“All there, ain’t they?” demanded Scissors.

“Yes,” replied Jack; “though so sticky I’ll have to wash them in something like benzine.  Perhaps you did do it for a lark, Scissors; but I’ll make sure that a screen is in that window whenever it’s open after this.”

“Huh!  I guess the feller that invented this racket could get up somethin’ just as good if he wanted,” and that was all Scissors ever said about it to the boy he had wronged.

Jack, having recovered his property, did not care to do anything further about the robbery.  Later on Scissors himself told his cronies, thinking it to his credit; and they more than a few times tried to joke Jack about his disappearing coins.  But he took it all in good humor, and after a while the thing was apparently forgotten, because the boys of Stanhope had many other things of importance to engage their undivided attention.

CHAPTER XXXI

WELL DONE STANHOPE TROOP!—­CONCLUSION

Days and weeks passed.

In season and out, the boys of industrious Stanhope Troop worked.  Never had the good people known such a wave of enthusiasm to sweep over the town on the Bushkill.  It seemed as catching as the measles, this spirit of energy, and a desire to do things worth while, which had taken possession of most of the boys.

Parents got together, and conferring, admitted that this new fad was by all odds the best thing that had ever happened.  They determined to encourage it to the limit.  Even those who were doubtful at the start, found themselves obliged to admit that never before had Stanhope presented such a clean appearance; and not within the recollection of the oldest inhabitant had boys been so obliging.

After the Stanhope Troop had been fully received into the National organization an efficient scout master was finally secured in the person of a young man by the name of Alec Gordon.  He had lately come from visiting across the water, where he had enjoyed the personal acquaintance of several leading lights in the scout movement in England.  Besides that, he was naturally fond of the woods, and best of all, filled with a deep love for the boy of to-day.

Under his guidance the troop prospered, and made rapid progress along the lines started by Paul.  The only trouble about the whole matter was that Mr. Gordon, being a traveling man, was liable to be called away just when his presence might be most needed.

Several times this had occurred, and feeling the need of leaving a deputy to fill his place, he put it up to the boys themselves.  Of course there had not been a dissenting vote; and Paul was elected to play the part of guide, should an emergency arise; and in this way he became assistant scout master of the troop.

They need have no fear concerning his ability to fill the role.  He had proven equal to the task before now; and there were not a few, particularly among those acknowledging the magical Red Fox as their totem, who secretly cherished a belief that Paul knew more about the secrets of Nature than any two mature scout masters.