“I wouldn’t say that,” Dan avoided the issue.
“Then why do you lock the clubroom? So we can’t look in?”
“Our cardboard fort was wrecked, Pat. Fred had worked weeks on it. We don’t want anything like that to happen again.”
Pat bristled, and color flamed into his cheeks. “You think we did it?”
“I didn’t say so, did I?”
“No, but you’re acting mighty suspicious. I’m tired of being treated as if we have to be watched all the time. Believe me, if we wanted to do mischief, we could tear this place apart! But we got other plans for Halloween. Not a silly party either.”
Pat’s boastful manner instantly convinced Dan that the Purple Five team was planning mischief, come October 31. He asked a few casual questions, hoping to draw the other boys out.
“You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?” Pat teased. He looped a ball through the basket, and called to his teammates. “Come on, guys! Let’s move out of here! We got some important business to talk over.”
Dan was disturbed by the hints the other had dropped. Undoubtedly, the Bay Shore boys intended to commit Halloween pranks. He only hoped the Cubs would not be blamed.
He heard no more of the matter and had nearly forgotten about it when Halloween finally came. The Den 2 boys had arranged a party at the Holloway home.