Chips was a star baseball player and his reactions were fast. But would they be speedy enough?
“Listen, you!” the tramp ordered again. “Give me that box!”
Dan no longer dared stall. Chips and Midge were quite close to the door now, though not near enough to attack the tramp from the rear. Behind the two, almost in line were Fred and Jack who had hastened up from the direction of the creek.
For Dan’s purpose, the line-up was very nearly perfect. The moment had come. He had to take the chance and hope that the other Cubs didn’t muff it.
“Sure, I’ll give you the box,” he said. “CATCH!”
Even before Dan shouted the word, he had tossed the box in a high arch over the tramp’s head.
Belatedly the man made a leap for it, but he clutched only air.
Behind him, the box was falling almost directly into Chips’ hands.
“Get it!” shouted Dan.
Chips already was closing his hands upon the box. He fumbled, recovered and held fast.