Dan Carter And The Money Box Part 8

Absently, Dan reached for the instrument which was tucked into a shelf nook beside the breakfast table.

"h.e.l.lo," he half-mumbled, his mouth filled with toast.

"Is that you, Dan?" asked a familiar voice.

Dan came to life then, for it was Sam Hatfield at the other end of the line. Something must be up, else the Cub leader wouldn't call him so early in the morning! Like as not the police were wanting to question him about the money box.

"Dan, can you come over right away?" Mr. Hatfield asked.

"Why, sure. That is, I guess so, unless Mom's got work lined up for me.

Anything wrong?"

Dan was certain from Mr. Hatfield's tone that something urgent had come up. More than ever, he was convinced the matter concerned the money box.

"Well, yes, I am a little disturbed," the Cub leader answered his question. "I'm asking all the boys to come over to my place as soon as possible."

"The money box hasn't been taken?"

"Oh, no! Nothing like that Dan. Just come over as soon as you can."

Completely mystified, Dan bolted the remainder of his breakfast.

Fifteen minutes later he presented himself at the Hatfield home where Chips and Red already had gathered.

"What's up?" Dan asked the pair.

"Search me," Chips shrugged. "Mr. Hatfield asked us to come over right away, so we did."

"He hasn't explained yet," Red added in an undertone, "but he seems plenty worried."

In a few minutes Babe Bunning arrived at the house. Close upon his heels came Brad, who reported that Midge Holloway would be a little late.

"He told me to report he has to do some work at home," the Den Chief told Mr. Hatfield.

"We'll go on without him," the Cub leader said. "Boys, now don't get me wrong. I didn't call you here to make accusations or scold. I'm not blaming anyone-"

"What's wrong, Mr. Hatfield?" Brad cut in anxiously.

"Well, somehow the news leaked out about us finding the money box."

The Cubs were dumbfounded.

"Then someone must have babbled!" Chips exclaimed. "It sure wasn't me!"

"Or me," echoed Red.

"I can't understand how anyone would blab the secret," said Brad slowly.

"Every Cub has real ideals or he wouldn't be in the organization. Cubs are Square-they keep their promises. And we all promised not to mention the box until after you had time to talk to the police about it."

"That's right," Mr. Hatfield agreed. "You put it well, Brad. I can't believe, either, that anyone would tell-at least not intentionally."

"How do you know the information got out?" Dan asked thoughtfully.

"Through a visitor. I was eating breakfast this morning when Everett Wilson, owner of the Elite Dry Cleaning Co., came to the door. He's not a member of the church, but does attend irregularly. Any of you fellows know him?"

All of the Cubs except Babe shook their heads.

"I know him when I see him," Babe said. "We take our dry cleaning to his place. We're quitting though. Last time my Dad left a pair of trousers there, he shrunk 'em an inch and wouldn't make good."

"You say Mr. Wilson heard about us finding the money box?" Dan asked the Cub leader.

"It's worse than that. He not only heard about it, but he's put in a claim for the money."

"But how did he happen to hide it in the coal bin?" Dan demanded in perplexity.

"That's what I asked him. He didn't have a very satisfactory answer.

Furthermore, he wasn't able to tell me how much he had in the box."

"Then maybe it wasn't his!" Chips exclaimed.

"I thought of that right away, Chips. I had a feeling that perhaps he was putting in a false claim. At any rate, I refused to turn the money over to him."

"Have you called the police yet?" Dan questioned.

"Yes, I telephoned the station immediately after Mr. Wilson was here. A man is on his way out now. I'll turn the money over when he comes, and be glad to get rid of it."

"It's sure funny about Mr. Wilson claiming the cash," Dan remarked. "How could he have known about us finding the box?"

"Someone must have told," Chips replied before the Cub leader could speak.

His gaze fastened hard upon Babe, who unconcernedly was chewing a gumdrop.

The other Cubs looked at Babe too. He had been in the Den only a few weeks and as yet hadn't been promoted from a Bobcat to a Wolf.

True, he had repeated the Cub Promise: "I promise to do my best, to be SQUARE, and OBEY the law of the Cub Pack."

Also, he had learned the Cub sign and the handclasp, the salute and the Law of the Cub Pack. At least, he had said the words correctly. But had they really burned in?

"Babe, did you tell anyone about the money box?" Chips demanded bluntly.

Babe swallowed the gumdrop and stared. "Who, me?" he asked.

"Yes, you! You're the only one who knew Mr. Wilson."

"I didn't tell him. I didn't tell anyone!" Babe's blue eyes flashed angrily.

"Never mind, Chips," Mr. Hatfield said. His tone made it clear that the discussion must end. "We're not accusing anyone. A Cub's word is good enough for me."