AND THE S

morning. Their purpose was to purchase the staple articles of food that half a score of

d displayed the necessary funds taken from his pocket, "that our

. "I know several people who would willingly help us out. The scouts of Stanhope

ity would have been only too glad to put his hand

," commented the other boy. "But, after all, it's much b

th you, Jack? I'd like to take a squint at it, if you do

ity in this line, Jack hastened to produce the list

n to buy the stuff?" as

iggs has had some pretty fine hams in lately I heard at the house this morni

's out. I guess some of them do nag him more or less. I saw that Lawson crowd giving him

store," observed Jack, "so we might as wel

n bunch, there they are rig

practice of having "fun." This generally partook of the nature of the old fable concernin

hoboes they're nagging

ack, "where I expect they met a cold reception if

and his crowd, so why should they be pushed off

to the community. At the same time, no self-respecting scout would think of casting the first

remarked Jack, "because they know the police would grab them first, no matter if they were only defe

dly away. "There! that shorter chap was hit in the head with one of the rocks thrown after

ave disappeared around the corner we don't want to break into the ga

ement. Hank and his followers were laughing at a great rate as they exchange

e taken a savage delight in pitching in and giving that crowd the licking they deserved.

police force to manage such things. Fact is, I reckon Hank's bunch has done more to

n would have to work his passage. I bet there'd be a sign on every cross-roads warning the

ee that the proprietor was alone, his

ered the observing Bobolink. "Those tramps must have bothe

e we came up," Jack suggested; but further talk

He possessed good business abilities, and had managed to accumulate a

with the coming of age and its infirmities. He detested boys, and since that feeling soon be

ough he weighed them all in the same balance with Hank Lawson, and consider

pilfering. Neither Jack nor Bobolink had ever had hot words with the storekeeper, but for

you; but if you've only come in here to stand around my store and get warm

hed on he

. "The fact is a party of us scouts are planning to spend a couple of weeks up in the snow woods," continued Jack. "We have a list here

an mark the prices he'll let us have the articles for. Of cours

was intended for a little trap to trip him up. Mr. Briggs glanced over th

ces are pretty steep,

re two cents a pound on hams above the other stores. Yes, and even on coffee an

of course, you are at liberty to trade elsewhere. In fact, I do not believe you meant to buy the

used when innocent. "We are starting out to see where we can get our provisions at the most r

an. "I can't afford to do business at cost just to please a lot of harum-scarum boys, who wa

say something I'll be sorry for," remarked Bo

ny," Mr. Briggs told them. "And as for your trade, take it where you please

at he and Jack left the place, to do their shopping in more congenial quart