It was the talk of the day wherever two or more persons came together, and there were places where the action of the town Council was either severely2 criticized or else condemned3. No one need be told that as a rule these were the dens4 of vice5 that had been insulting the law and flaunting6 their brazen7 defiance8 in the teeth of the citizens.
Everybody seemed to be waiting with pent-up breath to see whether things would begin to move immediately Monday opened up.
50
By noon on Monday posters began to appear all over town, signed by the mayor, stating in concise9, legal phrases how from that hour forward the law was going to be strictly10 enforced to the letter, and telling all about the plan to enlist11 the active co-operation of the Boy Scouts12 in helping14 to make a clean town.
After school that afternoon the fellows belonging to Oakvale Troop to the number of thirty marched to police headquarters. That three of the boys did not respond to roll call before marching through the streets, Hugh ascertained15, was because in two instances they were sick at home with a mild attack of grippe, while the third boy was evidently kept away because he had an uncle who was believed to be the worst offender16 on the list, so that his folks were hardly in favor of appearing to go against their own flesh and blood.
But the boys, as they marched the full length of the main street, were cheered by shoppers and shopkeepers and clerks, as well as others who crowded to the doors and windows. For it was well known what part Hugh and his fellow scouts were going to take in the redemption of Oakvale. Their previous success in ridding the town of cluttering17 rubbish gave people confidence in their ability to do even greater things.
51
The Chief had his men lined up in front of the headquarters. He believed in doing things according to rule, and meant to receive the scouts as fellow workers in the good cause.
To hear the speech Chief Wallis made the new Assistant Police any one would have believed his heart had always been in the laudable enterprise of trying to clean up the dives, and protect the dangerous crossings. Perhaps it had, but the Chief being a politician dared not show his hand so long as he felt that public sentiment was against any change of policy. He knew better now. He had heard the ringing words that fell from Mrs. Beverly’s lips, which speech, according to all accounts, eclipsed any oration18 ever delivered in the town hall; the Chief was fully19 enlisted20 in the cause.
52
“We will have official badges made without delay for each and every member of the Assistant Police,” he told the listening boys, who interrupted his speech with frequent cheers. “In the meanwhile, as the posters issued by His Honor the Mayor state, your regular scout13 emblem21 will be badge enough, and must be respected everywhere within the limits of this town. Possibly some people will at first be inclined to treat your show of authority as a joke, and laugh at any orders you may issue. After a few of them have been arrested by my regular officers, and either fined or placed in jail for some days, they will have their eyes opened.”
Then the Chief went on to explain just what their line of work would consist of, and where they must draw the line. Certain duties they could proceed to carry out, but the regular officers would be used to make most arrests, especially where there was any danger involved.
“You understand,” he told them, “it is not intended that the boys operating with this movement are going to become spies, to find out what their neighbors may be doing, but we expect you to keep your eyes open to discover any glaring infraction22 of the laws, as mentioned in that poster, and your leader will thereupon report any such discovery at headquarters, from where it will be attended to.”
53
He then earnestly besought23 them to be on their dignity, and guard against any unnecessary show of being conceited24, or too proud of their new positions.
“Go about your work without any display of authority. People will begin by sneering25 at you, but if you do your duty faithfully they will soon come to respect your badge. Never forget that the best people of the community are behind you in all you may attempt. Hugh, we look to you to be a safe guide for your followers26, and the mayor told me to inform you that he expects every scout to do his part manfully. That’s about all I have to say to you to-day, though from time to time I expect to confer with your leader, and lay out new plans. I salute27 you all again as members in full standing28 of the Police Force of Oakvale.”
Hugh had his plans pretty well laid out, though everything could not be accomplished29 at once. He had selected certain members of the troop for duty at the dangerous crossings, beginning on the very next morning. In doing this, Hugh had used much discretion30, for he expected that there would be more or less trouble, since drivers and chauffeurs31 had become so accustomed to having their own way that they would object strenuously32 to any interference.
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It turned out, however, that Chief Wallis foresaw this very source of trouble, and had delegated several officers to stand near by in readiness to arrest the first driver who failed to pull up when a scout raised his white-gloved hand as an order for him to do so.
That was a pretty warm day in sections at police headquarters. Arrests came in quick succession, as though a regular scheme had been arranged to make the new order a laughing-stock. But the mayor had a magistrate33 ready, and those who were brought in charged with breaking the traffic rules, as well as in some cases resisting an officer had heavy fines imposed upon them, with the alternative of several days in the lockup if they refused to settle.
55
It was astonishing how quickly the news went around that the mayor actually meant to stand by the ladies and the scouts in the crusade. For the first time that evening in many moons, every questionable34 and shady resort about Oakvale was closed as tight as a drum, as Billy Worth explained it, after a walk about town.
“Why,” he told Hugh, with glistening35 eyes, “you can see the fellows who used to spend most of their time in those places standing on the street corners watching to see what next is going to happen. They look dazed and glum36, I tell you; yes, and ugly, too, because their business is going to be all busted37 up. They’re telling each other that the way things are starting in it looks like more than just a joke.”
“‘A new broom sweeps clean!’” quoted Hugh. “I never doubted but what once the people of this town woke up it could be done, and in a hurry. The only question is how long will it last? A whole lot of persons will soon get tired of the novelty, and public sentiment may swing around to indifference38 again. That is what we have to fear more than anything else. Those bad men will just wait for things to take a change, and as scouts we’ve got to see to it that the enthusiasm never dies out.”
56
After an exciting day, Hugh felt pretty tired that Monday evening. He had received special reports from all the scouts who had been on duty. These covered a multitude of things from difficulties at the crossings when traffic was held up at such times as the smaller children were going to and from school, to infractions of the laws of cleanliness and health persisted in by certain citizens who ought to have known better.
Hugh carefully read every one of these reports, and they were numerous, for the boys had been extremely vigilant39, as if to prove their right to be called Auxiliary40 Police. Hugh used his own discretion about keeping some of these reports. A few he smiled at, and made a mental note to warn the writer that it was not intended to enter into private property in order to spy around, but that the complaints must be of such things as offended the public eye or ear or nose; after which he tore these up.
57
The others he carefully filed with a good deal of satisfaction, to be later on submitted to Chief Wallis, after copies had been taken for the scout records. On the whole, Hugh believed the boys had made good that day, despite all the novelty of the thing, and the troubles they had met with. As time passed on and people came more and more to recognize them as a part of the regular system for carrying out the laws that were upon the books, much of this friction41 would die away, and the wheels of machinery42 could be expected to move more smoothly43.
Hugh, feeling that he must not neglect his studies on account of this outside occupation, had just taken out his books, and was about to settle down to an hour or so of “grind,” when he heard the doorbell ring.
Then he caught a familiar voice asking if he were at home. It was Tom Sherwood, stationed that day at the most dangerous crossing in all Oakvale, and who Hugh understood, from all accounts, had acquitted44 himself splendidly.
The sound of Tom’s voice suddenly recalled to Hugh’s mind the fact that he had promised to help the other. It had been utterly45 impossible for Hugh to attempt anything along the lines he had suggested, concerning an interview with Benjy Sherwood, for his day had been crammed46 full of duties, great and small.
But when Tom burst into his room impetuously Hugh could see from his face that the other had more bad news to communicate.
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1
pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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4
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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6
flaunting
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| adj.招摇的，扬扬得意的，夸耀的v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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7
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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9
concise
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| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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12
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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13
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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14
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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17
cluttering
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| v.杂物，零乱的东西零乱vt.( clutter的现在分词 )；乱糟糟地堆满，把…弄得很乱；（以…） 塞满… | |
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oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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21
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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infraction
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| n.违反；违法 | |
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besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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31
chauffeurs
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| n.受雇于人的汽车司机( chauffeur的名词复数 ) | |
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32
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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37
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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38
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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41
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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42
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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44
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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45
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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46
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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