On the following morning, when the news was circulated through Oakvale that some of the disorderly elements had attempted to make a raid on the Ainslee jewelry establishment, great was the consternation of the good people of the town. Then when it was added that the supposed robbery was only a part of a miserable scheme to try and bring the organization of Boy Scouts into disrepute, the indignation of the citizens knew no bounds.

“It is the culminating stroke of wickedness,” Mrs. Marsh declared as she spoke at a hurriedly arranged meeting of the best ladies in the town, “and proves that we did not commence this uplift movement a day too soon! Heaven only knows what might not have happened if not for those dear boys making up their minds that conditions had to change in Oakvale. I am free to confess that all our efforts to arouse the citizens had been marked by little success until Hugh and his comrades took it upon themselves to start the ball rolling.”
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“Well,” said Mr. Dobbs, the minister, who chanced to be present so as to congratulate the Ladies’ League on the splendid success that was meeting their efforts, “it has often seemed to me that when Providence wants to overwhelm bad men in the toils, first of all their common sense is taken away so that they commit foolish acts that bring about their own downfall. By great good luck we have managed to turn the tables on these schemers, and they are hoist by their own petard.”

“And after what has happened,” added Mrs. Beverly earnestly, “there should not be a single dissenting citizen who cares a shred about his or her reputation. Bold, indeed, must the man or woman be who would dare side with such desperate rascals as Gaffney and Slimmons. The town is well rid of an encumbrance, and let us all be thankful in our hearts on this wonderful day that the sun can look down on our beautiful little city and not shine on a single evil spot. Our boys and girls can go to and fro from this time on without that constant anxiety mothers have been feeling. I wish to state that much of this sense of security, I believe, we owe to the sterling efforts of Hugh Hardin and his sturdy comrades of Oakvale Troop. I love every one of them, and shall never be weary of sounding their praises, for they are boys of whom any town might well be proud.”
149

It is human nature to want to be on the winning side. Hugh believed there would be comparatively little trouble ahead for himself and comrades. The rapidity with which the men who had been taken to the lockup were brought to trial and punished for their misdeeds was going to deter others from attempting opposition.
150

In the midst of all this excitement, together with so much cause for congratulation, Hugh did not forget Tom Sherwood, and what had happened to brighten his life. The next time he met Tom he found his face radiant with the joy of living. Any one could see without being much of a reader of human nature that Tom was thoroughly happy. Many were the conjectures that his friends gave as to the reason for the boy’s sudden return to his old self. Tom kept his own counsel, and only told those who persisted in asking questions that a little trouble he had had on his mind had come out all right.

Hugh would keep the secret, of that Tom felt assured, and no one need ever know what terrible fears he had been entertaining on account of Benjy.

“Hugh,” he went on to say, as he clapped his hand on the shoulder of the scout master, with a movement that stood for deep affection, “it’s all come out right, and I’m the happiest fellow in Oakvale, let me tell you. Benjy and I understand each other now, and I’ll see to it that after this never a cloud is going to come between us. Hugh, he’s going to drop over tonight to see you.”

“I hope he doesn’t know that I felt worried about him the same way you did, Tom?” remarked Hugh.
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“Oh! I was too ashamed of my fears to ever tell him about that,” replied the other, quickly. “Benjy has been explaining to me what a fight he had with himself before he could break off connections with that crowd. I think a dream he had one night had a heap to do with his making a decision. He wouldn’t explain just what it was, only shuddered as he spoke of it. You can govern yourself as you think best, Hugh, when you’re talking with him.”

“He’ll never learn a single thing from me about your worrying, Tom. Although you haven’t said so, I imagine he’s coming to make some inquiries about joining the scouts?”

“Yes, that’s what he’s got in mind now, Hugh. He’s found himself interested in a lot of things we’ve been doing the last year or so. Somehow, they seem to look different from what they used to. Benjy has waked up, you see, and once a fellow gets to feel an interest in scout doings he’s bound to go on wanting to know more. When the fever begins to burn in his veins he never finds any rest until he throws his lot in with the wearers of the khaki, and starts to learn things for himself.”

“Tell him I expect to be home to-night after supper,” said the scout master, “and will be glad to have him drop over. We need a few more good fellows to fill out the vacancies in several of the patrols. Lieutenant Denmead, you understand, may be home the end of this week, and assume his old position of head of the troop.”
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“He’ll be surprised to learn what’s been going on here during his absence, believe me,” observed Tom, grinning.

“Oh! I keep in touch with him, and I’ve written an inkling of what we’ve been doing,” Hugh admitted. “All the same he’ll be pleased to find Oakvale so changed. The ladies say it must never go back again to where it was before. We scouts are of the same mind. Homes are going to be protected against those whose evil influence is all for pulling them down. That’s going to be the slogan of the scouts from now on. Tom, every new member we take in means one more timber in the structure we’re building on this safe foundation. Work all you can to spread the gospel of scout activities. There are dozens of fellows still around town who ought to be given an opportunity to learn the great benefits that go with scout membership.”
153

When Benjy came around that same evening, Hugh was primed for him. He went about his task with diplomacy, knowing that some boys can be led but never driven. So successfully did Hugh accomplish his labors that before Tom Sherwood’s younger brother left the house he was fairly wild to have his name brought before the nominating committee at the very next meeting.

“I feel that I’ve already lost a mighty fine time by my silly opposition to the scouts,” Benjy frankly admitted. “I was all wrong, and I guess it was only my natural pig-headedness that kept me so. But I’ve seen a great light, Hugh. They say it’s better late than never. I want to enjoy some of those good times you fellows have. Besides, I expect I’ve got something to wipe out, because of late I’ve given my brother Tom more or less worry.”

When a scout goes about recruiting in the happy way Hugh did there is hardly a limit to his capacity for bringing new members into a troop. Those boys of Oakvale who wore the khaki had been highly favored by fortune in that opportunities for doing big things had ever knocked at their door.
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Those readers who have had the pleasure of enjoying many of the previous books in this series will remember with satis............