CHAPTER XIV.

FOR HOME PROTECTION.

On the following morning, when the news was circulated through Oakvale that some of the disorderly elements had attempted to make a raid on the Ainslee jewelry establishment, great was the consternation of the good people of the town. Then when it was added that the supposed robbery was only a part of a miserable scheme to try and bring the organization of Boy Scouts into disrepute, the indignation of the citizens knew no bounds.

“It is the culminating stroke of wickedness,” Mrs. Marsh declared as she spoke at a hurriedly arranged meeting of the best ladies in the town, “and proves that we did not commence this uplift movement a day too soon! Heaven only knows what might not have happened if not for those dear boys making up their minds that conditions had to change in Oakvale. I am free to confess that all our efforts to arouse the citizens had been marked by little success until Hugh and his comrades took it upon themselves to start the ball rolling.”

“Well,” said Mr. Dobbs, the minister, who chanced to be present so as to congratulate the Ladies’ League on the splendid success that was meeting their efforts, “it has often seemed to me that when Providence wants to overwhelm bad men in the toils, first of all their common sense is taken away so that they commit foolish acts that bring about their own downfall. By great good luck we have managed to turn the tables on these schemers, and they are hoist by their own petard.”

“And after what has happened,” added Mrs. Beverly earnestly, “there should not be a single dissenting citizen who cares a shred about his or her reputation. Bold, indeed, must the man or woman be who would dare side with such desperate rascals as Gaffney and Slimmons. The town is well rid of an encumbrance, and let us all be thankful in our hearts on this wonderful day that the sun can look down on our beautiful little city and not shine on a single evil spot. Our boys and girls can go to and fro from this time on without that constant anxiety mothers have been feeling. I wish to state that much of this sense of security, I believe, we owe to the sterling efforts of Hugh Hardin and his sturdy comrades of Oakvale Troop. I love every one of them, and shall never be weary of sounding their praises, for they are boys of whom any town might well be proud.”

It is human nature to want to be on the winning side. Hugh believed there would be comparatively little trouble ahead for himself and comrades. The rapidity with which the men who had been taken to the lockup were brought to trial and punished for their misdeeds was going to deter others from attempting opposition.

In the midst of all this excitement, together with so much cause for congratulation, Hugh did not forget Tom Sherwood, and what had happened to brighten his life. The next time he met Tom he found his face radiant with the joy of living. Any one could see without being much of a reader of human nature that Tom was thoroughly happy. Many were the conjectures that his friends gave as to the reason for the boy’s sudden return to his old self. Tom kept his own counsel, and only told those who persisted in asking questions that a little trouble he had had on his mind had come out all right.

Hugh would keep the secret, of that Tom felt assured, and no one need ever know what terrible fears he had been entertaining on account of Benjy.

“Hugh,” he went on to say, as he clapped his hand on the shoulder of the scout master, with a movement that stood for deep affection, “it’s all come out right, and I’m the happiest fellow in Oakvale, let me tell you. Benjy and I understand each other now, and I’ll see to it that after this never a cloud is going to come between us. Hugh, he’s going to drop over tonight to see you.”

“I hope he doesn’t know that I felt worried about him the same way you did, Tom?” remarked Hugh.

“Oh! I was too ashamed of my fears to ever tell him about _that_,” replied the other, quickly. “Benjy has been explaining to me what a fight he had with himself before he could break off connections with that crowd. I think a dream he had one night had a heap to do with his making a decision. He wouldn’t explain just what it was, only shuddered as he spoke of it. You can govern yourself as you think best, Hugh, when you’re talking with him.”

“He’ll never learn a single thing from me about your worrying, Tom. Although you haven’t said so, I imagine he’s coming to make some inquiries about joining the scouts?”

“Yes, that’s what he’s got in mind now, Hugh. He’s found himself interested in a lot of things we’ve been doing the last year or so. Somehow, they seem to look different from what they used to. Benjy has waked up, you see, and once a fellow gets to feel an interest in scout doings he’s bound to go on wanting to know more. When the fever begins to burn in his veins he never finds any rest until he throws his lot in with the wearers of the khaki, and starts to learn things for himself.”

“Tell him I expect to be home to-night after supper,” said the scout master, “and will be glad to have him drop over. We need a few more good fellows to fill out the vacancies in several of the patrols. Lieutenant Denmead, you understand, may be home the end of this week, and assume his old position of head of the troop.”

“He’ll be surprised to learn what’s been going on here during his absence, believe me,” observed Tom, grinning.

“Oh! I keep in touch with him, and I’ve written an inkling of what we’ve been doing,” Hugh admitted. “All the same he’ll be pleased to find Oakvale so changed. The ladies say it must never go back again to where it was before. We scouts are of the same mind. Homes are going to be protected against those whose evil influence is all for pulling them down. That’s going to be the slogan of the scouts from now on. Tom, every new member we take in means one more timber in the structure we’re building on this safe foundation. Work all you can to spread the gospel of scout activities. There are dozens of fellows still around town who ought to be given an opportunity to learn the great benefits that go with scout membership.”

When Benjy came around that same evening, Hugh was primed for him. He went about his task with diplomacy, knowing that some boys can be led but never driven. So successfully did Hugh accomplish his labors that before Tom Sherwood’s younger brother left the house he was fairly wild to have his name brought before the nominating committee at the very next meeting.

“I feel that I’ve already lost a mighty fine time by my silly opposition to the scouts,” Benjy frankly admitted. “I was all wrong, and I guess it was only my natural pig-headedness that kept me so. But I’ve seen a great light, Hugh. They say it’s better late than never. I want to enjoy some of those good times you fellows have. Besides, I expect I’ve got something to wipe out, because of late I’ve given my brother Tom more or less worry.”

When a scout goes about recruiting in the happy way Hugh did there is hardly a limit to his capacity for bringing new members into a troop. Those boys of Oakvale who wore the khaki had been highly favored by fortune in that opportunities for doing big things had ever knocked at their door.

Those readers who have had the pleasure of enjoying many of the previous books in this series will remember with satisfaction how they followed the fortunes of Hugh and his chums at the time they set out to improve the sanitary conditions of the community in which they lived.

Then there was the time of the great flood in a neighbouring town where several of the boys chanced to be visiting, during which they proved that they were made of the right kind of stuff, and won the admiration of the people of the inundated district.

The temptation is strong to mention several other instances where scout pluck and endurance won the day against heavy odds. For example, there was the time when the lads were camping in the vicinity of a great plant where a strike broke out, and rioting resulted. It may be remembered how they took hold and showed what they knew of “first aid to the injured,” winning the approbation of the Red Cross doctor and nurses when later on they came upon the scene.

During the County Fair the scouts also played a part that made them many new friends, acting as messengers and guides to the exhibitors and visitors, and even running a successful field hospital in the fair grounds.

To continue a little further it may also be remembered how they were unexpectedly called upon to fight the forest fires that threatened to ruin many farmers and others who had their homes within reach of the flames. Those boys who read that story will not soon forget how Hugh and his mates acted their part against heavy odds, and how splendidly they convinced a doubter that scout activities always made a boy more manly, as well as rendered him a far better citizen, of which any community might well be proud.

Then there was the time some of the Oakvale boys in khaki met with a remarkable adventure in connection with the motion picture players, which has been narrated at length in a recent volume.

Last, but far from least, while mentioning some of these interesting and instructive facts, it would hardly be fair to omit the occasion, not so far in the past, when some of those same fellows earned the right to have their names written on the Scouts’ Roll of Honor, as well as managed to receive the valuable medal which is presented to those members in good standing who save human life at the risk of their own. If you have not already enjoyed reading that story lose no time in securing it, as you will be well repaid for your time and money.

But passing over these never-to-be-forgotten happenings of the past we must once more come back to Hugh and his chums at the time they labored so zealously to create a new moral atmosphere in the home town where they lived, and of which they were naturally very fond.

As the spring days went on the difficulties that had at first beset the reform wave in Oakvale gradually died down, until it seemed as though things were going along like clockwork. Men, women and children took a keen interest in helping the matter along. There was a healthy rivalry between certain cliques of boys with the idea of winning the highest praise for keeping their section of the town free from all nuisances, and so long as this spirit lived, the community was bound to profit.

Once the citizens began to enjoy full freedom from repulsive and unpleasant customs, they found the change so agreeable that no one had the temerity to sigh for the old régime; at least, if he did, he wisely kept his longings to himself.

Even the railroad company, that had up to that time absolutely refused to do anything that would necessitate the expenditure of money, seemed to have been shamed by the action of the scouts in looking after those dangerous spots, where the lives of the smaller school children were placed in danger.

First, a gate guarded by a flagman was placed at the point of most danger. That was an entering wedge, and as the citizens sent in a letter of thanks for the favor the railroad people awoke to the fact that the Oakvale station was a pretty dingy-looking affair after all. To the surprise and delight of the population word was received that it had been unanimously decided at the last meeting of the Directors to build the finest station on the whole line, of course outside the big cities, at Oakvale.

One portion of that communication made some fellows in Oakvale feel pretty well satisfied, for it was hung up where every one could read it who wished. This ran after the following fashion, and few there were in Oakvale who did not know the wording by heart, most of them were so proud of the distinction:

“We desire to state for the benefit of those who may have doubted the substantial benefit of a certain movement that has been sweeping over the land, that one of the chief reasons why Oakvale is selected for the honor of this new and beautiful station is the fact that her citizens have in their midst an organization that has done wonders in improving the living conditions in their town. We refer to the local scout troop; and wish to say that having after a full investigation learned how loyally these boys have striven to do their duty, and served as best they knew how to uplift the community in which they lived, it is our earnest hope that other towns and villages along our line may take pattern of these boys of Oakvale, and hasten to emulate their splendid example.”

That letter was deemed so precious a recommendation that Hugh afterwards obtained the right to have it suitably framed. And to this day it hangs in the meeting-room of the Oakvale Scouts, where any member of the troop will esteem it a privilege to show it to you if you take the trouble to drop around.

Every time Hugh saw Tom on the tennis court swinging that splendid new racquet, he told himself how unsafe it was for any one to judge wholly from appearances, and that he must consider the delightful outcome of that little affair as a never-to-be-forgotten lesson. Circumstantial evidence has hung many a man who was afterward found to be innocent. Hugh shivered to remember how Tom, yes, and he himself, had been condemning Benjy as they might a criminal when, in reality, the other was only working out a noble scheme to surprise his brother.

One thing must not be forgotten. Hugh—believing that Tom, in his spirit of brotherly love, might hasten to buy back those Belgian hares for Benjy, and thus in a measure weaken the spirit of sacrifice, that had made the other sell his pets—went around to the bird store early on the next morning, and purchased the pair of long-eared animals. He planned to keep them for a while, and then let Tom have them to give to Benjy on his next birthday, for by that time the other would have obtained all the good possible from his impulsive action.

Hugh would have liked very well to have told the story for the sake of the great good it might do several other fellows whom he knew. This was not to be considered for a minute, he had too great a consideration for Tom and his brother to think of causing them embarrassment, as most likely they must have experienced had their story become common property.

Hugh had already begun to figure on the summer campaign, knowing that the boys would naturally expect to busy themselves with something useful as well as entertaining. In the end he was able to lay out a plan that he believed would meet with unanimous approval. Since it is about time for me to end this story, there is no need of going into particulars. When the time comes to again write of the Oakvale Scouts’ activities we shall expect to enter at length into the new schemes that would naturally enlist their attention. At such date we hope to again meet Hugh and his gallant chums of the Wolf, Otter, Hawk, Fox and Owl Patrols. Until then let it be adieu, but not farewell.

THE END.

Footnotes

[1]See “The Boy Scouts in the Great Flood.”

Transcriber’s Notes

--Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.

--In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)