his."

"Huh! I guess the feller that invented this racket could get up somethin'
just as good if he wanted," and that was all Scissors ever said about
it to the boy he had wronged.

Jack, having recovered his property, did not care to do anything further
about the robbery. Later on Scissors himself told his cronies, thinking
it to his credit; and they more than a few times tried to joke Jack about
his disappearing coins. But he took it all in good humor, and after a
while the thing was apparently forgotten, because the boys of Stanhope
had many other things of importance to engage their undivided attention.

CHAPTER XXXI

WELL DONE STANHOPE TROOP!--CONCLUSION

Days and weeks passed.

In season and out, the boys of industrious Stanhope Troop worked. Never
had the good people known such a wave of enthusiasm to sweep over the
town on the Bushkill. It seemed as catching as the measles, this spirit
of energy, and a desire to do things worth while, which had taken
possession of most of the boys.

Parents got together, and conferring, admitted that this new fad was by
all odds the best thing that had ever happened. They determined to
encourage it to the limit. Even those who were doubtful at the start,
found themselves obliged to admit that never before had Stanhope
presented such a clean appearance; and not within the recollection
of the oldest inhabitant had boys been so obliging.

After the Stanhope Troop had been fully received into the National
organization an efficient scout master was finally secured in the person
of a young man by the name of Alec Gordon. He had lately come from
visiting across the water, where he had enjoyed the personal acquaintance
of several leading lights in the scout movement in England. Besides that,
he was naturally fond of the woods, and best of all, filled with a deep
love for the boy of to-day.

Under his guidance the troop prospered, and made rapid progress along the
lines started by Paul. The only trouble about the whole matter was that
Mr. Gordon, being a traveling man, was liable to be called away just when
his presence might be most needed.

Several times this had occurred, and feeling the need of leaving a deputy
to fill his place, he put it up to the boys themselves. Of course there
had not been a dissenting vote; and Paul was elected to play the part of
guide, should an emergency arise; and in this way he became assistant
scout master of the troop.

They need ha