WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONEY?
The boys were in such a turmoil of excitement that they barely noticed
Jack and Paul draw aside and whisper together. It took them only a few
seconds to agree to a mutual proposal. Paul walked over to Bobolink and
whispered something in his ear. Paul then called the boys to order,
told them to sit down, then said, “Fellows, we have some serious
thinking to do. We must determine the best manner in which to dispose
of the $2,000 reward.”
Ken objected. “What do you mean ‘we’?” he demanded. “The money belongs
to you, Jack and Bobolink and it’s up to you to do as you please with
it.”
Jack and Bobolink shook their heads in disagreement with the statement.
William, however, remarked, “I think Ken is right.”
Bluff nodded in agreement while Wallace was noncommital. Paul
said, “The money belongs to all of us, the members of this Patrol.
Furthermore, if there is any argument about it, Jack, Bobolink and I
are agreed that we want the money to be shared by the eight of us. Now
let’s discuss, orderly and intelligently, what we should do with the
money.”
All the boys were silent, not knowing what to say or how to deal with
the situation. Wallace, however, the sober and serious fellow of the
group, remarked, “I’m sure all the boys agree with me when I say
that we appreciate very much the gesture of Paul, Jack and Bobolink.
Furthermore, it is my opinion that none of us should hesitate to accept
their offer. Ever since I can remember, since the time we were kids, we
have always lived together, played together, gone to school together
and shared each other’s property. If a fellow had a dime, he bought
candy and shared it with all of us. I cannot remember a single instance
when a fellow refused to share anything he possessed with the rest of
us. You’ll remember that when we first became Scouts, we pooled our
money to buy uniforms for _all_ of us. We’ve been doing that ever since
and therefore I—”
That was quite a long speech and the boys would not permit him to
continue. They applauded him to show their whole-hearted agreement.
Even Ken now agreed and said, “I think we owe a vote of thanks to
Wallace for explaining it to us and making it so clear that we cannot
help but agree with him.”
Some of the boys nodded. William jumped up to offer a suggestion. He
said, “All right, we all agree by now that the money is the property of
all of us. Now what are we going to do with it? I propose that we use
it to learn how to fly and—”
“R-r-righto!” exclaimed Bluff.
“I think that is a good idea and it suits me perfectly,” said Jack.
“Same here.” cried Nuthin’.
The others nodded their approval.
William held up his hand and called for order. “I’m not finished yet,”
he cried.
“What else?” someone asked.
“Hear, hear!” somebody else shouted.
William continued. “What I want to add is this,” he declared, “That we
have enough money not only for all of us to learn how to fly but maybe
to buy a plane, too.”
“Wow! Wouldn’t that be swell!”
“Perfect is the word!”
“Gee, a plane of our own!”
Paul made himself heard. He said, “We’ll have to wait and discuss it
with Major McCarthy.”
“That’s right, we’ll do that.”
“He’s just the man.”
“I’m sure he’ll be glad to advise us.”
Wallace rose to address the boys. He said, “We’ve been so excited
that we’ve completely forgotten how to think straight.” The boys were
seized by a feeling of discomfort. “I know that I too got lost in the
excitement,” he added, “and only a moment ago it occurred to me that
we weren’t quite fair to our parents. We should by all means consult
them and find out whether they object to what we propose to do with the
money.”
The boys became sombre and thoughtful. Someone said, “But after all,
the money is ours and we ought to be able to do with it as we please.”
William added, “And suppose they won’t let us use the money to learn
how to fly, what’ll we do?”
Paul said, “I don’t think we should feel disheartened by the thought
that perhaps our parents will object to the manner in which we propose
to use the money. I’m sure that our fathers and mothers are considerate
of our welfare and will most likely permit us to dispose of the money
according to our desires. Whatever we do, however, we should by all
means take our parents into our confidence and ask for their advice.”
Jack supported his chum. He announced, “I agree whole-heartedly with
Paul and I hope you all do likewise.”
Bobolink raised his hand. “I do,” he declared.
“S-s-same here,” Bluff cried.
“And me too,” said Wallace.
The others also agreed. It was then decided that Wallace, Paul and Jack
approach Dr. Morrison and speak to him about it. The meeting was then
adjourned.
On the street, the boys were acclaimed everywhere. It seemed that
the news had spread all over town very quickly. Walking through the
streets, many townspeople stopped the boys to congratulate them, shake
hands and slap them on the back. By the time they arrived at Dr.
Morrison’s office, they were worn out. Dr. Morrison greeted them, then
asked, “Well boys, what can I do for you?”
Jack distorted his facial features and muttered, “Something for a
backache, Doctor, I’m all sore.”
The doctor laughed good naturedly. Paul held up his right hand. “Dad,”
he said, “my fingers are swollen, can you do something?”
Wallace interjected, saying, “And I, the innocent party, have to suffer
also.”
The doctor smiled, then remarked, “I guess it’s because you fellows
deserve it.”
They settled down to a serious talk and told Dr. Morrison everything
that had transpired. He listened respectfully and carefully noted all
their remarks. When they were finished, he agreed with them and then
suggested that each boy explain the entire matter to his father and
mother and then invite them to a meeting at Dr. Morrison’s home the
following evening. He offered to speak over the telephone with all
the parents and personally urge them to come to the meeting. The boys
thought it was a very good plan and agreed to go and tell it to the
other boys.
The following evening all the parents assembled at the home of Dr. and
Mrs. Morrison. The boys were somewhat nervous and fidgety. They met
again in Bobolink’s room and worried together. What if their parents
vetoed their plan or decided that the money should be disposed of in
some other manner? What if their fathers and mothers decided this,
that, or something else? They were truly worried.
In the meanwhile the parents assembled. Paul had been told to stay
with Jack for the night. Dr. Morrison called the meeting to order
and suggested that they elect a chairman. He himself was nominated
and elected unanimously. It didn’t take long after that for the
meeting to warm up and for everyone present to enter the discussion
and passionately plead his or her arguments. Soon the parents became
separated into two factions, one led by Dr. Morrison and the other by
Mr. Armstrong. It was Dr. Morrison’s idea that although the parents
should by all means keep a guiding hand over the boys and advise them
accordingly, yet the plan of the boys to use the money for flying
instructions, should be respected. Mr. Armstrong argued that he was not
anxious to disappoint the boys and that learning to be a pilot was all
right as far as he was concerned, but he thought that the money should
be used for more worthy purposes. For instance, the money might be used
to send some poor but deserving boy through college, or it might be
used to build a club house for the boys.
Mr. Carberry, who supported Dr. Morrison, argued that the suggestion
of a club house was a poor one, because the boys always had a place at
their disposal to meet; that such a state of affairs was preferable to
a club house where they would withdraw and do things the parents would
be ignorant of. And as for using the money to send some poor but able
boy to college, it was a most commendable suggestion but the money
after all belonged to the boys and they should be permitted to use it
for their own ends.
Mr. Link, who supported Mr. Armstrong, argued that it was all right to
let the boys have their way but that when they were on the verge of
doing something wrong, such as mis-using a large sum of money, it was
up to the parents to advise them and see that they acted differently;
And thus arguments flew back and forth. Finally Mr. Shipley suggested
that a vote be taken to see how matters stood. A show of hands revealed
that one faction won by a vote of ten to six. There was some applause
and then Dr. Morrison told them all to relax, that although they had
argued one against another, it was all on good faith and friendliness.
Several minutes later Mrs. Morrison served tea.
Although the boys were in bed and supposedly asleep when their parents
returned home at about eleven, yet they were all very much awake. They
couldn’t question their parents that night, however, as to the results
of the meeting. They were obliged to spend a wakeful night and wait
until morning to learn the results.
At precisely eight o’clock the next morning, Wallace and William came
downstairs for breakfast. Wallace affected a reserved, calm attitude
while William was openly impatient and eager to know the results. In
the dining room, Mr. Carberry was already at the table. He greeted
the boys with a cheerful good morning. Just then, Mrs. Carberry came
in from the kitchen. The twins kissed their mother. Wallace sat down
at the table. William glanced from one parent to another. “Well?” he
queried.
The parents smiled and the boys knew that everything was all right.
William shouted, “Wow!” He threw his arms around his mother and hugged
her. Both boys then pressed their father’s hand affectionately and
insisted for the details of the conference.
Similar scenes were enacted at the homes of all the boys. Jack and
Paul had decided, before they came down for breakfast, that they would
attempt a carefree, noncommittal attitude and would not inquire but
wait until they were told the news. Both boys sat down glumly at the
table and played with their food, insisting that they were not hungry.
But their appetites were quickly revived when Mr. Stormways told them
the story of the meeting.
Bobolink, just as soon as his mother entered his room bringing him his
breakfast, inquired anxiously, “What was decided last night, mother?”
She smiled carelessly and answered, “Well, I really don’t approve of
the decision and I argued against it, but—”
Bobolink’s face fell and he expected the worst. But when she told him
the truth, that the majority of parents had voted to permit the boys
to use the money as they planned, he became so excited that he almost
overturned his breakfast tray.
At the Shipley home, the moment he woke up, Bluff donned a bathrobe and
raced downstairs to ask his mother for the news. Nuthin’ was told the
news at the breakfast table and Ken’s father also told his son the good
news at breakfast.
About nine o’clock all the boys left together for the airport to confer
with Major McCarthy.