The Banner Boy Scouts Mystery

ect

Walking in back of the room in search of a good novel, he came upon Paul hunched

you

, huh?" Wi

ay. "Leave me alone now," he said,

y we

top there. Besides, he was quite satisfied with the information he had obtained. He left the library and walked home. On the way he stopped to call for Ken but did n

here they would be assured[37] of privacy. The boys found boxes on whic

rs in the library this aftern

that already,"

the newspapers for the pa

or?" as

n the past two months there have been

it?" Jack wa

their indifference. "Don't you think that in a small town such

pon something. Come to think of i

t to do with the

ld not be such frequent fires. In other words, all the fires of t

day's fire was an accid

3

ul's categor

cquainted with the facts of the case as the other boy

he past two months at least one fire,

oming worse and wo

situation is very serious and i

But just as soon as the words were

y ones who seem to be acquainted with the sit

ise to acquaint the police wit

will be a public scandal. It will be in every newspaper in town and the culpri

olutely," co

" asked William, eager to do

] over with the boys of the patrol. We are all pretty close friends and we can act as a group. Th

hat we also have the boys patrolling the streets, so th

" asserted Paul. "In the meanwhile, suppose we notify the fellows to

commented William. The other boys agreed

were curious as to the reason for the meeting and they wanted to start without waiting for the missing member but Paul refused. He suggested that someone run over to c

ikely be here any minute. In

do that," ec

4

want to tell you. In going through the newspaper files for information on the fire reports, I noticed that there seemed to be about two weeks difference between fires. In other words, since the last fire was yesterday, we h

' grinned and remarked, "What you want us t

"That is just what I want you to do," he asserted gra

o slight. We really have no clues

eplied Paul, "but we m

aroused by Jack's not coming to the meeting and they waited around. Paul felt anxious,[41] though he h

an't imagine. He promised to be

implied that he was on the way over here. But something must h

r and see if h

good idea

the others remained outside. A minute later he emerged and motioned that the missing boy was not home. The boys were d

nd don't worry. Jack has a right to go wherever he pleases and if he

hin' asked anxiously. "After all, s

ughed at the suggestion that something might have happened to Jack. "Most likely he went to see so

of fellow who can take ca

o look for him. And if we spread an alarm, his folks will be

are right, Paul

by one the boys fell out to go home. Finally only Paul and Ken were left. The two boys walked side by side and Paul seemed exceedingly quiet a

inking of anything,

home, like the othe

down Main Street a bit. To tell you th

4

help any," Ken

s. At Paul's house, they silently sat down on the steps of th

ype="