Fifteen minutes later he presented himself at the Hatfield home where Chips and Red already had gathered.
“What’s up?” Dan asked the pair.
“Search me,” Chips shrugged. “Mr. Hatfield asked us to come over right away, so we did.”
“He hasn’t explained yet,” Red added in an undertone, “but he seems plenty worried.”
In a few minutes Babe Bunning arrived at the house. Close upon his heels came Brad, who reported that Midge Holloway would be a little late.
“He told me to report he has to do some work at home,” the Den Chief told Mr. Hatfield.
“We’ll go on without him,” the Cub leader said. “Boys, now don’t get me wrong. I didn’t call you here to make accusations or scold. I’m not blaming anyone—”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Hatfield?” Brad cut in anxiously.
“Well, somehow the news leaked out about us finding the money box.”
The Cubs were dumbfounded.