Brad gave him a kick in the ankle, a warning not to tell everything he knew.
“May I ask how you learned that the Cubs had come upon a box of money?” Mr. Hatfield inquired.
“Why, the news is everywhere.”
Brad was disgusted. So were the other Cubs, who couldn’t imagine how the word had spread.
“Babe, ’fess up,” Red whispered in the younger boy’s ear. “Did you spill it?”
“I did not,” he retorted indignantly. “Cross my heart and hope to die!”
“Midge wouldn’t tell,” Red said. “All the other Cubs have given their word. It’s mighty funny—”
Mr. Hatfield was speaking again. “Since the news is everywhere as you say, Mr. Brakschmidt, I may as well admit that the Cubs did find a little money. We expect to turn it over to police. If you have any claim, you’ll have to take it up with them.”
“You still have the money here in the house?”
“Yes,” the Cub leader admitted reluctantly.