Then he went on to say Archibald was eager to meet Hugh, and that if only he could come over and take supper with them that evening it would give both of the “shut-ins” great pleasure indeed.
Such luck Hugh had hardly anticipated, but he was only too glad to accept the invitation in the spirit it was given.
“I have some more really splendid books I want you to let him read,” he went on to say with spirit. “If you don’t object I’ll come over this very evening,” for, as we happen to know, the scout master believed in “striking when the iron is hot.”
After that it was easy for Hugh. Once he had gained entrance to the Griffin home he found a means for occupying a place in the hearts of both the hunchback boy and his grandfather. By a wise system of approaching the subject discreetly Hugh quickly found a way of getting Mr. Griffin to change his mind about keeping those noisy dogs.
It was once more a case of the gentle sun’s rays accomplishing what even the most violent wind could not do.
Hugh never boasted of his victories, but in some way the truth became known. Possibly Mr. Griffin, now mingling more than in the past with his neighbors, secretly amused, told it himself. At any rate it served to add to the laurels Hugh had already won as a diplomat, as well as a scout leader.
So the good work went on. This incident connected with Mr. Griffin and his pests of barking dogs was only one example of how the scouts managed to accomplish their ends. It is not by mere promises of prosecution alone that nuisances can be abated, for sometimes reason goes a great ways toward effecting a cure.
A few threats had been made, but so far none of the boys had really suffered actual violence. Truth to tell, the cowards who had been bullies knew that when they assailed the scout uniform they really went up against the entire vested authority of the town as represented by the mayor, the police, and the better element of the citizens.
Speedy retaliation had fallen upon those astonished offenders who had laughed at the warnings given by the Auxiliary Police. They realized that because a fellow is under a man’s size and wears a khaki uniform, it is no sign that he cannot enforce his authority.
Things had apparently been going on swimmingly, and there seemed every indication that victory was in sight when Ralph by accident overheard that plot to bring about the undoing of the scouts in the estimation of the town people. It was plainly the last desperate effort of the opposition. If they were beaten in this round the chances were there would be a clean sweep to crown the efforts of those who were working so hard for home protection in Oakvale. It would have been proven conclusively that a new rule must hereafter be reckoned with, which was founded on order and the rights of the community as against private privileges.