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.)