The Boy Scouts at the Panama Canal

ion. He ignored the red-faced, angry farmer, but took note out of the corner of his eye of Jared, who was peeping out at them from b

Tubby Hopkins and that sissy, Merritt Crawford. T

ce and capable appearance made her feel, as did no less her

are Rob Blake, leader of the Eagle Patrol. I've heard lots about you from my

Crawford, my second in command, and

o keep out of this. Just 'cause yer a banker's son, young Blake,

s man says that I ran over one of his pigs. Why, it's absurd. I only just bu

raucous squeals rose belligerently from the

t," announced the stout youth

cried the girl, "and Mr. Applegate wants fiftee

"fifteen dollars er she goes afore t

and anyhow, fifteen dollars is an outrageous p

uries," correc

whispered Merritt to

b, "let's help this youn

the machine. It quivered, started, stopped, and then fairly dashed up on to the road. So quickly

ose!" yelled the old man as soon

nds a big, savage-looking bull dog came bound

og looked up at his master, apparently

girl in a quick, low whis

an't! You've

n your power and get away. We'll find a

, the girl applied the power once mo

s," roared old Applegat

!" he shouted t

ard, he brought his staff into play. There was a flash of the implement, a quick twist, and th

cried Rob, in a clear, commanding

farmer again, "air you aidin

d no business in the middle of th

no attempt to "sic" Towser on the boys again. As for that redoubtable animal, he stood by his master,

tarted the day before to visit a patrol in a distant town on the island. They struck off briskly, as boys will when home is almost in sight and appetites are keen

d on a red motor cycle which, from the noise it made, appeared to be of high power. As he drew alongside them they noticed that he, too, was in Scout uniform, and that from the

the First New York Troop," he announced, "have you see

t of the farmhouse. He also introduced himself and his patrol mates. Fr

ers; doing things she aut-n't to, so to speak. Excuse the pun. It's a bad habit of mine. S

atrol already knew much about the Mainwaring family, Mr. Mainwaring having recently purchased an estate just out of Hampton. The newcomer to the community was preceded by an almost world-wide reputation as a skillful

boys that he and his sister were to accompany their father

was; but it must have been something pretty bad, for dad got mighty angry when he told about it. You see, in a way I feel responsible. Jared, who was working as a stenographer and typewriter in New York, belonged to my troop. I li

the troop. When dad got back from the Isthmus this time I asked about Jared and foun

ned Rob. "It's none too good. By the way, that's his father

as somewhere near Hampt

wn it, was concealed a listener to whom all their conversation was perfectly plain. Jared had watched the boys meeting from the dooryard and had crept cautiously along behind the stone wall t

the wall. His sallow face grew a pasty yellow, with anger. His

streak on his machine. "Well, I guess that before long I'll have my innings, and when I do I'll make it hot for all of

ady familiar with a missive's contents, but who wishes, by a fresh perusal, to

will talk business with you. It

cared to have his name linked. The "big ditch" project, the greatest of the age, perhaps of all time, had, inconceivable as it m