Dan Carter And The Money Box Part 4

"Hey, cut it out!" the older boy exclaimed. "Be your age."

"The window!" Dan muttered. "Look!"

Not only Brad, but Mr. Hatfield and all the Cubs turned to see what had attracted Dan's attention.

But the face had vanished.

"What's eating you, Dan?" Brad demanded. "Now you've mixed up the count.

Has finding this money got you jittery?"

"It sure has," Dan admitted. "But I know I didn't dream up that face. I saw it plain as day!"

"What face?" asked Mr. Hatfield.

"I saw it only a minute ago at the window. Someone was looking in here-watching us count the money!"

"Dan has got a bad case of the jitters," Midge chuckled.

"No, he hasn't either!"

Dan's unexpected defender was none other than Babe Bunning. The youngest member of Den 2 made his announcement in a shrill voice which quavered with excitement.

"I saw the f-face too," he chattered. "Only I was so-so scared I couldn't say anything."

"You saw it too!" Brad echoed. "Say, this may add up to something!"

Mr. Hatfield already had darted to the window.

The rain had nearly ceased. Gazing out into the drenched churchyard, he could see no one.

"Turn off the light a minute," he instructed.

Brad found the switch.

With the study dark, it was easier to distinguish objects in the church yard. The Cubs cl.u.s.tered at Mr. Hatfield's shoulder, tense and uneasy.

"I don't see anyone-" Mr. Hatfield began.

He broke off and Dan finished the sentence. "Over there by the bushes, to the right of the walk! See!"

"Someone sneaking off toward the street!" Brad added. "Let's nab him!"

"The dirty old peeping Tom!" yelled Chips. "Come on! We'll get him!"

"Wait, boys!" Mr. Hatfield advised. "We don't know-"

Usually obedient, the Cubs now were too excited to listen.

Before Mr. Hatfield could stop them, they darted through the empty church and out into the yard.

"Surround the bushes and close in," Brad instructed.

The Cubs circled the area where they last had seen the mysterious prowler. Soon it was apparent, however, that the man had eluded them.

He had slipped away in the brief time it had taken them to reach the church yard. Although they looked up and down the street, the man was nowhere to be seen.

"We've lost him!" Brad declared in deep disgust.

"Perhaps it's just as well," said Mr. Hatfield. The Cub leader, a little short of breath, had followed the Cubs into the yard.

"Just as well?" Brad echoed. "I don't get it."

"It's no crime to look into the window of a church, Brad. Didn't you act rather hastily?"

"I guess I did," Brad admitted. "I was so anxious to catch that fellow I didn't stop to think what the outcome might be if we did nail him."

"Dan, did you recognize the person?" the Cub leader asked him.

"No, Mr. Hatfield, I didn't. All I saw was a face flattened against the windowpane."

"You think, though, that he was watching us count the money?"

"I'm sure of it."

"It's possible that the person-whoever he was-may have been the one who hid the money in the bas.e.m.e.nt," Mr. Hatfield said, thinking aloud. "On the other hand, it may have been a curious pa.s.serby attracted by our light in the study."

"In any case, we were seen counting the money," Brad pointed out.

"And that's not good," Mr. Hatfield completed, his face troubled. "I'd hate to have it noised around Webster City that we've found a box of money. It might make trouble."

"What do you think we should do?" Brad asked anxiously.

Mr. Hatfield already had made up his mind. He spoke decisively:

"The most important thing now is to get the money box to a safe place.

I'll take it home for tonight."

Well satisfied with the decision, the Cubs trooped back into the church to gather together their belongings.

With the exception of Brad and Dan, the other Cubs lived close by. The two boys were to ride with Mr. Hatfield and his son Fred.

"The storm has let up now, so I'll trust the rest of you to shift for yourselves," the Cub leader said. "Go straight to your homes and don't stop along the way to pick any daisies. I'll report to you in the morning as to what will be done with the money box."

"We'll be okay," Red said cheerfully.

"Sure," agreed Midge. "It's only a couple of steps. Just take good care of that money box."

"Dan, Brad and Fred will help me guard it," Mr. Hatfield said. "I don't mind admitting I'll be relieved to turn it over to someone else for safe keeping."