Dan Carter and the Cub Honor Part 2

"What goes on here?" the Cub leader demanded, and this time his voice was stern.

With shouts of laughter, Pat and his followers ran off down the street, rattling a string of tin cans.

"That Pat is a mean one," Chips declared. "He'd have started trouble if you hadn't come along, Mr. Hatfield."

"Possibly," conceded the Cub leader. "Pat is inclined to be a bully, but he's mostly bluff, I think. My guess is that he and his pals really are envious of the good times the Cubs have here."

"Especially of our basketball practice," added Brad.

Mr. Hatfield advised the Cubs not to take Pat's teasing too seriously.

"Who knows?" he suggested as the group broke with Brad. During the brisk walk, the younger boy had little to say. Finally, Brad commented upon his unusual silence.

"Worrying about where we can get a couple of ice cream freezers, Dan?"

"Not exactly. I'll admit I was thinking about the party though."

"Something seems to be bothering you."

"I was wondering about Pat. He and his gang were listening at the church door when we made plans for the social a week from Friday."

"Probably."

"I'm sure of it," Dan insisted soberly. "This is what worries me. I'm afraid Pat and his bunch may show up at the party and really stir up a mess."

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."

As the Cubs started home, Dan fell into step up. "If you work at the job, the Bay Sh.o.r.e 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 Sh.o.r.e boys as friends. However, they kept their thoughts to themselves.

CHAPTER 2 IN QUEST OF A FREEZER

The Carter kitchen was fragrant with the odor of frying bacon as Dan bounced down the stairs next morning for an eight o'clock breakfast. It was Sat.u.r.day and a beautiful crisp October day. 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 fas.h.i.+oned kind one turns with a crank?" she asked, pouring orange juice into tall gla.s.ses.

"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."

"My mother had one, but that was long ago. Let me think-oh, I recall the old Christian Church on River Road had several large ones."

"Think I could borrow 'em, Mom?"

"That depends, Dan. The old church was abandoned about a year ago. When last I heard, the freezers and other kitchen equipment were stored in the bas.e.m.e.nt. I doubt any of them were moved to the new church building."

Now that his mother mentioned it, Dan recalled that the Christian Church had been boarded up nearly a year. The building had been offered for sale, but so far no buyer had showed interest. Meanwhile, the place was supervised by Terry Treuhaft, an elderly caretaker, who had his own little cottage not far from the river.

"You might talk to Mr. Treuhaft about it," Mrs. Carter remarked. "If the freezers are still there, I see no reason why the Cubs shouldn't have them for the party."

"I'll round up some of the Cubs and hike out to his cottage," Dan decided. He b.u.t.tered a second slice of toast and scooped the last piece of bacon from the platter. "How's chances for a pack lunch, Mom?"

"Fairly good, I guess," his mother smiled. "That is, providing you rake the yard first. The leaves have been falling fast."

"Oh, Mom! That will take an age. How about doing it when I get back?"

"A Cub in hand is worth two on a hike, Dan. Once you get away on such a lovely day as this, I know I'll never see you again until nightfall. Work before fun, you know."

"Okay," Dan gave in with a grin. "I'll get right at it. First, though, I want to call some of the Cubs to ask them to hike with me to the old church."

"Don't forget to invite the new boy," his mother reminded him. "Charles Weldon-is that his name?"

"We call him Chub. He's a queer one, Mom. Shy as a mouse. I don't know if he'd like to hike-"

"At any rate, be sure to invite him," Mrs. Carter urged.

Dan felt a bit ashamed of not wanting Chub. It wasn't that he had anything against the new Cub. But somehow, he didn't feel as well acquainted with him as he did with Chips, Midge, Red, Brad or Fred.

To please his mother, he called Chub's home first of all. The phone was answered by Mrs. Lornsdale, the widow, with whom the boy lived.

Charles was there, she said, and she was certain he would want to join the group of Cubs. She promised to have him meet the boys at the old church.

In rapid succession, Dan then called all the others except Mack Tibbets who was out of town for two weeks. To his disappointment, Brad Wilber could not go, having work to do at home. Chips, Red and Midge eagerly accepted the invitation.

"Come over to my house as soon as your lunch is packed," Dan requested.

"I have to rake leaves, but I'll be through before you can snap your bubble gum!"

By eleven o'clock, a huge pile of leaves at the curb attested to the furious pace of Dan's labors. Nevertheless, a third of the yard remained unraked when Midge and Chips arrived with knapsacks slung over their shoulders.

"Want to help?" Dan suggested hopefully. "I got an extra rake."

The two Cubs took turns and soon the work was practically finished.

"Where's Red?" Dan demanded.

Just then he glimpsed the red-headed youngster coming down the walk dribbling a basketball.

"Hey, where'd you get that?" Midge asked with keen interest as the boy joined the group.

"Bought it with my paper money. Here, catch!"