CHAPTER XXI
WHAT BECAME OF THEM
The morning of the fourth day found the water still flowing into thelake in a steady stream.
"It's a sure thing now," said Spencer. "I must get to town and arrangeto close up those options and organize the Buffalo Lake Summer Colony.I'm not going to tell you how much I expect to clear on this deal, butyour share won't be less than a thousand dollars."
"It will be enough to buy mother a home!" said Glen.
"That's the thought, boy. And we'll see if we can't get you paroled fromthe school so you can live at home and work for her. I'm going back withyou to the school, myself, but I believe that war-correspondent friendof yours has matters moving already."
The war-correspondent friend, taking an unusual interest in the case,had been doing his best, but he had found it a case of manycomplications. That very day, however, he had received an officialcommunication of favorable tone from his friend, the Superintendent.
"The Board of Control," wrote the Superintendent, "finds in the case ofGlen Mason some very unusual and delicate features. It is not the desireof the Board to reward a boy for running away by granting him anunconditional parole. Neither is it their desire to keep in theinstitution a boy who has been found worthy of parole privileges. Inthis case the boy voluntarily offers to return. Not only so but he hasundergone such a transformation that he returns as a reformed character.Furthermore he has rendered a service to the State in assisting in theapprehension of two dangerous characters. Added to all this he isgreatly needed at home for the support which a boy of his age andintelligence can give to his mother. In consideration of all thesethings the Board is inclined to grant a parole subject to the usualconditions."
In a personal note which accompanied this letter the Superintendent madea few additional remarks to his old friend.
"Another rather unusual element is that Mason's running away has beenaltogether too well done. He has been too fortunate. Usually such a boywould get into bad hands and go from bad to worse. It would never dofor us to have him back at the school telling about all his good timesand how he was to have a thousand dollars for his part in discoveringthis wonderful lake about which you phoned me this morning. Every boy inthe school would be keen to try the adventure. I am glad for Glen thathe has surrendered his life to God's guidance and I know that he hasfound the one real, safe way of life. So I surrender him gladly, and Ifeel sure that you and Mr. Newton will not forget your promises ofguidance and support."
Glen went home with Will Spencer to stay with him while he wound up hisbusiness affairs and disposed of his options on the Buffalo Lakeproperty to a syndicate.
"I'm going to take you out to see an old friend, Glen," said Spencer oneday. "I still have a great deal of business to care for before I can goaway. You know I want to go to that famous hospital, where, if theycan't make a whole man of me, they will make me look and walk like onejust the same. I can't go yet, but I have something planned for youright this very day. It's a surprise."
They traveled along a road that was vaguely familiar and after a fewmiles Glen recognized that they were drawing near the Gates' home. Theywere evidently expected, for the whole family ran out to greet them.
"It seems mighty good to get back here," said Glen. "I wish I could stayas long as I liked but I must get away and finish that trip home that Itold you I was making."
"Would you like to stay here, Glen?" asked Mr. Gates.
"I surely would," replied Glen.
"Would you like to stay and work with me and learn how to run a farm?"
"I don't know anything I'd like better."
"Step out here into the road with me. Do you see that cottage at thecorner? It was empty when you were here. It is a tenant cottage which Irent to the man who works for me. Yesterday there moved into there avery nice lady with a little girl and a little boy. There is an olderbrother whom they are expecting, who is coming here to work for me.Run--"
But he did not need to tell Glen to run along. Ever since he had beengiven a new heart and a new life he had felt a yearning for the motherof whom he had been so unworthy. He wanted to tell her that he was adifferent boy, to show her that he was worthy of trust, to shoulder herburdens, to relieve her of responsibilities, to turn the bitter yearsinto sweet. He did not run, but he walked with a swift and steady gait,with erect head and a clear resolve in his heart. After all he wascoming home triumphant, a victor, one who had sought treasure and foundit, one who had found the greatest riches of God's mercy.
* * * * *
Mr. Gates was not a hard man to work for. Glen became more and moreconvinced of this as the days went by, but the crowning proof came oneyear later when the kind employer ordered him to drop his work and takea week's vacation at the Scout camp at Buffalo Lake.
Glen planned a great surprise, but some one gave his secret away for hewas met at the station at Buffalo Center by the entire troop.Chick-chick jumped up on the steps before the train stopped and at perilof life and limb pulled him off the train into the receptive arms ofApple and Matt. Big Tom Scoresby gave him grip for grip in a mightyscout handshake--the only scout who could match him. Goosey hung on tohis elbow waiting for his turn. All affectation of reserve disappearedon this great occasion--the greeting of Brick Mason--his welcome tocamp--good old Brick! Glen was glad to shake hands with Mr. Newton fora good long minute so that he might wink back the suspicious moisturethat threatened to rush past the guardian eyelashes.
"Brick rides on my old motor-bike," exclaimed Chick-chick. "Same oldbike--it is."
"Brick walks with the troop," Glen decided. "Where did we get this dandyroad?"
"Built by the Buffalo Lake Summer Colony," explained Apple. "Do younotice all the new stores in town--all because of the Colony? Wait untilyou get to the Lake and you'll see something worth while."
A few minutes later Glen stood before Troop Three's splendid newclub-house in appreciative silence.
"Do you see what we've named it?" said Matt, patting him on theshoulder. "Look up over the porch."
Carved in ancient script were the words:
YE BREAD BOX
"And you don't object to that?" asked Glen, looking into Matt's face.
"I object?" exclaimed Matt. "It's a compliment. I've learned to take ajoke as well as give one. We named it because the money that built itwas our share of the reward for the box in the cave, and the second boxwas a lot like the first box only different."
"Different inside an' out," put in Chick-chick. "Jus' like old Matty is,it was. Good old Bread Box. Go on in an' see what's inside, Brick."
"All right," Glen agreed. "Lead the way."
"Don't be 'fraid, Brick. Go in all your own self. It's a surprise."
Cautiously Glen pushed open the handsome door and stepped inside.Nothing happened. He looked around the spacious room with its home-likeaccommodations and its air of easy comfort. From a chair by the window agentleman arose and started leisurely toward him. Glen covered theintervening space in two jumps.
"Will!" he shouted. "Will Spencer! Look out--you'll fall!"
"Never more, you good old scout," said Jolly Bill, as he flung a strongarm around Glen's broad shoulders. "I can walk as gracefully as you ifnot as powerfully. I'm all O. K., warranted not to slip or stumble,ready to give a Castle Cakewalk or an imitation of a Highland fling at amoment's notice. What do you think of your new home?"
"Splendid!" replied Glen. "Too fine for a scout camp, though. It makesit too easy."
"And the easy life isn't the best life is it, you hard old Brick? ButMr. Newton understands that. This isn't the camp--just the club-house.You'll find the camp a half mile up Buffalo Creek as wild as ever, anddo you know what they've named it this year?"
"I give it up," said Glen.
"It's named in honor of the scout who has done most with hisopportunities this year."
"It's Burton, then," Glen guessed.
"You have another guess co
ming yet," said Jolly Bill. "They've named itCamp Mason!"
* * * * *
Now if you want to follow the further adventures of Glen and his scoutchums you will find them recorded in another book "Boy Scouts to theRescue."
FINIS
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THE BOY SCOUT LIFE SERIES
Published with the approval ofThe Boy Scouts of America
In the boys' world of story books, none better than those about boyscouts arrest and grip attention. In a most alluring way, the stories inthe BOY SCOUT LIFE SERIES tell of the glorious good times and wonderfuladventures of boy scouts.
All the books were written by authors possessed of an intimate knowledgeof this greatest of all movements organized for the welfare of boys, andare published with the approval of the National Headquarters of the BoyScouts of America.
The Chief Scout Librarian, Mr. F. K. Mathiews, writes concerning them:"It is a bully bunch of books. I hope you will sell 100,000 copies ofeach one, for these stories are the sort that will help instead of hurtour movement."
THE BOY SCOUT FIRE FIGHTERS--CRUMPTHE BOY SCOUTS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE TROOP--McCLANETHE BOY SCOUT TRAIL BLAZERS--CHELEYTHE BOY SCOUT TREASURE HUNTERS--LERRIGOBOY SCOUTS AFLOAT--WALDENBOY SCOUTS COURAGEOUS--MATHIEWSBOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE--LERRIGOBOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL--GARTHTHE BOY SCOUTS IN AFRICA--CORCORAN
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THE CAMP FIRE BOYS SERIES
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A group of resourceful boys living in a small town form a camping andhiking club, which brings them all sorts of outdoor adventures. In thefirst story, "At Log Cabin Bend," they solve a series of mysteries butnot until after some lively thrills which will cause other boys to siton the edge of their chairs. The next story telling of their search fora lost army aviator in "Muskrat Swamp" is just as lively. The boys areall likable and manly--just the sort of fellows that every otherwide-awake boy would be glad to go hiking with.
THE CAMP FIRE BOYS AT LOG CABIN BENDTHE CAMP FIRE BOYS IN MUSKRAT SWAMPTHE CAMP FIRE BOYS AT SILVER FOX FARMTHE CAMP FIRE BOYS' CANOE CRUISE.THE CAMP FIRE BOYS' TRACKING SQUAD
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True stories of life at a modern American boarding school. Bobby attendsthis institution of learning with his particular chum and the boys haveno end of good times. The tales of outdoor life, especially the excitingtimes they have when engaged in sports against rival schools, arewritten in a manner so true, so realistic, that the reader, too, isbound to share with these boys their thrills and pleasures.
1 BOBBY BLAKE AT ROCKLEDGE SCHOOL. 2 BOBBY BLAKE AT BASS COVE. 3 BOBBY BLAKE ON A CRUISE. 4 BOBBY BLAKE AND HIS SCHOOL CHUMS. 5 BOBBY BLAKE AT SNOWTOP CAMP. 6 BOBBY BLAKE ON THE SCHOOL NINE. 7 BOBBY BLAKE ON A RANCH. 8 BOBBY BLAKE ON AN AUTO TOUR. 9 BOBBY BLAKE ON THE SCHOOL ELEVEN.10 BOBBY BLAKE ON A PLANTATION.11 BOBBY BLAKE IN THE FROZEN NORTH.12 BOBBY BLAKE ON MYSTERY MOUNTAIN.
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The Boy Scout Treasure Hunters; Or, The Lost Treasure of Buffalo Hollow Page 21
