ble opposition, from jealous rivals; but in the end the
boys of Stanhope won their right to a prize banner by excelling the
troops from the neighboring towns in many of the things a true scout
should know and practice. Hence, no one who has perused the first book
of this series will imagine for an instant that any of these lads were
timid, simply because they clustered together, and felt their pulses
quiver with excitement.

"Do you hear that sound again, Joe?" demanded Paul, presently, as all
listened.

"I thought I did just then," answered Joe Clausin, drawing a long
breath; "but perhaps it was only imagination. Dad's been doing more work
than he ought, lately. Mebbe he's been taken with one of his old
fainting spells."

"Say, that's just what it is, I reckon," observed Bobolink, quickly; "or
else he forgot to shut the door when he went home."

"He never could have done that, boys," declared Joe; "you know how
careful he always is about everything. I was just thinkin' about the
Skarff robbery, and wonderin' if those fellows had come back to town.
The police never caught 'em, you remember."

Joe's voice had once more dropped to a whisper. What he said seemed to
make considerable impression on his comrades, for the heads drew even
closer together.

"But why would they want to break open a feed store?" ventured Jack
Stormways, dubiously; "it isn't like the Skarff place, which was a
jewelry shop."

"'Sh!" went on Joe, nervously; "I happen to know that dad keeps quite
some money in his safe about the first of the month, when people pay
their bills. Mother has often told him he ought to put it in the bank;
but he only laughs at her, and says he'd like to see the thief who could
open his safe. Paul, what should we do?"

"Go in, I reckon. Wait till I find my matches," returned the scout
leader, without the least hesitation.

"Oh! what if we should run up against a man hiding there?" suggested
Joe.

"Well, there are four of us, you know, boys. But what are you doing,
Jack?" Paul continued, seeing that his warmest chum was bending down, as
though he might be tugging at something.

"Look here what I've got, fellows! And there's a lot more to be had for
the taking," with which Jack Stormways held up a stout stick of wood,
which, coming with some of the hay or feed that reached the store during
the day, had been cast aside.

Immediately the three others made haste to possess themselves of similar
weapons.

"Read