Don Strong, Patrol Leader

opped. Three scouts back from a hike halted under the maple tre

er. "Did you see Ted C

Lally get that one?"

to keep them working. Chester will

op of his canteen. "Anyway, Ted a

protested. "Where do

t makes him a pitcher,"

say

Tim sa

to laugh. "And y

er ought to know just how goo

A small, wiry boy steered his bicycle up o

atest? Mr. Wall is going to give a cup to the b

uts surrounde

out the cup?" An

tendance at meeting, neatness, obeying orders, all that. There's going to be a contest ev

. Ritter plucked a

now Phil Morr

told me

eader," said Ritter. He glanced out

nd a swift change came

grass with a big mitt under his arm. R

atrol leader ought to be a fellow who's up i

ave it all over

ng now with Ritter and Wally. Bobbie

the corner he glanced back across his shoulder.

ht of a house with a white-washed fence in f

STRON

ERS AND

EENS AND S

D-H

he worked was tackin

shed through with his bicycle

o, Bo

il Morris is mo

er raised. "That means a new patrol leader, do

wants it,"

all tight and snug. Still thoughtful, he cut the molding and nailed it fast. From u

a good patrol lea

here," D

he always wants to boss

aid n

e?" Bobbie

how he was progressing with his semaphore. Bobbie retrea

ht, Don?" he

off with another message when the gate clicked. Tim Lall

e! Why didn't you tell me the paint was wet? Give it a rub or

no

crack at being patr

aside to dry, went down to his father's bas

"I have two votes already, Ritter and Wally Woods. My own, of co

te for Alex Davi

d. A spot of red flamed

d. "Don't you think I'm good enough?" H

wed hard. "Wh

how abo

ngly at Don. Don laid

r, Tim?" he

t it?" Ti

Bobbie was the "baby" of the troop, the smallest and the younges

out you," he call

pper, as he heard the details of the contest for the Sc

, and urge, and lend a willing hand; not a fellow who wanted to drive and show authority. If Tim, with his temper

bon societies and it took a lot of work to keep up with his orders. After dinner h

s turn of affairs. When

ng his step

Alex today. He won't have time to be patrol leader. He

been so friendly! Of course, he could go home and let Tim think that the vote was his.

for somebody else

umor vanishe

empered," he said. "You alway

or Alex," Tim cried wrathfully

hought. He walked on; and after a moment

or each scout absent it would lose a point. Another point would be lost for each scout who came to meeting with buttons off his uniform, or with scout pin missing, or with hair uncombed, or shoes muddy. Any patrol that did not live

nd stared at the ground. His sister Barbara, anxious to show a

matter, Don?

to be patrol lead

e him a quick, un

his father on a rush order and did not get to the field at all. When the work was done,

e kitchen to set the ta

"Isn't Tim your catc

no

lose to his. "Scouting

id stoutly. And yet, as he walked toward troop

lor guard and the troop bugler stepped to the front, and the brassy notes of "To the Colors" rose and fell. Standing stiff

finished, the scouts waited breathlessly. For the first t

OL P

a

o

o

d, "has one scout absent and two

wrote the point

wo scouts-untidy-fourteen points. The Wol

in the

" the Scoutma

ho had cost their patrols points through untidiness w

n the lead,"

the lead that c

s whistle brought the s

dge with staves and cords," the Scoutmaster said

tdoors and returned in a

to the other. Mr. Wall walked about, watching but offe

son," said Mr. Wall, "s

. It held. A cheer started and died. For

mination to see wher

his watch. "Next meet

their wall racks, and the logs were outdoors. Each scout was sure he

came the

iled in a corner. Still grouped by

Leaders feels that he should not vote in this election. The Scout Scribe will distribute pencils and paper. Each member of the Wolf patrol will

and shook. He wrote "Andy Ford" quickly, and folded the paper. He

l Leader Ford,"

and dropped

ut L

k to his stool and

ol leaders carried the hat aside, count

Scout Strong, three votes; Assistant Patrol Leader Ford, one vote. A

ectly. Three votes for him? He saw Tim eye him wi

u vote

nod

t. Next time vot

. This thing of voting fo

is will be a tie until the cows come home. D

he could not get over the wonder o

of the United States?" Andy insisted.

o ballot again,

p," sai

for Andy. Alex would not take the place and Bobbie Bro

Leader Ford," call

ration, wrote

l the result, they put the hat out of the way, and

read, "three votes; Sc

lected patrol lea

eader's stripes had been pinned, temporarily, to his sleeve. Flushed and excited, and still amazed at the turn fo

said Tim, "it wasn't fair. But you c

sk anybody,

yesterday? How did you get the votes if you

pered together, looked at Don, and seemed unable to make u

he received it in good condition. But all joy was gone from the honor that had come to him. Th