Pat shook his head.
“‘A Cub is Fair; A Cub is Happy; A Cub is Game.’”
“And above all, a Cub values his honor,” added Mr. Hatfield, who had overheard the two boys talking. “Thanks to you, Pat, Den 2 again will have a good name in Webster City.”
Pat cast his eyes down, still feeling ashamed.
“It must be great to be a Cub and belong to the Pack,” he said at length. “It’s a lot better than a gang, isn’t it?”
“A great deal better, Pat.”
“But Cubs wouldn’t be for—for kids like me.”
“Why not?” Mr. Hatfield asked quietly. “From the start, I had hoped to interest you boys in the organization. That was why I favored the basketball games.”
“You mean we can join the Cubs?”
“You certainly can,” Mr. Hatfield assured him. “Since you live in another part of town it wouldn’t be practical to come here often. But you could have your own den. I’ll help you find a leader and organize.”