Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle
Page 7
CHAPTER 7 A Mysterious Arrow
Dan's observation about seeing an extra person in the background of thefilm greatly excited the other Cubs.
"Show the scene again," they begged Mr. Holloway.
The Den Dad re-threaded the film into the projection machine and ran itthrough at slow speed.
"There he is!" suddenly exclaimed Dan, catching the first glimpse of theunfamiliar face in the scene.
Before he obtained a definite impression of the person, the figure hadducked back into the bushes.
"Golly!" exclaimed Red in amazement. "Where did _he_ pop from?"
"Couldn't it have been one of the Cubs from Den 1?" demanded Fred.
Dan reminded the boys that during the filming of the banquet scene all ofthe Cubs had taken part.
"Someone was watching us from the bushes," Brad confirmed the youngerboy's opinion. "Too bad we didn't get a clearer impression of him."
At the request of the Cubs, Mr. Holloway ran through the film a thirdtime. However, it was impossible for anyone to identify the stranger inthe scene.
Mr. Holloway, Dan and Brad were of the opinion that the intruder wasanother boy. The others thought he had looked older and might be a man.
"At any rate, we know there's a little substance to our 'ghost of thecastle,'" Dan laughed. "Maybe next time we're out there, we can catchhim. I don't like the idea of being spied on."
Mr. Holloway and Mr. Hatfield devoted some time to discussing the variousscenes of the play with the boys, pointing out where improvement could bemade.
"For the movie we'll need titles," the Den Dad explained. "Also, it willbe necessary to do a great deal of editing and cutting in the finalversion. We'll need a committee."
"Make Dan chairman," suggested Brad. "He knows the Robin Hood storybetter than anyone."
"I'll appoint Dan, Red and Chips," Mr. Holloway said. "There will beplenty of work to do because we must start the final filming by nextSaturday."
"Which reminds me that we'll have to speed up the archery contest," addedSam Hatfield. "To avoid argument, the winner of the match shall have therole of Robin Hood."
"Fair enough," grinned Dan.
Aware that costumes for the play would be needed in a hurry, the boyspromised to turn their money in as quickly as possible so that materialscould be bought.
During the early part of the week, the Cubs of both Den 1 and 2 canvassedthe neighborhoods, seeking odd jobs.
As Dan already had observed, they were discouragingly scarce.
Except for Ross Langdon, not a single Cub was certain of earning theamount needed within a short period of time.
"What we should have is a project all the boys can work on together,"Brad declared one night as he and Dan discussed the problem.
"We might gather and sell papers."
"The market has collapsed. I've already investigated that jobpossibility."
"At this time of year, all the odd jobs are taken," Dan said gloomily."It's so dry, even the lawns hardly need cutting."
"I know," Brad agreed. "City Council has warned folks to go easy on usingwater. The pressure is low. Every vacant lot with so many dried weedspresents a hazard."
Dan stared at the older boy, as an idea suddenly came to him.
"Say, maybe that's the ticket!" he exclaimed.
"What is, Dan? I don't follow you."
"Why, maybe the Cubs could get a job from the city cutting weeds!"
"The city has its own crew."
"Sure, but not half of the outlying areas have been mowed. I read in thepaper yesterday, the city is having trouble finding workers."
Brad thought the matter over. "We never could sell our services to thecity," he said. "But we might get individual jobs for theCubs--especially from real estate men who have considerable vacantproperty."
"There's a lot of it near the castle," Dan recalled. "We might be able toround up a few jobs in that area."
The two boys discussed the matter with the other Cubs. Very few of theorganization members had been successful in earning enough money.Everyone except Ross Langdon immediately favored the project. Rossdeclared that to cut weeds would inflame his nose and bring on an attackof hay fever.
"Anyway, I have more than enough money now for my Robin Hood costume," hesaid smugly. "No weed cutting for me."
"Okay," Brad shrugged. "Suit yourself. Don't forget though, that you havea section of ground at the castle to clear before next Saturday. We gaveour promise to the bank that it would be done."
The next morning, Brad and Dan set out to see how many jobs they couldobtain for the Cubs.
After trying four places, they were given the promise of one small one.With all the Cubs working, Brad calculated it would not take an hour forthe boys to clean up the premises.
"We'll need at least another sizeable job to make it worth while," Dancommented as the two boys paused for a moment on the highway. "But wherewill we get it?"
Brad had noticed a well-kept property directly ahead on the right-handside of the road. Orchards were surrounded by an artistically builtwooden rail fence.
However, tall dried weeds had grown about the rails. Should a fire startfrom a dropped match or cigarette, not only the fence, but the orchard aswell might be damaged.
"Let's try that place ahead," Brad proposed. "We could grub out thoseweeds by hand in two or three hours. It would make the grounds lookbetter and eliminate a fire hazard."
The boys could not see the house from the main road.
Seeking it, they followed a winding lane through attractively laid outgrounds. Presently, they came within view of a large white house with twopillars supporting the veranda.
In their immediate path was a small one room shack which evidently servedas a gardener's tool house.
"Well, I hope someone is home," Dan remarked. "We've had a long, hardwalk."
Even as he spoke, a short, wiry man in overalls came out of thegardener's house.
"You boys want something?" he asked, blocking their way.
"Why, yes," said Brad. He explained that he and Dan were Cub Scouts insearch of odd jobs for their organization.
"Well, there's nothing here for you," the man answered briefly.
"We'd like to talk to the owner of the property, if you please."
"You can't see him. The master doesn't like visitors."
"Who is the owner?" inquired Dan curiously.
"Never mind. The point is, you'll find no work here. I attend to all theodd jobs."
"You do fine at keeping the property in order," declared Brad, his gazeroving over the well-trimmed shrubs. "But we noticed one little thing youoverlooked."
"Oh, you did, eh?" Despite Brad's polite manner, the gardener was growingmore and more irritated.
Trying to be as diplomatic as possible, the boys told of their need toearn money for costumes. They then mentioned the uncut weeds along thefront fence, stressing the danger of fire.
"I have enough to do around here without pulling those weeds!" the manexclaimed. "What's more, I won't take it on."
"That's where we come in," said Brad. "For a very moderate fee, the Cubswill do a good job of cleaning them out."
"Oh, no you won't!" The gardener now was very angry. "You're trying tomake me look bad with the boss. Well, you can't see him! Now get out ofhere before I let the dogs loose!"
"You have us all wrong," Dan protested. "We're not trying to get anyoneinto trouble. But the work should be done and--"
"Get out!"
Dan would have stood his ground, but Brad pulled him away.
"Come on, Dan," he said quietly. "We'll find another place. No usestirring up trouble."
Feeling very annoyed at having been so rudely dismissed, the two boysstarted away. They rounded a point in the road which blocked off theirview of the gardener and the tool house.
"That stupid lug!" Brad snorted. "He's afraid we'll make him look bad!"
As the boy spoke the wor
ds, an object whizzed through the air. Flyinghigh above his head, it lodged in a tree at the side of the lane.
"What was that?" Brad demanded, startled.
"An arrow!" Dan exclaimed. "Say! Someone is using us for a target! We'dbetter take cover!"