This proposal appealed to Dan. However, before the two boys could leave the creek, they heard an automobile drive up from the main road.
To the surprise of the Cubs, the car stopped nearby. A stout man in a gray suit alighted and came toward the group.
“It’s one of the bank officials, I’ll bet a cookie!” Brad murmured. “Now what?”
Curious to learn what the stranger wanted, Mr. Holloway and Ross rejoined the group of Cubs. The man approached them, addressing Sam Hatfield.
“Good morning,” he greeted the Cub leader, “I am Grover Kain, sent out by the bank to inspect the grounds here. I see you’re getting in a little archery practice.”
“That’s right,” agreed the Cub leader. “We need a longer archery field though.”
Mr. Kain nodded as his gaze roved over the grounds which had grown up with bushes and were cluttered with brush.
“I trust you’ll be careful about starting fires,” he remarked. “The season is unusually dry and brush presents a hazard. If a fire should start in this area, it would be most difficult to fight it because of the scarcity of water.”
Mr. Hatfield assured him that the Cub Scouts would be careful.
His answer did not entirely satisfy the bank official, who walked about the premises making note of work that needed to be done.