Dan Carter and the Money Box

Meta

e metal box from the shovel

lid, but it stubbornly

, the waiting Brad no

that coal, will you? You've bee

red with coal dust. So was his blue Cub Scout u

here?" Brad demanded, staring

iumphantly, he thrust the metal b

"What d'you say? Did I wast

the box and the

the coal?" he demand

Dan grinned. "I fou

waiting for? Why

," Dan en

he lid but coul

"At least the box does

apped one corner of the lid a

so suddenly that a

lay a package of bank notes, neat

. "Twenty dollar notes

muttered, equally dumbfounded. "And lo

were in fives and tens, but a larger portion was

e," Brad said, making a rough estimate. "

he coal bin. "How d'you suppo

to know. Someone mus

f money kicking around loose? Anyon

someone hid it here

n isn't

e church has been closed. Coal probably was loaded in here only a day

d as any," Dan admitte

my eye! You're not such a dum bunny

one shoul

're not getting ourselves mixed up in anything.

t to him. Only I thought if no one claimed the box, the money mig

t any chickens-or rather, cash! I have a hunch who

e two boys hastily tossed anothe

metal box, they took the s

atfield was explaining the different type

mesh"-the Cub leader said,

zed. "Dan found this box in th

playing a practical joke. However, Brad floore

lid, revealing th

hrieked Red.

Midge, fingering one of the fa

demanded. "Dan dug it out of the coal pile. M

it," proposed

ver, very soberly he had been examining not only

s genuine, sir?"

e Cub leader replied. "But this

box came to be here in

must notify the pastor and the church trustees at once.

t where Dan had found the money box.

mine the coal bin. The Cub leader could find no c

he dusty basement floor. But he agreed with Dan and Brad that t

the workmen hid the

nlikely one. However, he would not venture even a gu

might even be stolen

t of the basement stairs, had h

!" he c

Distinctly, they coul

raise a window," Brad said. "

up the stairs, but

"It's only the wind rattling a

ere uneasy as they followed the

box wer

oor of the study. Every e

was exactly where

g at his own uneasiness. "I'll acknowledge that hearing

Dan speculated, fingering one of

r to stay here in an empty church with so much mone

table. Mr. Hatfield began to count

had made use of the church as a meeting

ver. As its name implied, the chamber had been carved by water action, a

ng the waterfront. The story of their difficulties with river pirates

ittle back yard camping. Even so, they found themselves battling a flood

e money found in the tin box, they sensed that

forty dollars in twenty dollar denominati

lls. He was well into the third package, when Dan, a l

y caused him to r

ssed against t

t, Dan gained only a vague impression

ut, he kicked Brad's

the older boy excla

!" Dan mutt

and all the Cubs turned to see w

face had

ed. "Now you've mixed up the count. H

ut I know I didn't dream up tha

?" asked M

e window. Someone was looking in

case of the jitte

hasn't

nning. The youngest member of Den 2 made his announce

attered. "Only I was so-so sc

echoed. "Say, this ma

ready had darte

azing out into the drenched c

ight a minute,"

und the

sh objects in the church yard. The Cubs cluster

anyone-" Mr.

sentence. "Over there by the bushe

oward the street!" Brad

Tom!" yelled Chips. "

Hatfield advised

he Cubs now were to

hem, they darted through the emp

hes and close in,

seen the mysterious prowler. Soon it was app

hem to reach the church yard. Although they looked u

" Brad declared

ield. The Cub leader, a little short of br

Brad echoed. "

he window of a church, Brad.

ous to catch that fellow I didn't stop to thin

ize the person?" the

All I saw was a face flatte

that he was watching

sure

he money in the basement," Mr. Hatfield said, thinking aloud. "On the other h

seen counting the mo

troubled. "I'd hate to have it noised around Webster Cit

we should do?" Br

had made up his mind.

o get the money box to a safe plac

e Cubs trooped back into the church

her Cubs lived close by. The two boys were

Cub leader said. "Go straight to your homes and don't stop along the way to pick any

ay," Red sai

ly a couple of steps. Just tak

field said. "I don't mind admitting I'll be relieve

ader carefully wrapped it in his coat. Everyone bre

money box into the rea

ay. "Until I've had a chance to report to the police, it's just as well that no on