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The Cubs spent every spare hour in the church gymnasium. (_See Page 70_)"Dan Carter and the Cub Honor"
DAN CARTER _and the CUB HONOR_
_by Mildred A. Wirt_
_ILLUSTRATED_
CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY _Publishers_ _New York_
Copyright, 1952, by CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
_Dan Carter and the Cub Honor_
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
_Chapter_ _Page_ 1. A New Cub 1 2. In Quest of a Freezer 15 3. A Tapping Bell 26 4. Payment Refused 35 5. A Threatening Suit 44 6. A Challenge from Pat 52 7. "Know Your Neighborhood" 65 8. A Wish Fulfilled 77 9. Strawberry Ice Cream 86 10. Old Terry's Demand 102 11. The Locked Door 112 12. Rules of Basketball 121 13. Halloween Pranks 131 14. The Belfry Bell 143 15. Measles 149 16. The Stranger 160 17. A Witness 169 18. A Jolt for Pat 179 19. Cub Honor 189 20. Proof 205
CHAPTER 1 A NEW CUB
Skillfully, Dan Carter dribbled the basketball down the polishedgymnasium floor. With an easy toss of his right hand, he looped it neatlythrough the basket.
"Nice going, Dan," approved Brad Wilber, the Den Chief, who directed theCub Scout practice.
The five boys, all members of Den 2, were practicing in the basement ofFirst Methodist Church. Now after a brisk half-hour work-out, they wereready to adjourn to the upstairs clubroom for their weekly businesssession.
Dan tossed the ball to Midge Holloway, who passed it to Red Suell. Thelatter shot a fast one to Chips Davis, who fumbled. He awkwardlyrecovered the ball, but in attempting a basket, missed it by severalinches.
"Butter fingers; Butter fingers!" mocked a voice from the basementwindow.
The Cubs had not realized that they were being watched. Turning quicklytoward the wall behind them, they saw several boyish and jeering facespressed against the rain-streaked panes.
"It's Pat Oswald and his gang," Brad instantly recognized them. "Don'tpay any attention."
Acting on the Den Chief's suggestion, the Cubs tried to ignore the boysat the window. But it was quite impossible.
Nervous because he knew he was being watched, Dan tried a long shot frommid-floor, and missed the basket. Again Pat and his followers hooted.
"Look at 'im!" one of the tormentors yelled. "Why, even a girl could dobetter than that!"
Dan could not endure the taunt. He walked over to the window.
"Oh, yeah?" he demanded. "I suppose you're so good you never miss!"
"Dead-eye Pat, that's me name!" the older boy boasted. "Come on, guys,let's show 'em!"
Boldly, he pushed open the window which swung on hinges. Before the Cubscould stop him, Pat shoved his muscular torso through the opening, andleaped down onto the gymnasium floor. Behind him, like so many sprygrasshoppers, came three of his cronies. The boys ranged in age from 7 to11 years, but all were gangling and over-sized.
"Hey, you!" Red Suell cried furiously. "Get out of here! You got nobusiness coming in!"
"Yah, yah, yah!" mocked Pat. He gave Red a hard shove, deliberatelytearing the basketball from his grasp.
"Come on, fellows!" he urged his gang. "Let's show these babies how toplay ball!"
He dribbled in beneath the basket. Without appearing to take aim, hecarelessly hooked the ball up toward the netting. Neatly, it swishedthrough.
Despite their annoyance, the Cubs were impressed. Pat was plently good!No argument about that. His flashy skill so amazed them that they did nottry to recover the ball.
One of the invaders snatched and passed it back to Pat. From that moment,it became a teasing, tormenting game of "keep it away from the Cubs."
"You've no right to come in here and break up our practice." Chips Davisaccused hotly. "Give me that ball!"
He rushed in to snatch it. Pat with jeering laughter, passed it on toanother boy in his group.
"Give us our ball!" Chips shouted again. "If you don't hand it over--"
"Yah, yah, yah," mocked Pat. "Here it is, baby!"
He heaved the ball with terrific force. It struck the surprised Chips inthe pit of his stomach, doubling him over.
At this moment, Sam Hatfield, the Cubmaster, appeared in the gymnasiumdoorway. The athletic coach and leader in the citywide Pack had a knackof getting on well with all types of boys. Now, as if he had notednothing amiss, he commented cheerfully:
"Well, well, I see we have some new recruits today."
"Recruits, nothing!" snorted Midge Holloway. "These hoodlums are tryingto take over the gym--that's what!"
"Aw, we were only having a little fun," Pat growled. Already he wasedging toward the door. "Come on, fellows. Let's scram!"
As quickly as they had come, the intruders were gone. Mr. Hatfield waiteduntil the door had slammed behind them, and then asked Brad about theyoungsters.
"That was Pat Oswald and his bunch from out Bay Shore Road way," the DenChief replied. "They're always making trouble."
The Cubmaster offered no comment except to remind the Cubs that it wastime for the meeting to start.
"Where's Fred?" Dan asked, noticing that Mr. Hatfield's son was not withhim.
"He's waiting upstairs in the meeting room," Mr. Hatfield replied. "He'sgetting acquainted with our new Den member."
"New member?" Dan asked quickly. The other Cubs, hearing the remark,gathered about to ask questions. This was the first hint they'd had thata new boy had joined the group.
"Come along and meet him," Mr. Hatfield invited.
Chips, Red and Midge rushed on ahead up the stone stairway. Deliberately,the Cub leader lingered behind to speak privately to Brad and Dan.
"As a special favor to me, I wish you fellows would look after Chub," hesaid quietly. "Teach him the ropes."
"Chub?" Dan questioned. "The new Cub?"
"Yes, his name is Charles Weldon." Mr. Hatfield hesitated slightly beforehe spoke the boy's surname. Then he went on "He's a shy youngster, notvery sure of himself yet. Don't tease him about his family background.Don't ask questions, and don't let the others do it either."
Brad and Dan were astonished by the request for usually Mr. Hatfield heldto the theory that every Cub should fend for himself. Who was Chub, theywondered? Why had he never attended their school?
"C
hub is new in Webster City," Mr. Hatfield said, as if picking thequestion from their minds. "Not much is known about his parents. He liveswith Mrs. Lornsdale at the west edge of town."
"Is he an orphan?" Dan inquired.
"Something like that," Mr. Hatfield purposely was vague as he locked thebasketball into an equipment case. "Now I've told you all anyone needs toknow about Chub. No more questions. Pass the word along that no one is totease him."
"Sure," Dan agreed. "Brad and I will look out for him."
Their curiosity heightened by the information Mr. Hatfield had giventhem, the two boys scarcely could wait to meet the new Cub.
Brad and Dan both were "veterans" of the organization and Mr. Hatfielddepended upon them a great deal. Brad was a serious, dark-hairedyoungster of 13, and the only Boy Scout in the organization.Even-tempered always, he had a quiet but efficient way of getting thingsdone.
Though younger, Dan likewise was efficient and highly reliable. A fineathlete for his years, he also was quick in school and his original ideashelped make the den a success. He had been chosen denner because of hispopularity.
Upstairs, the boys found Fred Hatfield waiting with Chub.
Pouring into the cheerful club room, the Cubs cast covert glances at thenew boy.
Chub was 10, short and stubby, with a crop of chocolate brown freckles. Athatch of yellow, curly hair hung down almost to the bridge of his pugnose. He did not have the blue Cub uniform, but wore a suit with sleevesa trifle too short.
As Mr. Hatfield introduced the Cubs one by one, Chub smiled shyly andstammered a few words. The leader then started the meeting off with rollcall and a peppy song to the tune of "America."
"Cub friendships, pure and deep, We promise we will keep Our pledge to thee; We will honor and obey Akela all the way And on that twelfth birthday Good Scouts we'll be!"
For Chub's benefit, Mr. Hatfield then explained that to qualify as aBobcat he must learn the Cub Promise and to repeat the Law of the Pack.Other requirements were that he understand the meaning of WEBELOS, andknow how to give the Cub sign and handshake, the Cub motto and thesalute.
A Bobcat, the leader further explained, signified the first step inCubbing. Other progressive ranks were Wolf, Bear and Lion.
"A Cub always does his part," he emphasized. "Above all, honor is hismost sacred possession."
By this time Chub had begun to look worried. To relieve his mind, Mr.Hatfield assured him that it would not take long to learn all theessentials.
"The other Cubs will help you," he promised.
"Sure we will," said Dan, picking up his cue.
Mr. Hatfield went on to say that the theme of the Pack for that monthwould be to "Know your Neighborhood." Each den, he told the group, wouldbe given opportunity to visit interesting places in the community.
At this point the talk was interrupted by a slight scratching noise atone of the windows. The Cubs, twisting in their chairs, again sawgrinning faces pressed against the glass panes.
"Pat and his gang!" Red Suell exploded. "Those pests have beenlistening!"
"Let's drive 'em away!" proposed Midge, jumping up from his chair.
"Why not invite them inside?" countered Mr. Hatfield. With a smile, hestarted toward the window.
However, the Bay Shore boys, observing the Cubmaster's approach, duckedback out of sight. With a shrug, Mr. Hatfield resumed the meeting. Hetold the Cubs more about the 'Know Your Community' visits which werebeing planned, and asked for suggested trips.
"How about one to the fire station?" piped up Chips eagerly. "Maybethey'd let us ride the engine on a trial run."
"I'd like to visit a newspaper office." This proposal came from Midge,whose father, Burton Holloway, was an active Den Dad.
"The courthouse!" suggested Dan. "It would be interesting to watch atrial."
Other ideas came thick and fast. In fact, with the exception of Chub,every boy immediately thought of at least one place suitable for a Denvisit.
"Chub doesn't know Webster City well, because he hasn't lived here long,"Mr. Hatfield remarked. "He'll think of a place before our next meeting.His suggestion may be the best of all."
"That's right," agreed Dan. "All the places we've hit on so far are theobvious ones. Probably every Den in Webster City will come up with thesame ones. I wish we could think of an out-of-the-way place to visit."
"Chub will ring the bell," predicted Brad. "Are we to visit all theplaces, Mr. Hatfield?"
"Only the most interesting. After all the suggestions are in, we'll voteon it. Now, one more matter. About that party we're giving for theparents a week from Friday night. Shall we serve real home-made icecream?"
"Swell," approved Midge, smacking his lips. "Chocolate with nuts in it!"
"The mothers have promised to furnish the cake," Mr. Hatfield resumed."Angel food, spice and chocolate. Making the ice cream will be our job.Know where we can get a couple of old-fashioned ice cream freezers?"
"My grandmother had one, but I think she gave it away," Dan saiddoubtfully.
"Large freezers may not be easy to find. Well, see what you can do aboutit, boys, and report back."
The afternoon meeting broke up quickly for the hour was late. As the Cubspoured out of the club-room, Dan brushed against Pat Oswald who had beenstanding close to the wall.
"Listening again!" he said scornfully. "If you want to learn about CubScouts, why don't you come inside instead of sneaking around like a cat?"
"You're calling me an alley cat?" Pat demanded. He doubled up his fistsand glared at Dan. "Say, I ought to knock the stuffins out of you!"
"Want to try?"
"Cut it," Brad advised quietly. "We're not getting into a fight here inthe churchyard. Or anywhere else for that matter."
"Naw, the Cubs wouldn't fight," Pat jeered. "They're yellow. Afraid oftheir sissy shadows."
"That's not true!"
"Can't even hang onto a basketball," Pat went on with his tormenting."Sissies!"
"And look at that little panty-waist with curls!" shouted one of the boysin Pat's gang. He had singled Chub out for attention.
Walking over to the shy boy, he gave his corduroy suit jacket a hardjerk. Chub cringed back into the doorway.
"Scared, ain't you?"
"You leave Chub alone," Dan said, stepping in front of the new Cubmember.
The other boy fell back a step, but not because of Dan's command. Intruth, he had caught a glimpse of Mr. Hatfield coming down the corridorto the church doorway.
"What goes on here?" the Cub leader demanded, and this time his voice wasstern.
With shouts of laughter, Pat and his followers ran off down the street,rattling a string of tin cans.
"That Pat is a mean one," Chips declared. "He'd have started trouble ifyou hadn't come along, Mr. Hatfield."
"Possibly," conceded the Cub leader. "Pat is inclined to be a bully, buthe's mostly bluff, I think. My guess is that he and his pals really areenvious of the good times the Cubs have here."
"Especially of our basketball practice," added Brad.
Mr. Hatfield advised the Cubs not to take Pat's teasing too seriously.
"Who knows?" he suggested as the group broke with Brad. During the briskwalk, the younger boy had little to say. Finally, Brad commented upon hisunusual silence.
"Worrying about where we can get a couple of ice cream freezers, Dan?"
"Not exactly. I'll admit I was thinking about the party though."
"Something seems to be bothering you."
"I was wondering about Pat. He and his gang were listening at the churchdoor when we made plans for the social a week from Friday."
"Probably."
"I'm sure of it," Dan insisted soberly. "This is what worries me. I'mafraid Pat and his bunch may show up at the party and really stir up amess."
Brad glanced down at the younger boy, surprised by the intensity of hisremark.
"Sort of borrowing trouble, aren't you, Dan?"
"I guess so," Dan admitted with a ruef
ul laugh. "But Pat's a sly one. Isure hope I'm wrong, but I'm terribly afraid he intends to try to breakup our Den."
As the Cubs started home, Dan fell into step up. "If you work at the job,the Bay Shore boys may be won over as friends. That would be much betterthan having them as enemies."
The Cubs were far from certain that they wanted the Bay Shore boys asfriends. However, they kept their thoughts to themselves.
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