Really, it was strange how things crowded into that particular day. Hugh was down doing some errand in the shopping district of the town when, by the merest accident, he chanced to see Benjy Sherwood again.

The sight of Tom’s high-strung younger brother would be apt to interest Hugh at any time nowadays, for it caused him to remember that he had as yet been unable to carry his promise into effect, owing to the great rush of matters accumulating on his shoulders.

He was particularly interested, however, when he saw what the boy was doing, for plainly Benjy had some silver coins in his hand which he was counting.
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Hugh jumped to a conclusion that gave him a bad feeling in the region of his heart. When a fellow is seen coming out of a bird store where all sorts of pets are kept, and counting silver coins from one hand to the other, the most natural conclusion is that he must have been selling something there, and wants to make sure he has received the right amount.

Hugh chanced to know that Benjy had been deeply interested in Belgian hares, and received a present of a handsome pair of them on Christmas, of which he had been exceedingly fond. Hugh wondered if it could be possible that the boy, hard pressed for the means to pay some “debt of honor,” as he considered it, had actually sacrificed his pets.

The thought of what a hold that gaming habit must have gained upon poor Benjy filled the scout master with dismay. He took a few steps past the store, and then felt compelled to yield to an irresistible impulse to make sure; so, turning back, he walked into the place.
108

Hugh had often been there before, for he was himself interested in fancy pigeons, and had a coop of “homers” at home from which he anticipated raising some fine youngsters, which he could take many miles from home and find awaiting him on his return. Indeed, he aspired some day to possess famous fliers that might cover a thousand miles, and still find their way home inside of a few days.

So Hugh strolled around looking at the coops containing all sorts of pets both in fur and feather, from cunning pet dogs to fowls with pedigrees, and parrots that could say dozens of strange phrases, or even sing in a croaking fashion.

Finally Hugh approached the owner of the shop, who was busily engaged with some work.

“Do you happen to have any Belgian hares, Mr. Huggins?” he asked, in a casual way, as though he had looked around and failed to notice any in the various cages or runs.

“Why, that reminds me I forgot to put that pair in the cage, I was so busy after the boy left,” remarked the owner of the store, as he hurried over to an old basket that had a cover to it, and from which he drew a struggling object with long ears, which he tossed into an empty cage, to be presently followed by a second.
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Hugh’s last doubt was now laid. He had recognized the Belgian hares by certain well-remembered marks, as once the property of Benjy Sherwood, who must have sacrificed them for a particular object.

When Hugh remembered what he feared that object might be he found himself shivering, he was so sorry for poor Tom, whose heart seemed so sore these days.

More than ever was Hugh bothered to know just how he should go about gaining the confidence of that high-strung lad. He had found a way to gain the heart of such a scoffer and doubter as Mr. Griffin, whom everybody deemed beyond hope. Surely there must be some method he could apply to reach Benjy’s confidence, so that he might coax him to join the scouts, and drop those suspicious companions.

“I’ll start right in to-morrow,” Hugh told himself, vigorously, as he left the pet shop and headed for home. “Until this other business is settled and the coast cleared, I mustn’t allow myself to be tempted to take up any side issues. But if all goes well, and to-morrow sees things turn our way, as I hope, then I promise myself that I’ll turn to Tom’s trouble and help him out.”
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All the rest of that afternoon he could not keep his thoughts away from what he had learned about Benjy. It seemed as if the boy must be sinking fast in the quicksands of the treacherous stream into which he had so boldly waded. Unless prompt measures were taken for his rescue, Hugh feared Benjy would ere long be so deeply involved that such a thing as saving him must become three times as difficult.

“I’ll drop over and see Tom to-night,” he promised himself, as he sat awaiting the summons to supper. “I don’t remember meeting him all day, that is, to speak to. He’s beginning to believe by this time that I’ve about forgotten my promise. Poor Tom, I’m sorry for him as can be, and only hope we can convince Benjy he can ge............