's all 
 right, isn't he ? " he asked the boy. 
 
 But, for once, Dick Hall had nothing to say.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 AN ULTIMATUM 
 
 IF Dick found nourishment for thought in Ser 
 geant Baker's near-recognition of Scott, he found a 
 more personal mental meal in Dai's announcement 
 that Weinberg had been transferred to the night 
 shift. For weeks the man had appeared unaware 
 of his existence, yet, whenever Dick had chanced 
 to meet him on the street, he was conscious of the 
 keen eyes watching him slyly and he knew that 
 Weinberg was not the sort to accept such a slight 
 as Mr. Kendall had put upon him without some 
 attempt at revenge. 
 
 For this reason he was all the more surprised 
 when young Oscar Weinberg sidled up to him on 
 the street that very night. 
 
 " 'Lo, Dick! How's the boy? " he greeted. 
 
 " Able to eat soft food," retorted Dick with his 
 usual good nature. 
 
 144
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 145 
 
 "That's good." Oscar fell into step. "Going 
 down to the grocery," he announced. " The old 
 man's been put on the night shift and needs cheese 
 for his supper. He's a full-blooded cheese hound, 
 my old man. I'll stroll along with you, if you 
 don't mind." 
 
 "Come ahead," was the indifferent reply; "it's 
 a public street." 
 
 It was not exactly the answer young Weinberg 
 had hoped for, but he was clever enough to realize 
 it was the sort he deserved. " Say," he exclaimed 
 bluntly, " you licked me good once ; my old man 
 came back at you with a knock-out. Let's call it 
 quits. I don't want any more trouble with you, 
 Dick." 
 
 ;< You're not likely to have it, unless you start 
 it." 
 
 " I've never started anything," he answered. " I 
 like to be friends with every one." 
 
 " Good idea." 
 
 " Yeah," Oscar agreed, " 'specially now. Say, 
 Dick, you don't know how rotten it is to have a
 
 146 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 German name. Every one thinks you're not an 
 American." 
 
 " Wouldn't be exactly healthy for you round here, 
 if you weren't." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " There was a scarcely 
 hidden note of anxiety in the question. 
 
 " Guess you know as well as I do." 
 
 " No one would start anything, would he ? " 
 
 "If any one did, he'd find plenty of chaps here 
 ready to finish it." 
 
 " You mean the home guard Kendall's organiz 
 ing?" asked Weinberg. 
 
 " Perhaps. Possibly the crowd Dal Tregressor's 
 gathered would lend a willing hand." 
 
 " No one expects any trouble here, do they ? " 
 
 " Not's I know. But I guess Mr. Kendall's fig 
 ured it's better to be prepared than sorry." 
 
 " That's Boy Scout stuff, isn't it? " queried Oscar. 
 
 " Come to think of it, partly. Good deal of Boy 
 Scout * stuff ' appears to be general now-days." 
 
 " Hear Jim Farnsworth and Nick are wearing 
 their uniforms round the factory."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 147 
 
 " All the members of the younger patrols are to 
 be in uniform from now on. Any one can call on 
 any of 'em for anything they want, which has 
 anything to do with the country or the town." 
 
 "Any chance for a fellow to join? I'd like to 
 do my bit." 
 
 Dick looked at the boy in frank amazement. 
 " Thought you claimed we were jokes," he said. 
 
 " Got to do something. Don't want to be the only 
 guy in town who's not helping his country. Take 
 me into the home guard, if you won't let me into the 
 Scouts." 
 
 " You're too young. Anyway, I didn't say you 
 couldn't join the Scouts. Any fellow can, who's 
 square and will live up to the oath. We're not ex 
 clusive, we're inclusive." 
 
 " Can I really get in ? Can I ? " Oscar appeared 
 as delighted as he was excited. 
 
 " Better talk with Mr. Tregressor ; he'll fix it for 
 you. My patrol's full." 
 
 " Carter, Defoe and old Longshanks have left 
 town."
 
 148 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " You can count on one thing," declared Dick, 
 " and that's that they are still members and are 
 playing the game." 
 
 " Can I wear a uniform and do errands, if I'm 
 taken in?" 
 
 " You can do what all of us are doing, our bit." 
 
 " Me for it ! " declared Oscar. " When's the best 
 time to see Mr. Tregressor? " 
 
 " He's at home every evening. You can tell him 
 I sent you." 
 
 " I'll do that little thing. I knew you'd be the 
 chap to see. Later, you'll take me into the guard, 
 I'll bet." 
 
 " I'd try one thing at a time," advised Dick. 
 " You'll find the Scouts'll keep you busy enough, 
 if you're in earnest." 
 
 " Watch me," he promised. " Here's the cheese 
 cage. So long ! " He waved his hand and darted 
 into the store. 
 
 While Oscar Weinberg was apparently satisfied, 
 Dick was not. He believed Oscar still held a 
 grudge against him, was quite sure there was some-
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 149 
 
 thing behind this open attempt to bury the hatchet. 
 Then came sudden shame. Why should he, who 
 was trying so hard to do his part, look suspiciously 
 on another fellow's effort? He felt like going back 
 and apologizing to Oscar for doubting his will 
 ingness to do his bit, would have done so, had not 
 the roar of the factory whistle sent him flying 
 through the gates to avoid being late. 
 
 He stopped abruptly, eyes and mouth wide open, 
 as the barrel of a repeating shot gun was banged 
 against his chest. " Get back there," commanded 
 a gruff voice ; " show your pass." 
 
 With an effort, he pulled his shocked nerves to 
 gether and looked up at the man behind the gun. 
 " Why don't you scare a fellow to death ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 "Where's that pass?" 
 
 " Quit joshing and let me through. I'm almost 
 late." 
 
 " Produce that pass, or move ! " This time the 
 voice was crisp. Dick made a hasty search for the 
 thin leather case containing his identification card.
 
 150 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " There it is," he said, holding it out. " But for 
 the love of Mike, don't be such a chump! You 
 know me well enough; now I'm late." 
 
 " Serves you jolly well right, too," announced 
 Dal Tregressor, coming up. " My men are on the 
 job now and don't any of you people monkey with 
 'em, unless you're looking for big action." 
 
 " But have a little sense, Dal. When you all 
 know a fellow " 
 
 " We know a fellow at this fence when we see 
 his card, and not till then. I've been put on a job, 
 son, and I'm responsible. Now go on in and tell 
 'em you're late 'cause you got gay with a man be 
 hind a riot gun." 
 
 " And be guyed by the whole bunch ? Not 
 much!" 
 
 " That's up to you," chuckled Dal. " Hope you 
 get a little discipline in the Aunt Lizzies some day." 
 
 " Don't you worry about the Aunt Lizzies," Dick 
 laughed over his shoulder. " We'll have as good 
 an outfit in the home guard as you've got in the 
 Mill Yard Terriers."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 151 
 
 " Hope neither of us have to prove it, old son," 
 Dal called after him. " Look me up in lunch hour." 
 
 The more Dick thought over the incident, the more 
 it tickled him. There was no possible question 
 about Dal making good. He felt sorry for any 
 trouble-maker who ran foul of the new organiza 
 tion. He was even more pleased at having coun 
 tered that reference to the home guard as " the 
 Aunt Lizzies " by dubbing Dai's outfit the " Ter 
 riers," for he was clever enough to realize that both 
 names would stick and that they might become the 
 basis of a very healthy rivalry between the two or 
 ganizations. 
 
 His thoughts in this direction came to an abrupt 
 end, however, as he came face to face with Wein- 
 berg when he was hurrying through the finishing 
 room on his way to his own department. The big 
 man made no attempt to get out of his path and the 
 boy was forced to stop. " What is it that you do 
 here ? " he demanded sharply. 
 
 " On my way to my work." 
 
 " Then go by the proper route. I will not have
 
 152 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 you about my department. Here, at least, I am of 
 authority. I am not burned twice by the same little 
 fire." 
 
 It was more than the lad could stand, and, then 
 and there, he decided to have it out with Weinberg 
 for all time. " Glad we feel the same way about 
 it," he retorted. " You're not over me and you're 
 going to put nothing over on me. If anything was 
 stolen from your office, it must have been of mighty 
 little value, or you'd have carried out the bluff and 
 tried to get it back. You've got it in for me because 
 my father sized you up, crack off the bat, and you're 
 trying to settle that. As for my licking Oscar, he's 
 been man enough to drop it and offer to be friends ; 
 now you cut it out. You've nothing to do with 
 me and I certainly want nothing to do with you." 
 
 Weinberg's expression grew black and he took a 
 quick step forward, as if to lay hands on the boy. 
 Then he straightened to his full stature and an ugly 
 sneer spread over his square face. " So ! " he 
 hissed. " It is that you accuse me of the lie ! You 
 say that to repay a boyish brutality, I stole from
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 153 
 
 myself, that I might accuse you. You shall learn 
 now how a man should guard his honor. Come 
 with me to Mr. Kendall." 
 
 If he had expected Dick to show fear, even to 
 wince at the threat, he was grievously surprised. 
 "Come with you to no one!" Dick retorted with 
 open contempt. " I'm taking no orders from you, 
 and, what's more, you can't make good on that bluff. 
 Get out of my way; I'm late enough without wast 
 ing time." 
 
 With that he pushed past the astonished foreman 
 and went toward his own room, whistling as if noth 
 ing had occurred. Coming in so late, it was neces 
 sary for him to buckle down to work, and, in his 
 interest in keeping up with his schedule, he forgot 
 Weinberg and his threat. For that reason his 
 surprise was doubly great when the machines stopped 
 at midnight and Jim Scott sauntered up to him. 
 
 " Why the ingrowing grouch of late, youngster? " 
 he asked with all his old friendliness. " Being made 
 one of the big chiefs in the home guard swelled you 
 all out of shape? "
 
 154 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Here was a situation which the boy did not know 
 how to meet. He had wiped Scott's name from his 
 slate because it seemed certain, after Sergeant 
 Baker's recognition, that there was a seamy side to 
 Scott's past which dovetailed with his own suspicion 
 and convinced him that there was something queer 
 about this mysterious chap. Baker, too, had told 
 how, when he had tried to get into another con 
 versation with the man, he still insisted that he was 
 not Delaney. Days before, Dick had concluded that 
 the only way was to leave Scott severely alone. It 
 was not only the kindest thing, but the safest for all 
 concerned. Now Scott was forcing himself for 
 ward, a thing he had never done before in Kendall- 
 ville. 
 
 Reluctantly, Dick laid down the gun he held and 
 k)oked up into the half serious face. " I don't feel 
 swelled up," he asserted, " and I've certainly no 
 grouch against the general public." 
 
 " But a fine young one against me. All right, 
 nurse it along, if it will get you anywhere. Only," 
 he added seriously, " be sure it's going to get you
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 155 
 
 somewhere. Doesn't pay, if it won't, any more 
 than going out of your way hunting trouble." 
 
 " I'd rather hunt trouble than duck it." 
 
 Scott glanced at the cool young face and smiled. 
 " I guess you would," he agreed, " only you've a 
 heap to learn about hunting it. Now, what's the big 
 idea in this new run-in with Weinberg? Call it off, 
 before you mess everything up." 
 
 " The only thing that's apt to get messed up's 
 Weinberg," declared Dick ; " I've stood all I'm going 
 to from him. This is where he butts out for keeps. 
 I'm not under him and I'm not going to take any 
 more talk from him. If he sent you here, go back 
 and tell him to make good. I'm not afraid of 
 him." 
 
 " Suppose he didn't send me here ? " suggested 
 Jim. " Suppose I just came to you on my own 
 hook, and asked you not to start a big row. Sup 
 pose I had almighty good reasons for doing it, but 
 wanted to keep them under my hat for awhile ? " 
 
 "I'd keep 'em there then," Dick retorted; "they 
 don't interest me."
 
 156 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " They might you and a lot of other people. 
 I want this thing dropped, Dick. I know what will 
 happen, if you push it, and it mustn't happen." 
 
 "Why?" he asked coldly. 
 
 " You told me to keep my reasons under my 
 hat," Jim reminded him; "I'll take your advice; 
 take mine, it's good ; drop it; let Weinberg alone." 
 
 The boy turned squarely on him. " Is it going 
 to save you from a mess if I do? " he asked. 
 
 " It's going to save me from a whole lot of worry 
 if you cut it out," answered Scott ambiguously. 
 
 " You didn't care much about my feelings when 
 you let me take the gaff. You've got a crust to ask 
 me to stand much more. If he's got the goods on 
 you, fight it out with him. Don't mix me up in it 
 again ; I'm through being the goat." 
 
 Scott's jaw squared and his keen eyes flashed dan 
 gerously. " Why, you poor simp ! " he exclaimed, 
 " do you think I'd ask you to cover my tracks ? Do 
 you think I'd come whimpering to you if Weinberg 
 had the goods on me? I can do my own personal 
 fighting, thanks."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 157 
 
 " Then go do it." 
 
 To the boy's astonishment, the anger vanished 
 from Scott's face as quickly as it had flared up. He 
 began to laugh. " You sure got one dandy rise out 
 of me! Guess things are getting on my nerves. 
 Sorry." 
 
 K 'S all right," agreed Dick gruffly, still at a 
 complete loss. 
 
 " Good ! Forget it, along with Weinberg. I'll 
 explain later." 
 
 " I won't forget Weinberg. I've told you once 
 that I've taken all I'm going to from him. He's 
 forced this, and I'm going to see that he puts it 
 through. He's got to prove I'm a thief, or acknowl 
 edge he's a liar. That's final." 
 
 Scott met his defiant gaze evenly, then slowly 
 shook his head. " I'm blamed sorry you don't trust 
 me," he said, " blamed sorry. You're going to 
 make a pile of trouble." 
 
 " I'm going to stop people from calling me a 
 thief," Dick corrected. 
 
 " For the last time, I ask you not to force things."
 
 158 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 This time Dick's own jaw squared. " I've given 
 you my answer," he stated; "it's Weinberg or 
 me." 
 
 For perhaps ten seconds, Scott looked at him, 
 then, with a shrug, turned away. " It's up to you," 
 he said. " You're starting something which may 
 be too big for us all to stop." 
 
 Dick watched him go in silence. He had no re 
 gret over the stand he had taken. He had gone 
 through fire blindly for Stephen Kendall; any one 
 else would have to give him better reasons for put 
 ting himself in a compromising position than Scott 
 had done. It had all been as vague as it was dis 
 tasteful, and Dick was astounded that Jim had had 
 the audacity to approach him with such mist-hung 
 requests. It added nothing to his valuation of the 
 man, yet, in spite of it all, he still felt that same 
 inexplicable liking for him. 
 
 One effect the incident did have, however. It left 
 the boy with a desire to be alone. For this reason 
 he ate his lunch at the bench, and did not hunt up 
 Dal. Somehow or other, he felt he could not play
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 159 
 
 a whole-hearted part in the jokes he knew Dal 
 would start about the two guards. 
 
 Yet others had not been as inactive. Hardly 
 had the machines started before a message came for 
 Dick to report in the office. Dropping his work, 
 he found old Robinson, told him of the summons 
 and started for the other building. 
 
 This time he gave little thought as to why he 
 had been sent for. He took it for granted that Mr. 
 Kendall had some new plan for the guard, and 
 wanted to get it under way, so that all might be 
 working smoothly when the company was called 
 out for the first time. The surprise was all the 
 greater when he found Weinberg standing in silence 
 by Mr. Kendall's desk. " You sent for me, sir ? " 
 he said. 
 
 " Yes," came the quiet answer, but it was not fol 
 lowed by the now customary invitation to pull a 
 chair close to the desk. " Mr. Weinberg says that 
 he has a complaint to make against you, Hall. As 
 he states that it is serious, I thought it but just to 
 you both that he make it before you."
 
 160 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 The boy nodded gravely, but, as he turned toward 
 Weinberg, he saw an expression, far different from 
 the indignation he had expected, steal across the fore 
 man's face. It was a look such as might have come 
 to the eyes of some slinking wild beast long held 
 from its prey, but now at last sure that its victim 
 was in reach of its claws. The next instant the 
 big, powerful features were again normal and the 
 awaited anger flared. 
 
 " This I shall not tolerate," he exclaimed indig 
 nantly. " It is the right of a foreman to have the 
 confidence of his employer." 
 
 " Nevertheless, Weinberg, you will grant me the 
 right to conduct this factory according to my own 
 ideas," came the calm retort. " If you care to 
 proceed, you may." 
 
 " If it was that I am a maker of trouble," con 
 tinued Weinberg, " I should refuse on the in 
 stant. I have worked here two years; I have 
 done work that was good. I know well the 
 trouble which would come to the company in 
 this, the hour of its need, if I should do as some
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 161 
 
 men would do and throw the gage of battle at your 
 feet." 
 
 " Urn ! Come to the point." 
 
 " It is because I have done what I have done and 
 am what I am that I shall no longer tolerate the in 
 solence of that boy. This night he came into my 
 department and told me to my face that I uttered 
 lies. Is it that the Kendall Arms Company con 
 siders that the proper conduct of its affairs permits 
 such insults to its foremen ? " 
 
 Stephen Kendall wheeled about in his swivel 
 chair. " What have you to say for yourself, 
 Hall?" 
 
 " That's he's told the truth as far as he's gone," 
 he stated, disgusted at such a false statement of fact, 
 and determined now to see the thing to the end, in 
 spite of Jim Scott or any one. " I was going 
 through the finishing department because I was late 
 and was taking the shortest way. He stopped me 
 and again accused me of being a thief. I told him 
 that he couldn't make good on that old bluff and 
 he threatened what's happened now. If it's not
 
 162 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 asking too much, Mr. Kendall, let's have this steal 
 ing stuff settled for good. He claims I've stolen 
 something ; what's he lost ? " 
 
 " That seems a perfectly fair question, Wein- 
 berg," he demanded ; " answer it." 
 
 For the fraction of a second the thick lips parted 
 but then the big head shot forward. " My watch 
 and chain," he answered. 
 
 To Stephen Kendall's amazement, Dick laughed. 
 " You must have forgotten to re-steal it, Weinberg ; 
 the chain's hanging out of your pocket." 
 
 " It's another watch and chain. See, again," he 
 flared, " he calls me not only a liar, but this time a 
 thief from myself. Always he has tried to make 
 trouble for me; I am through with it. I demand 
 his discharge." 
 
 " You what ? " asked Mr. Kendall sharply. 
 
 " I demand his instant discharge." 
 
 " Oh ! I thought I might have misunderstood 
 that word the first time." 
 
 " I use it in the full strength of it." 
 
 " Then you've made a second false step. We've
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 163 
 
 never listened to a ' demand ' from a workman yet; 
 I don't intend to begin now." 
 
 Weinberg squared around, his bluster gone, his 
 whole attitude as cool as that of the man he faced. 
 ; ' That boy shall be discharged," he stated, 
 "or" 
 
 " Never mind the threat," broke in Stephen Ken 
 dall sharply. " He's proved you a liar once ; you've 
 no need to endorse the charge. You're the one 
 who's discharged." 
 
 It was Weinberg who laughed this time, and it 
 was laughter which contained both contempt and 
 triumph. " You make the issue at a time when it is 
 to you critical," he declared. " My men shall have 
 an answer to this, your high handed methods. We 
 shall test out your so valiant-strength. There are 
 men, wiser far than you, who listen to my word." 
 
 Mr. Kendall came to his feet and his eyes met 
 those of the threatening workman unflinchingly. 
 " If you're threatening a walk-out," he said, " you're 
 wasting breath. I know my men. If you're merely 
 threatening trouble, you've come to the right place
 
 164 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 to find it. Get out of here; we're through with 
 you." 
 
 " Aufwiedersehen! " corrected Weinberg and 
 walked out of the office.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE MARCH PAST 
 
 FOR once, at least, Weinberg's word proved good. 
 Twenty men of the day shift walked out during 
 the next morning. The old residents of Kendall- 
 ville were ablaze with resentment, and real trouble 
 might have come on the instant from what they 
 called disloyalty to the government, had not old 
 " Bullet " Kendall himself passed out the word that 
 nothing would be allowed to interfere with the 
 running of the plant. When " Bullet " spoke, Ken- 
 dallville had learned to sit back, and wait in si 
 lence. 
 
 If Weinberg could show such unexpected strength 
 among the day force, all wondered what might hap 
 pen when six o'clock came, and the big majority of 
 the new employees were put to the test. If they 
 backed up the now invisible ex-foreman, the Ken- 
 
 165
 
 166 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 dall company would be hard pressed to live up to 
 its contracts. Every day counted, and every one in 
 the village knew how heavy that count was. 
 
 At noon Stephen Kendall's gray racing car came 
 rushing down from the great house on the hill, the 
 owner himself at the wheel. If they had expected 
 old " Bullet " to choose the field for any possible 
 action, they were certain that Stephen would pro 
 vide that action. It began to look as if things were 
 about to happen. 
 
 The first surprise came when the big car slid to a 
 stop in front of George North's bank and Mr. Ken 
 dall went in, his step as jaunty, and his smile as 
 carefree as if he had not spent the entire morning at 
 the long distance instead of in sleep. Then came 
 another rumor on the heels of the multitude already 
 afloat, and it was followed by Mr. North's appear 
 ance on the street. Soon boys in the uniforms of 
 Scouts began to weave in and out of the little 
 crowds, whispering a word here and a command 
 there. Dick Hall, too, had had his orders and they 
 were being swiftly spread by the youngsters, who
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 167 
 
 had dropped everything at the urgent call. Yet, 
 with all this undercurrent, all that any one knew 
 was that the home guard was called to meet that 
 afternoon. There could be nothing revolutionary 
 in that ; old " Bullet " was too canny to risk the 
 suppression of possible riots to a quickly gathered, 
 and more quickly instructed, counter-mob. 
 
 It was nearly four o'clock when between twenty 
 and twenty-five men were seen straggling through 
 the factory gates. The strikers greeted them with 
 a wild yell, but it quickly died away when they were 
 recognized as amongst the oldest of the Kendall men. 
 Without comment, they strolled on down the street 
 and entered the town hall. Hardly had they dis 
 appeared before George North came out of the 
 bank, and turned in the same direction. A dozen 
 of the storekeepers and their clerks followed. Then 
 boys in khaki began to appear and then to dis 
 appear into the old white building. Of them all, 
 Dick, the root of the trouble, was the only one to 
 be greeted with a jeer, as he came running down 
 from a quick conference with the calm old min-
 
 168 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 ister who saw his training bearing good fruit once 
 more. 
 
 Probably there were sixty in the hall when 
 Stephen Kendall suddenly stepped out on the plat 
 form. " Attention ! " he commanded crisply. 
 " We've a good deal to do." 
 
 His bearing, more than his tone, brought an in 
 stantaneous hush. Men dropped into the nearest 
 chairs. Stephen Kendall came nearer the edge of 
 the platform. " Kendallville was among the first," 
 he announced, " to take up this idea of forming a 
 home guard. That we've been slow in organizing 
 has been due to my negligence, but, before a formal 
 step is taken, my father and I wish it distinctly 
 understood that no untoward event is behind this 
 meeting. The Kendalls will guard their own." 
 
 " We're behind you, Steve, if any of them start 
 anything." 
 
 Kendall turned quickly, located the speaker and 
 frowned. " I know you are, Harry," he stated, 
 " but we're here to think of bigger things than the 
 individual."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 169 
 
 " You're boss, Steve. We'll follow you." 
 
 " But say the word, when you want something 
 started, old man." 
 
 " Three cheers for Mr. Kendall ! " thrilled a boy 
 ish treble. 
 
 The cheers came with a vim and at least served as 
 a vent for pent up emotions. As the noise died out, 
 Mr. Kendall's voice again rose sharply. " Let's get 
 down to business," he half suggested, half com 
 manded. " Some thought I should act as cap 
 tain " 
 
 "You bet!" 
 
 " Make it unanimous." 
 
 " Three cheers for Capt. Kendall." 
 
 Again the noise drowned the speaker's voice but 
 the flush which came over his handsome face showed 
 his honest pleasure in this proof of their confidence. 
 " Richard Hall and George North have been sug 
 gested as lieutenants." 
 
 It was the men from the factory who led the 
 demonstration this time. " I take it these selec 
 tions meet approval," said Mr. Kendall with a smile.
 
 170 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " We'll go ahead with this organization. George, 
 you and Dick come up here." 
 
 It would be hard to say whether the diffident 
 banker or the modest factory lad was the more un 
 comfortable over the second demonstration which 
 greeted their march to the platform. For the first 
 time Dick began to suspect that he had a good many 
 friends, and it gave him a comfortable feeling inside 
 and a confidence in himself which made his step 
 firmer. 
 
 " My idea," Mr. Kendall began again, " is to 
 start with sixty members, but our limit will be one 
 hundred. We will have drills twice a week. Serv 
 ice is entirely voluntary. Each man who signs the 
 muster roll agrees to obey the commands of his 
 superiors and observe military discipline. Failure 
 to do this will result in dishonorable discharge. If 
 I've outlined the idea sufficiently, I'll declare the 
 muster roll open for signatures. Dick, you'll find 
 paper and pens in the drawer. Act as mustering 
 officer." 
 
 A crowd started forward, but in the rear of the
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 171 
 
 11 a man sprang to a chair. " Do we get guns 
 and uniforms?" he called. 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " I've got my all staked here in the village," he 
 stated. " I know what this home guard may mean 
 before this war is over. I'll be one of five to pay 
 for the guns." 
 
 "Bully for you, Solly!" 
 
 " Knew he'd loosen sometime." 
 
 " Fine ! " exclaimed Mr. Kendall enthusiastically. 
 " That's real Kendallville spirit. But you're too 
 late ; some one has already contributed a sum which 
 will cover our complete equipment." 
 
 For a moment there was silence. All had ex 
 pected to do their part. Then came a murmur 
 which grew to a roar. "'Bullet'! 'Bullet'!" 
 they shouted. " Three cheers for ' Bullet ' and the 
 Kendall Guards!" 
 
 Stephen Kendall had meant to keep this new 
 example of his father's public spirit a secret, but 
 he saw it was as useless to attempt to check their 
 cheers, as it was to try to keep them from giving
 
 172 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the new company his family name. " Thanks for 
 him," he laughed joyously. " I claim the honor of 
 signing my name as the first member of the Ken 
 dall Guards." 
 
 He stooped over the table, wrote his signature 
 with a firm hand, and held out the pen to North. 
 " You're next, George," he said, " then Dick." 
 
 " How about the rest of us? " 
 
 " Age before beauty," suggested one of the older 
 men jokingly. 
 
 " Good idea that," agreed Mr. Kendall. 
 " George, line up your crowd ; Dick, send your 
 chaps to the back of the hall." 
 
 "Who looks after us?" queried one of the fac 
 tory men whimsically. " You can't freeze us out 
 of this game." 
 
 " Let them start the list," suggested North ; 
 " they've neither age nor beauty." 
 
 From George North, who seldom joked about 
 anything, it was the exact touch needed. It seemed 
 to put them all in even more of a mood of good 
 fellowship and to wipe out any possible ground for
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 173 
 
 rivalry. " But, remember," warned Stephen Ken 
 dall, as the men crowded up to the table, "none 
 of you need sign. Everybody's to act on his own 
 judgment and personal desire." 
 
 " Sure we be ! " shouted Mike Maloney, a big 
 Irish machinist. " Give us a couple of thim pens, 
 Cap." 
 
 After each had signed the roll, he returned to 
 his seat, and, when the last youngster had blotted 
 his signature, Dick rose. " Captain," he announced, 
 saluting, " I have to report fifty-seven men pres 
 ent." 
 
 " Begorra ! " cried the enthusiastic Maloney. 
 " Teach me th' monkey-shine, bhoy. Tis foine I'll 
 look doin' ut. Is ut with the left fist, so? " 
 
 " Order in the ranks! " commanded Mr. Kendall, 
 laughing as loudly as any of them. " You'll learn 
 it fast enough, Mike, and do it, too, when you ad 
 dress Lieut. Hall." 
 
 " Do I make th' little song an' dance when I spake 
 to that gossoon ? " 
 
 "You do."
 
 174 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 "So be ut!" agreed Maloney promptly. ''I've 
 pledged to obey ordhers." 
 
 " Attention ! " Kendall's tone told them that the 
 play time was past. " Baker, the recruiting ser 
 geant, has offered us his help in drilling the com 
 pany while he's here," he announced. " I wish we 
 had a regular all the time." 
 
 " What's the matter with Tom Hall ? " suggested 
 a man in the front row. 
 
 Dick looked at Mr. Kendall. " I'm afraid he's 
 not up to it," he confessed sorrowfully. " He's 
 broken-hearted because he couldn't come, but he 
 said to tell you he'd be mighty glad to give us what 
 he called ' non-com.' school." 
 
 " Good ! The captain and lieutenants will report 
 to Mr. Hall to-morrow afternoon at four for pre 
 liminary instructions. For the rest of the after 
 noon, I am going to divide the company into three 
 squads. I'll take the mill men, Lieut. North the 
 town men and Lieut. Hall the Scouts, and the 
 younger fellows. We will line up by fours and 
 march to the end of Main street and back."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 175 
 
 In a flash they saw the test he was putting them 
 to. It meant facing the town. It meant marching 
 past their friends, and, more, it meant marching 
 past the strikers who might become something else 
 at any second. It was Maloney who came slowly 
 to his feet, his face grim. " We're ready, sor," he 
 announced simply. 
 
 Dick, with a dozen members of the Scouts to 
 leaven his detachment, knew his task would be the 
 simplest, and, long before the other two squads were 
 in line, his was formed. Stepping across the hall, 
 he reported to his captain in a steady voice. Then, 
 in an undertone, " Give us the right of line, sir," he 
 begged ; " my fellows understand discipline. They'll 
 be steady, if anything's started." 
 
 " I'd planned to, Dick. Maloney acts as my first 
 sergeant and I head the company. You and I are 
 the two they're after, lad; we'll face the music to 
 gether." 
 
 " Thank you, sir." 
 
 But Stephen Kendall knew what the little trem 
 ble in the lad's voice meant and each knew that
 
 176 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 he could count on the other until the very 
 end. 
 
 It was a strangely self-conscious crowd which 
 marched down the echoing stairs and out into the 
 spring sunlight which flooded the sidewalk. " Fours 
 right, march ! " Stephen Kendall's voice rang out 
 clear and true as he reached the center of the street 
 and wheeled south. " Fours right, march ! " re 
 peated Dick without a quaver. Yet both saw the 
 crowd ahead, heard the low murmur of surprise and 
 then the quick, high jeer. 
 
 " Steady! " warned the boy. " Eyes front." 
 
 " It's strike-breakers," yelled some one ahead. 
 "Rock 'em! Kill 'em!" 
 
 Kendall saw the group surge out from the side 
 walk, recognized Schwartz, Weinberg's closest 
 friend, and knew what it meant. " Close up ! " he 
 ordered. 
 
 " Close up ! " repeated Dick and heard Mr. 
 North's equally steady, " Close up ! " followed by 
 Maloney's booming, " Close up, bhoys ! " 
 
 No one had ever called Stephen Kendall a coward,
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 177 
 
 but, had there been a side street, between his men 
 and the snarling crowd ahead, he would have 
 wheeled into it with a joyous heart. The fight at 
 the plant was his; the thought of marching these 
 clear-eyed boys and the loyal townsmen straight into 
 the jaws of a riot, sickened him. His only relief 
 was that they were unarmed. Had they carried the 
 rifles already in the Kendall stables, he knew that 
 Maloney and the stalwarts from the shops would 
 see to it that the gutters ran red. He had but an 
 instant to choose his course, to balance the reputa 
 tion of the Kendalls for never surrendering against 
 the fair name of Kendallville. " Halt ! " he or 
 dered. 
 
 Dick Hall heard, and, hearing, understood. And 
 in that instant he, too, weighed the alternative. He 
 had a clear vision of a grim fight or a factory 
 which was arming his country standing idle. Turn 
 ing as he marched, he looked into the eyes of the 
 first four lads. " Take it standing up," he said ; 
 " forward, march! " 
 
 Mr. Kendall's face went white with anger at this
 
 178 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 open disobedience of his orders, but, before he could 
 speak, Dick was close to his side. " The right's 
 with us," he said simply. " Most of us are Scouts ; 
 we're going through." 
 
 Another change came over Stephen Kendall's face. 
 " Not alone," he stated. " Let them start it." 
 
 It was then that Kendall saw Schwartz stoop and 
 pick up a stone. His back stiffened. He knew that 
 he would be the bull's-eye of the target but he 
 marched on, head up, arms swinging at his side, a 
 smile on his lips and his fine eyes alight, every inch 
 a man. 
 
 The unwavering advance of the silent column was 
 not what the strikers had expected. Schwartz knew 
 that the time had come to act. Kendall was the 
 one man he wanted down. With him out of the 
 way, everything would be simple. " Come on ! " he 
 roared and his arm went back to hurl the rock at the 
 undefended head. 
 
 But just as it went back, a flying figure crashed 
 into him, paused, wavered from the shock, whirled 
 round in the vacant space between the mob and the
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 179 
 
 advancing Guard and came to a stand straight, per 
 fectly poised, ready. "Who opens the ball?" he 
 challenged, his cold eyes sweeping the crowd. 
 "Look!" he cried. And, as if out of the empty 
 air, a blued automatic appeared in his hand. " You 
 helped make this; you whelps, are you afraid of 
 your handiwork ? " 
 
 "Kill him!" 
 
 Dal Tregressor laughed as he took one step for 
 ward and there was a note in that laugh which 
 sent cold chills up Dick Hall's spine. " So it's you, 
 Schwartz, is it ? " he sneered. " Where's your run 
 ning mate? " 
 
 " Get back ! Don't shoot ! " The bravado was 
 dying out of the mob. 
 
 " I want Schwartz," declared the lone man. 
 " Come out here, you yellow dog ! " He dropped 
 his gun into his pocket and leaped forward. " Come 
 out here," he snapped, gripping the big man by the 
 shoulder and jerking him into the street. " Stand 
 still, the rest of you." 
 
 Schwartz, trembling with a very vivid fear, looked
 
 180 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 this way and that for a road of escape, but Dal 
 Tregressor shook him like a terrier shakes a rat. 
 " Look there, you sneaking Hun ! " he ordered. 
 " Those men are doing their bit. You don't see 
 their flag; I don't see it; but they see it, waving 
 there above their heads. I've been over the top 
 without the colors. I know what it means. Take 
 off your hat and salute their flag! " 
 
 His own heels came together with a click and 
 his one whole hand snapped to his cap. Like a 
 statue, he stood there at the salute until the last of 
 Maloney's men had marched past in utter silence. 
 And, at his side stood the hatless, white-faced leader 
 of the mob. 
 
 But, as the company swung on up the street, cheers 
 began to break out on either side and Dal Tregres 
 sor, drawing a long breath, turned to his still rigid 
 companion. 
 
 " There's a train leaving in ten minutes," he an 
 nounced; " get on and see how far it goes." 
 
 Then he turned and walked to the factory with 
 out so much as a glance at the cheering crowds.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 A MIDNIGHT FIRE 
 
 DAL TREGRESSOR leaned against the corner of the 
 small frame building which housed those of his 
 watchmen temporarily off duty and counted the 
 slow strokes of the factory clock in its unseen 
 tower high overhead. A picture of idle indiffer 
 ence, he was, in reality, very much on the alert. 
 From this point he could follow the line of arc 
 lights more than half way around their circle, and 
 was within call of most of his men who paced their 
 posts within the shadows. 
 
 Yet he was more intent in watching the basement 
 door of the old shop. Hardly had the bell ceased its 
 booming when some one came out, and, without 
 pausing, headed directly toward him. Tregressor, 
 his eyes as keen as a hawk's, saw, but hid his 
 knowledge under an even thicker mask of careless 
 ness. 
 
 181
 
 182 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Wake up, Dal ! " Dick was grinning as he laid 
 a hand on his friend's arm. 
 
 " Oh ! " The man pretended great astonishment. 
 " Why," he exclaimed, as if vastly relieved, " it's 
 the Aunt Lizzies' second in command! My graci 
 ous, how you did frighten me, Lieutenant ! I must 
 have been asleep." 
 
 " Oh, back up ! I saw you turn your head away 
 as I opened the door." 
 
 " Little bright eyes, the night owl ! " teased Tre- 
 gressor. " When are the Lizzies going to pull an 
 other show ? " 
 
 "That's right, laugh it off! We all know it 
 would have been about our last if you hadn't 
 appeared like the movie hero in the last reel." 
 
 " Drop that. How are things going inside ? " 
 
 " The way you handled Schwartz seemed to put 
 a crimp in a lot of back bones. Most of the men 
 I thought would be missing to-night are polishing 
 steel with their noses. But, Dal, there's one chap 
 out I didn't expect would quit. That's why I sent 
 you word."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 183 
 
 "Well, who is it? The night's half gone and I 
 don't know yet." 
 
 " Scott." 
 
 " Sergeant Baker's friend, eh ? Um ! Leave it 
 to an old non-com, to spot a wrong 5 un." 
 
 The boy looked quickly about to make sure none 
 was near. " Dal," he announced, " I believe there's 
 more going on round here that even you've sus 
 pected. Scott used to be mighty chummy with 
 me ; I've always had a sneaking liking for the chap. 
 Even now, I can't believe what I almost know." 
 
 " If you know anything, spill it." 
 
 " I'm going to. I hate the idea, but I guess it's 
 the right thing to do. Even then, it doesn't make 
 things line up." 
 
 " I'm no mind reader," suggested Dal mildly. 
 
 " It was when I got into that first row with Wein- 
 berg. Jim Scott went into Weinberg's office. I 
 saw him. Of course I didn't see him take anything. 
 I don't even know what was taken. But I've got 
 to believe that, whatever was taken, was taken by 
 him."
 
 184 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Does he know you saw him go in there? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Ever say anything about it to him ? " 
 
 Dick nodded. " Asked him if he could think of 
 any way to square me, or something like that. 
 Thought I'd give him a chance to play the game." 
 
 "Wouldn't he do it?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Steve Kendall know this? " 
 
 " No. I've never told any one. I couldn't prove 
 anything against him; I know how it hurts to be 
 suspected, when you're innocent." 
 
 Tregressor took a quick turn into the shadows 
 and back, his head bowed. " Doesn't hang to 
 gether," he announced shortly. " Can't see why 
 he'd back up Weinberg now, by striking, if he'd 
 steal something from him a couple of months ago." 
 
 " Maybe Weinberg's got it on him." 
 
 " Maybe. Don't know Scott well, but he struck 
 me as the sort who'd scrap rather than quit." 
 
 " The sergeant said he'd seen him mixed up with 
 a gang of strikers out West. Dal, I believe there's
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 185 
 
 a plot on to put this plant out of business. There's 
 plenty of spies in this country and they want our 
 munition factories shut down. Weinberg was using 
 me as an excuse. I'm as sure of it as I am that 
 I'm talking with you. What's more, Mr. Kendall 
 knows it." 
 
 " Has he told you so ? '' demanded Dal sharply. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Then don't quote him," he advised. " We're 
 paid to do our work, not his thinking. If he does 
 suspect anything, and is keeping it mum, you bet 
 he's got a good reason for doing it and he doesn't 
 want any of us talking wild. But, between you and 
 me and the family keepsakes, I'm thinking the same 
 way. I've orders to halt every one who comes near 
 that fence. If they don't halt when my men tell 
 'em to, well they halt," he finished grimly. 
 
 " But where does Scott come in? " 
 
 " If he comes in at all, he'll show up mighty soon," 
 prophesied Dal. "If we've guessed right, the 
 party's just begun. That strike flivvered, but if 
 they're in earnest no grand-stand plays are going
 
 186 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 to scare them off. I've got my gang on edge, and, 
 believe me, they're good huskies. But I must have 
 ten more. There're spots still unguarded. You 
 get busy with the Lizzies. Get Kendall to let 'em 
 have those guns he's hidden and tip off every Boy 
 Scout to keep his ear close to the ground and his 
 mouth shut unless he's talking to my father or you. 
 I'm going the rounds again, so eat your grub. If I 
 get a tip about Scott, I'll pass it on." 
 
 Dick went back into the shop, more uneasy than 
 ever at the climax of his own troubles. But Tre- 
 gressor walked his rounds with anxious face. All 
 that the boy had said bore out what Mr. Kendall had 
 disclosed when he asked him to undertake the work. 
 He believed that trouble was fast approaching, and 
 he thrived on that sort of food. Yet one thing 
 puzzled him; he could not solve Scott's evident at 
 tempt to run both with the fox and the hounds, and 
 he would have given much to meet the man alone in 
 one of the dark corners of the big yard for which 
 he was responsible. 
 
 Two hours more and suspicion turned to cer-
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 187 
 
 tainty. The night was still and slow, low-hanging 
 clouds clung to the top of the great mountain at the 
 valley's head. In the deep shadows only the twin 
 kling rows of lights in the windows of the factory 
 buildings bore witness that the village was in the 
 world of the living. Certainly none could have 
 denied that peace brooded over Kendallville. 
 
 Then, low at first, like the drone of an angry 
 hive, but, growing, with a whine, into full-throated 
 blast, the great siren above the power house roared 
 out. The shadows seemed to waver under the 
 strength of its cry; the buildings to tremble, the 
 blackness on the distant mountain to shake. Men 
 paused, tools poised above the work in hand, or shot 
 forth reaching fingers for the levers of their ma 
 chines. Then, above the new-born whirr of the 
 alarm bells, rang the sharp, short cry, " Fire ! " 
 
 In the yard, Dick heard the shouts of watch 
 men, followed by the pound of rushing feet. In the 
 long shop, the calm orders of old Robinson broke 
 the momentary hush. " Get everything under cover 
 before the sprinklers start," he ordered. " We don't
 
 188 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 know where it is, but it ain't here yet. Fire squad 
 file out! We men who are left behind will stick 
 by the guns awhile." 
 
 Dick went down the stairs on the jump. As his 
 leader came to the entrance he snatched the nozzle 
 of the coiled hose from its rack. The rest caught 
 hold. With a yell, they rushed for their hydrant 
 station. Now the whistle boomed in short, angry 
 blasts. Then, at the north end of the yard, a dull, 
 flooding glow began to spread and its light stole 
 slowly over the walls of the huge new shop. " It's 
 the store house ! " panted Dick. " The old shop'll 
 go next, then this. Wind's this way." 
 
 " Save your breath, youngster," advised the man 
 behind him. "Hit it up!" 
 
 Across the yard came rushing a hatless, coatless 
 man. " Hurry with that hose ! " he called. " Get 
 the water in there. Fight it from this side. It's a 
 bad one." 
 
 " Wind's toward the main shop, sir." 
 
 Stephen Kendall waved a hand as he dashed past. 
 " Come on," he ordered. " Keep this side. You'll
 
 V^ -, _JL*_ -* J -i- 1 - - j*. .T- ^__-f A_-f T .-M-.^a.j_^ ..M ^ -L O C/ 
 
 get trapped between the pond and wall, if you work 
 from the west." 
 
 They whirled out the hose as they ran, trying to 
 keep pace with him. They saw him stop, as he 
 met the men from the third floor, and heard him 
 order them to keep a stream playing over the new 
 shop to protect that. The night grew brighter ; the 
 glare lit the whole yard. Yellow clouds of smoke 
 whirled out through the exploding windows of the 
 long, one-storied storehouse beside the spur track. 
 
 The hose in their hands squirmed, writhed, stif 
 fened. With a hiss, the stream leaped out, curved, 
 straightened, struck the window on the east side with 
 a crash. " Hold 'er steady ! " commanded the 
 leader. 
 
 Dick, with two others, held the fighting nozzle, 
 crouching to avoid the thick smoke. The heat 
 slapped at their faces like waves slap the side of a 
 boat. Their breath came sharp and rasping. From 
 left and right came sharp orders. They heard the 
 roar of two more streams above the flames. The 
 first and fourth floor squads were in action. " It's
 
 190 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 a terror," panted Dick to the man at his side. 
 
 " Yup ! I'm roasting." 
 
 " We can stick awhile," 
 
 "You bet!" 
 
 They gulped and settled their feet more firmly. 
 It seemed as if the water was winning. " Here 
 comes the town company," gasped Dick; " I hear the 
 bells." 
 
 " Tregressor ! " roared Kendall's voice above the 
 din. " Tregressor ! " 
 
 "Yes, sir?" 
 
 " Keep that fire department out." 
 
 " Already 'tended to, sir. Double guards on all 
 posts." 
 
 " Right. Steady that No. i stream ! " 
 
 Dick heard the two men at his sides swear under 
 their breath. " There's been crooked work here," 
 he offered ; " that's why he won't let any outsiders 
 in. He's trusting it all to us." 
 
 " By gad, you're right ! " 
 
 " Hurroo ! " From the source of No. i stream 
 Maloney's big voice rose above the racket like a
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 191 
 
 trumpet. " Tis Kendall men an' Kendall guns agin 
 th' Hun, bhoys. Lay on ! " 
 
 If anything more had been needed to hold them 
 to their work, the knowledge that Stephen Kendall 
 relied on them alone was it. There was not a man 
 there who would not have suffocated at his post be 
 fore he would have retreated one step. " It's gain 
 ing on us," gasped Dick. " Watch those flames. 
 They're creeping through the whole building." 
 
 He heard some one behind him in the smoke. 
 
 " You men all right ? " asked Kendall. 
 
 & 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Don't stick too long." 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Kendall!" 
 
 " Here." 
 
 Tregressor came plowing in as if he thrived on 
 smoke and heat, " Pardon interference, sir," he 
 cried; "look's like a case of action front, if we're 
 to save the first line trench. If we could smash in 
 that double door, and get the water in, it would 
 drive the flame back to the rear, where it started." 
 
 " No man can live in that heat, though."
 
 192 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " I've lived through worse'n that," volunteered 
 Dal. " I've one good arm left ; give me an ax." 
 
 " No." 
 
 Dick heard and his hands stole back along the 
 hose until he felt those of the man behind him. 
 " I'm all in," he said ; " be back in a sec." 
 
 Out through the smoke he scooted, but low to the 
 ground to escape both smoke and notice, then 
 wheeled eastward for a few gulps of untainted air. 
 Mr. Kendall's order had been to Dal Tregressor. 
 Dick thought of the cases of automatics piled inside 
 that burning building. He had no idea how many 
 were there ; how many might have been shipped out 
 on the midnight train. He only knew that some 
 were left and that each one might mean the life of a 
 soldier at the front. Against many lives, he staked 
 but one. 
 
 " I want that," he cried, snatching an ax from the 
 hands of a man who was hurrying toward the rear 
 of the building. 
 
 "Give that back!" 
 
 " Can't. Need it"
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 193 
 
 For just an instant he paused to size up his prob 
 lem for the last time. The line of flaming windows 
 told the story all too plainly. The northern half 
 of the building was already a seething furnace. 
 The blaze was sweeping through, and, from the 
 southern end, its leap across the narrow gap to the 
 new shop would be the work of a second. The big 
 double door was the key to the fire. But the walls 
 of the two buildings were so close that none could 
 man hose between them without roasting, should 
 the flames lick through. Nor, from the compara 
 tive safety of an acute angle, could the doors be 
 smashed in by weight of water. When they gave 
 before the flames, it would be too late. It was ax 
 work first, then oblique streams which should work 
 slowly in as they drove the fire back. 
 
 He measured his distance as he drew long, deep 
 breaths. Then the remembrance of a thing Mr. 
 Tregressor had told the Beaver patrol came to his 
 aid. Whipping off his coat, he " slushed it " in a 
 puddle made by a leaking joint of hose. Then, ax 
 in one hand and dripping jacket in the other, he
 
 194 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 leaped for the narrow gap, his eyes fixed on the six 
 steps he must climb to win the broad platform be 
 fore that fast-locked furnace door. 
 
 They saw him when it was too late. " Oh, lord ! 
 gulped Tregressor. " Give me that hose." 
 
 He felt an equally steady hand settle beside his. 
 " Work to the front, Dal," gulped Stephen Ken 
 dall. "Why didn't I go!" 
 
 Together they worked the heavy line southward, 
 stumbling, coughing, gasping, utterly unconscious 
 that they were working nearer and nearer the build 
 ing, utterly unconscious of everything except that 
 slender figure, its head hidden in steaming, dripping 
 cloth, its arms flaying that bolted door. 
 
 Twice they saw Dick falter, stagger, recover, as 
 they sent the water crashing against the wall just 
 above his head, and so revived him with its saving 
 spray. Again and again they called to him to come 
 back, but the roar of the flames and the crash of the 
 ax on the charred wood, drowned their voices. 
 
 " It's when he smashes through that he'll get it," .: 
 groaned Dal. " The flames will lick him up."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 195 
 
 " I know it." 
 
 " Can you hold alone ? I'll go over the top." 
 
 " Stay here." There was no questioning the 
 authority in Kendall's voice now. He was the mas 
 ter of mill and men alike. " Maloney ! " he shouted. 
 "You, Bailey!" 
 
 "Yes?" 
 
 "Yes, sor?" 
 
 " Bring up your hose on the jump. If that door 
 gives, play into it. It's his only chance." 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " You've said ut, sor." 
 
 " It's giving. Steady, boy ! Steady there. He's 
 down again ! No, he's up I " 
 
 "Mike Maloney!" 
 
 "Sor?" 
 
 " Here." 
 
 The big Irishman came leaping through the smoke 
 to Kendall's side. 
 
 " She's going in with his next blow. Steady, 
 now! Drop a curtain across that door." 
 
 " Grab hold, Mike." Kendall heaved the heavy
 
 196 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 nozzle into the powerful hands. " Dal, carry on! " 
 
 Dal Tregressor's exclamation was as sharp as the 
 crack of a pistol. But Maloney wailed like a 
 banshee as he saw Stephen Kendall leap toward the 
 platform which spread like a stage before the eddy 
 ing maw of the furnace which flared open in the 
 very face of the tottering boy. But, between them, 
 they held firm and added the crash of their stream to 
 the weight of the other two which smashed across 
 the wall of crimson flame, 
 
 " Steady all ! " Dal was himself again, cool, re 
 sourceful, game; his attention entirely on the two 
 black silhouettes against the red, seething curtain 
 which hung where the doors had been. 
 
 He saw Dick wilt down into a shapeless heap, 
 but had foreseen that. It was Kendall alone for 
 both. He saw him stumble as he cleared the steps : 
 knew that the heat had hit him; saw his arms go 
 up over his face ; saw him lunge ahead. 
 
 " He's down ! " groaned Maloney. 
 
 " He's not He's got him." 
 
 " Saints give 'urn strength ! "
 
 KENDALL 
 
 HALF LIFTED HIM
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 197 
 
 Kendall stooped in his stride, clutched at the boy, 
 half lifted him, slipped, caught his balance, slipped 
 again, staggered, fell. They saw him try to roll 
 toward the further edge of the platform, stop, lie 
 inert. 
 
 Tregressor grasped the idea. " Let 'em have it ! " 
 he yelled at the top of his voice. " All together. 
 Let 'em have the water. Now ! " 
 
 The three great streams centered into one and that 
 one caught man and boy in its saving arms and swept 
 them on its triple head out of the roaring jaws of 
 death. It was not heroic, it was not inspiring, it 
 would not have moved even a reporter to eulogy but, 
 as the two dropped out of danger over the far 
 edge, Mike Maloney lifted his grim, strong face to 
 the smoke-hung sky and gave low-voiced thanks, 
 while Dal Tregressor's one good hand brushed 
 across his eyes.
 
 DAL TREGRESSOR strolled into the sitting-room of 
 the Hall home with the air of a man who has noth 
 ing at all on his mind. " Hello, Lizzie! " he called 
 cheerily; "when you going to put the rookies 
 through the manual ? " 
 
 Dick turned slowly among the pillows propped 
 behind his back and a happy smile spread across his 
 blistered face. " Gee, but I'm glad to see you ! " 
 he exclaimed. " It's bully in you to come." 
 
 " Sure ! That's why I came." He pulled a chair 
 close to the lounge and sat down languidly. " I 
 make it a special point to make afternoon calls. 
 Habit I got in England. They used to give us after 
 noon tea, sometimes. Where's your father ? " 
 
 " Mr. Kendall sent his limousine for him an hour 
 ago." 
 
 198
 
 THE BOY SCOUTS 199 
 
 "If the Lizzies are plotting another review, I'd 
 better get back down town," declared Dal, in a wor 
 ried tone, but made no move to rise. " Glad Ken 
 dall didn't send the plush lined tank for me. I've 
 hunted a dugout every time any one's yelled my 
 name all day. Suppose he'll get my range sooner 
 or later." 
 
 "What's up?" 
 
 "That's so," confessed Dal; "you were rather 
 disinterested last night and didn't get the laugh. 
 You see, the big boss was about to yell to Mike 
 when we got his range with that hose." 
 
 " I don't understand," confessed Dick. " But, 
 from what father's told me, you and Mr. Steve 
 saved my life. It's not much of a joke to me." 
 
 " Sure not ! Steve didn't think so, either. Ma- 
 loney and I caught him flush with his mouth open. 
 He swore we tried to drown him. Mad? Wow! 
 Say, you oughter have heard him! He coughed 
 like a fire engine." 
 
 " You're not going to laugh it off, neither you 
 nor Mr. Kendall. I know what you both did and
 
 200 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 some day I'm going to show you both how grateful 
 I am." 
 
 " Now forget all that sort of stuff," advised Dal. 
 " Any man keeps his head in a tight corner. You're 
 a man and you keep yours when you see Kendall. 
 He doesn't want thanks. It would make him un 
 comfortable. He did a big thing in going in there 
 for you, but he doesn't want to talk about it. I 
 know," he added with an amused chuckle ; " he told 
 me to shut up." 
 
 The lad was thoughtful for a moment. Certainly 
 if any one knew how another would feel under the 
 circumstances he had described, it was this veteran 
 of the Princess Pats. " How'd they get the fire 
 out? " he asked with a sigh. 
 
 " Cinch, after what you'd done. Edged farther 
 and farther in front of the door and fought it back 
 to where it started. The whole shooting match 
 would have gone but for you, youngster. As it was, 
 there wasn't much burned but empty packing cases." 
 
 " Leave me out of it and go on." 
 
 Dal grinned appreciatively. " I'm getting so I'm
 
 OF KEKDALLVILLE 201 
 
 not crazy about being told what to say and what not 
 to say," he confessed, " so I guess I won't tell you 
 how the thing started." 
 
 " Dal ! Do you know ? Tell me ? " 
 
 His eagerness was so real that Tregressor leaned 
 forward and gently pushed him back among the pil 
 lows. "If you couldn't keep most of your hair 
 and all your eyebrows on," he observed, " don't get 
 so heated you'll scorch off what fuzz is left" 
 
 " Tell me." 
 
 " Right O ! " He settled down again, and, cross 
 ing his legs, looked with a new soberness at his 
 friend. " Something's mighty rotten in other places 
 besides that famous state of Denmark," he said. 
 " That fire was incendiary." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Some one set it." 
 
 " How do you know ? " 
 
 "For one thing, I suspected it after our talk; 
 for another, I discovered how it was done." 
 
 "Where? How? Why?" 
 
 "Beginning with the first careless query," said
 
 202 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Dal with a smile; " in the back corner of the build 
 ing, the northwest one, the only dark place in the 
 yard and the one I was most afraid of, because the 
 men who had strung the new lights failed to get up 
 a good one there, for some reason or other." 
 
 " Why didn't you have your men watch it ? " 
 
 " Kendall asked me that very same question after 
 we'd gotten him safely ashore last night. I did have 
 it watched. I put a good man there. His only 
 fault was that his head was softer than what hit it." 
 
 "Dal!" 
 
 " Exactly." He nodded soberly as he looked into 
 the wide eyes opposite. " Some one laid him out 
 cold. We found him unconscious." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 " After the fire was under control and I took an 
 other scouting trip round the edge of things. 
 Some one must have climbed the fence when his 
 back was turned as he walked his sentry-go, laid for 
 him in the shadow of the building, reached out and 
 walloped him from behind when he'd gone past 
 again."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 203 
 
 " How do you know ? " 
 
 " I'm a good guesser. Some one had to bring 
 in the gasoline can we found near him, and some 
 one had brought it in full and put a match to it after 
 spilling it through a busted window. It was nervy 
 and no one would have done it who hadn't been 
 some desperate." 
 
 Dick's brows were drawn down in troubled 
 thought. " It's some of the Weinberg gang," he 
 stated; " it's a follow-up of that strike. Get Wein 
 berg and you've got the whole outfit." 
 
 Tregressor nodded slow assent. " Where do I 
 get him? " he asked. " Tell me that and I'll do the 
 rest." 
 
 " Has he disappeared ? " 
 
 " He had this morning. His wife and boy were 
 at the house but the old bird had gone to get an 
 other job. Or, at least, that's what his wife said. 
 The kid asked after you. I don't like that kid." 
 
 " I'm not crazy about him myself. He asked us 
 to take him into the Scouts and your father wants 
 us to give him a chance."
 
 204 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Father's too blamed tender hearted," growled 
 Dal. " Don't pat a Hun pup with one hand unless 
 you've got half a brick in the other." 
 
 " Maybe we can civilize him." 
 
 " Kill him first and be sure," advised the man 
 coldly. " I know the breed. As for old Weinberg, 
 he's vamoosed. But the funny part of the thing is, 
 Dick, that he was in the crowd outside the gate 
 last night and volunteered to help." 
 
 "Jt was a bluff." 
 
 " So I think. Another funny thing was that he 
 was yelling about the fire being set and demanding 
 that every one help him catch the man who set it. 
 Said he'd be accused of it and that he wouldn't stand 
 for that." 
 
 " Then why didn't he stick round and yell that 
 way to-day? Gee, but I wish I could get out and 
 help ! I'll be able to in a couple of days." 
 
 " You'll sit here till your face STOWS to look less 
 like a hard boiled soft-shell egg," observed Dal. 
 " This is my own particular party. My men fell 
 down and let 'em pull it off. They're some peevish,
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 205 
 
 and your Aunt Lizzies ain't adding to their peace of 
 mind by what they're saying." 
 
 " It's mean to lay the blame on you," declared 
 Dick. 
 
 "That's where it belongs," acknowledged Tr,e- 
 gressor. " My men know it. I told 'em so twice. 
 They said a third time wasn't necessary," he added. 
 " Anyway, let the Lizzies have their fun. It doesn't 
 hurt anything to keep a gang of fighting huskies 
 mad." 
 
 " I couldn't stop 'em from here, anyway," He 
 was silent for a moment. " Dal," he asked slowly, 
 " has Jim Scott shown up anywhere in this ? " 
 
 Tregressor's frown increased. " That's where 
 we both fell down," he admitted, " fell down hard. 
 We ought to have gone to Mr. Kendall with that 
 story last night." 
 
 " I hate to believe it." 
 
 " Will you promise not to tell this, even to your 
 father?" 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " I went the rounds of that crowd outside the
 
 206 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 fence last night and I asked a heap of questions. I 
 wanted to find who was the first one on the spot 
 and then if he's seen any one else. I drew a blank. 
 Then one of my ivory-heads, who'd been on the 
 north fence, came strolling up with the news that, 
 jus^. before the whistle blew, he'd seen some one 
 ' running. Later he sorter remembered it looked like 
 two some ones. The second looked like the man I 
 described to him and that description fitted Scott." 
 
 "Why didn't he shoot? Oh, why didn't he 
 shoot?" 
 
 " He's waiting in the office, with a state police 
 man on each side of him, to answer that question to 
 Mr. Kendall, son." 
 
 " Do you suspect him of being mixed up in it? " 
 
 " I suspect every one but myself and I'm get 
 ting uncertain about me. All I know is, I'm going 
 to land Scott and Weinberg back in Kendallville, if 
 I have to go to Berlin and get 'em." 
 
 With an effort, the boy sat up and held out his 
 hand. " You can make all the fun of us you want," 
 he said, " but we Lizzies aren't going to let the Ter-
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 207 
 
 riers go it alone. You've got to count us in, Dal. 
 We're going to do our share and " He stopped 
 and looked up to find that it was his sister's step he 
 had heard and that she was standing in the door 
 way. " If you tell me it's time to eat again, Sally," 
 he declared, " I'll sic the cat on you." 
 
 " I knew I'd get my reward," exclaimed Dal in 
 mock excitement; " it's afternoon tea." 
 
 The girl shook a finger at the big fellow. "If 
 you want doughnuts," she said merrily, " you can 
 come out in the kitchen and get them. Last time 
 you said they weren't good." 
 
 " I didn't do anything of the sort ; I merely sug 
 gested that the holes were too big." 
 
 " You said they looked like life preservers," she 
 charged. 
 
 " Having been through the submarine zone, a life 
 preserver looks good to me, Sally. I think they'd 
 be safer if you'd bait 'em with a bit of cheese, 
 though." 
 
 " You're always finding fault," she laughed. 
 " Guess it's 'cause you weren't brought up right.
 
 208 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 I'll have to speak to your father about it. He's out 
 here and wants to see Dick." 
 
 " Why didn't you say so ? Tell him to come in." 
 
 " The Weinberg boy's with him," she ventured. 
 
 Tregressor stiffened as his eyes met Dick's. 
 " All right," said the latter quietly, " bring 'em 
 both in." 
 
 " What's up ? " queried Dal as the girl turned 
 away. 
 
 " Can't guess. Oh, hello, Mr. Tregressor. It's 
 mighty nice in you to come." 
 
 "Hello, Dick; hello, son. Well, well," he ex 
 claimed, holding one of the lad's hands in both of 
 his, " it's good to find you looking so fit. You had 
 a close call last night, my boy, but you showed us 
 all once again that you're made of the right sort of 
 stuff. Oscar and I both want to tell you how proud 
 we are of you." 
 
 Young Weinberg came to the side of the sofa and 
 held out his hand. " I know I want to say that, 
 Dick," he announced heartily, " I wish I had the 
 nerve to do a thing like that."
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 209 
 
 Dai's eyes had not left Weinberg's face since he 
 had come in, and his straightforward manner puz 
 zled him. " Where's your father ? " he demanded 
 abruptly. 
 
 The boy turned slowly and his eyes met the 
 searching gray ones. " I don't know," he admitted ; 
 " I wish I did. There're a lot of things I don't 
 know that I'd like to." 
 
 Tregressor noted his father's quick movement, 
 but checked the old man's attempt to interrupt. 
 " What are some of 'em? " he queried. 
 
 Oscar was not slow in sensing the hostility in the 
 air and he turned squarely on the man. " One of 
 'em is why you treat me as you do," he answered 
 frankly. " You weren't born in this country ; I 
 was. But you seem to think that, because my father 
 came from Germany, I'm a German. I'm more 
 American than you are. But no one seems to want 
 to give me a chance to prove it, that is, no one but 
 Mr. Tregressor. He understands." 
 
 WTiether Dick or Dal was the more surprised 
 would be hard to say. The latter whistled softly,
 
 210 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 but Dick settled against his pillows, his face reso 
 lute. In a flash, it had come over him how Oscar 
 must have suffered in the past two days. The lad's 
 expression was so open, his eyes so honest, that not 
 for a moment could Dick question his honesty; he 
 could only try to master his sympathy. If ever a 
 boy knew what the sufferings of the misjudged were, 
 it was Dick Hall. 
 
 "I've doubted you," he broke out impulsively; 
 " I'm mighty sorry I've wronged you." 
 
 ' You've been fair enough, Dick. You've always 
 been square with me. You were square when you 
 thrashed me that time. I deserved it ; I was a bully. 
 You cured me of that, and it was you who gave me 
 a chance to get into the Scouts. I've wanted to join 
 ever since they started. I can see what they mean 
 here in Kendallville. I thought no one wanted me, 
 until you sent me to Mr. Tregressor and he ex 
 plained." 
 
 Dick knew his face was scarlet. He had tried to 
 be generous with the boy, but now he knew he had 
 fallen far short of the mark and it made him sud-
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 211 
 
 denly appear contemptible in his own eyes. But this 
 was because he was over-generous and too young to 
 appreciate that the best sort of victory for a boy to 
 win is a single-handed victory over himself. And 
 that was the sort of fight Oscar Weinberg had 
 waged under old Mr. Tregressor's guiding hand. 
 
 It was Dal who spoke, however. " You said I 
 wasn't an American," he charged. " You've a 
 whole lot of new geography to learn, along with 
 your other new lessons, young man. The United 
 States and Canada have been different nations for 
 some few years, but, from now on, you'll find 'em 
 both American." 
 
 " I wasn't questioning you," broke in Oscar; " I'm 
 kicking against your right to doubt me." 
 
 " I don't doubt you, youngster," retorted Dal. 
 
 " You doubt my father, don't you ? " 
 
 "I didn't say so, did I?" 
 
 " You didn't have to. You've proved it, the way 
 you've been hunting him all day. How'd you feel 
 if the whole town was hunting your father? " 
 
 " Blamed uncomfortable."
 
 212 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " So do I," retorted the boy. " What's more, if 
 there's anything really wrong, I'd be the first to find 
 him, if I could. I don't believe I knew it till Mr. 
 Tregressor talked with me ; I guess I didn't under 
 stand what I am very well, till I heard him read 
 that pledge to the flag and thought over the Scout 
 oath and all it meant. Now I know. My country 
 comes first. My country's plain United States." 
 
 " Then put it there," cried Dal, holding out his 
 hand. 
 
 " Thanks." Oscar shook it solemnly and turned 
 to Dick with a questioning glance. The other was 
 as quick to extend his hand. 
 
 " Guess you and I'll pull rather close from now 
 on, Oscar," he said. 
 
 " Won't be my fault if we don't, Dick." 
 
 The white-haired man smiled that gentle, friendly 
 smile which was fast winning all Kendallville to his 
 following, and, leaning back in the chair he had 
 pulled close to the couch, looked at his own big boy. 
 " Any time you feel inclined, Dal," he announced, 
 his eyes twinkling, " you can go away from here.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 213 
 
 We're going to talk about Boy Scouts, and once you 
 refused to belong." 
 
 "If you're going to have one of your disagree 
 able moods, I will. But, Gov'nor," he went on, 
 changing to unexpected earnestness," maybe the best 
 of us make mistakes. I wasn't over-keen on this 
 business when I came home. I thought youngsters 
 had better drill and learn to be soldiers and then 
 men. But I've seen you turn out one pretty fair sort 
 of man in that bandaged mess there on the sofa, and 
 it looks as if you'd made another mighty promising 
 start with this young American eagle. It must be 
 the Scouts. Pity they hadn't started when I was 
 a kid." 
 
 The father's eyes met the son's and there was a 
 wealth of both pride and love in them. " You're 
 right about these boys," he admitted, " but I didn't 
 make a great success with you. One has to have a 
 few grains of modesty on which to build." 
 
 " About here," chuckled Dal, " is where I crawl 
 into a deep dug-out and pull the roof in after me. 
 I may never know much, but sometime I do hope
 
 214 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 I will know enough not to joke with you, sir. As 
 they say out West, boys, he's ' bad medicine.' " 
 
 Somehow or other the idea that even Mr. Tregres- 
 sor could turn a smile in Dai's direction aroused 
 all Dick's wealth of loyalty. He did not under 
 stand that the two men were trying to hide the 
 deep affection which surged between them, or 
 that both were trying royally to make Oscar 
 Weinberg comfortable. " Dai's been mighty handy 
 for me," he announced. " He's helped me with 
 my signaling a lot. I'm getting to be quite the 
 expert." 
 
 " Still more modesty ! " groaned the big chap. 
 " Now, Weinberg, you boast a bit and cover father's 
 head with ashes." 
 
 " I'm afraid I've nothing much to be proud of," 
 confessed the lad. 
 
 " Buck up and find something then," retorted Dal 
 instantly. " A fellow never amounts to anything 
 till he does." 
 
 " If there are to be any sermons to be preached, 
 that's my field," broke in Mr. Tregressor. " You
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 215 
 
 can listen for a while, if you want. You say you're 
 always willing to try anything once." 
 
 " Go ahead," ordered the son, " I'm done." 
 
 " Dick," began Mr. Tregressor, " Tom and Billy 
 and Longshanks have gone already, and more of the 
 Kendallville boys will go before the war's much 
 older. They've left a big gap in their homes, and 
 I imagine we've left a big gap in their hearts. All 
 over the country there are other boys and other 
 Kendallvilles. These boys who've gone to the col 
 ors have new interests, but the home interests will 
 cling and they'll long for home news when they're 
 thousands of miles away." 
 
 "You bet they will!" declared Dal. "You've 
 sure said something this time, Gov'nor." 
 
 The old man nodded. " Oscar and I have been 
 talking it over, along with a lot of things, and that's 
 why we've come to see you, Dick. Oscar's going 
 to be a Scout and a good Scout. Before this war's 
 very much older I've an idea there'll be an entirely 
 new feature in Scouting and Oscar wants to be 
 among the first to take it up. It will be known,
 
 216 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 wherever our army and navy goes as ' The Big 
 Brothers.' Every Scout will have a Big Brother 
 with the colors, and write him at least once a week." 
 
 " And right here's where I declare myself in on 
 this," cried Dal Tregressor. " Oscar, you and I'll 
 start a new patrol, and we'll be the Carrier Pigeons." 
 
 "No, you won't," contradicted Dick. "You'll 
 both join the Beavers." 
 
 " But I'm not through," pleaded Mr. Tregressor. 
 " Each Little Brother will have other privileges. 
 He'll make it a point to visit the homes of the boys 
 who have gone, and see what he can do to help 
 there. In every way he'll try to take the place of 
 the boy who has gone." 
 
 " Fine ! " cried Dick. " Fine ! Of course we'll 
 do it. We'll be proud to." 
 
 Dal Tregressor rose impulsively and, striding to 
 his father's side, laid his one good hand on the old 
 shoulder. " I wish we were worthy of you," he 
 said simply and walked out of the room.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 OUT OF THE AIR 
 
 IN spite of the loyalty of his friends, who came 
 to see him whenever they could find stray half hours, 
 Dick would have found the next week dull, had it 
 not been for Mr. Tregressor. The wise old man 
 had proven a good judge of character, and now 
 began to reap the reward for the gentle guidance he 
 had given the unsuspecting lad. In their long talks, 
 the spiritual side of the boy began to appear in a 
 more certain light and he knew that Dick must ulti 
 mately develop into a vital force in Kendallville, and 
 when that day came that he would be a living mon 
 ument to the ideals of Scouting. 
 
 They talked much of the new " Big Brother " 
 movement, laid many plans and drew up lists, but 
 they also found time to delve still deeper into signal 
 ing, for now Dick could read the Morse code and 
 
 217
 
 218 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 was learning to send with key, as well as flag. His 
 burns healed slowly, but still slower was his recovery 
 from the nervous shock. He confessed to Dal Tre- 
 gressor that when that door crashed in, and the 
 flames leaped toward him, he thought that the end 
 had come. 
 
 Stephen Kendall, too, came to see him almost 
 every day, and, in spite of his pleadings, refused to 
 allow him to go back to work until he had completely 
 recovered. In this Mr. Hall agreed, and, as Dick's 
 pay went on, he had no grounds for complaint. 
 
 When he was able to be about for a few hours a 
 day, Mr. Kendall turned over all the paper work of 
 the Kendall Guard to him. It kept him occupied 
 until he was strong enough to take part in the drills. 
 Here his squad took it upon themselves to see that 
 he did not over-do, trying their best to save him all 
 that was possible, with the result that the youngsters 
 were soon the stars of the company. 
 
 Of Dal Tregressor he saw not half as much as 
 he wanted. A new and troubled expression had 
 come into the depths of the frank eyes, and, at times,
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 219 
 
 the man was moody. The failure of his men on 
 that night of the fire weighed more heavily on hon 
 est Dal than any one dreamed. 
 
 In his more drastic orders he had the backing of 
 the Kendalls. Like him, they believed their plant 
 was marked for destruction. The fact that Otto 
 Weinberg was still among the missing, and with him 
 Schwartz, and half a dozen others, did not add to 
 their peace of mind. Certainly it brought Dal Tre- 
 gressor no semblance of comfort. He would have 
 given his other hand for ten seconds alone with 
 Weinberg, for he was convinced that the German 
 was at the root of the whole affair. 
 
 But what troubled them all, "Bullet" and 
 Stephen Kendall in their confidential talks, Dal and 
 Dick in their brief conferences, and the majority 
 of the men in the factory, was the complete dis 
 appearance of Jim Scott. He had not been seen 
 since Tregressor's guard had spied that second figure 
 fleeing into the night. 
 
 Dick thought of Scott often during that first long 
 week and still more often, when, following Dai's ad-
 
 220 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 vice, he began to take long tramps in the country in 
 order to build up his strength. Once or twice Mr. 
 Tregressor went with him, and the boy learnt more 
 and more about the wood-craft he had studied only 
 in theory. Once or twice Oscar Weinberg was his 
 companion, and both boys learned how an unex 
 pected friendship can ripen into true comradeship 
 in the great out-of-doors. 
 
 So passed another week and Dick, almost himself 
 again, planned to return to work on Monday night. 
 Sunday came clear and beautiful, an ideal day in the 
 fields, and, after dinner, the boy slipped on his khaki 
 and started for a final tramp. He stopped a mo 
 ment at the Tregressors', but found Dal was at the 
 factory, so decided to go alone. 
 
 He cleared the town with swinging strides, head 
 up and drawing long breaths of the clear, fresh air. 
 It was good to be in the open. As he came to the 
 first broad fields, he began to whistle. There was 
 pleasure even in the soft dust which puffed, in little 
 clouds, under his hurrying feet. For he did hurry, 
 not because anything was driving him, but because
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 221 
 
 something within him seemed to be calling, calling 
 urging him to make the most of this last hike and 
 enjoy the afternoon to the full. 
 
 All of his old strength and spirits came back. He 
 felt like a colt turned loose and started to run. 
 Then came the temptation to try out to the full the 
 value of the Scout step. Back into a steady heel 
 and toe he dropped for fifty steps, then broke into a 
 trot for another fifty, and alternated between them 
 as he " ate up " the road. The pace did not tell on 
 his strength. He kept at it for several miles. 
 
 Then a brook, bubbling down from the mountain 
 which guarded the head of the valley, crossed the 
 wooded road and proved too great a temptation to 
 resist. Stealing through the brush, he crept to the 
 edge of the bank, and lay flat on his stomach. The 
 reward was worth the work. For twenty minutes 
 he lay within three feet of that half pound trout, 
 watching his slow moving fins. 
 
 It was cool and sweet by the brook. The idea 
 came to follow it up into the mountain. Easy, at 
 first, the going soon became harder. It would be
 
 222 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 fun, and much easier, to guess at the course, cut 
 corners and see if he had sized up the topography 
 correctly. The new game was fascinating. It 
 brought map making to his mind. He had heard 
 Dal talk of that many times. He decided to map 
 the brook for half a mile. And then he remem 
 bered that, while he had paper and pencil, he had 
 no compass. 
 
 A moment later his laughter rang out clear. Of 
 what use were all the things Mr. Tregressor had 
 taught him, if he could not apply them in case of 
 need? His watch and the sun gave him as good a 
 compass as any one could ask. He went ahead 
 more carefully now, jotting down notes as he clam 
 bered. 
 
 The brook began to get more ambitious. The 
 climbing became harder. A ruffed grouse went up 
 almost from between his feet and left him open- 
 mouthed with surprise. He was tempted to follow 
 its flight, and as he looked through the trees to the 
 south, he caught a vista of the valley stretching away 
 at his feet.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 223 
 
 It was so peaceful, so beautiful, that he looked 
 about for a better viewpoint. Above him, the rocks 
 rose in a sharp cliff. He scaled it with some diffi 
 culty and found himself on a broad shelf, the whole 
 valley open before him, the wooded crest of the 
 mountain over his right shoulder. The view was 
 the most entrancing he had ever seen. He sat 
 down, his back against a bowlder, and drank it in 
 with thirsty eyes. 
 
 It began to dawn upon him why he had never 
 been there. Kendallville was really a long way off. 
 Only a few of the houses showed, like white dots 
 embroidered on a soft, green background. No one 
 could dream, as he sat so far and so high above it, 
 that any evil force threatened the peace of the town, 
 or the factory which gave it life. 
 
 The longer he lay there in the sunshine, the 
 further drifted his thoughts until they became those 
 dreams of doing which every healthy boy has, but 
 never tells. Again his eyes began to take in the 
 details of the valley, and he saw what a wonderful 
 station for a flag-man was this very spot on which
 
 224 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 he sat. With a glass, Dal Tregressor, in the factory 
 yard, could read any message he might wig-wag. 
 Idly, his hands began to move in quick arcs. But 
 it was too much exertion on such a lovely day. 
 With a comfortable little sigh, he snuggled more 
 comfortably against the rock and stretched his legs 
 further in front of him. 
 
 Dreams gave place to oblivion. He came to 
 with a shiver. Not only was it cold, but it was dark. 
 With a quick gasp, he realized that he had slept the 
 sun out of the sky and that he was alone, high on a 
 strange mountain-side. If the climb had been hard, 
 the descent would be harder. He sprang to his feet. 
 Far to the south he saw the slender, sweeping beam 
 of the searchlight Dal had had mounted on the roof 
 of the new shop. 
 
 He was anything but afraid. He knew no one 
 would worry at home because he failed to arrive in 
 time for supper. His own difficulties were more 
 real. That steep cliff he had had trouble in scaling 
 in full day, would be far more difficult to descend 
 in inky darkness.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 225 
 
 Springing to his feet he walked to the edge. If 
 he had been so foolish as to go to sleep in the sun 
 shine, he would be game enough to pay the price of 
 his laziness. But, as he peered over the edge into 
 nothingness, it didn't look quite such a joke. He 
 had a few matches in his pocket. He struck one 
 and found the scars made by his knees in the dry 
 dust where he had pulled himself up. 
 
 He lay down, and dropping his legs over the edge, 
 clutched a crevice with his fingers as his toes 
 searched for a hole. It didn't appear so easy to 
 find. His teeth closed more tightly and his feet 
 moved with growing caution. If he had made a 
 mistake in picking his location, he might be in for 
 a nasty fall. As he swayed, he raised his face to 
 the mountain above him. 
 
 All at once his struggling ceased. Anxiety in his 
 eyes gave place to wonder. His lips parted. His 
 fingers grew cold as he gripped the rough rock. His 
 throat felt dry, then a big lump came into it and his 
 heart began to pump until his breath came in little, 
 short gasps. Above him, and to the north where
 
 226 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 he had noticed thick masses of spruce, a strange, 
 blue-white spark gleamed, faded, gleamed and faded 
 in vicious, piercing flashes. 
 
 Every muscle in his body tautened like steel wires. 
 Without realizing it he pulled himself back onto the 
 rock and flattened out on it like a stamp on an 
 envelope, his eyes glued to the black spot where the 
 blue light had been. It came again, regularly now, 
 and, with a gasp, he realized that it meant some 
 thing to him, that he, Dick Hall, was reading the 
 Morse code aloud as it was flashed out into space, 
 by what could only be a very real wireless set up in 
 the open. 
 
 He knew his body was trembling but his brain was 
 steady. Dot and dash and dot he could make out, 
 but then some waving branch would come between 
 his eyes and the spark and he would be forced to 
 guess at the missing letters. But what he could 
 piece out told him a story which made a shiver run 
 down his spine. Weinberg and his crowd were a 
 mystery no longer. 
 
 He pulled himself together, and, still flat on his
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 227 
 
 stomach, tried to think out what was best to do. If 
 Dal Tregressor had only come with him ! He enter 
 tained the idea of rushing back to Kendallville, 
 rousing the Home Guard and factory guards and 
 surrounding the mountain. Then came the realiza 
 tion that, if he arrived with such a wild story of a 
 wireless on a lonely mountain-side, they would laugh 
 at him and say it was but a continuation of his 
 dreams. But he knew better than that. There was 
 the spark again. It could not be far away. It was 
 his duty to secure full evidence. Without giving 
 his own danger a thought, he began to crawl slowly 
 up, feeling each inch with his fingers, making every 
 move with bated breath. 
 
 Five minutes and he thought he could hear the 
 crackling hiss of the spark. The murmur of the 
 spruce was too loud to permit the reading of the mes 
 sage. It - was on his eyes alone he must rely 
 his eyes backed by the wood-craft Mr. Tregressor 
 had taught the boys of the Beaver patrol. 
 
 Steadily, slowly, with a caution of which he had 
 never before supposed himself capable, he got his
 
 228 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 knee under him, then one foot, then the other. Like 
 a shadow he writhed into the greater shadow of the 
 big spruce. For a moment he waited, lest some 
 noise he had not heard himself, might have been 
 heard by others. Then he peered out. He could 
 see nothing. Any moment the sending might stop. 
 He must catch, and read, part of it ; he must have a 
 definite clew, no matter what the risk to himself. 
 If they saw him, he could make a break down the 
 mountainside. It would be a desperate race and the 
 best man would win. 
 
 He stole to another tree, then to another and a 
 third, always nearer to where he had last seen the 
 flashes. Over and over he repeated the words 
 he had picked up. " To-morrow night chosen. 
 Al " Then had come the break. He must know 
 what came after that " al." Was everything " Al 
 ready?" Were "All safe." One thing he never 
 questioned. To-morrow night something was to 
 happen at the Kendall factory. Every nerve within 
 him told him that. But this time he fought in the 
 dark and alone.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 229 
 
 Then, of a sudden, the darkness was broken. 
 Within thirty feet of him the blue spark crackled. 
 He caught the code for " Repeat " before he could 
 recover sufficiently from his astonishment at rind 
 ing himself so near, to jump back to safety. 
 
 He knew some message had been received, knew 
 that its sender had demanded that it be repeated 
 back, so that there might be no mistake, knew that 
 if he could catch it, it would be all he needed. 
 Came the hiss of fast-sent dots and dashes. With 
 every nerve strained, with every faculty alert, 
 Dick Hall listened. " Destruction of plant vital. 
 Blow" 
 
 A great hand gripped the back of his neck and he 
 was hurled to the ground with a crash. The next 
 instant a heavy knee sank into his chest and he felt 
 a cold, small circle pressing his temple. " Move 
 and you're dead ! " hissed a voice. 
 
 Then came a gruff startled cry, a grunted answer 
 and the crash of running feet. The next moment 
 a flash-light threw a silver ring among the trees. 
 Dick gasped, gulped, then closed his eyes. Instinc-
 
 230 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 lively he knew who it was who towered above him. 
 " Do it, you spy! " he challenged. 
 
 But Weinberg merely laughed contemptuously. 
 " Bind him," he ordered.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 THE WEAK LINK 
 
 NUMBED to the bone with the cold, he lay through 
 out the long night where they had bound him. 
 Much he was sure of now; the rest he thought he 
 could guess. But guessing was not his greatest 
 problem. He must find some way to escape, some 
 means of getting word back to Kendall ville, some 
 method of informing Stephen Kendall and Dal Tre- 
 gressor that grave danger hovered close. Yet, 
 roped hand and foot, unable to do more than roll 
 like a log from side to side, he could find no ray of 
 hope in the darkness which engulfed him. 
 
 What little thought he gave to himself was all 
 of bewilderment. He could not understand Wein- 
 berg's attitude of indifference toward him. The 
 least he had expected, as he went down, was a beat 
 ing which should have left him insensible. Know 
 ing his man, he could not fathom his neglect to settle 
 his long-standing grudge. 
 
 an
 
 232 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 At last the dawn drove the lazy stars out of the 
 sky. Birds began to sing, as if only happiness and 
 peace lay over the valley. The sun came up and 
 again shadows spread through the spruce. From 
 time to time, Dick heard the sound of voices. He 
 could distinguish no words, but it was apparent that 
 one man gave orders which the rest hurried to obey. 
 Pie heard pounding, then the grunts of men lifting 
 some heavy object. It came over him that the wire 
 less apparatus was being dismantled and packed. 
 Then he heard the thud of a pick and the scrape of a 
 shovel. Afraid to risk carrying it away, the men 
 were burying the outfit until, at some later day, it 
 could be removed in safety. Its work was done. 
 
 It made him wild to be so helpless. If he could 
 only see what was being done, where the thing was 
 being hidden, he would be of some value. As it 
 was, he was utterly useless. Here, almost within 
 arm's reach of the heart of some grave plot, he was 
 as valueless to all he held dear as were the sticks 
 which jabbed him in the back and sides. Desperate, 
 he tried to roll nearer the scene of their work.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 233 
 
 He could make little progress. Trees and under 
 brush blocked him at every painful turn. The ropes 
 cut into his wrists but he struggled with dogged 
 courage. The idea of rolling in the direction of 
 safety never occurred to him. His teachings, as 
 well as his desire, all lay in the way of duty first. 
 
 A little slope gave him a quickly accepted chance. 
 Over and over he rolled until he brought up with a 
 bump against the stub of an ancient tree. Shock 
 and surprise drew a smothered exclamation from 
 him. It was enough. The next moment big 
 Schwartz came leaping toward him. "Ach!" he 
 growled, " Is it that you are yet curious? " 
 
 Dick, savage over his own carelessness, made no 
 answer. 
 
 " What want you here? " 
 
 Still the boy was silent For a moment, the man 
 glared at him, puzzled. Then, with a shrug of his 
 great shoulders, he swooped down, swung the 
 trussed body onto his back and bore him to where 
 a tiny shack stood, half concealed, in a thicket. 
 Through the open door into the dark interior he
 
 234 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 strode, then, tossing the lad into a corner, turned 
 and slammed the door as he went out. 
 
 For a long time Dick did not move. No noise 
 came to disturb him. All there was to do was to 
 regret the mistake he had made in rolling so care 
 lessly. It gave him small comfort. He knew his 
 chances of doing anything to save the plant had 
 diminished to almost nothing. He could see no 
 way to free himself, no way to get past that closed 
 door. Yet, if he could, what chance remained? 
 
 He lay there thinking, thinking. Becoming used 
 to the dim light, his eyes could make out the vague 
 form of rough rafters and rougher bunks against 
 the walls. Apparently the shack had been used as 
 a camp even before that night of the fire. He had a 
 dim recollection of having heard it said that Wein- 
 berg and Schwartz were great walkers. 
 
 He traced back many loose threads to this com 
 mon center. He knew now where the gang had 
 disappeared. He tried to figure how they had set 
 up their wireless, where its messages went, who sent 
 the replies. But, as he thought, a new sensation
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 235 
 
 began to creep over him. He felt uncomfortable, 
 as if some one were staring at him from out of the 
 dark, as if there were some unseen enemy lurking 
 there in the blackness. "Who's there?" he de 
 manded sharply. 
 
 " Sh ! " The warning came sharp and low. 
 Dick's tight nerves tautened. 
 
 " Who are you? " he whispered. 
 
 "That you, Dick?" 
 
 "Yes. Who are you?" 
 
 " Scott." 
 
 The boy felt sudden nausea. It had been bad 
 enough to suspect ; it was far worse to have suspicion 
 confirmed. Surely this plot was unfolding rapidly. 
 Scott was out in the open at last; Scott, the 
 man who tried to worm his way to friendship, the 
 man who had tried to use a boy as a stool pigeon, the 
 man who was willing to risk another's reputation in 
 order to cover his own tracks. " Oh ! " was his only 
 answer. Yet it contained, far better than many 
 words, the full measure of his repugnance. 
 
 " Don't be a fool ! " came Scott's calm voice.
 
 236 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " They're all outside ; they'll be back anytime. 
 We've got to get together. You threw an awful 
 scare into 'em last night. They think their trail's 
 discovered. They're watching. Who was with 
 you? Who's coming? How much do they know 
 down at the plant ? " 
 
 " Do you think I'll tell you anything? " 
 
 " Was Tregressor with you? " 
 
 Dick set his teeth. It took every ounce of his 
 self-control to contain his desire to lash out at the 
 man. Only his innate chivalry, and the fear of 
 dropping some hint which might prove of value, 
 kept him quiet. 
 
 " Don't be a fool ! " exclaimed Scott desperately. 
 " Your life isn't worth a cent here. Can't you see 
 that we may be able to do together what we couldn't 
 do alone? " 
 
 " I'm through talking. I'll take what's coming to 
 me. What you get is up to you. I hope it's what 
 you deserve." 
 
 "Quit thinking about yourself, you chump! 
 There's more at stake than you and me. If we
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 237 
 
 don't break loose before night, the Kendall factory 
 goes up in dust, and then who takes over those con 
 tracts, who makes the pistols you gave up going to 
 the front to help make? I don't care what you 
 think of me; I'm thinking of that factory." 
 
 " What changed you ? " sneered the boy. " Get 
 ting ready to wish this on some one else, the way 
 you put your stealing on me? " 
 
 He knew Scott's body stiffened. He felt, with 
 out being able to see, the change which came over the 
 man, and, in the silence which followed his taunt, he 
 regretted his words as unworthy of a man, even 
 under extreme provocation. " I'm sorry I said 
 that," he admitted. "I guess I'm thinking of it 
 in a different way. I don't understand you. Let it 
 go at that." 
 
 Scott paid scant attention to this awkward 
 apology. His thoughts were too busy with more 
 important things, and he weighed them very care 
 fully. " I did steal from Weinberg's office," he 
 stated. " The worst part of it was, Weinberg got 
 suspicious next day. He had to put through his
 
 238 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 bluff then. That's why I'm here. If I could have 
 kept it on you there'd have been no danger now. 
 He'd have been where he couldn't do any harm, he 
 and Schwartz's whole gang." 
 
 " Schwartz's ? " Dick's voice showed interest 
 now. 
 
 " Sure ! Weinberg's an underling. Schwartz is 
 the main guy. It was his orders to Weinberg to tie 
 up the plant with a strike that I stole." 
 
 " But why did you want 'em ? " 
 
 " Because it's my business to get the evidence I'm 
 ordered to get." 
 
 " What do you mean ? Who are you ? " 
 
 " I'm a poor simp who's overreached himself," he 
 retorted with a grim laugh. " Before they caught 
 me, that night of the fire, bound me and lugged me 
 here, I thought I was a fairly clever Secret Service 
 man." 
 
 " You ! " Dick came over on his side with a 
 twist. " You in the Secret Service ? Oh, Jim, why 
 didn't you tell me ? " 
 
 His voice was so disconsolate, that, in spite of
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 239 
 
 their predicament, a smile played around the corners 
 of Scott's mouth. " I wasn't advertising much," 
 he answered. " Only Kendall knew why I was 
 there. We'd tipped him off to look out, but had 
 made him swear to keep still. Other plants are 
 threatened. There's " He stopped. " I'm talk 
 ing too much," he said. 
 
 " That accounts for Sergeant Baker's having said 
 he'd seen you," said the boy thoughtfully. 
 
 " The big boob ! " exploded Jim. " He nearly 
 queered my whole game. Sure he'd seen me! I 
 helped clean up a gang he was after out West. Do 
 you believe me now, youngster? " 
 
 " Down in my heart, I guess I've always believed 
 in you. Only it wasn't like you to let me stand it 
 all alone." 
 
 " Knew you'd do it quick enough, if you realized 
 how big a service you were doing. I tried to square 
 you with Kendall, but he said you didn't need my 
 help. Told me to count on you. If we both weren't 
 tied, I'd count on you a lot more," he added. " Sup 
 pose you tell me what you're doing here,"
 
 240 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Suppose it that you shut up," growled a voice, 
 and, the next instant, big, square Schwartz strode 
 through the door, followed by a dapper, firm-step 
 ping stranger with a bristling blonde beard. 
 
 "Silence!" commanded the latter. "I will do 
 the necessary questioning. You have muddled 
 things sufficiently." 
 
 Schwartz wilted under the curt reprimand. Dick 
 knew now whose intelligence was behind that wire 
 less plant. The man stepped close to his side, and, 
 stooping suddenly, jerked him to his feet. The 
 strength in the close-knit body seemed almost super 
 human. The blue eyes snapped as they settled on 
 the boy's face. 
 
 " Pouf ! " he said disgustedly. " An oaf, 
 Schwartz. You and your curs are losing your cour 
 age. . It's a boy." 
 
 " It's a clever boy," mumbled Schwartz. 
 
 " Silence ! Weinberg ! " he called. 
 
 The big man hurried in, his face flushed. 
 
 " Is this youngling of the Kendall force? " 
 
 " Yes, sir,"
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 241 
 
 "Important to us?" 
 
 " He is the favorite of Kendall the Younger. He 
 may know much." 
 
 " Doesn't look it." The man's contempt was an 
 evident trick to enrage the lad. Dick didn't need 
 Scott's short laugh to warn him. The man spun 
 on his heel. " From you enough," he snapped. 
 " Your present position tells its own tale of your in 
 telligence." 
 
 " You're a long way from home yet," retorted 
 Jim coldly. 
 
 " That is my affair." 
 
 " We've one thing in common," grunted Scott 
 "When do I eat?" 
 
 "Swine!" 
 
 He turned back to the boy. " How did you come 
 here ? " he shot out. 
 
 " Walked." 
 
 " Is it possible ! Are you much given to walking 
 over the property of other people? " 
 
 " If I'm trespassing on yours, take me into court." 
 
 '* You're apt to go elsewhere, my pert young
 
 242 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 friend. Keep a civil tongue in your head and an 
 swer me as I should be answered." 
 
 " He hasn't got a gun," observed Scott sorrow 
 fully. 
 
 " From you, enough. More, and the gag shall be 
 replaced." 
 
 " Make it food and go as far as you like," sug 
 gested Scott carelessly. " You won't get much sat 
 isfaction out of that kid." 
 
 Dick, quick to recognize that the clash between 
 these two men was of long standing, marveled at 
 Scott's nerve. For a helpless man, he took des 
 perate chances. Dick could be as game. As he 
 faced his questioner, Dal Tregressor's motto for the 
 Beaver patrol flashed across his mind. Scott was 
 living up to that very thing and doing it against 
 fearful odds. He, too, could face odds with a 
 laugh. 
 
 " How many men guard the Kendall factory at 
 night ? " The question cracked out like a shot and 
 a strong hand gripped the boy's wrists and bent 
 his arms upward until the pain became sharp.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 243 
 
 " Going to try torturing me, are you ? It won't 
 get you anywhere." 
 
 " We'll test that." The arms were pushed higher. 
 "How many?" 
 
 " Quit that and I'll tell." 
 
 Scott gasped, but an exclamation of triumph came 
 from the man. "Quick!" he ordered. 
 
 " Well, let me make sure," began the boy, as if 
 counting. " There's the popcorn man with his pop 
 per, a couple of kids with tin swords and, oh, 
 enough to beat you up, all right." 
 
 " Swine ! " An angry palm slapped the boy full 
 in the mouth. " Have you searched him? " he de 
 manded, whirling on Schwartz. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Why not ? " There was no mistaking his anger. 
 " Do it." 
 
 Both Weinberg and Schwartz leaped to the work. 
 In a moment Dick's pockets were inside out. The 
 contents were more varied than interesting. It was 
 the leader himself who swooped down on a bit of 
 paper in the heap. Smoothing it, he strode nearer
 
 244 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 the door, his face black as he studied it. " Who 
 made this map? " he challenged. 
 
 "What map?" 
 
 " Of the approach by way of the stream." 
 
 Dick remembered the game he had played on the 
 previous afternoon. " Oh, that! " he said. 
 
 " Yes, that" 
 
 " Good, isn't it? We all carry those," 
 
 "Who's 'we'?" 
 
 " Why," answered Dick innocently, " maybe a 
 lot of fools like me; maybe the fifty or so men 
 around the foot of the mountain." 
 
 " That's a lie," stated the man, tearing the page 
 to bits and tossing them through the doorway. 
 " There are no men down there." 
 
 " All right, there are not." 
 
 " Which do you mean ? " 
 
 " Well," said Dick slowly, " it's about like this. 
 You'll say I'm lying anyway. Take your 
 choice." 
 
 Again the man's palm caught the boy across the 
 mouth. It was all Dick could do to control himself.
 
 THE BOY'S EYES NEVER FALTERED "
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 245 
 
 He heard Scott heave at the ropes which bound him. 
 " See here," the boy exclaimed coldly, " you can 
 go on slamming me around till your arms ache, but 
 it won't get you anywhere. You've got a lot to 
 learn about Americans; one thing is, we don't 
 squeal." 
 
 The man stepped closer, his fist drawn back. But 
 the boy's eyes never faltered as they held his, and it 
 was the tormentor who was the first to speak. " I'd 
 test that, if I had time," he growled. 
 
 " You'll be given the time," declared Scott ; 
 " there are about a hundred million people going to 
 see to that. Quit bluffing ! it hasn't gotten you any 
 where yet." 
 
 " Put them both out of the way," growled 
 Schwartz. 
 
 " No," voted Weinberg. " We should leave no 
 trail behind us." 
 
 " Silence ! " growled the angry man. " I know 
 my business. This grit of theirs shall stand a little 
 test. They shall be left here, bound, to converse 
 about their courage until hunger brings them face to
 
 246 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 face with silence. Some day they may be found. 
 They will tell no tales then." 
 
 " What ! " Scott's voice was sharp with incred 
 ulity. He grasped the whole diabolical plan, 
 knew how small a chance there was of any one's 
 finding them, knew what their sufferings would 
 be as they lay there dying from hunger and thirst. 
 Dick's face, too, was white. " It's better than 
 having to stay here with them, Jim," he said. 
 " You ought to hear Oscar Weinberg talk about his 
 father." 
 
 The shot in the air reached its mark. Dick saw 
 the big man wince, but, before he could speak again, 
 the leader gave him a shove and sent him reeling 
 into a bunk. "Out!" he ordered. "We have 
 much yet to do and these two have ceased to amuse 
 me." 
 
 "We're a long way from down and out," Jim 
 Scott called after him, " though what I could do to 
 a beefsteak is a shame. Well," he added, as the 
 door closed with a violent bang, "looks like we 
 were in for a social time, Dickie."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 247 
 
 " Do you think they'll really leave us here to 
 starve ? " 
 
 "That's the least of their troubles," retorted 
 Scott soberly. " We're in for it good and plenty, 
 unless some one comes." 
 
 All at once Dick's face brightened. " Some one 
 will," he declared. " I'd almost forgotten the 
 Beavers. They, and the other Scouts, will find us. 
 They'll never give up." 
 
 "Hope you're right," confessed Scott; "I'm 
 counting more on you and me, though. We'll get 
 away some how. I've been in a heap of tight cor 
 ners and there's always a weak link in every crook's 
 game." 
 
 " But we've got to get out of this before night. 
 We've got to get word to Stephen Kendall." 
 
 " We'll do it, all right." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " You ask me one question at a time, Dickie. But 
 we'll do it." 
 
 " We'll try," agreed the boy sturdily. " We can 
 at least try."
 
 248 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " Wish they hadn't taken your knife." 
 
 " Wouldn't do much good, when our hands are 
 tied." 
 
 " How are your teeth on a long chew? " 
 
 " Good enough to risk," answered Dick. " But 
 they might come back and catch me. That would 
 spoil that chance." 
 
 " That's so," agreed Jim. " Can't pull old stuff 
 on this crowd, I guess; they're too wise." 
 
 Dick was thoughtful for a long time. " Jim," 
 he asked at last, " one of us might not get through, 
 if we do get a start. I don't know enough about 
 their plans to tell much. Do you?" 
 
 " I know that they've made a couple of infernal 
 machines which they expect to pass into the factory 
 to-night. Two of their crowd are still there." 
 
 "Who are they?" 
 
 " Don't know. One thing they've been al 
 mighty careful about, and that's names. I don't 
 even know the name of that chap who slammed you 
 around." 
 
 " We've got to get to the village ahead of them,"
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 249 
 
 declared the boy ; " we've got to warn Dal Tregres- 
 sor." 
 
 "Sure, but how?" 
 
 " I don't know," he sighed ; " I wish I did but I 
 don't. The Scouts are about our only hope." 
 
 Scott didn't have even that hope, but his more 
 experienced mind was active. Their conversation 
 lagged, died out. Both worked out plan after plan 
 in silence, only to reject each one as impossible. 
 Slowly the day dragged on and their need became 
 more pressing as their hope became less. 
 
 Twice during the afternoon Weinberg came into 
 the hut, only to go out again without speaking. 
 None of the others came back. It was evident to 
 Scott that the gang planned to travel light in their 
 get-away. Given a few hours start, they would be 
 comparatively safe. Once in a big city, it would 
 be difficult to pick up their trail. 
 
 It was almost dark when Schwartz finally put in 
 an appearance. In silence, he went to a corner, 
 carefully removed much loose dirt from the lid of a 
 buried box, and lifted out two square objects which
 
 250 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 he handled with great tenderness. As he carried 
 them toward the door, he stopped an instant beside 
 Scott. " One time," he sneered, " you make me 
 salute the flag of you. This time it is I who will 
 make a little salute." 
 
 " Hope it kills you," snarled Scott, beside himself 
 at last. 
 
 Schwartz kicked him contemptuously, then 
 laughed as he walked out. " Listen well for our 
 salute/' he said. " But it is you who are to die." 
 
 " Roll over here, Dick." Scott's voice was tense 
 now and the boy came out of the bunk with a crash. 
 " Come close. Get your wrists near my mouth." 
 
 " My teeth are stronger, Jim." 
 
 " Obey. We've no time to lose. They're going 
 down the mountain." 
 
 The boy hitched himself across the floor without a 
 word. He trusted the man implicitly now. He 
 wiggled around until he felt Scott's face on his 
 hands. The next moment came sharp tugs at the 
 rope which bound him. Then Scott settled down to 
 steady, desperate gnawing.
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 251 
 
 Both were so intent on the well-nigh hopeless 
 task that they did not hear the door when it was 
 pushed softly open, nor the quick step on the dirt 
 floor. "What is it that proceeds here?" It was 
 Weinberg. 
 
 With a groan, Scott's head fell back. "It's 
 all up ! " he gasped. 
 
 " It's not." Dick's voice rang true and courage 
 ous. It was as if he had just begun to fight. 
 
 Weinberg stooped and rolled the boy into the 
 center of the floor. " What is it," he asked in a 
 low voice, " that my son says of his father? " 
 
 " He's a decent boy ; he's through with you." 
 
 " Ach! " It was sheer pain which drew that ex 
 clamation from the father. " What knows he of 
 duty?" 
 
 " He said he'd give you up, if he knew where 
 you were. That's his idea of duty to his country." 
 
 " Duty is to obey. Tell him that the father of 
 him sent that message." 
 
 " Swell chance we've got to deliver any last mes 
 sages," exclaimed Scott. " I won't insult an honest
 
 252 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 kid by giving him any messages from the likes of 
 you." 
 
 " I am the father of him ; you do not compre 
 hend." 
 
 " Blamed glad I've no son to apologize to." 
 
 " I make no apology ; it is that I but explain my 
 duty. It is you, Hall, who will take to Oscar that 
 word." 
 
 " If I ever see him again, I'll tell him." 
 
 " You shall see him." He straightened, and, 
 drawing a knife from his pocket opened it and * 
 tossed it into a bunk. " There is the opportunity 
 for you," he said. " The hours it shall take to 
 work you free, gives to us safety. That I pay for 
 your explanations to my son. I run now that I 
 may not be missed." With that, he turned and lum 
 bered out into the gathering dusk. 
 
 " Crooked, even to his own gang ! " sneered 
 Scott. 
 
 " It's the first decent thing he ever did," contra 
 dicted Dick, already wiggling toward that knife.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 STEPHEN KENDALL SPEAKS 
 
 IT was Sally Hall who, beside herself with anx 
 iety, had rushed down to the factory yard at mid 
 night, in search of Dal Tregressor. " Dick ! " she 
 panted. " Something's happened to Dick ! We 
 haven't seen him since noon. He always tells father 
 when he's going to be late. He's been hurt ! " 
 
 " Guess not," replied Dal cheerfully. " He's able 
 to take care of himself." Many things flashed 
 through the big fellow's brain. " Where have you 
 looked?" 
 
 " Everywhere. No one's seen him." 
 
 "Who's with him?" 
 
 " No one, as near as we can find out. He started 
 for a walk. We don't even know which way he 
 went. And he isn't strong. Oh, something's hap 
 pened to him, I know something's happened to him ! 
 Father thinks so, too." 
 
 Dal bit his lip. If Tom Hall was worried, there 
 
 253
 
 254 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 was good cause for others to be afraid. Knowing 
 that Mr. Hall was familiar with much that had 
 happened, Dai's own mind was not slow in coming 
 to a conclusion. " The best thing you can do," he 
 said kindly, " is to go home and tell your father 
 everything's all right, because we people are going 
 to get right on the job. We'll have Dick home be 
 fore you get there. Now run ; I'm going to see Mr. 
 Kendall." 
 
 "Will he help find Dick?" 
 
 " Don't think he'll do much else till he has found 
 him. We're all mighty fond of that kid down here. 
 Want me to send some one home with you ? " 
 
 " No thanks." 
 
 " And you'll go straight home, Sally ? " 
 
 " Yes," she promised valiantly. " If you say 
 you'll find Dick, you will." 
 
 " You bet we will ! " But if she could have seen 
 his face as he ran into Stephen Kendall's office, her 
 fear would have grown to terror. 
 
 Dal told his story in mighty few words. " And 
 I don't believe any lad my father's taught woodcraft
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 255 
 
 has been lost or hurt," he finished. " He's dis 
 appeared because he's been made to disappear. It's 
 the Weinberg gang. They've got it in for him." 
 
 " Sooner this thing's forced to a finish, the better," 
 snapped Kendall. " I'm through waiting ; I'm going 
 to take the fight to them. Nothing's going to hap 
 pen to that boy." 
 
 " Not as long as I've a fight left in me," echoed 
 Dal. " What are the orders ? " 
 
 " Hunt for him. Some one must have seen him 
 yesterday afternoon. Round up the railway sta 
 tion and other places in town. If you don't get 
 track of him, come back. One of my machines will 
 be here by then. Drive over the roads to the south ; 
 I'm going north." 
 
 " How about the other ways ? " 
 
 " Rout out North on your way up town. He'll 
 take care of the state road east; there's nothing west 
 ward. Dick went either up or down the valley. 
 I'm sure of that." 
 
 " All right. Get word back, if you find him or 
 want help."
 
 256 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " I'll telephone here whenever I can find an in 
 strument. Do the same." 
 
 " Good." Dal wheeled and rushed out. But 
 dawn came, and with it, no good news. At seven 
 o'clock, Stephen Kendall, dusty and hollow-eyed, 
 drove up to the factory. Twenty minutes later Tre- 
 gressor, too, returned, baffled but not discouraged. 
 
 " My men want to go out and hunt," he an 
 nounced. " The kid's oh, well," he finished 
 gruffly, " they feel about the way we do toward 
 him." 
 
 " Let half go. If it's a trap, we can't afford to 
 be caught unguarded." 
 
 " How about the Aunt Lizzies ? " 
 
 " North's getting them out. But, Dal, none of 
 these men can do more than ask questions. We've 
 got to organize this." 
 
 "How about the Boy Scouts?" 
 
 "Will your father" 
 
 " Watch that whole outfit," broke in Dal. " Let 
 me take a car till T get them started." 
 
 But that work was saved him. Mr. Tregressor
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 257 
 
 had heard the news. Even before he had gone over 
 to see Tom Hall, he had sent word to Jimmie Farns- 
 worth. " Bullet " Kendall himself changed the re 
 quest to an order and every Scout in his employ was 
 told to report to the scoutmaster. Dal found the 
 front yard full of lads in khaki, but they were a 
 quiet, sober-faced lot who realized that each pass 
 ing hour added to their responsibility. 
 
 He had expected to play some part in assigning 
 them to their work, but his advice was not asked 
 and he saw his aid was not needed. Mr. Tregres- 
 sor's only instructions, as he sent them out in squads 
 of twos and threes, were, "Find Dick!" How 
 they should do it, was a part of that schooling now 
 being put to such a severe test. 
 
 It was Farnsworth, with Nick Root as his assist 
 ant, who was assigned to the eastern side of the 
 tipper valley road. They went out of the town re 
 solved to stay out until Dick was found. 
 
 Nick, with his characteristic impulsiveness, was 
 all for making a break and getting ahead of the 
 slow-working searchers from the factory and Ken-
 
 258 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 clall Guards, but Jimmie insisted on thoroughness, 
 fearful lest some important clew be overlooked and 
 Dick's peril increased. The boy was certain that 
 his friend had fallen and broken a leg. " He'd have 
 come home before now, if he hadn't," he stated. 
 " Don't believe one busted leg would have stopped 
 him, either. Probably both are smashed." 
 
 " How we goin' to carry him back, then? " 
 
 " Dunno. Let's find him first. I'm going into 
 that farm house and ask again." 
 
 " You've been there twice." 
 
 " I'd go there fifty times, if I thought I could 
 learn anything." 
 
 It was with that sort of thoroughness that Jimmie 
 Farnsworth worked his way out along the valley 
 road. Time after time they separated, to hunt in 
 groves and fields for some sign of Dick's trail. 
 Often, when far apart, they stopped to wigwag mes 
 sages of defeat or encouragement to each other; 
 often they wondered if some of the other Scouts 
 were meeting with better success, but never did they 
 cease their search. They had been ordered to find
 
 THEY FOUND THEIR REWARD FOR THOROUGHNESS
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 259 
 
 Dick Hall, and they would keep at it until they did, 
 or received word that some one else had had that 
 good fortune. 
 
 Many times they saw one of the Kendall machines 
 dashing along the road. Once Mr. Tregressor came 
 out to give his boys words of encouragement; twice 
 they saw big Dal in a rushing car. 
 
 Mile after mile they covered, zig-zagging this 
 way and that, running far afield and questioning 
 every one. Later in the afternoon tired men began 
 
 to go townward, but the boys gritted their teeth 
 
 . 
 
 and stuck to their work. And, by the brook at 
 the foot of the mountain, they found their reward 
 for thoroughness. When Dick had decided to creep 
 up to peek at that trout, he had lost his handker 
 chief. It was Nick who pounced on it. 
 
 " Look ! Look ! " he cried excitedly. " See the 
 ' Hall ' on it, Jim." 
 
 " It's his, all right," gulped Farnsworth. " He's 
 somewhere up there." 
 
 " It's getting dark." 
 
 " I know it."
 
 260 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " We better go on." 
 
 " Wait a second, I want to think. See here, 
 Nick," he went on, after a minute, " we've got the 
 trail ; that's the most important thing." 
 
 " Tisn't. We want Dick." 
 
 " We got to use our heads now. He may be 
 way up top; he's probably hurt bad. It might be 
 night when we found him. We need help; we've 
 got to get it. If we got lost, it wouldn't do Dick 
 a bit of good." 
 
 "That's so," admitted Nick sorrowfully. "I'd 
 rather go up but " 
 
 " So'd I," agreed Jim instantly, " but we got to 
 consider what's best. I can run farther'n you. 
 You stay here. I'm going for Dal Tregressor." 
 
 "All right," sighed little Nick; "'course I will. 
 But I'd like to go." 
 
 " Sure you would! But we're workin' for Dick." 
 
 "Get started!" growled the little chap. "It's 
 gettin' dark." 
 
 And, while Nick Root sat by that brook, and 
 Jimmie Farnsworth sped for help at the top of his
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 261 
 
 speed, high up on the mountain the boy they thought 
 half dead was working with the fury of a cornered 
 tiger. 
 
 How Dick freed Jim's hands with the knife he 
 held between his teeth, neither of them ever knew. 
 It was a question of saving the seconds and for 
 getting the cuts. Free at last, they faced a new 
 difficulty. Scott, long tied, was so stiff and sore 
 that he could barely stand. " You've got to go it 
 alone," he stated. " I'll follow somehow but go, 
 go as you never went before ! It's all up to you 
 plant, men, everything." 
 
 For a moment Dick's own aching hand clasped 
 that of his friend. " It's up to me," he agreed 
 steadily, and stumbled out. 
 
 Each step hurt. The muscles, which should have 
 been so full of spring, kinked and faltered. He 
 dared not run for fear of falling. He risked an 
 instant's rest against the trunk of a spruce. The 
 blood was pounding in his ears, and he was faint 
 from lack of food and thirsty beyond belief. 
 
 Such things he must forget. The fate of the
 
 262 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Kendall shops rested in his hands. It was a time 
 to test both grit and courage to the limit. He was a 
 Scout and a Hall. He was prepared and he could 
 not fail. For him, the mountain-side was pathless. 
 His only direction lay downward. Somewhere be 
 low, ran the road to Kendallville ; and somewhere 
 below six desperate men were marching toward that 
 same highway. 
 
 Starting at as fast a walk as he could manage, he 
 hoped, at the end of those first fifty painful steps, to 
 be able to break into a trot. The Scout's pace had 
 served well, the day before. Would it now be the 
 means of saving Kendallville? 
 
 Twice his leaden feet caught in exposed roots 
 and threw him headlong. As he rose the second 
 time, he heard a crash farther above. Scott was 
 also stumbling down the mountain. It gave him 
 new courage and he began to run. The woods 
 thickened. Twice he had to fight through tangled 
 masses of underbrush. His legs felt better and 
 hope rose. A drink from that brook, and he would 
 be himself again.
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 263 
 
 To the right, he thought he saw a path. He took 
 the chance of added steps and found a trail. It 
 wound downward, offering better footing and he 
 increased his pace, heedless of all but time. 
 
 A startled challenge broke the silence. There 
 was no mistaking Schwartz's voice. He had run 
 into their rear guard. Without stopping to weigh 
 the result, he wheeled to the left and went crashing 
 into the woods, making no attempt at anything but 
 speed. A pistol barked. To the right, he heard the 
 spat of a bullet against a tree. He was playing 
 hide and seek with death in the dark woods. He 
 ran for his own life as well as the lives of others. 
 
 Came the second shot. This time he heard the 
 whine of the bullet. Quick shouts rang out. From 
 the noise, he judged that one man followed him. 
 A second would try to head him off. He thought 
 of Scott. What if he, too, was working to the 
 south. One of them must get through. " Jim ! " 
 he shouted at the top of his voice. " I'm going 
 south." 
 
 There came no answer. He knew Scott was too
 
 264 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 canny to risk one. All that he heard was the crash 
 of his pursuer. The man was gaining. Dick tried 
 to run faster. His tongue was a great, dry lump in 
 his burning mouth. His breath seared his throat. 
 For a moment, the noise behind him grew fainter. 
 Then, once more, the man began to gain. 
 
 Now the woods seemed strangely familiar. The 
 footing was better, he risked changing his course a 
 trifle. Down-hill work was easier. From behind, 
 came that steady pound, pound, of the feet which 
 bore his fate. Then, like a bomb, open sky and 
 vast space burst in his face. He was on the edge 
 of that cliff. 
 
 Far, far away, he saw the lights of Kendallville. 
 If he failed now, they went out. His head went 
 back and his eyes grew very wide. The distant 
 lights faded from his sight. He had gone through 
 much, but, now, as he faced the crisis, he knew he 
 could face still more. For this he had stayed be 
 hind. This was his " bit." He leaped. 
 
 Why he was not killed, none who examined the 
 place, in weeks to come, could explain. But, Dick,
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 265 
 
 even as he lay stunned and shaken knew. His first 
 remembrance was of a fusillade from the cliff above, 
 the crash of bullets against rocks and trees, the bel- 
 lo wings of a man who dared not follow, but fired 
 as he hunted a safe descent. 
 
 Again he struggled to his feet. To his vague 
 amazement, his body felt still intact. He started 
 downward at little better than a crawl, leaning now 
 against a friendly trunk, now on some cool rock. 
 Above, the man still shouted. From his own right 
 came less distinct replies. 
 
 He came to the brook. Throwing himself full 
 length, he buried his battered face in the icy water. 
 Twice he took deep gulps, then stopped. Thirsty 
 as he was, he remembered Mr. Tregressor's warn 
 ing against too deep draughts when there was work 
 to be done. He rose and started straight down. 
 From here he knew the way. His map was burned 
 on his memory and he recognized indistinct land 
 marks. The road was less than a quarter of a 
 mile away. Once on the highway and he could 
 make better time. He wondered how things were
 
 266 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 with Scott. Even the night seemed brighter. His 
 steps hurt less and less. His ankle burned strangely 
 but that, too, would be better. Once he thought he 
 heard voices, but they were far away. He had won 
 the start which meant safety for the factory. Once 
 warned, good old Dal would see to the rest. 
 
 Ahead, he thought he heard the tumble of the 
 waterfall into that pool where he had watched the 
 trout. He was almost out. Remembering the 
 thicket through which he had crept, he turned 
 sharply to the left. A light was flashed into his 
 eyes. He heard a sharp exclamation, but, head 
 down, he went in, still ready to prove his metal. 
 
 But this time he fought proved steel. A hand 
 grasped his shoulder. " What do you think you're 
 trying to do ? " 
 
 " Dal ! Dal ! " The cry was half sob. 
 
 " Who else ? Nice scare you've given us. 
 Thought something crooked was up. Thought 
 Weinberg " 
 
 "He has. They're there. Wait! Listen!" 
 He gulped out his story in short, panting sentences
 
 OF KENDALLVILLE 267 
 
 and Tregressor guessed more than the boy told. A 
 new expression came over his face, an expression 
 Dick would not have recognized, even could he have 
 seen it the fighting look of a man who knows 
 what a desperate fight means. 
 
 " Come," he commanded abruptly; "you've done 
 your bit; I'll carry on." He rushed Dick back to 
 the road. " Douse those lights ! " he ordered. 
 
 " Who's with you, Dal?" 
 
 " Steve Kendall and a pair of Scouts." 
 
 " Have you found him, Dal ? " 
 
 " Yes, and more. Start that car." 
 
 It was Stephen Kendall who lifted the lad into 
 the big machine, but it was Tregressor who did the 
 explaining. " Scott's still in there," he finished. 
 " I know what'll happen, if they get him. Get Dick 
 back to the village." 
 
 " No." It was Dick who spoke. " I'm going to 
 see this through." 
 
 " No, you're not, youngster," contradicted Stephen 
 Kendall, with a queer catch in his voice ; " you're 
 going home with Jim and Nick. North will drive
 
 268 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 you. You've done your part like a man." 
 " And a soldier," added Dal Tregressor. " Come 
 
 on, Steve, old son. Our work's up there above." 
 " Let's get at it, then." Stephen's voice was as 
 
 gay as Dai's, yet both knew what they went to face. 
 
 But from neither of them could any one ever drag 
 the story of that fight in the dark. 
 
 Dick, steadied by a night's sleep, did his best to 
 make both tell, when they came to see him. " Dal 
 was the one who found Scott," said Kendall. 
 
 " Sure he's all right? You're not fooling me? " 
 
 " 'Course not." 
 
 " Thanks. But after you found him? " 
 
 " We were all right. We knew where we were," 
 said Mr. Kendall. 
 
 " You did," corrected Tregressor. " You're a 
 wonder ! I never saw better nerve." 
 
 "But how did you capture them all?" insisted 
 the boy. " Father says Weinberg's dead and that 
 chap who slapped me, badly wounded."
 
 OF KENDALL VILLE 269 
 
 " Then let him tell you the rest," growled Dal ; 
 " I'm trying to forget it." 
 
 " Gee ! " sighed the youngster. " But I wish I 
 had the courage of you two ! " 
 
 "Umph! Where'd you pack any more? Be 
 fore I forget it, father asked me to tell you he's 
 sending in a recommendation to have them give you 
 the Scout Medal of Honor." 
 
 " The medal ? For me ! " exclaimed Dick. 
 
 " Why not ? Guess you saved quite a few lives 
 last night. Thinking of offering you a little reward 
 myself," Dal added, realizing the need of giving the 
 lad time to recover ; " don't know but I'll give you a 
 job with my Terriers. The Aunt Lizzies don't half 
 appreciate you." 
 
 " Suppose you let me offer the job at the plant," 
 suggested Mr. Kendall ; " Dick's coming into my 
 office to learn the business." 
 
 "Stephen!" It was the first time that Tom 
 Hall, seated in his invalid's chair, close to Dick, 
 had spoken, and now his eyes were bright with 
 tears.
 
 270 THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 " He's certainly won the chance, Tom, and he'll 
 make good." 
 
 " But I've only done my duty, sir," stammered the 
 delighted boy. 
 
 " What more can any man do, Dick? " asked Dal 
 Tregressor soberly. 
 
 THE END
 
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