Dan Carter and the Cub Honor

by Mildred A. Wirt

  CHAPTER 16 THE STRANGER

  It was reassuring to learn that Chips had a very light case of measles.The Cubs, of course, were not permitted to see him. But Mrs. Davisreported to the den that her son could not be kept in bed and that hisspots rapidly were disappearing.

  Knowing that they all had been exposed to the disease, the Cubs kepttheir fingers crossed. Days passed however, and no other den member camedown sick.

  "Chips may be able to play in that last game with the Purple Five," Danremarked one day as he and Brad walked to the public library together."Think we have a chance to win?"

  "With Chips, yes. We need him badly though."

  "Chub never will make a good player that's for sure," Dan sighed. "Ican't figure out that kid, Brad. He likes being a Cub, but somehow hedoesn't catch on."

  "Not at basketball," Brad admitted. "Something's bothering him. Say, cometo think of it, he hasn't been at practice the last two nights."

  "Maybe he's down with measles!"

  "Never thought of that," Brad admitted. "We ought to find out."

  The boys returned several books to the library and then decided to hikeout to Chub's place to inquire.

  In response to their rap on the door the Widow Lornsdale came to admitthem. She assured them that Chub was quite well, though not at home justthen.

  "He may be off somewhere wandering in the woods," she added. "Poor lad!He seems so lonesome and unhappy."

  "Doesn't he like being a Cub?" Dan inquired.

  "Oh, indeed, he enjoys the organization very much. You know, though, thatChub's lot hasn't been an easy one."

  Brad and Dan had no knowledge whatsoever of the boy's past. RememberingMr. Hatfield's admonition not to ask questions, they never had tried topry into his background.

  "I've done what I could for Chub," the widow resumed. "He's a very goodboy and deserves parents. Since Juvenile Court authorities placed himwith me, I've had no trouble with him whatsoever."

  Dan and Brad were startled by the reference to Juvenile Court. Was itpossible, they wondered, that Chub had at some time been a delinquent? Ithardly seemed possible that anyone so shy and reserved could have giventhe authorities difficulty.

  Thinking back, Dan recalled that the Juvenile Court director had spokento Chub when the Cubs were touring the courthouse. Other referees therehad seemed to know him too. Yet Chub never once had mentioned knowing anyof the officials.

  "Won't you boys come inside and wait?" the widow politely invited them."I can't tell you when Chub will return though."

  "Just tell him we were here," Brad directed. "We wanted to be sure hewasn't down with measles. Tell him we'll be counting on him for the gameFriday night."

  "I'll give him your message," the widow promised.

  Dusk was coming on as Brad and Dan turned homeward. The old ChristianChurch, as usual, drew them like a magnet. Though they might have chosena shorter route, deliberately they selected the road which ran past thedeserted building.

  "We never did learn what scared Pat and his bunch Halloween night," Bradremarked, staring at the dark, unwinking windows.

  "I tried to talk to him about it," Dan admitted. "He closed up like aclam."

  Since that night when the two nearly had caught the Bay Shore boys in thebuilding, Brad had discussed the matter only once with Mr. Hatfield. Henever had given the Cub leader full information, for their conversationhad been interrupted by the arrival of a third party.

  "I sure wish I knew what it was that scared Pat half out of his wits," heremarked meditatively. "For half a cent--"

  "You're not thinking of going in there?" Dan demanded.

  "No-o, not now, anyway. I'd like to know, though, if the door to the coalchute still is unlocked. Anyone can get in and out of that building atwill, and yet the Cubs are blamed for any damage done!"

  Cutting across the church lawn, the two circled around to the rear of theproperty. Brad checked the coal chute door.

  "Still unlocked," he reported in disgust.

  Dan had been trying the doors. One which opened into a rear corridor,swung inward at his touch.

  "This is the limit!" he exploded. "Why any amount of damage could be donehere! The place is wide open."

  "Yet Terry puts out he's such a good caretaker! How those church trusteescan claim to have any case against the Cubs is beyond me! It's queerthough--"

  "About the place being open? Old Terry locked the building up tight as adrum that first day he was here with the trustees. I saw him check thedoors myself."

  "Do you suppose someone else could have a key?" Brad speculated. "Thatis, someone besides the trustees?"

  Dan did not answer. He stood peering in through the door he had shovedopen. The old building was as quiet as a tomb.

  "Brad--"

  "Yeah?"

  "This would be the perfect chance to make a last check of the place."

  "We were in the building once, Dan."

  "Not in the belfry. I'd like to find out what makes that bell tap somysteriously. If we could learn the answer, it might clear up the caseagainst the Cubs."

  "And if we were caught, or even seen, what then?"

  "That's a chance we'd have to take, Brad."

  "I don't think Mr. Hatfield would like it," the Den chief said, deeplytroubled. "I'm as curious as you are, but it's trespassing."

  "The Cubs already are in the soup," Dan argued. "Unless we dig up someevidence that will help us, the trustees will carry out their threat tofile suit."

  "Yeah, you're right about that," Brad acknowledged. "If you want to waithere, I'll make a fast foray in to see what I can learn."

  "Oh, no, you don't!" Dan retorted. "It was my idea, so I'm the one to goin."

  "We'll both go," Brad decided suddenly. "It's safer that way. Let's bequick about it, and cautious."

  Having made up their minds, the boys stepped inside the hallway, closingthe door behind them. The silence of the empty building was disturbing.Into their thoughts came a recollection that upon their last visit here,a door had been mysteriously locked.

  Dan could feel his heart pounding against his ribs. He was scared, andunashamed of it.

  Although it was still daylight, the musty church interior already wasshrouded in shadow. Every cracked marble pillar stood out in the dimlight as a fearful sentinel.

  Dan nervously tested the door through which they had entered to makecertain that it had not locked behind them.

  Satisfied that the exit remained free, he then followed Brad deeper intothe church.

  A-tiptoe, the pair moved toward the iron stairway leading up to thebelfry. The treads, they noted, were remarkably free of dust, though itlay heavy elsewhere. Cobwebs festooned other ironwork in the corridor.

  Dan grasped the railing and began the steep ascent. His chest feltconstricted. His breath became short, and he knew it wasn't fromexertion.

  Mid-way up to the tower, the boy halted to listen. Brad, pressing closebehind, also became alert.

  Neither had heard any disturbing sound. Yet they both sensed that theywould run into something, once they turned the next curve in thestairway.

  Dan waited as long as he dared, and then crept on. Another step. Two,three, four.

  Nearing the top now, he could feel a rush of cool air on his face.

  Suddenly, Dan was brought up short. Above him, in the belfry, he hadheard a scraping sound, as if a heavy object had been pulled across thefloor.

  Brad too, stiffened. Afraid even to whisper, the boys huddled together,listening. From time to time they could hear slight movements in thebelfry. Once they thought someone gave a deep sigh.

  Finally, Dan gathered his courage, and moved up another step. The bend inthe stairway now lay directly ahead. Once that point was passed, theywould have a clear view of the belfry.

  With Brad at his elbow, Dan negotiated the last few feet. Stunned by whathe saw, he gripped the iron railing with both hands.

  The great bell hung i
n the turret, its dark clapper motionless. Beyondthe hollow metallic vessel, almost at the edge of its flaring mouth, wasa bed of blankets!

  As Dan's gaze fixed upon the bedding, he beheld the figure of a drowsingman. The fellow stirred sleepily, yawned and sat up.

  It was then that both Cubs saw his face clearly. The occupant of thebelfry was none other than the poorly dressed stranger who had paid suchmarked attention to Chub at the basketball game!