Dan Carter and the Cub Honor Part 15

Chub won, so Mrs. Holloway handed the richly coated paddle to him on a paper plate. Midge was awarded the paddle from the freezer Dan had turned so faithfully.

"Gee, is this ever good!" he shouted, smacking his lips. "I wish I could have a big dish."

"You can tonight," Mrs. Holloway promised.

The other Cubs looked so downcast to see Midge and Chub eating the ice cream that Mrs. Holloway gave them each a tiny sample.

"Best ice cream I ever tasted," declared Dan. "I'll bet our party will be a huge success tonight."

Under the direction of the two mothers, the Cubs cleaned up the muss they had made in the bas.e.m.e.nt. Both freezers then were packed firmly with chopped ice, so that the cream would remain solid until it was needed.

"Dan, I wish you and Red would help carry the freezers upstairs," Mrs.

Holloway requested. "It's so warm here, the ice will melt. I think it will be better to set the freezers outside."

The two Cubs followed instructions, setting the containers on a tiny, back porch behind the church kitchen. To further protect them, they covered both freezers with a piece of canvas.

"Everything's set now for the party," Dan remarked cheerfully. "Wonder what's doing in the gym?"

Moving down the corridor, the two Cubs could hear the slap-slap-slap of rubber-soled shoes on the polished gymnasium floor. Brad, Mr. Hatfield and the other Cubs were there, watching the workout of the Purple Five.

Obviously, Pat and his players were trying to put on a show. They made a great commotion, pa.s.sing the ball fast, executing rapid turns and pivots and taking long shots at the baskets. In a surprising number of instances, the ball found its mark.

"Say, they're plenty good," Dan admitted in a whisper. "Especially Pat."

"Watch 'em guard," Red replied, looking worried. "Rough as all get-out."

Mr. Hatfield too, had observed the rough manner in which the boys played.

As the practice session wound up, he remarked to Pat that it might be well for the Purple Five to study the rules before the first scheduled game.

"We play strictly according to the book," he warned. "Any unnecessary roughness will go down as a foul."

"You don't have to worry about our team," Pat replied boastfully. "We know the rules from Z to A."

After ending the practice the Bay Sh.o.r.e boys took their time in leaving the church. They roved the corridors, peered down into the bas.e.m.e.nt, and even into the Cub's private clubroom.

One of the boys spied the cardboard fort which Fred had built. "Gee! Will you look at the playhouse!" he shouted.

Mr. Hatfield shooed the five wanderers out of the building. On the steps, Pat noticed the two ice cream freezers.

"When do we eat?" he demanded boisterously.

"You don't," Chips told him. "That's for our party tonight."

"Who is invited?"

"Only the parents of the Cubs."

"Well, have a good time," Pat said with a grin. "See you later."

He peered again at the ice cream freezers, helped himself to a chunk of ice, and sauntered off.

The party that night began early. Soon after seven o'clock, the parents started to arrive. Dan, Fred and Chub were on the welcoming committee to greet everyone at the door. The other Cubs were stationed at various tables, ready to explain the various exhibits.

The fort which Fred had constructed drew a great deal of favorable comment. Several parents expressed the hope that the structure would be kept on display for a long while.

"Oh, we intend to use it," Fred a.s.sured the group of admirers. "We'll play Indian games and act out pioneer stuff. Maybe put on a little play."

The Cubs were a bit impatient for the singing, the promotion ceremonies and other events to end. Eyeing the array of chocolate, angel food and spice cakes on the long supper table, they scarcely could wait until the moment came to eat.

Dan noticed that Chub seemed rather downcast. Sidling over to the younger boy, he asked him what was wrong.

"Nothing," Chub mumbled.

"You're not having a good time."

"Yes, I am," Chub insisted. "Wonderful!"

"Well, you don't act like it. Your face is as long as a roller towel.

What's eating you?"

"Nothing," Chub said again. And then he went on hurriedly: "It's only that-that all the other Cubs have a mother and Dad here tonight. I'm all alone."

"Sure, I know how you feel." Dan clumsily flung an arm around the younger boy's shoulders. "But don't you care."

He very much wanted to ask Chub about his mother and father. But recalling Mr. Hatfield's advice not to ask questions, he remained silent.

Presently, Mrs. Hatfield announced that supper would be served. The parents lined up for their decorated paper plates, napkins, silverware and big piece of homemade cake.

"We'll be ready to dish up the ice cream in a minute," Mrs. Hatfield advised Dan and Brad. "Will you boys please fetch the freezers?"

"Sure thing," Dan said eagerly.

He and Brad, together with Red who wanted to help, went out on the porch for the canvas-covered freezers.

Looking about, they could not see the containers anywhere.

"Say, what became of 'em?" Dan demanded.

"There's the canvas," Red noted. He pointed to the covering which lay in a heap on the ground near the steps.

"Do you suppose Mr. Hatfield moved them?" Brad speculated. "Wait, I'll find out."

He rushed back into the church, to return a moment later with the Cub leader. Mr. Hatfield a.s.sured the boys that he had not touched either of the freezers.

"When I came this way about thirty minutes ago, both were here."

"Then someone has taken them!" Dan exclaimed.