The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour

your father's

ght. Didn't you say he was going to sta

and went home long ago; you can tr

hear it, fellows?

most holding their breath with awe, while no doubt

anhope, nestling on the bank of the Bushkill, usually

street, even though electric lights and people abounded on

ng summer. They wore the regular khaki suits that always distinguish members of

whom much of the labor of getting the troop started had

ver Link; Jack Stormways, Paul's particular chum; and Joe Clausin, the one who had asked his friends to

meeting of the troop at one of the churches t

Bobolink, in a husky voice, "b

sent another thril

ad been attacked by a spasm of fear; but at least two members of the group had within rec

considerable opposition, from jealous rivals; but in the end the boys of Stanhope won their right to a prize banner by excelling the troops from the neighboring towns in many of the things a true scout should know and

ain, Joe?" demanded Paul,

"but perhaps it was only imagination. Dad's been doing more work than he

observed Bobolink, quickly; "or else he f

s is about everything. I was just thinkin' about the Skarff robbery, and wonderin'

he said seemed to make considerable impression on h

re?" ventured Jack Stormways, dubiously; "it isn'

t of the month, when people pay their bills. Mother has often told him he ought to put it in the bank; but

my matches," returned the scout l

un up against a man hidi

u doing, Jack?" Paul continued, seeing that his warmest chum

g," with which Jack Stormways held up a stout stick of wood, which, coming with s

s made haste to possess the

prepared to advance boldl

d fellow. Say the word!" shrilled Bob

on,

ave heard. And Paul, perhaps because he was the son of a doctor, somehow guessed its true import so

ng of a match along Paul's trousers. Instantly a tiny flame sprang into

and close to the desk where Mr. Clausin usually sat. Paul, looking further, had seen that there was a lamp on the stand, and knowing the

the light must have been blown out not

he had already recognized as that of his father. He was chafing his hands, and c

d blown out the lamp, or else some one had attacked him. His collar and necktie were disarranged, and t

o," observed Paul, when the man on the flo

is a bucket, with a di

ticed the door of the little safe, and saw that it was open. This was strange, if the owner of the store

cal effect on the unconscious man. He gasped two or three times, whil

d begun to believe that he was never again

Mr. Clausin managed to sit up, staring around him in a way that at an

all dark, and the door stood half open. Then we heard you groan, father. Oh! what was it? Did you have another

afe, for it was about the time you said you would be along. Then it all grew dark around me. I think I fell, for I seem to remember hearin

some one had been in here to rob you. That door being open worried me

when you came? But I distinctly remember that it was not only shut, but latche

in falling might have affected him. While speaking, however, Mr. Cl

octor told me I ought to take a little rest, and that I was working too hard. It l

o the safe. Paul watched him uneasil

egin hastily to open several compartments in the metal recepta

I must have dropped it when I fell in that faint," Mr. Clausin was saying; but Paul fancied

ing the floor of the office thoroughly.

was it, father?" cont

e misplaced it in any way?" and Mr. Clausin began to feel

ywhere, sir," said Paul, wh

with a very grave face. He was clasping

d, boys! I have been robbed while I lay here uncons

sir?" questioned Paul, who seemed to

osited all I had in the bank this afternoon. Still, possibly the thief believed I would keep it

ing out the lamp at a

nswer; "I can recollect seeing it

n!" remarked Jack, with more or less awe, as he looked a