Dan Carter and the Cub Honor Part 30

"Well, it depends on a certain matter. My own private affairs."

Deliberately, the man changed the subject. "Tell me about the Cubs," he requested. "Do you like the organization."

"It's the best in the world," Dan said proudly.

"Don't you have a boy in your den by the name of Chub?"

"Sure," Dan agreed. "He's new. You must know him. I saw you talking to him the other night at the basketball game."

"He's a lot like my own son. I had a boy once."

"I see," Dan murmured. He remained silent, reflecting that in appearance Chub might have been related to this stranger. Although the color of their hair and eyes was different, the contour of their faces was much the same. A coincidence, of course. But why was this man so interested in Chub?

"I don't mind telling you about myself," the man said after a long hesitation. "First of all, I have no criminal record. I've stolen nothing and broken no law, except that I've trespa.s.sed on this property."

"You could be arrested for that," Brad reminded him.

"I know," the man admitted. "I figured that sooner or later I'd be caught here. I'll move out today. I'd hoped to stay a little longer-but never mind."

"You should tell us your name."

"I should," the man agreed. "Just call me Mr. Smith. When the right time comes, you'll learn my true name."

Brad and Dan were becoming more confused each moment. They liked the friendly stranger, but could not understand why he acted so mysteriously.

If he had no criminal record, why should he hesitate to reveal his name?

"What happened Halloween night?" Dan asked curiously. "You must have played ghost."

Mr. Smith laughed aloud at the recollection. "I heard those boys speaking up the stairway," he revealed. "I waited until they were nearly in the belfry. Then I popped out with a blanket over my face. I made moaning sounds and wild gestures. Those kids bolted out of here like a streak of lightning."

"From time to time, we've heard the bell tap," Dan went on. "Were you responsible?"

"Afraid I'll have to plead guilty. Once when the kids were here, I hit the bell by accident. The other times I tapped it on purpose. I didn't want to scare the kids too much-only wanted to keep them from playing around here."

Brad had been gazing thoughtfully at the stranger, thinking hard. If the man had lived in the belfry for three weeks, he must have observed a great many persons come and go. No wonder he seemed personally acquainted with the members of Den 2!

"Dan and I came here for a purpose today," he suddenly disclosed. "You may have heard the talk in Webster City about the Cubs causing trouble."

"I did pick up a few rumors."

"We've been accused of doing a lot of damage here," Brad went on. "It's not true."

"I know that to be a fact."

"You do?" Brad, in his eagerness, grasped the stranger's arm. "Could you help us? That is, what I'm trying to ask-did you see anything that would help us? Do you know who really did the damage?"

"I do," the man returned. "I saw the Cubs come here that first day with their basketball. You kids smashed a window."

"That was all the damage we did though," Dan declared. "We were accused of doing a great deal more."

"The Cub honor is at stake," Brad added. "We'll do anything to prove our innocence! We think we know who did the damage, but we have no proof."

The stranger gazed down into the tense, worried faces of the Cubs. His smile was rea.s.suring.

"I have a soft spot in my heart for the Cubs," he said. "I want to help the organization."

"Can you?" pleaded Dan. "Do you know the boys who damaged this place?"

"A gang showed up here about a half hour after the Cubs broke that window. They went through the place and really wrecked it. I saw their faces quite clearly. The ring leader, in particular, I could identify."

"Pat Oswald?"

"I don't know his name. He's captain of the Purple Five basketball team."

"That's Pat!" Dan cried. He was so excited he no longer could control his voice. "Oh, Mr. Smith, you must come with us right away to see the church trustees! If only we can make them believe the truth, the Cubs' name will be cleared!"

CHAPTER 18 A JOLT FOR PAT

Dan and Brad both were excited as the realization came to them that at least they had a means of establishing the innocence of the Cubs!

Until now, though they had been morally certain that Pat Oswald and his gang were the real culprits, they had known of no way to prove it.

But a witness miraculously had appeared! The mysterious "Mr. Smith"

could, if he chose, speak the words which would clear Den 2. Would he agree to tell what he knew and had seen from the belfry?

"Will you come with us?" Dan repeated his plea. "Please, will you help the Cubs?"

"I'd like to, son," the man replied.

"Then come with us now," Brad urged. "We'll take you directly to the church trustees."

"Let's not be too hasty," Mr. Smith said. "If I tell what I know, I'll have to explain how I happened to be roosting here. That could be awkward."

"You want to help the Cubs, don't you?" Dan pleaded. "Isn't it only right that the truth should be known?"

"The truth will come out," Mr. Smith promised the boys. "It's a matter of timing though. I have to think of my own interests. I'm here in Webster City for a special purpose. If I should tell now that I've been living in this belfry-well, it might jeopardize everything I'm after."

"Then you won't go with us to the trustees?" Brad asked, bitterly disappointed.

"Let's not put it that way, son. I want to help. I will too. I'm pretty sure I can identify the boys who damaged this church. The point is, I'd like to postpone the dramatic announcement for a day or two. Wouldn't that be okay?"

"I suppose so," Brad admitted reluctantly.

"I'm getting out of this place right away," the stranger continued. "As soon as I can pick up mail at the Post Office, I'll see a certain party.

Then, it may be I'll be in a position to help you. Or there may be a few days delay."