Hugh had figured it all out, and decided that the first thing he would do after the business part of the meeting had been carried through, would be to pick the fellows who were to help guard the jewelry establishment with some of the regular police force, so as to surprise the thieves, if they should come as expected.

He believed it might be unwise to tell the others anything about the plan of campaign. This was not because he had reason to suspect the loyalty of a single scout, but boys will talk as well as girls, and unwittingly a fellow might let something escape him that, through devious channels, would be carried to the ears of those who were concerned in the contemplated raid on the store.
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This plan was carried out to the letter. Those whose names were not on the list of lucky ones felt a little aggrieved, but at the same time they knew it would do no good to enter a complaint. Hugh had promised they were to be given full particulars as soon as possible. He assured them also that it was a move in the interests of the grand project that engaged their labors—cleaning up Oakvale.

Once he found himself left with seven stout chums, Hugh proceeded to gather them around him, and explained what was in the air. He had a most attentive audience, and it would have been amusing to any one interested in boys to watch the expressions of wonder and growing delight that gradually crept over their faces as they drank in his words.

Say what you will, the seed of adventure has always taken root deep down in the hearts of every healthy boy. The mere fact that they were scouts, and had promised to observe the rules of the organization whose badge they so proudly wore, did not mean that they must stifle this feeling, which, if directed along the right channels, does a boy ten times as much good as harm.
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Dozens of eager questions poured in upon Hugh as soon as he had managed to tell them about the dastardly plot that had been hatched up by those desperate men who realized they were getting near the end of their rope, and that the energy of the scouts was primarily responsible for the whole thing.

Hugh acted with considerable patience and answered as best he might. He realized that under similar conditions he, too, might have felt inclined to ask for further information, because it was a tremendous subject, truth to tell, and difficult to grapple with in the beginning.

“We’ll make our way by a round-about route to a place appointed,” he went on to explain, “and there we’ll find Chief Wallis waiting for us. He will have three of his men along with him, all that can be spared from their night duties. Between us we’ll probably fix it so that a complete cordon will be thrown around the jewelry store they’ve picked out for robbery.”
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How they hung upon his every word! Hugh would know just how to place them in order that they might be able to throw themselves upon the night prowlers after the latter had actually started to break into the store. Hugh had explained that they must not be premature in unmasking their batteries, or the thieves might find a loophole by means of which they could escape from the meshes of the law.

When Hugh decided that it was time they started to effect a junction with the regular police; he warned his followers for the last time how to act.

“If it comes to actual fighting,” he said, impressively, “remember, you must leave that to the officers, who are armed to bear the brunt of the attack. We can throw ourselves on any fellow, if the chance offers, and hold him down. But all that will be arranged exactly after we meet the other guards.”

He took them along an unfrequented street and by making several detours, the little group finally found the threatened store looming up close by.

Hugh gave a prearranged signal and received a soft reply.
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“The Chief is over there in that dense shadow,” he whispered to the rest. “We must slip along and join him. First, Tom, here, can go, and drop down when he finds himself in the dark spot. Then Alec will follow, and in regular order Buck, Ralph, Jack, Bud and Sam are to imitate him. I’ll fetch up the rear. Make a move, Tom.”

They were all on their mettle, and besides, had the reputation of being clever scouts, well versed in most of the secrets of woodcraft. Consequently the maneuver was carried out without a single hitch. Before many minutes passed Hugh, having arrived on the spot, found his chums crouching there close by the Chief.

In low whispers the head of the Oakvale police force now explained their plan of campaign. It was not known whether any hostile eye kept watch over the threatened store or not, but they must always believe that such might be the case, and act accordingly.

That principle was also in line with a scout’s education, and pleased the boys exceedingly. They had been taught never to underestimate an enemy, and that it were far better to waste time in taking precautions than have over-confidence ruin the best-laid plan.
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One of the police and three of the scouts were to remain outside the building, and their part in the enterprise was easily guessed. If the thieves were like most of their class they would very likely leave one of their number without to keep watch and give a signal should any sudden peril loom up. It was to secure that sentry that the force detailed to stay in the open had been marked off.

Hugh with the rest and the Chief meant to enter the store. He had visited it often and ought to be well acquainted with its every detail. Even at that Hugh never left a thing to chance when he could help it. That very afternoon, after he had left Ralph and the others, the boy had made some sort of excuse to drop in at Ainslee’s establishment. With his scout ability he had been able to make a mental map, and had noted every particular of the store, so that he believed he could, if necessary, get around in the dark without colliding with showcases or pillars or counters.

Chief Wallis must have found a way to communicate with the proprietor of the store, for he certainly had a key that opened the side door, through which numerous shadowy figures now silently slipped.
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Here again Hugh proved of considerable value, for it was he who really directed the others where to hide so that they might divide their force. The Chief had a pocket electric light along with him, but he hesitated to make use of it, lest some one passing and repassing the front of the store, and looking in, take notice of the strange glow, and communicate the alarm to his fellows.

Talking was absolutely forbidden among the scouts. They could only indicate the tremendous interest they were taking in the proceedings by numerous sly digs in the ribs, after the manner of lively boys unduly repressed. None of these were given with such vigor as to elicit a gasp or groan.

How still it seemed after they had been posted in their hiding places. Some of the scouts must have thought they could actually hear the beating of their own hearts, such was the stress under which they labored.

Luckily Hugh had used discretion when making his selections. He had not chosen them merely for brawn alone, but for an ability to keep a good grip on their spirits, and bravely face exciting conditions that might well try the nerves of experienced officers.
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