Brad and Dan were at a loss for an argument. Mr. Hatfield had warned them that Mr. Merrimac might be inclined to whittle down the five hundred dollar pledge. But even the Cub leader had not expected such stiff resistance as this.
“How much have you lost?” Dan inquired. After speaking, he realized that the question was a very personal one.
“Several thousand,” Mr. Merrimac answered shortly. “It was stolen from my library. I kept the money in a metal box locked in a desk.”
“A metal box!” Dan exclaimed. “Oh, can you beat that!”
“I’m sure I don’t understand,” said Mr. Merrimac in perplexity.
“You must have heard about the Cubs finding a money box at the church,” Brad replied quietly. He was watching the elderly man very closely, wondering whether or not he might be acting a part.
“We don’t know whose box it is,” Brad said. “That’s for the police to decide.”
Mr. Merrimac had grown rather excited. “If you found a box at the church it must have been the one that was stolen from me!”
“If you can prove your claim, you’re welcome to it,” Brad returned, arising to leave. “It’s only fair to warn you though, that two other persons already have said it belongs to them.”
Mr. Merrimac pursued the boys to the door. Eagerly he plied them for more information. Dan and Brad, however, were in no mood to be pumped.
“You’ll have to see Mr. Hatfield or the police about it,” Brad told him firmly. “It’s none of our affair. We merely came here in the interests of the building fund campaign.”
“Oh, yes, the building fund,” the old man recalled. “Boys, if you’ll help me recover my money, I’ll make it right with you. I’ll pledge the five hundred dollars. I might even give more.”
Brad and Dan had reached the end of their patience.
“Thanks, Mr. Merrimac,” Dan said dryly. “We’ll remember.”
Scarcely bidding the old man goodbye, the two Cubs hurriedly left the house.
Once beyond hearing, they gave vent to their feelings.
“Three claimants now!” Dan exclaimed. “This positively is the last straw!”
“We come here to get a pledge from old Money Bags, and what does he do?” Brad added. “Why, he turns around and tries to file claim to the money box. I give up!”
Discouragement weighed heavily upon Dan and Brad as they left Mr. Merrimac’s home.