“Jack swiped our biscuits all right!” Red said indignantly. “We’re saps to let him get by with it too!”
“We ought to have him sent back to the Child Study Institute!” added Midge. “Who does that kid think he is? We ought to clip his comb!”
Mr. Hatfield had not given much thought to the stolen food. However, he was gravely troubled by Mrs. Jones’ reference to the jet buttons.
“Do you suppose Jack was the one who came to your house that morning?” Dan asked, falling into step with the Cub leader.
“Naturally, it raises a question in one’s mind, Dan. But for the life of me, I can’t understand how he would know about the tin box.”
“Furthermore, he didn’t live here at the time the money disappeared from your house, Mr. Hatfield.”
“That’s so, Dan!” the Cub leader exclaimed, obviously relieved. “For a minute I was afraid of the worst. It only goes to prove one shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Guess I’ve said that a dozen times.”
As the Cubs reached the main road, Chips called attention to a curl of smoke rising lazily from the woods.
“Someone must have a camp fire back in there,” he remarked.
“It’s a rather dangerous place to start a fire,” Mr. Hatfield said. “Suppose we investigate.”