Don Strong, Patrol Leader

conviction that he had blundered. Having started to see Bobbie past trouble, he sh

d. What was past was past. It was th

. And if he tried to make him keep step with the other s

ating, Don,"

o his supper. But for the rest of the meal he could see Barbara watchi

t Bobbie alone? Had there been a clash of wills, it would all be over with now. Instead, the time of decision had been put o

k Don is hung

hat he was again staring fixedly at his pla

ad ordered bird-houses. But, though he drew out paper and ink and envelopes, he could not co

Wolf patrol had been strong and vigorous.

ven't the spunk Phil

Presently Barbara came out on the porch. The cha

over

room f

d, "what's the s

n older brother. Now he told her about his meeting w

think I'm scared of him and tha

nk that?" Ba

, won

answer. After a

turns, Don? Do

e does. Isn'

nd of go

Remember last winter w

es

their furnace th

ou think he's all right at he

Then he thought of Tim riding rough-shod, and torm

ut he's always making trouble just the same. I'm not go

on

tment in Barbara's voice se

ink of you? Did the old-time scouts like Daniel Boone go ru

There was a long silence

ry,

I'll fight my o

upstairs and wrote his letters. Afterward he picked up his Handbook

im." Next he read the fourth law, "He is a friend to all and a brother to every ot

all morning, baseball practice in the

histled a gay air. But after dinner, as the time for baseball pr

he was to face a town team with its older, more experienced players. He wondered if he wou

no time for anything save work. Ted Carter drove the players with a high-strung, nervous vim. H

ifteen minutes he stood there and threw to bases as signals were flashed to him. Then Ted gave him ten m

here in ten minutes. Now, Tim, I'm going to let some of

his job. Short and stocky and agile, he seemed made in a catcher's mold. He could reach second base with a forea

ly strong arm," sa

t, Don,"

were called in to hit against him. He watched for Tim's signals, and

was worried. If older playe

ten minutes took a lot of your sap. You'll

said the

to Tim's signals and pitching what you wanted. None of that tomorrow. Let Tim judge the

ut his chest

g of the way he had been batted, why, everyt

tonight?" his

uld get another perfect score. He paused in the act of brushing his hair. A though

at headquarters when he arrive

other," Andy laughed. "Look

polishing their shoes. The Eagles had a needle and thread, and one sco

ght," Andy went on. "Thos

on. The prospect of a struggle sent a spar

ad and shoe-brush

no

I'm no kid. Nobody has to

ing against everybody else? He was sure now that what Barbara said was right.

s and thread and thi

the use of letting the other patrols prepare

tion. Don gave a quick glance as his patrol took its

rst into the room. He checked himself when he saw what was going on, came to salute, and

be able to make himself

common sense told him

ion. Bobbie could not l

to stand there

all faced the waiting lines. Don hel

esent, all clean, but one scout talking in ranks, one-half point off. Wo

s were broken. Tim turn

x you got us in!" h

she was out of sugar, and the man in the store had to open a ne

on," Tim insisted. "The rest of us take the trou

it," Bobbie sai

ppen again." He was disappointed, but what was the u

," Tim scowled, "if other fellows

ere forgotten. Every eye in the room watched while the scribe rubbed out a

OL P

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x

f 3

gnaling, and map-reading, and advanced knot-tying, he did his part and forgot to be despondent. He even brightened when the logs

rol-" he hear

himself an

having headquarters clean for the nex

onday's practice and walked out alone. He had gone but a

as Bobbie.

d a smile. "You only lo

get that back in th

," he said; and Don went home telling himself that he knew on

ork. His thoughts were turned on the afternoon. The Glenrock team had a reputation as hitte

er. Ted, however, had told him earnestly that many town team pitchers were no better. Besides, wouldn't it be f

t will be if they knock m

d a story, and notices had been chalked on the bulletin board at th

ing. Ted, a seasoned veteran, was calm and undisturbed, but there was a noticeable tension amo

ed at them closely and his nerves jumped. Gosh!

it easy. These fellows can strike out and p

base-lines and down toward the foul flags. There was another gathering under the maple tree; an

e catcher was almost as cool as Ted, and to show his calmness, he began to toss the bal

-curve and his out-curve were only fair. He kept trying them, and became worried, and went back to his drop

nough," c

the bench. Tim hu

the catc

no

rve than that. Just go out there and stick

to serve the b

hat balls they get. I guess that's some responsibility.

bench and watched. They handled the ball well, but not an

Ted. "Come on, Don. Don'

him what he signals for

ve been telling

rose up on his toes, stuck his mitt between his legs, l

"Easy-picking here; easy

oat. Would the ball break true? Would this broad-shouldered yo

, now,"

The batter sw

. "He couldn't hit it with

ing, changed his mind, and allowed his arms to grow limp. And the ball that looked a

o!" ruled

ugh his veins. His curves were working, and this batter didn't seem to

enrock player, though, seemed to have become cautious. Then Don pitched a drop, and th

rst ball pitched and hammered

try to steal, and if he would be too green to hold hi

pitch-out, or was

t she got a runner on. He saw the runner break for second. He got the ball

throw, and the runn

with the kid pitch

ck," shouted Ted Carter

n-curve that was hit

ored. Ted came running in to the bench, calling instructions

"they aren't giant

," Don answered. His pu

d Tim. "That's wh

mall corner of his brain, was the thought that it might have been just as well had the runner not

gs that followed. Two runs were scored by Glenrock in the third, one in the fifth, two in the seventh, and o

sweater and started to leave the f

. "Forget it. I knew you'd have troubl

no

e. That's all right. Next time you won

ked. "You're not

the catcher. "What did I

o a respectable score," Tim answered. "You

hat look as though I'm stringing you? Next week you pitc

A big part of his courag

top saying how i

batters," said Tim. "I'll

s Tim going to act

re was no trouble. Tim appeared, and did his work, and then went shouti

n, Don. You can't

anything with

and helped his father. Twice he went to the field. Once he met Tim there, and Tim caught his delivery and called inst

Tim brought with him an impish, reckless desire for fun. While the others tried to sweep, he lined up a s

," Don called

t?" Tim aske

tering the dust. Put the s

the order. Andy and Ritter nudged him and told him to be a good sport and help. He looked at th

shouted, "Behold a knight of old!" and when the scouts looked around there was Tim w

in the shins. After that this troublesome scout insisted on fighting a broom duel with Wally

" cri

. "What's t

We'll never get cl

ellow have a little fun? I'll sweep i

room for a piece of cake, and a pail of water tha

s broom through the water and swished too hard, and the

we've got to cl

was going to do that. What did yo

o cat-acting fo

happen then? Suppose Tim got hot-headed and wouldn't go? Or suppose he went, glad to be relieved of his share of the job? Or su

t? Was it best to let Tim run on in the hope that he'd be shamed into a better spirit by the other scou

h I was as big as

dent to the water pail. He worked with Andy trying to clean the

l surely likes to stick a

" Andy grunted, tryin

e always preaching. You fellows never do

his lips and went on working. The other scouts c

een swept and mopped, but the walls still had di

o get this clean i

led rapidly. The lamps were in the troop "treasure chest," and Don

time here," he said at la

y. Ritter struck a match. By the feeble flame

not anxious to attract attention to himself. It wa

he walls again?

right. We'll know tonight, anyway. Everyb

The assistant patrol le

Tim's s

do to be sorry now?

ently the patrol leader of the Foxes, a boy named Kearney, came along, whistling shrilly. H

't it the turn of your

The windows themselves, cleaned in semi-darkness, were streaked. A

brought a hair brush and a comb. Andy brought needles and khaki-colored thread. These

ve him a quick glance. He met it and his flush grew deeper, and all at

" thought Don, "but he

scarcely heard the details. All he knew was that somebody said, "Wednesday, th

, then the room. Don forced himself to keep his

ounced, "and every scout clean. Eac

nks of the Foxes and the Eagle

leaning the meeting place. I am sorry to say that the patrol has been de

the slate would show; and yet, when it

OL P

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x

f 4

ait. The other scouts, looking at the Wolves queerly, we

t, scouts,

hey answered, a

n this place," he sa

but he had the mistaken idea that it would seem babyish and weak to jump in and show contrition. He had always be

the use? We've lost t

ea of being a sc

tes he lounged around; then, look

'd do that," Andy

oward the spattered wall and stopped all at onc

you," Tim said passionat

g you in

wall. Slowly a little smile spread across his face. He was quite content the way thing