[1 The Stranger in the Storm] 1 [2 The Metal Box] 13 [3 Jack, the Runaway] 27 [4 High Water] 35 [5 Two Claimants] 43 [6 A “Tough” Customer] 54 [7 The Last Straw] 64 [8 Round Table Plans] 73 [9 A “Deserted” House] 85 [10 Widow Jones] 92 [11 “Do Your Best”] 100 [12 A Pair of Legs] 111 [13 Hot Biscuits] 121 [14 Beside the Camp Fire] 140 [15 A Hint from Jack] 151 [16 Inside the Log] 160 [17 Through the Window] 177 [18 Pursuit] 190 [19 “I Promise”] 197 [20 Knights of the Round Table] 208
CHAPTER 1
The Stranger in the Storm
Burrowing deep into the hoods of their slickers, the two Cub Scouts hastened along the darkening street.
Stinging gusts of rain pelted their faces. The strong wind fairly bowled them off their feet.
“Say Brad, this is awful!”
“It’s sure coming down—and how!” agreed the older boy.
Brad Wilber, dark-haired and serious, was a Boy Scout and a leader among the younger boys. An outstanding athlete and nearly ready for high school, he served as Den Chief of the Webster City Cubs.
His companion, the blue-eyed, sandy-haired Dan Carter, had just turned ten.
Firm of muscle and old for his years, the younger boy grew so fast it was hard to keep him in Cub uniforms.
He and Brad had been good friends ever since Sam Hatfield had organized Den 2. On this particular evening, they had been overtaken by the storm on their way to a Cub meeting at the church.