  Hugh took the missive from Tom’s hand, and at the same time managed to see what was written on the outside of the carefully done-up package that the other had laid on the top of the chiffonier.
Even before Hugh read a single word in the note he believed he had a pretty clear comprehension as to the true state of affairs. His heart, too, was bounding with sudden relief over the happy outcome of the troublesome matter, although it was not to be expected that, being an outsider, Hugh could feel one-quarter the joy that filled Tom’s soul. The letter ran as follows:
Hugh folded up that note with a feeling of delight he had seldom experienced before. Then Benjy was turning out to be a splendid sort of fellow! Hugh anticipated he might prove to be that once he made up his mind to break away from those evil connections that were pulling him into the mire. He must have been really hunting for the old tennis racquet on that other occasion when caught rummaging through Tom’s trunk. He had appeared confused because he feared his secret might be discovered. He had not only taken every cent he had in his bank to pay for the new racquet, but had actually sold his valuable Belgian hares in order to make up the amount he still owed at the sporting goods store. By now Tom had snatched up the package and managed to get it undone. He uttered cries of sincere admiration and delight when he saw what an elegant tennis racquet was revealed. His eyes were swimming with tears as he looked at Hugh. “Oh! Hugh!” he stammered, “will I ever be able to forgive myself for thinking all those bad things about him? I never felt so ashamed in my life as I do now. But I’m going to make amends for it, see if I don’t, Hugh. Look what a dandy racquet he got me, will you? Spent every cent he had saved for his Fourth.” Hugh hardly knew whether he ought to relate what he had discovered. The temptation to do so overcame his scruples. Besides, now that Benjy’s innocence had been assured, he thought it too good to be hidden under a bushel by silence. “I’m going to tell you something, Tom,” he went on to say, with a smile. “Queer, isn’t it, that often the very things we fear for most turn out to be for the very best?” Tom immediately began to show new interest. How his fine eyes sparkled, and upon his face that worried look could no longer be seen. “What! is there anything more good coming, Hugh?” he cried, eagerly. “You’ll have to judge for yourself,” replied the scout master, after which he proceeded to relate how he had seen Benjy coming out of the bird store kept by Mr. Huggins, and counting some silver, also how the discovery had filled him with dismay. “It was only natural it should, you understand, Tom,” he went on to say in apology, “after what we suspected. But I made up my mind I would learn what he had been doing in there.” When Tom heard about the selling of Benjy’s pet Belgian hares he lowered his head suddenly as though he did not want his friend to see that his eyes were swimming, for as a rule, boys have a prejudice against appearing weak. Hugh respected his brotherly emotion, for he knew that it must be complete joy that affected the other now, and not anxiety. By the time Hugh finished speaking Tom managed to get a fresh grip on himself, even though his voice did tremble somewhat. “Hugh, I’m bound to redeem those long-eared little animals if I have to borrow the money to do it with!” he exclaimed. “To think of his making that great big sacrifice just for me! I know how fond Benjy’s been of his pets! Oh! Hugh, when you came in here little did I dream what glorious news there was going to be sprung on me! I was feeling away down in the cellar, and now, well, I seem to be on the roof looking up into the beautiful heavens!” That was not such a bad description of Tom’s feelings, considering the fact that he was only a matter-of-fact boy, and struggling along under unusual emotion. Hugh did not attempt to explain how possibly it might be just as well to allow Benjy to make his sacrifice. It gave the boy more or less satisfaction, and would always be a link connecting him with his brother. Later on Hugh might urge upon Tom the wisdom of letting matters stand just as they were. He handled the racquet and praised its good qualities. “It was pretty smart of the boy hiding it in the drawer containing your shirts,” Hugh went on to say, laughing; “especially as he figured that to-morrow was your regular morning for putting on a clean one, and you would be sure to discover the package the first thing on your birthday.” “Wasn’t it, though?” said Tom, chuckling. “That shows, Tom, that Benjy would make a good scout, because he has the sense of observation well developed to start with.” “Just what it does, Tom, and some day before long I hope to see your brother wearing the honored khaki. It’s a proud family that can boast of two scouts, let me tell you. And once Benjy joins—no danger of his ever going back. A world will open up to his eyes that he never dreamed existed. Old things will have passed away and everything become new, once he has put on the magic spectacles of scoutcraft. I’ve been told that by a dozen fellows, and I know what a change it makes in most boys.” Tom began to wrap the precious racquet carefully up again in the paper that had been around it when he made his startling discovery. How tenderly he handled the present given by his brother. Hugh even thought that all other gifts showered on Tom in times past must sink into utter insignificance when compared with this special one; for it represented, in his eyes, the dissolution of those serious doubts that had of late been weighing down his spirits until his heart felt like lead. “I’m meaning to put it back just where I found it, you see, Hugh,” he explained, “and make things look as if no one had touched it. Luckily the envelope wasn’t sealed, so I didn’t destroy the same. You may wonder why I do that, and I’ll tell you. I want to open it again in the morning just as if I had found it for the first time. Then there’s another reason, you see, Hugh; Benjy might get home to-night ahead of me, and finding that I hadn’t shown up yet, take a notion to step in here just to have a last peep and a pat at his package. I wouldn’t like him to know I had been investigating ahead of time, you understand, Hugh.” The scout master could read between the lines. He realized that not for the world would repentant Tom want Benjy to suspect he had been looking all through his room in the fear and expectation of making a distressing discovery that would implicate the younger brother. Nor could Hugh blame the other for wanting to conceal such a humiliating thing as this. Accordingly the packet was carefully put on top of the clean shirts in the drawer. To all appearances it lay just as Benjy had placed it, and if he did peep in the receptacle, there was nothing to tell him that the well-tied bundle had been disturbed. “There, that’s a big load off my shoulders,” said Tom, with a look of relief. “Now, Hugh, I’m ready to go with you, and do anything you ask of me. Why, I feel that light-hearted I could almost fly,” and he flapped his arms as though they were wings, an action that caused Hugh to laugh aloud. “Well, just hold your horses a bit, Tom,” he advised. “I have need of your services to-night, and it would be a shame to have you take a flight. Suppose you get your cap and come along with me to the meeting.” “There must be something serious doing, Hugh, if all this mystery counts for anything.” “There certainly is, Tom. You’ll learn about it as soon as I’ve picked out the scouts I want to serve with me. They’re all going to be husky fellows like yourself.” “You’ve got me worked up to top-notch speed, Hugh, with what you say,” said Tom, scurrying around, and looking for his cap, which he found behind a chair where it had evidently fallen when he tossed it aside earlier in the evening. “But no matter what it all means I’m with you to the last lick. I feel as if I could whip my weight in wildcats. Lead the way, and every scout you want will follow you, Hugh.” And so the twain passed out and headed for the rendezvous, where they were likely to find full twenty-five fellows in khaki impatiently awaiting the coming of their leader, and an explanation of this unusual “called” meeting. |
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