CLEAR SAILING AHEAD.
Hugh took the missive from Tom’s hand, and at the same time managed to
see what was written on the outside of the carefully done-up package
that the other had laid on the top of the chiffonier.
“To Brother Tom: Wishing him many happy returns of his birthday. From
Benjy!”
Even before Hugh read a single word in the note he believed he had a
pretty clear comprehension as to the true state of affairs. His heart,
too, was bounding with sudden relief over the happy outcome of the
troublesome matter, although it was not to be expected that, being an
outsider, Hugh could feel one-quarter the joy that filled Tom’s soul.
The letter ran as follows:
“Dear Tom:
“Here’s the best thing I could think of to get you. It’s a whole lot
better than your old racket ever was, which I am having repaired for
my own use. I’ve taken a liking to tennis lately. And, Tom, you’ll be
glad to know I’ve thrown that whole crowd overboard, and I mean to
make an application to join the scouts the first chance I get. Perhaps
you would like to propose my name. Many happy returns of the day, Tom.
I’m beginning to realize what a whole lot I owe you for keeping
everlastingly at me, even when I kept turning you down. But I want to
forget all that now, for it can never happen again with me.
“Your brother, Benjy.”
Hugh folded up that note with a feeling of delight he had seldom
experienced before. Then Benjy was turning out to be a splendid sort of
fellow! Hugh anticipated he might prove to be that once he made up his
mind to break away from those evil connections that were pulling him
into the mire.
He must have been really hunting for the old tennis racquet on that
other occasion when caught rummaging through Tom’s trunk. He had
appeared confused because he feared his secret might be discovered. He
had not only taken every cent he had in his bank to pay for the new
racquet, but had actually sold his valuable Belgian hares in order to
make up the amount he still owed at the sporting goods store.
By now Tom had snatched up the package and managed to get it undone. He
uttered cries of sincere admiration and delight when he saw what an
elegant tennis racquet was revealed. His eyes were swimming with tears
as he looked at Hugh.
“Oh! Hugh!” he stammered, “will I ever be able to forgive myself for
thinking all those bad things about him? I never felt so ashamed in my
life as I do now. But I’m going to make amends for it, see if I don’t,
Hugh. Look what a dandy racquet he got me, will you? Spent every cent he
had saved for his Fourth.”
Hugh hardly knew whether he ought to relate what he had discovered. The
temptation to do so overcame his scruples. Besides, now that Benjy’s
innocence had been assured, he thought it too good to be hidden under a
bushel by silence.
“I’m going to tell you something, Tom,” he went on to say, with a smile.
“Queer, isn’t it, that often the very things we fear for most turn out
to be for the very best?”
Tom immediately began to show new interest. How his fine eyes sparkled,
and upon his face that worried look could no longer be seen.
“What! is there anything more good coming, Hugh?” he cried, eagerly.
“You’ll have to judge for yourself,” replied the scout master, after
which he proceeded to relate how he had seen Benjy coming out of the
bird store kept by Mr. Huggins, and counting some silver, also how the
discovery had filled him with dismay.
“It was only natural it should, you understand, Tom,” he went on to say
in apology, “after what we suspected. But I made up my mind I would
learn what he had been doing in there.”
When Tom heard about the selling of Benjy’s pet Belgian hares he lowered
his head suddenly as though he did not want his friend to see that his
eyes were swimming, for as a rule, boys have a prejudice against
appearing weak. Hugh respected his brotherly emotion, for he knew that
it must be complete joy that affected the other now, and not anxiety.
By the time Hugh finished speaking Tom managed to get a fresh grip on
himself, even though his voice did tremble somewhat.
“Hugh, I’m bound to redeem those long-eared little animals if I have to
borrow the money to do it with!” he exclaimed. “To think of his making
that great big sacrifice just for me! I know how fond Benjy’s been of
his pets! Oh! Hugh, when you came in here little did I dream what
glorious news there was going to be sprung on me! I was feeling away
down in the cellar, and now, well, I seem to be on the roof looking up
into the beautiful heavens!”
That was not such a bad description of Tom’s feelings, considering the
fact that he was only a matter-of-fact boy, and struggling along under
unusual emotion.
Hugh did not attempt to explain how possibly it might be just as well to
allow Benjy to make his sacrifice. It gave the boy more or less
satisfaction, and would always be a link connecting him with his
brother. Later on Hugh might urge upon Tom the wisdom of letting matters
stand just as they were.
He handled the racquet and praised its good qualities.
“It was pretty smart of the boy hiding it in the drawer containing your
shirts,” Hugh went on to say, laughing; “especially as he figured that
to-morrow was your regular morning for putting on a clean one, and you
would be sure to discover the package the first thing on your birthday.”
“Wasn’t it, though?” said Tom, chuckling. “That shows, Tom, that Benjy
would make a good scout, because he has the sense of observation well
developed to start with.”
“Just what it does, Tom, and some day before long I hope to see your
brother wearing the honored khaki. It’s a proud family that can boast of
_two_ scouts, let me tell you. And once Benjy joins—no danger of his
ever going back. A world will open up to his eyes that he never dreamed
existed. Old things will have passed away and everything become new,
once he has put on the magic spectacles of scoutcraft. I’ve been told
that by a dozen fellows, and I know what a change it makes in most
boys.”
Tom began to wrap the precious racquet carefully up again in the paper
that had been around it when he made his startling discovery. How
tenderly he handled the present given by his brother. Hugh even thought
that all other gifts showered on Tom in times past must sink into utter
insignificance when compared with this special one; for it represented,
in his eyes, the dissolution of those serious doubts that had of late
been weighing down his spirits until his heart felt like lead.
“I’m meaning to put it back just where I found it, you see, Hugh,” he
explained, “and make things look as if no one had touched it. Luckily
the envelope wasn’t sealed, so I didn’t destroy the same. You may wonder
why I do that, and I’ll tell you. I want to open it again in the morning
just as if I had found it for the first time. Then there’s another
reason, you see, Hugh; Benjy might get home to-night ahead of me, and
finding that I hadn’t shown up yet, take a notion to step in here just
to have a last peep and a pat at his package. I wouldn’t like him to
know I had been investigating ahead of time, you understand, Hugh.”
The scout master could read between the lines. He realized that not for
the world would repentant Tom want Benjy to suspect he had been looking
all through his room in the fear and expectation of making a distressing
discovery that would implicate the younger brother. Nor could Hugh blame
the other for wanting to conceal such a humiliating thing as this.
Accordingly the packet was carefully put on top of the clean shirts in
the drawer. To all appearances it lay just as Benjy had placed it, and
if he did peep in the receptacle, there was nothing to tell him that the
well-tied bundle had been disturbed.
“There, that’s a big load off my shoulders,” said Tom, with a look of
relief. “Now, Hugh, I’m ready to go with you, and do anything you ask of
me. Why, I feel that light-hearted I could almost fly,” and he flapped
his arms as though they were wings, an action that caused Hugh to laugh
aloud.
“Well, just hold your horses a bit, Tom,” he advised. “I have need of
your services to-night, and it would be a shame to have you take a
flight. Suppose you get your cap and come along with me to the meeting.”
“There must be something serious doing, Hugh, if all this mystery counts
for anything.”
“There certainly is, Tom. You’ll learn about it as soon as I’ve picked
out the scouts I want to serve with me. They’re all going to be husky
fellows like yourself.”
“You’ve got me worked up to top-notch speed, Hugh, with what you say,”
said Tom, scurrying around, and looking for his cap, which he found
behind a chair where it had evidently fallen when he tossed it aside
earlier in the evening. “But no matter what it all means I’m with you to
the last lick. I feel as if I could whip my weight in wildcats. Lead the
way, and every scout you want will follow you, Hugh.”
And so the twain passed out and headed for the rendezvous, where they
were likely to find full twenty-five fellows in khaki impatiently
awaiting the coming of their leader, and an explanation of this unusual
“called” meeting.