  Dan’s observation about seeing an extra person in the background of the film greatly excited the other Cubs. “Show the scene again,” they begged Mr. Holloway. The Den Dad re-threaded the film into the projection machine and ran it through at slow speed. “There he is!” suddenly exclaimed Dan, catching the first glimpse of the unfamiliar face in the scene. Before he obtained a definite impression of the person, the figure had ducked back into the bushes. “Golly!” exclaimed Red in amazement. “Where did he pop from?” “Couldn’t it have been one of the Cubs from Den 1?” demanded Fred. Dan reminded the boys that during the filming of the banquet scene all of the Cubs had taken part. “Someone was watching us from the bushes,” Brad confirmed the younger boy’s opinion. “Too bad we didn’t get a clearer impression of him.” At the request of the Cubs, Mr. Holloway ran through the film a third time. However, it was impossible for anyone to identify the stranger in the scene. Mr. Holloway, Dan and Brad were of the opinion that the intruder was another boy. The others thought he had looked older and might be a man. “At any rate, we know there’s a little substance to our ‘ghost of the castle,’” Dan laughed. “Maybe next time we’re out there, we can catch him. I don’t like the idea of being spied on.” Mr. Holloway and Mr. Hatfield devoted some time to discussing the various scenes of the play with the boys, pointing out where improvement could be made. “For the movie we’ll need titles,” the Den Dad explained. “Also, it will be necessary to do a great deal of editing and cutting in the final version. We’ll need a committee.” “Make Dan chairman,” suggested Brad. “He knows the Robin Hood story better than anyone.” “I’ll appoint Dan, Red and Chips,” Mr. Holloway said. “There will be plenty of work to do because we must start the final filming by next Saturday.” “Which reminds me that we’ll have to speed up the archery contest,” added Sam Hatfield. “To avoid argument, the winner of the match shall have the role of Robin Hood.” “Fair enough,” grinned Dan. Aware that costumes for the play would be needed in a hurry, the boys promised to turn their money in as quickly as possible so that materials could be bought. During the early part of the week, the Cubs of both Den 1 and 2 canvassed the neighborhoods, seeking odd jobs. As Dan already had observed, they were discouragingly scarce. Except for Ross Langdon, not a single Cub was certain of earning the amount needed within a short period of time. “What we should have is a project all the boys can work on together,” Brad declared one night as he and Dan discussed the problem. “We might gather and sell papers.” “The market has collapsed. I’ve already investigated that job possibility.” “At this time of year, all the odd jobs are taken,” Dan said gloomily. “It’s so dry, even the lawns hardly need cutting.” “I know,” Brad agreed. “City Council has warned folks to go easy on using water. The pressure is low. Every vacant lot with so many dried weeds presents a hazard.” Dan stared at the older boy, as an idea suddenly came to him. “Say, maybe that’s the ticket!” he exclaimed. “What is, Dan? I don’t follow you.” “Why, maybe the Cubs could get a job from the city cutting weeds!” “The city has its own crew.” “Sure, but not half of the outlying areas have been mowed. I read in the paper yesterday, the city is having trouble finding workers.” Brad thought the matter over. “We never could sell our services to the city,” he said. “But we might get individual jobs for the Cubs—especially from real estate men who have considerable vacant property.” “There’s a lot of it near the castle,” Dan recalled. “We might be able to round up a few jobs in that area.” The two boys discussed the matter with the other Cubs. Very few of the organization members had been successful in earning enough money. Everyone except Ross Langdon immediately favored the project. Ross declared that to cut weeds would inflame his nose and bring on an attack of hay fever. “Anyway, I have more than enough money now for my Robin Hood costume,” he said smugly. “No weed cutting for me.” “Okay,” Brad shrugged. “Suit yourself. Don’t forget though, that you have a section of ground at the castle to clear before next Saturday. We gave our promise to the bank that it would be done.” The next morning, Brad and Dan set out to see how many jobs they could obtain for the Cubs. After trying four places, they were given the promise of one small one. With all the Cubs working, Brad calculated it would not take an hour for the boys to clean up the premises. “We’ll need at least another sizeable job to make it worth while,” Dan commented as the two boys paused for a moment on the highway. “But where will we get it?” Brad had noticed a well-kept property directly ahead on the right-hand side of the road. Orchards were surrounded by an artistically built wooden rail fence. However, tall dried weeds had grown about the rails. Should a fire start from a dropped match or cigarette, not only the fence, but the orchard as well might be damaged. “Let’s try that place ahead,” Brad proposed. “We could grub out those weeds by hand in two or three hours. It would make the grounds look better and eliminate a fire hazard.” The boys could not see the house from the main road. Seeking it, they followed a winding lane through attractively laid out grounds. Presently, they came within view of a large white house with two pillars supporting the veranda. In their immediate path was a small one room shack which evidently served as a gardener’s tool house. “Well, I hope someone is home,” Dan remarked. “We’ve had a long, hard walk.” Even as he spoke, a short, wiry man in overalls came out of the gardener’s house. “You boys want something?” he asked, blocking their way. “Why, yes,” said Brad. He explained that he and Dan were Cub Scouts in search of odd jobs for their organization. “Well, there’s nothing here for you,” the man answered briefly. “We’d like to talk to the owner of the property, if you please.” “You can’t see him. The master doesn’t like visitors.” “Who is the owner?” inquired Dan curiously. “Never mind. The point is, you’ll find no work here. I attend to all the odd jobs.” “You do fine at keeping the property in order,” declared Brad, his gaze roving over the well-trimmed shrubs. “But we noticed one little thing you overlooked.” “Oh, you did, eh?” Despite Brad’s polite manner, the gardener was growing more and more irritated. Trying to be as diplomatic as possible, the boys told of their need to earn money for costumes. They then mentioned the uncut weeds along the front fence, stressing the danger of fire. “I have enough to do around here without pulling those weeds!” the man exclaimed. “What’s more, I won’t take it on.” “That’s where we come in,” said Brad. “For a very moderate fee, the Cubs will do a good job of cleaning them out.” “Oh, no you won’t!” The gardener now was very angry. “You’re trying to make me look bad with the boss. Well, you can’t see him! Now get out of here before I let the dogs loose!” “You have us all wrong,” Dan protested. “We’re not trying to get anyone into trouble. But the work should be done and—” “Get out!” Dan would have stood his ground, but Brad pulled him away. “Come on, Dan,” he said quietly. “We’ll find another place. No use stirring up trouble.” Feeling very annoyed at having been so rudely dismissed, the two boys started away. They rounded a point in the road which blocked off their view of the gardener and the tool house. “That stupid lug!” Brad snorted. “He’s afraid we’ll make him look bad!” As the boy spoke the words, an object whizzed through the air. Flying high above his head, it lodged in a tree at the side of the lane. “What was that?” Brad demanded, startled. “An arrow!” Dan exclaimed. “Say! Someone is using us for a target! We’d better take cover!” |
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