There were mistakes, plenty of them, but the scouts learned from experience, and it might be noticed that the same fellow seldom if ever committed the same blunder.
70
As the days went by, they became more and more proficient3 in their tasks, earning hearty4 praise from all those who were so deeply interested in the work. After a few drivers and chauffeurs5 had been fined, and some of them locked up for a spell, they began to realize that the scouts were not to be reckoned with as a big joke. When a boy, in the now respected khaki, standing6 in the middle of the street at that dangerous crossing, held up his white-gloved hand, traffic came to a sudden stop, and there was safe passage across for the groups of small children on the way to and from school.
It only delayed things for a minute at the most, but precious young lives were rendered safe from accident. Those boys who were given this privilege in regular rotation7 showed by their manner that they felt proud to fulfill8 their duties; nor did they in any instance abuse the privilege their badges gave them above their fellows.
71
What had at first seemed like a lark9 in the eyes of other boys not members of the troop presently became a serious matter. When some of them started to annoy members of the new Auxiliary10 Police they were soon startled by a visit at their homes by the stern Chief himself, who warned their folks that a second offense11 would mean severe punishment. Possibly some of those parents took it upon themselves to start operations by selecting a nice stout12 switch and keeping it in view.
However, gradually order came out of chaos13. Hugh worked faithfully trying to remedy whatever proved to be faulty, and, of course, there were numberless things that constantly required attention.
Those were busy days for the regular police, and it kept them on the go, warning offenders14 against the sanitary15 code that affairs must be speedily altered; for those wide-awake eyes of the thirty scouts on duty all the time seemed to discover a myriad16 of things that were not being conducted according to law, and were a disgrace to any decent community.
The mayor was now heart and soul in the work. He realized that he had the backing of the solid people of the town, as well as all the church members, and the women besides.
72
Once Oakvale had experienced the delight of being really clean it would require an upheaval17 to make them change back to old conditions. There was an element, however, as is always the case in every community, that looked upon these happenings with more or less angry mutterings and frowns, for with the change had passed their source of gain and livelihood18. They knew better than to talk openly against the new order of things, but whenever and wherever the opportunity arose they would try to excite derision for the “uplift” movement.
It seemed as though these people who loved darkness rather than light felt especially sore toward Hugh Hardin and his scouts. They believed that somehow the khaki boys were the backbone19 of the whole business, as they were the ones whose eyes detected offenses20 and reported the same to headquarters every day. With a score and a half of bright lads constantly on the scent21 it was difficult for anything unlawful to escape notice.
73
Without the help given by Hugh and his scouts the movement could never have attained22 such wonderful success from the beginning—that was as good as acknowledged by almost every one on both sides. It was not singular then that some of the lower elements, finding themselves hedged about with so many difficulties in gaining a livelihood in such a spick-and-span town, should get their heads together with the object of devising some shrewd method by means of which the old conditions might be brought back again.
Plainly then to do this the easiest way would be to conjure23 up some means whereby the new order of things would be brought into contempt. Hugh himself had more than once been given obscure threats that unless he relaxed his vigilance and shut his eyes to certain things if they started up again, he would find himself in a peck of trouble.
Not once did the boy flinch24, even though he felt that some of these men were of a desperate nature, and would descend25 to almost any mean depths when their former lawless habits were interfered26 with. Hugh consulted with the minister, Mr. Dobbs, and the mayor of Oakvale, both of whom promised to stand by the scouts through any difficulty.
74
These things aroused the women greatly when they heard of them. Plainly the enemies of the community were becoming alarmed, thinking they had been cast out for good. If conditions did not soon improve there would have to be considerable emigration to other communities that did not have ambitions to merit the name of “Spotless Town.” But it was believed that before they yielded up the fight these people would very likely make one last great effort to turn the tables on the reformers.
They had been engaging legal talent in Oakvale to look up the law and ascertain27 whether the mayor had not overstepped his authority when he ordered certain resorts closed where young fellows had been in the habit of congregating28 to play pool. Although no actual proof had as yet been produced, it was widely understood that other games far less innocent had also been played there, and that indeed liquor could be procured29 on the premises30 by those who “knew the ropes.”
But there were other lawyers on the side of the mayor, backed by the women and the reform element. They made certain that things were kept within the bounds granted by the law. Then the town Council, now wholly committed to the new order of things, announced themselves ready to pass any additional law necessary to continue things as they were.
75
A week later and Hugh began to breathe easier. He felt that matters had advanced so far that they could plume31 themselves on making the movement a success. He was every day hoping to hear that the elements they had cause to fear were commencing to leave town. As long as they continued to abide32 in Oakvale the danger was that of a snake “scotched, not killed,” and liable to come to life again at any time.
All this while he had not found a good chance to keep his promise to Tom Sherwood, mostly on account of the press of business. With so many things depending on him while acting33 in the place of Lieutenant34 Denmead, still absent from home, as well as his studying for the spring examinations, Hugh certainly had his hands full.
But whenever he happened to meet Tom, and saw that look of entreaty35 on the other’s face, Hugh took himself to task for not finding time to enter upon the little side campaign for the redemption of Benjy Sherwood.
76
So far as he knew, the latter did not seem to be in the company of the Norris boy on the various occasions when Hugh had noticed the latter on the street. That was no reason, however, that Benjy did not seek his society at other times, and perhaps visit at Park’s house, where possibly cards were not prohibited as a source of boyish amusement.
“I’m going to start something doing in that direction by to-morrow,” Hugh was telling himself as he walked toward home one afternoon, after making a report to the Chief and receiving the usual congratulations on his proficiency36.
It was the sight of Benjy across the way that caused him to say that, for the other had come out of the store where all sorts of games, from baseball goods and skates down to playing cards, were for sale and exhibited in the windows.
It seemed to Hugh, although he admitted that perhaps his imagination made him think so, that Benjy Sherwood glanced to the right and left as he came out, as a fellow might who was trying to hide something, or else felt conscience stricken. He noticed that the other was also trying to keep a package he carried close to his body as he walked on.
77
Suddenly Hugh saw Benjy turn and hurry down a side street, almost running, in fact. He hardly knew what to make of this until, chancing to look further along, he discovered Tom Sherwood in sight. It hardly seemed likely that the other had noticed his younger brother’s very suspicious action in wanting to elude37 him.
Hugh felt a strange fascination38 in connection with the matter. It was growing more interesting than ever, and more mysterious, he admitted. What had Benjy been doing in that store that he should dislike to have his brother see him, and actually turn and slink away?
“I’ll know something about this before a great while,” Hugh was telling himself as he walked slowly on, trying to figure out what his best plan of campaign might be under the circumstances. As a wise scout1 he always tried to make ample preparations before starting in on a game.
As once before, Hugh had gotten almost within sight of his home fence when he heard his name called from the rear. It was not Tom Sherwood this time who came running after him, but Ralph Kenyon.
78
Ralph had always been a great favorite of Hugh’s. There was a time when the other had been making money trapping small fur-bearing animals up above Oakvale, and proving himself quite a woodsman, in so far as having a knowledge of the habits of these four-footed forest denizens39 went.
That was before Ralph became interested in the scouts and finally joined the troop. He could not be induced to set a single cruel steel trap now, because he looked at things in an entirely40 different light from those other days. But he was without a peer in the whole troop when it came to a question of following a trail, or being able to understand what the thousand-and-one little signs in the woods stood for.
Ralph looked excited, Hugh saw, as the other drew near, and the first thing the scout master thought the cause to be some fresh insult from the rough element in town opposed to the new conditions.
Hugh was ready to turn right-about face and go back to the office of the Chief, if Ralph’s complaint seemed serious enough to warrant it. He was determined41 that the work so well begun should not be put back by any underhand methods.
79
Ralph soon came up, gulping42 in big draughts43 of air. His face was red, and what seemed to be a look of indignation, according to Hugh’s mind, could be seen there.
“Something got twisted and needs straightening out, eh, Ralph?” asked the scout master pleasantly.
“Worse than that, I’m afraid, Hugh,” replied Ralph.
“None of the boys hurt, I hope?” quickly inquired Hugh, for the one thing he had been dreading44 was an open rupture45 between the rival forces in town, with stones flying and a near-riot in the process of forming.
“Well, not yet, Hugh, but if things keep on there’s going to be the dickens to pay,” panted Ralph, leaning against the fence as he spoke46. “Fact is, those gamblers and law breakers have got desperate, and they’ve schemed to put us scouts in a bad hole, so the mayor will have to discharge us and start the whole uplift game tumbling in the soup; that’s what makes me look so scared like, Hugh!”
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1
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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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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proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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4
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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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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6
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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7
rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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8
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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15
sanitary
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| adj.卫生方面的，卫生的，清洁的，卫生的 | |
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myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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17
upheaval
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| n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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19
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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20
offenses
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| n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势 | |
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21
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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22
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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23
conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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25
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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26
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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27
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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28
congregating
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的现在分词 ) | |
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29
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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30
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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31
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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32
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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33
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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34
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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35
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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36
proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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37
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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38
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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39
denizens
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| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
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40
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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41
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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42
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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43
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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44
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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45
rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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46
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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