CHAPTER III
THE DISAPPEARING COINS
"Just thirteen gone now," said Jack, as he bent over to look for himself.
"Of course you know what they were, those that are missing?" suggestedPaul.
"I have a list of the bunch somewhere; made it out one day just for fun.Yes, I think I could tell them again; but I never would have the heart toaccuse old Doc. Thomes of buying stolen coins; and the thief--never!"
"I didn't mean that, Jack; you mistook me. Suppose I had that list, androoting over all the little boxes he keeps his coins in for sale, foundevery one of the missing ones there?"
"Yes, and then what?" asked the other, greatly affected, though watchinghis chum's face eagerly, as though something seemed to tell him Paulwould find a way out of the difficulty, such was his faith in the other.
"Why, perhaps you might buy the whole lot back, for almost a song, andnever say a word."
A hand crept out and squeezed Paul's warmly; and there were tears in theeyes of Jack Stormways as he made answer.
"Just like you, old fellow, to cheer me up like that. Here, let me huntup the list for you. But promise that you won't whisper one little hintto a living soul. Oh! Karl, how could you?"
"Hold on, don't judge him before you know. Believe him innocent until youfind proof otherwise. I guess you'll learn that one of the first things ascout has to do is to believe in his brothers and friends through thickand thin, until the proof has become positive, or the guilty oneconfesses. And another thing, Jack, in case the worst comes true, it's upto us to make sure that such a miserable thing never happens again. Wemust save the one in error, save him through kindness and sympathy. Howold is Karl?"
"A little over ten."
"Too young to join the troop then, for all boys have to be twelve orover, according to the rules, I was told. But they have younger fellowsin the bunch over at Aldine, I'm sure. One I saw strutting around in auniform looked like a kid of eight or nine. Never mind; I believe it'llall come out right yet. Perhaps some servant may have taken them?" saidPaul, wishing to buoy up his chum's spirits.
"We only have one, and she's been with us ever since I was born. No usethinking Maggie would touch a single thing," declared Jack, quickly, witha shake of his head.
Paul sauntered about the room for a few minutes. Apparently he wasglancing at the numerous college pennants and other things that wereupon the walls; but in reality he found himself wrestling with thestrange puzzle that was giving his chum so much concern.
Presently he stood by the window, which was partly open.
"Who owns the Dempsey house now, Jack?" he asked, indicating the buildingnext door.
"Oh! it is still for sale," replied the other. "They don't want to rentit again, you know, and ever since that last party moved out of town andleft things looking so bad, Mr. Dempsey has kept it closed up."
"When he lived here, you and Scissors used to be something of chums,didn't you?" Paul went on.
"Well, yes," the other admitted, "when we were smaller. But ever sinceScissors started going with the Slavin crowd I've cut him dead."
"I wish I lived as close to you as this," Paul observed. "Why, we couldnearly shake hands across the gap. I don't suppose Scissors ever drops into see you nowadays?"
"I should say not," laughed Jack; "why, we've been at swords points nowfor a year and more, and never even speak as we pass each other."
"Oh! well, of course then it would be silly to think of suspecting him,"remarked Paul as he sat down again.
But nevertheless, many times his eyes seemed to turn toward that partlyopened window, and then in the direction of the low desk where the box ofcoins stood.
"Scissors" Dempsey had come by his nickname because of a peculiar trickhe had of keeping his knees stiff when walking. Long ago one boy hadlikened his long legs to a pair of scissors, and quick to take up ahumorous name like this, his mates had called him nothing else in years.
"Well, it's a mighty funny thing where that bunch of old copper coinshas gone to!" remarked Jack, presently, unable, it seemed, to think ofanything else just then.
"I believe this den of yours is hardly ever locked," remarked Paul,presently, "and all persons can come up here whenever they choose. I'veeven often found your dog Carlo sleeping here. Why, if any friend callsto see you, and wants to wait till you come home, he just meanders uphere as he pleases, and amuses himself looking over your books andmagazines. Isn't that so, Jack?"
"Sure. My mother says this is Liberty Hall, judging from the way all mychums go and come. But what's got you now? Do you think some other chapmay have fallen into the nasty habit of helping himself to my coins,either to swell out his own collection, or to sell them to Doc. Thomes?"
"Oh! hardly that, although it seems possible. But don't worry too muchabout it, Jack. I'm sure we'll discover the truth sooner or later."
"Anyhow I'll have eight to hide away; part of a loaf is better than nobread," remarked the other, dejectedly.
"Oh! I wouldn't put them away, not just yet, anyhow, Jack."
"But, my goodness, perhaps I'll lose all of my coins if I leave themaround like this any longer on my desk!"
"That's so, but don't you see if you hide them, it shuts us off from everlearning who is taking them."
"Oh! I see. You mean to catch him at it some time; is that the idea,Paul?"
"Nothing less. I'll drop in at the old dealer in curios to-morrow, andfind out if he has any that are on this list. Listen, there's somebody atthe door!"
"It's only Carlo, scratching to get in. Open the door, please, Paul."
As the other did so a large Newfoundland dog stalked solemnly in, paidlittle heed to either of the occupants of the den, but snuggled down ina corner, where there was an old cushion, evidently placed there for hisespecial use.
"My! he's getting fatter than ever," remarked Paul, surveying the bulgingsides of the shaggy canine, as he curled himself up as if to sleep.
"I believe he is, the scamp. I see it when I put him through his paceswith all the tricks I taught him. He's getting too logy, and has to betold three times before he'll do a blessed thing. But about this wretchedmatter, Paul--you won't say anything to your folks, will you?"
"Not for the world. It's your secret, and I'd never leak a word withoutyour permission. But I must be off now. Leave things just as you alwayshave done; and don't shut or lock the door here any more than before.I've got to do some studying over this Boy Scout affair when I getback. Whitson loaned me some pamphlets, but I didn't have time to readthem through."
Jack accompanied his friend down to the front door. Here Karl, havingheard them descending the stairs, joined them; and so far as Paul couldsee there was no change in the boy's manner. If he had done wrong he mustbe clever enough to hide the guilt that lay in his heart, and put on abold face.
"Remember!" was all Paul said as he squeezed Jack's quivering hand,before jumping down the steps, boy fashion.
It was enough to encourage the sorely distressed lad, for he had thegreatest faith in Paul Morrison, the doctor's son, that any boy couldever place in a comrade; nor had the other ever failed to equal hisexpectations.
"I really believe Paul will do it," he was muttering to himself as heslowly went upstairs again to the den, with its decorations of collegeflags, and pictures of camping, canoeing, outdoor sports such as baseballand football struggles, and kindred things so dear to the heart of almostevery growing lad; "yes, I believe he will if anybody can. But I wish hehad let me hide the rest of them away. It seems like putting temptationin the way of a weak brother. But he told me I wasn't even to believeKarl took the coins, and _I won't_!"
Nevertheless, Jack Stormways must have passed a miserable night; for theanxious eyes of his mother noticed his distressed looks when he came downto breakfast on the following morning.
"You don't look well, son," she observed, as she passed her cool handacross his fevered brow; "I think you ought to step in and see DoctorMorrison some time this morning, and let h
im give you something."
"All right, mother; but it's only a little headache," he protested, forlike all boys he disliked the thought of being considered sick.
Her eyes turned solicitously toward him many times during the meal,for she saw that Jack was unusually dull, and took little part in theconversation.
But it seemed that Karl made up for his brother's lack of energy, for hewas more than ordinarily inclined to be merry, and told numerous jokes hehad heard from his fellows in the boys' club he had joined.
Jack mentioned that they were about to organize a Boy Scout patrol; andvery naturally his mother looked a bit serious at this news, until heexplained some of the really excellent points connected with such anassociation; when her face cleared at once.
"If that is what the movement means then the sooner a patrol is organizedin Stanhope the better. There are a lot of boys who would be vastlybenefitted by such uplifting resolutions," she declared, with some showof enthusiasm.
"Yes, mother, you are right," said Mr. Stormways, just then. "Things havebeen going from bad to worse in our town of late, and the fathers arebeginning to wonder where it will end. Only yesterday I met old PelegGrowdy. You remember the old fellow, for we stopped at his place when wewere out riding, and had a drink at his well."
"Yes, and a most singular old man he was. I really couldn't say that Iwas much impressed with his looks or conversation," replied the lady, asshe poured another cup of coffee for her husband.
"All very true; but he minds his own business if let alone; and after allI find that he is a well educated man, up in most questions of the day.But the boys, or some of them at least, have for a long time consideredold Peleg a fit subject for practical jokes. They change the lines on histeam, given half a chance, and annoy him in every way possible. Really, Idon't wonder he is bitter about it."
"But you had something in mind, father, when you said that you met him?"
Mr. Stormways looked at Jack.
"That is true, my son; and do you know, the first thought that came to mewas one of pleasure to feel absolutely sure no boy of mine would disgracehimself in plaguing an old man who had never harmed him."
Jack felt a glow in the region of his heart at this show of confidence;and resolved that more than ever would he merit it; but somehow he couldnot help looking out of the tail of his eye toward Karl, to find that thecolor had mounted to his forehead, and that he seemed embarrassed.
Was he thinking just then of the coins; or did he have some knowledge ofthe practical joke that had been played on old Peleg Growdy?
"Now, tell us what it was, Alan," said Mrs. Stormways, encouragingly.
"Well, perhaps in one way it may have been looked upon as somethinghumorous, but it annoyed the old man very much. Last Sunday he went outto let his pigs run loose in the lot, as is his habit. When he pulledthe rope that opened the little door in the back of the pen, he wasastonished to see the queerest lot of porkers dash away that human eyeshad ever beheld."
Karl was snickering by now, showing that he must have some knowledge ofwhat was to come.
"No two pigs looked alike. The boys had crept into the pen in the night,with a lantern, and some pots of paint taken from Mr. Rabow's shop, andpainted the whole drove in every color imaginable. One, he said, lookedlike the American flag. Another had four legs of different hues; a thirdwas striped yellow and green, and so it went. Imagine the old man'samazement as he saw them kicking up their legs, and tearing around likemad; for the sun had reached the turpentine in the paint, and made itburn tremendously."
Karl gave a shout, and even Mrs. Stormways could not repress a smile,though she felt that it was wrong.
"I heard about it from one of the boys, father; I don't want to tell hisname, you see, because it might get him into a scrape," said Karl, as hemanaged to get his breath again.
Jack breathed easier, since he knew now that his brother had not beenconcerned in the adventure; still, there was that other thing--but he hadpromised Paul not to believe, or even suspect, anything so early in thegame.
"I admit that it does seem ludicrous; and no doubt if I had been there Imust have been strongly tempted to laugh at the comical spectacle thosesix pigs must have presented. But it is the spirit of the thing thatlooks so bad. Growdy never harmed a boy in his life, he says, and onlywants to be let alone; but they went out of their way to play a malicioustrick on the old man. It took him the whole of Sunday to scrape thatpaint off the hides of his pigs; which I consider a pretty hardproposition. And I repeat what I said before, that I'm pleased to knowa son of mine would not be guilty of so mean a trick."
Karl left the table just then, and his brother fancied that he looked abit confused, as though his conscience were troubling him, but then Jackhoped he might be mistaken.