“It—it was all my fault. I threw a basketball through the church window.”
“The blame was partly mine, and I’m paying for it,” Dan said quickly. “I went out to Treuhaft’s place yesterday. He wasn’t there and his wife was pretty snippy with me. So I figure we won’t get those freezers now.”
“There must be others in Webster City. But we’ll have to hustle if we get them in time for Friday. Guess I’d better name a special committee to look after the job and see that the ice cream is ready in time for the party. Any volunteers?”
“Good! I’ll appoint Chub, Red and Chips to help you. Fred and Midge are to look up the matter of getting ice and rock salt. Mrs. Holloway has promised to help with the ice cream mixture. What kind’ll we have?”
“You would think of something like that, you drip!” Midge accused. “We’re having something simple like vanilla.”
“Let’s compromise on strawberry,” Brad suggested. “All in favor, say ‘aye.’ Opposed? The ayes have it.”
By this time it was ten minutes to five, and the Cubs began to shift uneasily in their chairs. Mr. Hatfield never had been so late before.
“I’ll bet he’s been in an auto accident,” Chips began to speculate. “Something has happened or he’d be here.”
“I could telephone his house,” Brad said reluctantly.
He was debating the matter when the Cubs heard an outside church door open and close.
“There he is now,” Brad exclaimed in relief.
Mr. Hatfield came into the meeting room, his gaze sweeping the semi-circle of expectant Cubs.
“I am sorry to be late, boys.” He spoke stiffly, and in an oddly subdued tone of voice.
The Cubs knew instantly that something was wrong. Mr. Hatfield didn’t seem at all his usual pleasant, easy-going self. His lips were drawn into a tight line of disappointment and he was unsmiling.
“We thought something had happened to you,” Brad remarked. “Shall we start the meeting with a song or the pledge of allegiance?”
“No, it’s too late for a meeting now,” Mr. Hatfield replied. “We have a very important matter to discuss.”
The Cubs became most attentive, aware that for some reason the group had incurred the leader’s displeasure. As Mr. Hatfield’s gaze swept the semi-circle it lingered for a moment on Dan. The boy had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being singled out for attention. Had Old Terry Treuhaft complained about the window perhaps?