Mildred A. Wirt

“ Brad and Dan brought Mr. Hatfield, fully expecting him to reject the request.
“Pat, you feel you should have half the money?” the Cub leader questioned him.
“Sure.” The captain of the Purple Five eyed the group of Cubs defiantly. However, his gaze wavered under the level scrutiny of Mr. Hatfield. “We earned it, didn’t we? What’s more, we’d have won the game, if we hadn’t been cheated.”
“Cubs do not cheat,” Mr. Hatfield replied. “When you know more about the organization, you’ll understand that. We play according to the rules, that’s all.”
“You make ’em to suit yourselves,” Pat growled. ”

“ A stunned silence came upon the Cubs as they heard the crash and beheld the damage.
“Wow! You’ve done it now, Chub,” Chips said pityingly.
[28]
“We’ll all catch it from Old Terry,” Midge added, staring at the jagged hole in the pane. “I guess we’ll have to pay for the damage.”
“It was a-all my fault,” Chub admitted, close to tears. “How much do windows cost?”
“Oh, a dollar or two,” Midge said vaguely. “Maybe more.”
Tears began to roll down Chub’s cheeks.
“Don’t let it throw you,” Dan said, slapping him on the shoulders. “Breaking a window can happen to anyone.” ”

“ After ending the practice the Bay Shore boys took their time in leaving the church. They roved the corridors, peered down into the basement, and even into the Cub’s private clubroom.
One of the boys spied the cardboard fort which Fred had built. “Gee! Will you look at the playhouse!” he shouted.
Mr. Hatfield shooed the five wanderers out of the building. On the steps, Pat noticed the two ice cream freezers.
“When do we eat?” he demanded boisterously.
“You don’t,” Chips told him. “That’s for our party tonight.”
“Who is invited?”
“Only the parents of the Cubs.” ”

“ The boy called Pete had been left on guard at the entrance to the coal chute. Pat and at least five others now were inside the empty building.
“We’re two against six,” Brad muttered. “We can’t stop ’em, Dan.”
“But to let them take the bell! The trustees are almost certain to blame the Cubs. If they’d only come here now and learn the truth!”
Brad had been thinking fast. “Our best bet is to telephone Mr. Hatfield and have him call the police,” he whispered. “It will take ’em a few minutes to get that bell down. They aren’t going to unfasten it half as easy as they think!” ”

“ So Mr. Weldon had kept his promise! Dan felt a great load drop from his shoulders. What a surprise Pat would get, when the game finally ended!
Dan saw Chub wave to his father, and noted the happy light in the boy’s eyes.
“He knows the truth,” Dan instantly decided. “Someone has told him. That’s why he’s trying so hard tonight. He wants to make good for his father.”
Just then Mr. Hatfield came across the floor to speak to Dan. Drawing him aside, he asked his opinion about keeping Chub in the game.
“Fred doesn’t particularly want to play,” the Cub leader said. ”

“ A ripple of applause came from the audience for the basket had been a pretty one. On the south side of the gymnasium where rooters for the Bay Shore boys had congregated, loud cheering broke out.
“Get in there, Cubs!” rooters for Den 2 called. “Come on!”
[128]
The Cubs were on their toes now, determined not to let the Purple Five score again. But they couldn’t seem to get their hands on the ball.
Pat was a one-man team, darting here, there everywhere. Poor Chips was winded trying to keep up with the fleet-footed forward. Repeatedly, the Purple Five scored, while Dan managed only one basket. ”

“ Pat retorted. He glared at Dan, and then turned to his cronies. “Come on, guys! Let’s scram! You can’t have any privacy these days, not even in an alley.”
Dan and Brad watched in amusement as the Bay Shore boys clattered noisily off over the uneven bricks. The thrust about finding the freezers near the gang’s hut had found its mark, they felt.
“Pat looked guilty when he saw these cans,” Brad remarked. “It burns me he’d engineer such a mean trick, especially after the Cubs have been mighty nice about the gymnasium.”
Dan had been studying the make-shift basket netting fastened to the wall. ”

“ If Pat and his bunch wrecked that old Christian Church, then it’s only right that they take their medicine. I’m not forgetting that they let the blame fall on the Cubs.”
Brad glanced nervously at the wall clock. “Three more minutes until game time,” he said. “I only hope the Cubs win! It’s terribly important, because if Pat’s team wins, and then everything breaks wide open, they may accuse us of putting the finger on ’em to get even.”
Not only Dan and Brad, but all of the Cubs were exceedingly nervous. This third game in the series was the deciding one. ”

“ Dan spoke up. “I think we should agree to let them use the gym. That is, if Mr. Hatfield says it is all right. The church gym wasn’t built for our special use.”
“Pat doesn’t go to this church,” Red growled. “He doesn’t attend any church. Do him good if he did!”
“Cubs are supposed to be FAIR,” Dan reminded him. “We agreed to a series of three games. Now do we want it to be an honest test of athletic skill, or do we want to win at any cost?”
[81]
“Oh, let ’em use the gym,” Red gave in, knowing all the other Cubs favored Brad’s viewpoint. “Someone ought to keep watch though, while they’re here. ”

“ Dan replied quickly. “Chub is playing better tonight than he ever did before. Let him stay in. After all, winning isn’t everything.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, Dan,” Mr. Hatfield answered. “This has been a good clean game so far, and that’s what counts. Excellent sportsmanship on both sides.”
The game went on, and for a while the Cubs played with renewed energy. Chub managed a basket and the fans cheered madly.
But the next minute, Pat captured the ball. Before Red could stop him, he dribbled down the floor, cut in under the basket and scored. ”

“ The Cubs were not surprised to learn that Pat had told around that the Purple Five had been cheated out of victory on a technicality.
“They’ll be laying for us next game,” Brad warned the boys of Den 2 one night as they practiced at the church gymnasium. “If we want to win, we’ve got to improve our teamwork.”
The Cubs had worked out several new plays which seemed to go fairly well. Chub however, could not get the hang of them. The others noticed that his mind never seemed entirely on the game. A ball would be tossed in his direction, and he’d seem aware of it only after it had shot past him. ”

“ Y’know, it only gets you into trouble. No more smashing windows or swiping things for us!”
“Such as ice cream freezers?”
“Sure, we took ’em that night of the party,” Pat admitted sheepishly. “We’ve been ashamed of it ever since too. The Cubs were swell to us—treated us square even when we were mean to them.”
[214]
“Cubs always try to do things the right way,” Dan replied. “You know the code?”
Pat shook his head.
“‘A Cub is Fair; A Cub is Happy; A Cub is Game.’”
“And above all, a Cub values his honor,” added Mr. Hatfield, who had overheard the two boys talking. ”

“ Dan had plans for every hour ahead.
“Mom,” he began, sliding into his usual chair at the foot of the breakfast table. “Do you know where I can get an ice cream freezer?”
Dan’s odd requests long since had ceased to astonish Mrs. Carter. “You mean the old fashioned kind one turns with a crank?” she asked, pouring orange juice into tall glasses.
“We need a couple of large ones,” Dan explained. “Our Den is throwing a big party for the Mothers and Dads. No freezer—no party.” ”

“ Within an hour, the Cubs knew the worst. Chips had a mild case of the measles! He would be out of the game and confined to his home for more than a week.
The Cubs were too discouraged even to discuss the situation. Chub now would have to go into the game as a forward. That meant that Dan would be shifted to guard, given the task of trying to hold Pat to a minimum of baskets.
“We’re sunk,” he admitted privately to Brad as they laced their tennis shoes in the dressing room.
“Probably,” the Den Chief agreed. “Let’s do our best though. And if we’re licked, let’s take it like good sports.” ”

“ Pat laughed hysterically. “That bell can stay up there forever! The church is haunted!”
The other Bay Shore boys came out of the coal chute as fast as they could squeeze through. Without even waiting for their buddies, they started on a run away from the building.
Pat and Pete stayed until the last member of their gang had reached safety. Hastily, they slammed down the door of the coal chute.
At that moment, from overhead, came the faint tap-tap-tap of the church bell. It was a muted sound but one which could not have been caused by the light breeze which was blowing. ”

“ Knowing that they all had been exposed to the disease, the Cubs kept their fingers crossed. Days passed however, and no other den member came down sick.
“Chips may be able to play in that last game with the Purple Five,” Dan remarked one day as he and Brad walked to the public library together. “Think we have a chance to win?”
“With Chips, yes. We need him badly though.”
“Chub never will make a good player that’s for sure,” Dan sighed. “I can’t figure out that kid, Brad. He likes being a Cub, but somehow he doesn’t catch on.” ”

“ He has a good home here. I’ve checked into that.”
“Chub has a good home,” Dan agreed, “but he isn’t happy. He’s always mooning around, not talking much, but sort of wrapped in his own thoughts. He needs a Dad.”
“Your name isn’t Smith,” Brad took up the discussion. “Is it Weldon, the same as Chub’s?”
“That’s right. He doesn’t know who I am though.”
Chub’s father remained silent for some minutes. Then, apparently having made up his mind to tell the Cubs everything about himself, he said:
“Things are coming to a head fast. I expect to pull out of Webster City in a few days at the latest. ”

“ Had someone stolen the freezers from the church and given them to the organization just to cause trouble?
Who had tipped Old Terry that the containers would be found at the Cub party? The Cubs kept mulling over the affair and the conviction grew upon them that Pat Oswald had been responsible.
“I wish we never had agreed to play the basketball series,” Midge said gloomily one afternoon the following week when the boys were at the gymnasium. “We’ll be the laughing stock of Webster City if we lose.”
“Not if we lose fair and square,” Dan returned, undisturbed. “It’s no disgrace not to win. ”

“ Mr. Hatfield went on. “The next move is up to the trustees. All we can do is wait.”
Now that the Cub leader’s report had been made, the boys were in no mood for a long meeting. Brad took up a few matters concerning the Friday party, including the necessity for finding at least one ice cream freezer.
“Tomorrow is our last chance,” he told the Cubs. “Everyone get busy. Ask friends and neighbors and let’s see if we can’t find one.”
As Brad ended his little pep talk, the boys were startled to hear a loud pounding on the closed clubroom door.
Chub and Dan both jumped up to see who had rapped. ”

“ Mr. Hatfield said regretfully. “We may as well forget about it.”
“Forget it?” Midge wailed. “After all the work we did?”
“And you never tasted such wonderful ice cream,” Chips went on. “We only had tiny samples this afternoon. We were looking forward to big dishes tonight!”
“We’ll make ice cream another time,” Mr. Hatfield promised the Cubs.
“How can we, without freezers?” Dan asked. “The only ones we know about are at the old Christian Church. No chance of getting those.”
“And what about the ones that were stolen?” Brad asked, rather worried. “We don’t even know to whom they belong.” ”

“ Brad glanced down at the younger boy, surprised by the intensity of his remark.
“Sort of borrowing trouble, aren’t you, Dan?”
“I guess so,” Dan admitted with a rueful laugh. “But Pat’s a sly one. I sure hope I’m wrong, but I’m terribly afraid he intends to try to break up our Den.”
[14]
As the Cubs started home, Dan fell into step up. “If you work at the job, the Bay Shore boys may be won over as friends. That would be much better than having them as enemies.”
The Cubs were far from certain that they wanted the Bay Shore boys as friends. However, they kept their thoughts to themselves. ”

“ They slap us on one cheek and we hold up another for a big whallop!”
“We only suspect that Pat’s outfit did the damage at Christian Church,” Brad said, supporting Dan’s position. “If we schedule a game, we may overhear talk that will give us a straight lead. What do you think, Mr. Hatfield?”
“Cubs are supposed to give good will,” he replied gravely. “Pat and his gang haven’t had many advantages. Contact with a church, a worthwhile Cub organization and wholesome sportsmanship, might do the outfit a world of good.” ”

“ Mr. Weldon nodded and made the boys a promise. “I’ll always stick up for the Den 2 boys. You know why? They were kind to Chub and didn’t tease him. Now about cleaning up those accusations against the Cubs. Shall we do it on the night of the basketball game?”
“That would be the best time,” Brad agreed. “How will we arrange it?”
“Leave that to me,” said Mr. Weldon confidently. “Just have Mr. Greene attend the game, and if possible the trustees of this church.”
“I’ll get ’em there, if I have to give them free tickets to the game!” Dan chortled. “Wow! What a sockaroo Pat Oswald has in store! ”

“ Chips said furiously. “We didn’t do the damage, and you should know it! Cubs aren’t hoodlums.”
“You wanted that freezer, and you didn’t care how many windows you smashed to get in!”
“That just isn’t so,” Dan declared. “We never did get the freezers. Like enough they’re still in the basement. Have you looked?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Why don’t you?” Chips demanded. “I guess that would prove—”
“It wouldn’t prove anything,” the caretaker retorted, locking the church door. “Now begone, will you?”
“Come along, boys,” Mr. Hatfield said quietly. “No use arguing about this affair. ”

“ To avoid personal fouls, the Purple Five boys quite outdid themselves. Once when Pat brushed hard against Dan as they both rushed for the ball, the Bay Shore boy actually muttered: “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to hit you.”
Surprisingly, with roughness eliminated, the Cubs held their own fairly well. Pat made two baskets, and then was unable to score as Dan kept hard on him.
Repeatedly, the Cubs had chances for baskets themselves. Team plays worked well, even without Chips. But Chub fumbled time after time at the critical moment. Once he shot and the ball hung on the rim, only to drop outside. ”