“Do you happen to have any Belgian hares, Mr. Huggins?” he asked, in a casual way, as though he had looked around and failed to notice any in the various cages or runs.
“Why, that reminds me I forgot to put that pair in the cage, I was so busy after the boy left,” remarked the owner of the store, as he hurried over to an old basket that had a cover to it, and from which he drew a struggling object with long ears, which he tossed into an empty cage, to be presently followed by a second.
Hugh’s last doubt was now laid. He had recognized the Belgian hares by certain well-remembered marks, as once the property of Benjy Sherwood, who must have sacrificed them for a particular object.
When Hugh remembered what he feared that object might be he found himself shivering, he was so sorry for poor Tom, whose heart seemed so sore these days.
More than ever was Hugh bothered to know just how he should go about gaining the confidence of that high-strung lad. He had found a way to gain the heart of such a scoffer and doubter as Mr. Griffin, whom everybody deemed beyond hope. Surely there must be some method he could apply to reach Benjy’s confidence, so that he might coax him to join the scouts, and drop those suspicious companions.
“I’ll start right in to-morrow,” Hugh told himself, vigorously, as he left the pet shop and headed for home. “Until this other business is settled and the coast cleared, I mustn’t allow myself to be tempted to take up any side issues. But if all goes well, and to-morrow sees things turn our way, as I hope, then I promise myself that I’ll turn to Tom’s trouble and help him out.”
All the rest of that afternoon he could not keep his thoughts away from what he had learned about Benjy. It seemed as if the boy must be sinking fast in the quicksands of the treacherous stream into which he had so boldly waded. Unless prompt measures were taken for his rescue, Hugh feared Benjy would ere long be so deeply involved that such a thing as saving him must become three times as difficult.
“I’ll drop over and see Tom to-night,” he promised himself, as he sat awaiting the summons to supper. “I don’t remember meeting him all day, that is, to speak to. He’s beginning to believe by this time that I’ve about forgotten my promise. Poor Tom, I’m sorry for him as can be, and only hope we can convince Benjy he can get three times as much real fun out of joining the scouts as keeping company with that tough crowd.”
Hugh was not as sanguine as his words might indicate. He knew what a grip habit can take upon most boys, and how once they yield to the allurements of vices it proves very difficult for them to break away, or even acknowledge they are on the wrong path.
He had several half-formed plans, any one of which he might be able to work upon, after he had consulted with Tom. The latter was one of the sturdiest of the scouts, and Hugh particularly wanted him to be present on that night watch. He partly feared Tom might not feel inclined to come forth, and it was partly with the intention of gaining his consent that Hugh meant to drop around after supper and see him.