BOY SCOUTS at the 
 
 PANAMA-PACIFIC 
 EXPOSITION 
 
 LIEUT. HOWARD PAYS ON 
 
University of California Berkeley 
 
 THE PETER AND ROSELL HARVEY 
 MEMORIAL FUND 
 
1 
 
 They call it the Arch of the Setting Sun," replied the 
 scout leader. Page 125. 
 
THE BOY SCOUTS 
 
 AT THE 
 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 BY 
 
 LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE MOTOR CYCLE SERIES," "THE BOY SCOUTS OP THE EAGLE 
 
 PATROL," "THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE RANGE," "THE BOY SCOUTS ANT 
 
 THE ARMY AIRSHIP," "THE BOY SCOUTS' MOUNTAIN CAMP," "THE 
 
 BOY SCOUTS FOR UNCLE SAM," "THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 PANAMA CANAL," "THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE 
 
 IN MEXICO," "THE BOY scours ON BELGIAN 
 
 BATTLEFIELDS," "THE BOY SCOUTS WITH 
 THE ALLIES IN FRANCE." ETC. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 CHARLES L. WRENN 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 HURST & COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
Copyright, IMS, 
 
 ME 
 HURST 3c COMPANY 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. Two SCOUTS ON A MOTORBOAT 
 
 PACE 
 
 5 
 
 II. PROMPT WORK AND A RESCUE . . 17 
 
 III. WHEN LUCK CAME THEIR WAY . . 29 
 
 IV. A STUNNING SURPRISE .... 41 
 V. HEADED WEST ....... 53 
 
 VI. A FALSE ALARM ...... 65 
 
 VII. ACROSS THE CONTINENT .... 77 
 
 VIII. A SHOCK AT Los ANGELES . . ' . 89 
 IX. TURNING THE TABLES ON Two ROGUES 101 
 X. WITHIN THE GATES OF THE FAIR . 113 
 XI. ROB DELIVERS THE GOODS . 
 XII. THE PEOPLE OF THE "ZONE" . 
 A STRANGE MEETING IN THE AIR 
 FOUR SCOUTS IN THE WHIRL . 
 TUBBY Is OUT OF His ELEMENT . 
 THE ILLUMINATED FAIRYLAND 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 125 
 137 
 149 
 
 161 
 
 173 
 185 
 
 PRYING FINGERS 197 
 
 THE THIEF UNDER THE BED . . . 209 
 AN ENEMY OF THE PAST . . . .221 
 3 
 
4 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PACK 
 
 XX. LOTS OF EXCITEMENT 233 
 
 XXI. THE MAD DOG PANIC 247 
 
 XXII. TAKING IN THE SIGHTS OF THE FAIR 257 
 
 XXIII. HIRAM FACES THE Music .... 269 
 
 XXIV. A BOY SCOUT'S TRIUMPH .... 282 
 XXV. HOMEWARD BOUND ; . 293 
 
The Boy Scouts at the 
 Panama-Pacific Exposition. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 TWO SCOUTS ON A MOTORBOAT. 
 
 "Seems to me, Rob, I ought to know that old 
 tub of a motorboat we're overhauling/' 
 
 "Why, yes, Andy, it's Captain Jerry Martin's 
 Sea Gull. Time was when she had a reputation 
 for speed, but her engine is a back number now/' 
 
 "Huh! that must have been away in Noah's 
 time, I reckon, Rob. Why, we could make cir- 
 cles around her, if we chose to drive our little 
 Tramp to the limit." 
 
 "As we happen to be in no hurry to-day, there's 
 no use making the old skipper feel that his boat 
 is down and out. With vacation opening up 
 before us, I've been trying to settle on some 
 scheme for the scouts of the Eagle Patrol to 
 
 havfc a rousing good time this summer." 
 
 5 
 
6 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Well, I know where I'd be if I had the cold 
 cash to pay my expenses; and, Rob, chances are 
 you feel the same way about it." 
 
 "Now, I suppose you're thinking of Tubby 
 Hopkins' great good luck in having his uncle, 
 Dr. Mark Matthews, the famous globe-trotter, 
 carry him off three days ago for an extended trip 
 to the big show out in California?" 
 
 "Just what was on my mind, Rob. I don't be- 
 lieve I ever wished so much for anything as a 
 chance to hike away out to the Pacific. Noth- 
 ing comes my way any more, seems like. Some 
 of us scouts were lucky enough to have our turn 
 down in Mexico that time Tubby's uncle was 
 taken sick, and couldn't get there to meet his old 
 friend, General Villa, so as to dispose of the 
 cattle on his ranch before they were stolen by 
 the raiding Mexican rival armies. How the 
 rest of the boys envied us that glorious trip, 
 Rob!" 
 
 "I admit it was a rare streak of good fortune 
 to have things come our way as they did," the 
 boy named Rob remarked, as he gave a slight 
 turn to the wheel of the bustling little motorboat, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 7 
 
 aboard which he and Andy were the sole passen- 
 gers. "We ran up against quite an interesting 
 bunch of experiences, you remember, Andy, that 
 none of us will ever be apt to forget." 
 
 "As if that wasn't enough fun for Tubby and 
 Merritt and you," continued the boy called Andy 
 at the wheelsman, "it came about that you all 
 got a chance to go across the water to England 
 and Belgium late last summer on an important 
 mission for Merritt's family, and saw a heap of 
 what was going on in the fighting zone where 
 the Germans are up against the armies of France, 
 Belgium and Great Britain." * 
 
 "We've shaken hands with ourselves dozens 
 of times since, I give you my word, Andy, on 
 account of that fine streak of hick. Yes, we did 
 encounter a whole lot of remarkable adventures 
 over there, and saw sights well never forget. 
 Some of them I wish I could put out of my 
 mind, because they were mighty unpleasant. But 
 that page is turned down, Andy; and now the 
 
 * See "The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields," also 
 "The Boy Scouts with the Allies in France." 
 
8 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 next thing to consider is what we are going to 
 do this summer to make the time pass happily." 
 
 "Oh! I suppose I shouldn't complain," Andy 
 Bowles continued, trying to smile away the dis- 
 contented frown that had settled across his fore- 
 head. "Here, in this good old Long Island town 
 of Hampton, there are lots of ways a pack of 
 lively up-to-date Boy Scouts can have good 
 times during vacation. With the big bay at our 
 doors, and a bully little motorboat like this to 
 go fishing or cruising in, there's no reason for 
 us not to be hustling most of our spare time." 
 
 "Yes," Rob Blake went on to add, wishing to 
 soothe the ruffled spirit of his comrade, "and 
 you know what glorious camping trips we can 
 have with a lot of the boys, just as we used to in 
 other summers. There is the full Eagle Patrol, 
 except our fat chum, Tubby, who's gone to see 
 the sights of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, 
 and Merritt Crawford, who expects to be away 
 for a month and more with his folks." 
 
 "Besides," continued Andy Bowles, as though 
 the fact gave him more or less solid satisfac- 
 tion, "all the other patrols are full eight each 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 9 
 
 in the Hawk, the Black Fox and the Badger, 
 with a new one forming in the bargain. Boy 
 Scout activities are at flood-tide around Hamp- 
 ton these days." 
 
 "One reason for that, I take it," mused the 
 skipper of the little Tramp, "is the fact that 
 through our activities in the past we have man- 
 aged to keep our troop in the public eye, more 
 or less. People know what the Eagles have 
 done, and on the whole they favor their boys 
 joining the newer patrols. There's been a big 
 change in the young fellows of Hampton, I'm 
 told, since this Boy Scout movement first came 
 to town." 
 
 When the young leader of the Eagle Patrol 
 made this modest assertion, he certainly hit the 
 truth squarely on the head. During the last 
 two years the members of the Eagle Patrol had 
 made a name for themselves in Boy Scout an- 
 nals as the new reader will find out for him- 
 self if he cares to read the earlier books of this 
 fascinating series. 
 
 Among other things they had, through a 
 happy chance, become associated with certain 
 
10 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 scientific gentlemen connected with the United 
 States Government, who were experimenting 
 with a new and secret model for a big airship 
 patterned somewhat after the famous Zeppelins 
 of the Germans. 
 
 On another occasion they had been enabled 
 to assist in saving the design of a wonderful 
 submarine, also intended for the use of the Gov- 
 ernment, and the secret of which it appeared was 
 coveted by emissaries of a nation supposed to be 
 hostile to the United States, and desirous of 
 learning all about such an important discovery 
 that was apt to play an important part in future 
 ocean warfare. 
 
 Some of the scouts later on were given a 
 chance to pay a visit to the wonderful canal that 
 was then being dug across the Isthmus at Pan- 
 ama ; and the record of how they made themselves 
 exceedingly useful while down there will always 
 be a bright page in the history of the Hampton 
 Troop. 
 
 Mention has already been made by Andy 
 Bowles, the bugler of the troop, of the trip to 
 Mexico, with its attendant adventures; and also 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 11 
 
 of the foreign tour undertaken by several of the 
 Eagles on the previous summer, just when hos- 
 tilities had broken out between the nations of 
 Europe; and Belgium, where they were com- 
 pelled to visit, was torn from end to end with 
 the mad struggles of warring factions. 
 
 Yes, surely the Eagles could rest upon their 
 laurels from this time on, and history would 
 accord them the laurel wreath as the most en- 
 terprising patrol known to the Boy Scouts of 
 America. 
 
 Still, w T hat boy is ever satisfied with what has 
 happened in the past ? The present and the near 
 future is what engages his attention and excites 
 his interest. Even sensible Rob Blake secretly 
 sighed when he contemplated having to put in the 
 whole summer around the home town while 
 Tubby Hopkins was having such a glorious time 
 out there on the Coast ; and his other chum, Mer- 
 ritt Crawford, was up in Canada with his folks at 
 a camp. 
 
 It was a beautiful and warm day in the early 
 summer. The sun shone from an unclouded sky, 
 but there was enough sea breeze to fan their 
 
12 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 heated brows, and to make them think that there 
 could be few things equal to being in a speedy 
 little motorboat, spinning over the surface of 
 that lovely land-locked bay, with the ocean boom- 
 ing on the outer edge of the sandy strip to the 
 south. 
 
 They could have quite an extended view from 
 far out in the bay, with the houses scattered 
 along the shore, and the white sails of pleasure 
 craft or fishing and clamming boats dotting the 
 water far and near. 
 
 Just ahead of them the old launch that had 
 seen better days was churning up the water with 
 its noisy propeller, though not making remark- 
 able headway at that. As the two scouts grad- 
 ually drew up on the Sea Gull, they made out 
 that besides the ancient skipper there was just 
 one passenger aboard. 
 
 "Why," said Andy Bowles presently, as this 
 person chanced to turn his face toward them 
 by accident, "that must be the old gent I saw 
 drop off the nine-thirty train from New York 
 this morning when I was heading for your 
 house.; Yes, and now I think of it, I heard him 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 13 
 
 ask Dan Trotter at the station where Judge 
 Collins lived, and how he could get to his house 
 at the Point." 
 
 "Some friend of the Judge, then," suggested 
 Rob; "and I guess he has a host of them here 
 and abroad; for he's wealthy, and interested in 
 all sorts of scientific matters. They say that at 
 his city house in the winter he entertains, at 
 times, all the big guns from the different colleges 
 of the world." 
 
 "Which reminds me, Rob. There was an odd 
 twang in this old fellow's manner of speech 
 that made me think of Sandy Ferguson, the 
 Scotchman who has the bagpipes, you remember, 
 and always insists in marching in all the parades 
 in Hampton." 
 
 "Then, perhaps, he's some famous Scotch pro- 
 fessor," observed the skipper of the Tramp, 
 "who wants to see the judge so much that he's 
 chased away out here to his summer home on 
 invitation." 
 
 "He has a red face, wears big glasses, and 
 is scrawny enough for a Scotchman, anyway," 
 chuckled Andy, "but do you know I always like 
 
14 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 to listen to one of the Highland folks talk. It 
 was the 'burr' in his speech that made me stop 
 and listen as far as I did. He's got it down 
 pat, Rob/' 
 
 "Don't say anything more now, Andy; we're 
 drawing up pretty close, and he might not like 
 it if he thought we were talking about him. That 
 old motor does make lots of noise, but some- 
 times it misses, and then there's a lapse, you 
 know." 
 
 "But they're heading straight for the Point 
 where the Collins Castle is located, you notice, 
 Rob, so I guess Cap. Jerry is ferrying him 
 across. I only hope the old tub doesn't take a 
 notion to founder before it gets to the dock a 
 mile away from here." 
 
 "Oh! it's stood lots of pounding, and only 
 has to be bailed out frequently on account of 
 leaking like a sieve," Rob said in a low tone. 
 "Jerry has all that down to a fine point, and 
 just once in so often he gets busy and lowers 
 the bilge water with the pump he keeps rigged 
 handy." 
 
 "Excuse me from running around in such a 
 
1'AXAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 15 
 
 trap/' muttered Andy, who was rather inclined 
 to be "fussy" with regard to everything he han- 
 dled, and tried to have his possessions kept up 
 to top-notch condition what he himself called 
 "apple-pie shape/' 
 
 "The professor is like most Englishmen, for 
 he loves his pipe," remarked Rob, as he watched 
 the passenger aboard the old launch filling his 
 little black pipe with tobacco taken from a rub- 
 ber pouch. "I hope, when he strikes that match, 
 and then throws it away after lighting up, he 
 knows enough about motorboats to see that it 
 goes overboard, and not into the bottom of the 
 craft. Sometimes a leak will spread a film of 
 gasolene over the bilge water, and there's always 
 more or less danger of an explosion." 
 
 "Yes," added Andy seriously, "there have 
 been a number on the bay the last three seasons, 
 and two people that I can remember were so 
 badly burned that they died after being res- 
 cued." 
 
 Both of the boys watched with more or less 
 interest, and possibly with suspended breath, 
 while the red- faced passenger in Captain Jerry's 
 
16 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 old launch puffed several times at his pipe, then 
 tossed the match aside. 
 
 "Oh ! it didn't go overboard, for a fact, Rob !" 
 gasped Andy; but there was no time to say an- 
 other word, for suddenly they saw a flash of 
 flame spring up aboard the old Sea Gull, and 
 in an instant it seemed as though the launch 
 was aflame from stem to stern ! 
 
Suddenly they saw a flash of flame spring up aboard the 
 old Sea Gull Page 16. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 PROMPT WORK, AND A 
 
 Fortunately Rob Blake had wonderful pres- 
 ence of mind in a sudden emergency. Some 
 boys would have been so badly shocked by what 
 was happening near at hand, that for the time 
 being, they must have been unable to make any 
 move toward rendering first aid to the afflicted. 
 
 No sooner did the leader of the Eagle Patrol 
 see that terrible outburst of fire than he started 
 his little motor on at full speed, heading straight 
 toward the imperiled launch. 
 
 "Quick! get hold of that fire extinguisher we 
 carry !" he called out to his companion, who 
 was staring, with open mouth and awe-filled eyes, 
 at the scene of commotion close by. 
 
 "But, Rob, will the fluid put out a gasolene 
 fire?" exclaimed Andy, though at the same time 
 hastening to throw back the lid of a locker and 
 snatch out the brass tube which had been lying 
 there for just such a time of sudden need. 
 
18 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Yes, that's one of its best uses," Rob told him 
 hastily. "It seems to form a coating over every- 
 thing it touches that the fire can't break through. 
 It kills fire. That's where it gets its name. Be 
 ready now to make use of it when we come up 
 as close as I dare go." 
 
 "Both of the men are overboard, Rob!" an- 
 nounced Andy excitedly, "and hanging on to 
 the side of the boat. Wow! but isn't she blaz- 
 ing, though ? I can begin to feel the fierce heat 
 even here!" 
 
 "Ready to get busy now!" cried the skipper, 
 as he manipulated his engine in such a way as 
 to reverse the propeller, and bring the Tramp 
 to a stop close to the blazing launch. 
 
 Andy was no coward, and could keep a pretty 
 level head when it came down to doing things; 
 though often he had to be told what to attempt 
 by someone more masterful than himself. As 
 soon as Rob shouted to him to start operations, 
 he worked the fire extinguisher with might and 
 main, and was considerably astonished to dis- 
 cover that just as Rob had said, wherever the 
 magical fluid struck, it seemed to dishearten the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 19 
 
 conflagration, for the flames immediately died 
 out. 
 
 "Whoop! it's doing the whole business, that's 
 right, Rob!" cried the pleased amateur fire- 
 fighter, as he continued to make judicious use 
 of his apparatus. "Why, I tell you nothing can 
 hold out, Rob, against this dandy contraption. 
 Look at it do the work, will you ? Oh ! it's sure 
 worth its weight in go!4 when you need some- 
 thing to save your boat with." 
 
 Indeed, to judge from the magical way in 
 which the threatening fire was extinguished 
 aboard the old launch, Rob Blake had certainly 
 made no mistake w r hen he purchased that little 
 fire-fighting contrivance, even though it did 
 cost him close on ten dollars. 
 
 Rob, seeing that all danger of the fire com- 
 municating to the Tramp was now past, slowly 
 started toward the other boat. His intention 
 was to rescue the two elderly men who were in 
 the water. To tell the truth, Rob was very much 
 afraid the passenger may have been seriously 
 burned, and that in his panic he might release 
 his frenzied grip on the gunwale of the boat. 
 
20 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 It turned out otherwise, however, for Scotch 
 grit held good, and Rob soon had the satisfac- 
 tion of helping both men aboard the Tramp. 
 
 They had received a number of burns, and 
 presented rather a peculiar appearance, since 
 their eyebrows and beards had been badly 
 singed. 
 
 "Fire's all out, Rob!" announced Andy, at 
 this juncture. 
 
 "Then fix it so that we can tow the Sea Gull 
 behind us," the other told him, "and we'll change 
 our course for the Collins Point yonder." 
 
 "It is verra kind of ye to go to all that 
 trouble," remarked the elderly man, looking the 
 young skipper of the rescuing boat over from 
 head to toe, "and I wull not be the one to for- 
 get the favor, I assure you, my fine laddie." 
 
 "I hope you are not seriously burned, sir?" 
 remarked Rob, who saw that there were signs 
 of the other's clothes having been afire before 
 he tumbled overboard, possibly urged to this 
 last resort through the energetic efforts of old 
 Captain Jerry Martin. 
 
 "I sincerely hope not myself," replied the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 21 
 
 other, as he felt of his body, and then put up 
 a hand to his blackened face. "I believe I've 
 been well singed, and that until I grow a new 
 crop of eyebrows I will look like a scorched rat; 
 which is verra unfortunate, since I am on a most 
 important errand over in your country. But, 
 indeed, I should be ashamed to complain, for it 
 might have been a deal worse." 
 
 "And how about you, Captain Jerry?" asked 
 Rob, turning to the subdued looking old skipper 
 of the disabled motorboat, who had once been 
 an oysterman, though of late years rheumatism 
 had compelled him to seek another less strenu- 
 ous means for making a living on the famous 
 bay. 
 
 "Nawthin' to count much, Rob," grunted Cap- 
 tain Jerry, "but I'm afraid I'll jest hev to git 
 a new engine aboard the Sea Gull arter this ac- 
 cident. I knowed she leaked a mite in the con- 
 nectin' feed pipe, but I never thought anybody 
 would throw a lighted match down thar! I'm 
 glad to be alive still; and I hopes as how the 
 duckin' ain't agoin' to fotch on my rheumatiz 
 agin." 
 
22 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "As I'm altogether to blame for the accident, 
 Captain," said the passenger, "I shall insist on 
 doing my part toward helping you put in that 
 new motor. The chances are I will be marooned 
 at my friend's place now for weeks, until I'm 
 presentable ; though what's to be done about get- 
 ting that valuable shipment out to our exhibit 
 I am unable to say. Perhaps Judge Collins may 
 be able to help me decide. It's a verra odd time 
 to introduce myself, laddies, but I want to know 
 more of ye, and so permit me to say I am Pro- 
 fessor Andrew McEwen, from Edinburgh 
 University, Scotland." 
 
 "My name is Robert Blake, and my father is 
 connected with the bank at Hampton. My chum 
 here is of the same name as yourself, profes- 
 sor, Andrew; but his last name is Bowles. I 
 think his family came originally from Scot- 
 land. We are Boy Scouts, and out for a little 
 cruise just to pass the time away." 
 
 "Which was a lucky thing for myself, I am 
 sure," remarked the elderly gentleman, as he 
 squeezed a hand of each of the young fellows. 
 "And if you will land me at Judge Collins' dock, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 23 
 
 you will increase the obligations under which 
 you have placed me." 
 
 "We are heading straight that way, sir," Rob 
 told him. 
 
 Somehow he liked the stranger from the start. 
 He had shrewd, gray eyes that had been wont, 
 no doubt, to twinkle under bushy eyebrows ; but 
 with these now missing his thin face had an al- 
 most comical appearance. Still, there was a 
 kindly expression to be detected there, as well 
 as the keen look of a savant. And from the 
 way in which Professor McEwen from time to 
 time watched Rob, it was evident that he had 
 also conceived a great fancy to the fine, manly 
 looking boy who seemed to be able to master a 
 crisis so ably. 
 
 Presently they drew in at the dock, where 
 Judge Collins was awaiting them. From the 
 fact that the gentleman gripped a pair of marine 
 glasses in his hand, and had ah anxious look 
 on his face, Rob jumped to the conclusion that 
 he must have been on the lookout for the com- 
 ing of the celebrated scientist from abroad, and 
 
24 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 might have witnessed the details of the accident 
 and the rescue. 
 
 "I dinna doobt but that ye will have some dif- 
 ficulty in recognizing me, Judge Collins," called 
 out the Professor, falling back more than ever 
 into his Scotch dialect in his mingled amusement 
 and chagrin. "My ain brother wouldna know 
 me with this blackamoor face, sans eyebrows, 
 sans beard, and fortunate to have saved my eye- 
 sight. I am a fearsome sicht, and feel unco'- 
 unpleasant in the bargain. But thanks to these 
 braw laddies we were saved from a watery 
 grave, for which baith feel thankful/' 
 
 "You must come up to the house at once and 
 wash up," said the judge feelingly. "Then I 
 shall ease any suffering with some magical pain 
 extractor that I chance to have and can recom- 
 mend. No, please stay with me a little while, 
 boys, unless you are in a great hurry. I want 
 to hear your side of the story as well. And Cap- 
 tain Jerry, what can I do to make you comfort- 
 able? An old sailing mate of yours is in the 
 boathouse at work, and if you will join him 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 25 
 
 shortly I will send something comforting out to 
 you." 
 
 Rob looked at Andy, who nodded his approval 
 of this idea. Andy had never before met with 
 a chance to see the inside of the judge's house 
 on the Point, which, being built of stone, and 
 boasting a few turrets, had come to be called 
 the "Castle" by most of the baymen. Such a 
 golden opportunity might not come along again ; 
 and, besides, they certainly were in no hurry, 
 so they could oblige the judge without putting 
 themselves out at all. 
 
 Shortly afterward they found themselves in 
 the library. Rob had been here before and even 
 spent some hours examining the myriads of curi- 
 ous things among the collections which Judge 
 Collins kept at his country house, where he spent 
 more than half the year entertaining visitors. 
 
 Here the judge made an examination of the 
 burns of the little Scotch scientist. It was found 
 that beyond a few painful red marks, and the 
 loss of the hair that had once been on his face, 
 Professor McEwen was all right. 
 
26 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 He seemed to take his mutilation greatly to 
 heart. 
 
 "It would ha'e been peetifu' eno' at any time 
 to be transformed into such a scarecrow as this; 
 but think of me on the way out to join some of 
 my fellow workers in the avenues of science, 
 and taking with me the balance of our delayed 
 valuable exhibit. Aweel, aweel, the best paid 
 plans o' mice an' men gang aft aglee. I shall 
 ha'e to hide my diminished head until Nature 
 restores my looks. Ya maun rest assured I 
 shall not let my friends see me in this way; 
 they wouldna doobt but that it was the Missing 
 Link come to light." 
 
 "I shall be delighted," said the judge impul- 
 sively, "to have you stay with me as long as 
 you can spare the time, Professor. It will glad- 
 den my heart more than I can tell you, for the 
 profit is bound to be all on my side." 
 
 "But whatever am I to do aboot getting that 
 exhibit out to our concession at the Exposition, 
 now that I shall be utterly unable to attend to 
 it myself? I wish I could solve that problem; 
 my own discomfort I wouldna consider so much. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 27 
 
 In fact, I have undertaken this trip under pro- 
 test. I care not a rap or a bawbee as to whether 
 I see the Exhibition or not, if only I could make 
 positive that my errand had been successfully 
 carried out." 
 
 "Surely you can send what you are taking 
 there by express, and it will arrive safely?" sug- 
 gested the judge. 
 
 "But I gave my solemn word," expostulated 
 the Scotch professor, who seemed to possess all 
 of the stubborn qualities with which those of 
 his land are said to be afflicted, "not to let the 
 valuable packet go out of my possession for a 
 minute, unless I gave it in charge of an equally 
 responsible messenger. Money would be no ob- 
 ject, judge, I assure you, if only you could find 
 me a gude mon; nane ither would I trust." 
 
 The judge seemed to be pondering. When 
 Andy caught him looking in a serious fashion in 
 the direction of himself and comrade, somehow: 
 he felt a queer thrill pass through his system, 
 though he did not exactly know why it should 
 be so. 
 
 Then he saw a smile begin to creep over the 
 
28 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 face of Judge Collins, as he nodded his head 
 slowly. Whatever had flashed into his mind, 
 it seemed to afford him considerable satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 "Professor McEwen," he said slowly, but ear- 
 nestly, "if you are looking for some trustworthy 
 persons to whom you can delegate your mis- 
 sion, and do not mind what expense there may 
 be attached to carrying it out, I believe I can 
 suggest a couple of dependable young chaps who 
 might fill the bill; they are the wide-awake Boy 
 Scouts who were concerned in your rescue this 
 very morning. How would you like to talk over 
 that business with Rob Blake and Andy Bowles, 
 here, Professor?" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 29 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 WHEN UJCK CAME THEIR WAY. 
 
 Andy fairly held his breath in suspense when 
 Judge Collins made that astonishing suggestion 
 to the little Scotch professor. He had always 
 known that the judge was a firm believer in the 
 uplift of the Boy Scout movement, for he had 
 never failed to assist the Hampton Troop by 
 every means possible. That he would go so far 
 as to recommend two of the scouts to his friend 
 as responsible enough parties to be entrusted 
 with such an errand filled Andy with both 
 amazement and delight 
 
 Professor McEwen's eyes twinkled as he sur- 
 veyed first the boys and then their earnest spon- 
 sor. 
 
 "I ha'e no doobt but that they are responsi- 
 ble and trustworthy, just as ye say, Judge Col- 
 lins," he proceeded to remark presently, with 
 lines of perplexity visible across his forehead, 
 "and if it were but an ordinary errand I 
 
SO THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 wouldna hesitate a single instant aboot entrust- 
 ing it to them. But I ha'e to consider well be- 
 fore makin' up me mind. The property belangs 
 to ithers than mesiF, ye ken; and it is of a sci- 
 entific value beyond compare. In fact, it could 
 riot well be replaced if lost in transit; money 
 wouldna be any consideration in exchange, 
 which is why I wouldna wish to send it by ex- 
 press." 
 
 "Be kind enough to listen while I relate a few 
 facts concerning this same Rob Blake, and a 
 couple of his friends," said the judge, smiling, 
 and shaking his head at Rob when he thought 
 the latter looked as though about to protest. 
 
 "I should be unco' pleased to hear all you can 
 tell me," declared the scientist, "for I must con- 
 fess that from the verra beginning these braw 
 lads ha'e made a most favorable impression with 
 
 me." 
 
 And so Rob had to sit there, squirming rather 
 uneasily, while the judge told of the perilous trip 
 he and several chums had made to the troubled 
 republic of Mexico, and how they had cleverly 
 managed to accomplish the delicate mission with 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 31 
 
 which they had been entrusted by Tubby Hop- 
 kins' uncle. 
 
 Then he took up the subject of the tour 
 abroad, where they had been for days and weeks 
 in the battle zone of the contending armies, man- 
 aging with consummate skill to avoid compli- 
 cations, and eventually succeeding in attaining 
 the object which had been the cause of their 
 undertaking this perilous mission. 
 
 All this while the little Scotch professor 
 sucked away at his pipe as though he found great 
 consolation in burning the weed that originally 
 came from Virginia in the time of Sir Walter 
 Raleigh, and was therefore a strictly American 
 product. Now and then he would let his shrewd 
 eyes roam from the face of the enthusiastic 
 judge to the burning one of Rob Blake, and at 
 such times Andy always noticed that he would 
 nod slightly, as though better pleased than ever. 
 
 Andy, by the way, was enduring all manner 
 of torture on account of the suspense; he had 
 had a glorious prospect opened up before him y 
 if only the curtain would not suddenly fall and 
 shut it out. 
 
32 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "That is not nearly all that these gallant boys 
 have done/' declared the narrator, after a time. 
 "I could sit here for an hour and tell you in- 
 numerable instances where Rob, and some of 
 his chums into the bargain, did things that would 
 be counted big under ordinary conditions. Why, 
 it has come to that pass in Hampton nowadays 
 that when anything beyond the ordinary is at- 
 tempted they have to get the scouts interested 
 in it first, and then people begin to believe it 
 must have some merit/' 
 
 "What you tell me is indeed wonderful/' de- 
 clared the professor. "After that recommenda- 
 tion I am strongly disposed to offer them the 
 carrying out of my mission if they could see their 
 way clear to accept the task." 
 
 "It would give them a chance to spend some 
 weeks at the Exposition without incurring any 
 expense, is that the idea, Professor McEwen?" 
 asked the judge, who looked as happy as though 
 he had discovered some wonderful bug which 
 had been eagerly sought after for years and 
 years by all scientists and collectors. 
 
 "Yes, a month, if they cared to stay that 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 33 
 
 long/' replied the other, who seemed to have 
 been fully convinced, and ready to throw the 
 load of responsibility from his own shoulders 
 to those of Rob and his chum. "The particu- 
 lars can be gone over a little later, either to- 
 night, if they care to see me again, or to-mor- 
 row. There is no great need o' haste, though 
 what I am carrying out to California is being 
 eagerly expected by my colleagues there." 
 
 "Let me congratulate you, boys, on your good 
 fortune," said the kindly judge, as though he 
 wished to settle the matter in such a fashion 
 that there could be no drawing back on the part 
 of the gentleman. He then shook hands first 
 with Rob and then with Andy Bowles. 
 
 Rob was looking a little pale from excitement, 
 but there was also a happy glow in his eyes. 
 As for Andy, he could not prevent a wide grin 
 from spreading over his features. His father 
 owned a livery stable in Hampton, but was not 
 considered at all well-to-do, so that the boy 
 had never been able to do more than dream of 
 taking expensive trips. That one down into 
 Mexico had come like a gleam of golden sun- 
 
84 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 shine, for Tubby Hopkins' old uncle had footed 
 all the bills. 
 
 "Do I understand you to make this proposi- 
 tion to us, Professor McEwen?" Rob asked 
 bluntly, not wishing to be laboring under any de- 
 lusion. 
 
 "Aweel, aweel, I dinna ken how I could do 
 better ; and I feel that I am indebted to ye baith 
 for my life. After hearing what bonny lads 
 ye are, from my friend Judge Collins here, 
 whose opinion carries great weight wi' me, I am 
 mair than pleased to offer to stand all the cost 
 of a trip to California and back; as well as the 
 expense which you will necessarily be under 
 while seeing the great Exposition in San Fran- 
 cisco. Do ye think ye can ha'e the permission of 
 the auld folks to take so lang a journey?" 
 
 "There will be no trouble on that score, Pro- 
 fessor," urged the judge. "These lads have so 
 amply demonstrated their sterling ability to look 
 out for themselves that I really believe Rob's 
 parents would not object if he wanted to go to 
 hunt for the South Pole, or explore the unknown 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 35 
 
 regions of tropical Brazil. And so we shall call 
 it settled, I presume, Professor?" 
 
 "I ha'e made the offer, and shall tak' it hard 
 if they turn it down," said the peculiar little 
 man of science, whose name, Rob afterward 
 learned, was known throughout the whole length 
 and breadth of the world wherever men of in- 
 tellect gathered to discuss their theories and dis- 
 coveries. 
 
 "So far as we are concerned," said Rob, after 
 receiving an entreating look from the excited 
 Andy, "we are disposed to accept right on the 
 spot, subject to the reservation that our parents 
 may have the final deciding of the matter. We 
 will run over here by moonlight to-night, Pro- 
 fessor, and if everything is satisfactory, v:c will 
 talk matters over with you, and make all ar- 
 rangements." 
 
 "That suits me nicely, laddie," declared the 
 visitor pleasantly; "and I shall ha'e to think my- 
 sel' unco' lucky to have found competent and 
 trustworthy messengers so soon after the neces- 
 sity arose. I shall look for ye then this same 
 evening; and I hope that there may be no barrier 
 
36 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 thrown in the way of your acceptance ci ,ny 
 offer. The mair I see of ye the better satisfied 
 I feel that I will ha'e no regrets after entrust- 
 ing my mission in your hands." 
 
 Soon afterward the two scouts saU good-by 
 to the professor, and started down to the dock. 
 Even in his distress of body and mind, the 
 thoughtful scientist had not forgotten Captain 
 Jerry; and the boys were entrusted with a mes- 
 sage to him to the effect that ten pounds awaited 
 his acceptance when he was ready to install that 
 new three-horse-power engine in his launch. 
 
 The old bayman was glad of the chance to 
 have his wrecked boat towed back home; and 
 when Rob delivered the message of the profes- 
 sor, the look of concern on his weatherbeaten face 
 vanished as the mist does with the coming of 
 the sun. 
 
 All the way across the broad bay the two 
 scouts were jabbering to each other in connec- 
 tion with the astonishing streak of good fortune 
 that had just come their way. 
 
 "Seems to me I must be dreaming!" Andy de- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 37 
 
 clared for the fourth time. "Please give me a 
 pinch, Rob, to let me make sure Fm awake/' 
 
 "Oh! you'll get used to it by degrees/' the 
 other told him, though he felt somewhat uncer- 
 tain himself at times, and had to convince him- 
 self that it had all actually happened, and was 
 not the result of a fevered imagination. 
 
 "Talk to me about luck," continued Andy rap- 
 turously, "there never could happen again such 
 a wonderful combination of things. First, that 
 the feed-pipe aboard the Sea Gull should be leak- 
 ing a trifle; second, that Professor McEwen 
 was aboard the same; then he tossed that light- 
 ed match the wrong way, so instead of going 
 overboard it fell down and slipped between the 
 bars of the wooden grating into the oil-covered 
 bilge water, and last of all that we chanced to 
 be close by at the critical moment, ready fixed 
 with a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze, and 
 capable of hauling the ship-wrecked mariners 
 aboard." 
 
 "Everything of that kind is always a combina- 
 tion of minor happenings that seem to dove- 
 tail in with each other," Rob explained. "In this 
 
38 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 case it worked perfectly. All other boats were 
 so far away that there's no telling what might 
 not have happened." 
 
 "We're getting close in now, and, Rob, there's 
 somebody waving to us from the dock. Why, it 
 looks like our inventor chum and fellow scout, 
 Hiram Nelson, the queerest fellow in the Eagle 
 Patrol. He must \vant us to stop and take him 
 out for a ride on the bay. You didn't promise 
 him anything like that, did you, Rob?" 
 
 "Why, no, not that I remember," replied the 
 other slowly; "but now that you mention him 
 acting as though he wanted to see us so badly, 
 I remember that Hiram has been talking to me 
 several times lately about some wonderful secret 
 he was carrying around with him. He said he 
 hoped to be in a position soon to open up and 
 take me into his confidence; and that he might 
 have a proposition to make that would give me 
 a great, though a pleasant shock." 
 
 "You don't say?" chuckled the happy Andy. 
 "Well, seems to me the. shoe is on the other foot 
 just now, and that we've got something to tell 
 Hiram that will take his breath away for a min- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 39 
 
 ute. Look at him dancing around, Rob ! I sup- 
 pose now he's gone and invented some sort of 
 contraption that never can be made to work, 
 and he wants to tell you he's saved up enough 
 hard cash to get a patent on the same. But 
 chances are it'll be money wasted, because, so 
 far as I know, nothing Hiram has done so far 
 has proved much of a success." 
 
 "I'm a little afraid it's as you say," added 
 Rob, in a low tone, for they were now fast near- 
 ing the dock where the other boy waited for 
 them, his face wreathed in such broad smiles 
 that they could easily see his news was of a pleas- 
 ant nature. "Three times Hiram has tried to 
 go up in that aeroplane of his and failed. I hope 
 he's switched his genius off on some safer track 
 than this sky traveling. But we'll soon know, 
 for here we are at the dock." 
 
 Andy stood by with the boathook to fend off, 
 and old Captain Jerry got in readiness to take 
 charge of his launch and pole it along the border 
 of the bay to the mouth of the creek, up which 
 he had his mooring place. 
 
 When Rob had made the motorboat fast to a 
 
40 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 cleat on the dock, he joined his chum, and the 
 two of them advanced toward the spot where 
 Hiram awaited their coming, his face still be- 
 traying the great excitement under which he 
 seemed to be laboring. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 41 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A STUNNING SURPRISE. 
 
 "He certainly looks all worked up, doesn't he, 
 Rob?" Andy remarked, as he and his companion 
 found themselves drawing closer to the other 
 scout 
 
 "Hiram is a queer stick, you remember," the 
 patrol leader told him, speaking in a soft tone, 
 as he did not wish the other to catch what he 
 said. "Everybody just knows that he's gone 
 daffy over this craze to invent something worth 
 -vhile. But unless I miss my guess we're go- 
 iiig to hear some news shortly." 
 
 There was no chance to exchange further re- 
 marks, because they had reached a point close 
 to Hiram. The latter was a rangy sort of chap. 
 He could talk as well as the next one when he 
 felt disposed that way, but it had always been 
 a sort of fad with Hiram Nelson to pretend 
 that he was a real countryman, and many a 
 time hc?d he amused his chums with his broad 
 
42 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 accent and his wondering stare, as of a "yahoo" 
 seeing city sights for the first time. 
 
 Now, however, Hiram apparently was not 
 bothering his head about having any fun with 
 his fellow scouts. There was an eager expres- 
 sion on his face, as though he were bursting 
 with the desire to communicate his great secret 
 to a chosen few of his chums, especially to the 
 patrol leader, Rob Blake. 
 
 "Been alookin' for you all over town, Rob," 
 he started in to say, as they joined him. "Took 
 me an awful long time to get track of where 
 you'd gone. Then just by accident I ran across 
 Walter Lonsdale, who told me he believed from 
 what Sim Jeffords said, that Joe Digby had seen 
 you and Andy here hitting it up for the dock, 
 and so he reckoned you must have gone off on 
 your little Tramp. And say, Walter was right 
 that time, wasn't he?" 
 
 "He certainly was," replied Rob, while Andy 
 Bowles chuckled at the roundabout way the 
 other admitted he had received his information. 
 
 "Well, Rob," continued Hiram mysteriously, 
 "course you remember my telling you that soon- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 43 
 
 er or later I might have somethin' of vast im- 
 portance to tell you, something that would give 
 you one of the greatest thrills ever?" 
 
 "Sure, I remember that/' asserted the other, 
 "what about it, Hi?" 
 
 The other leaned closer to the scout leader, 
 and in a hoarse whisper exclaimed : 
 
 "The time has come now, Rob !" 
 
 "Good enough," said Rob. "Fire away then, 
 Hiram!" 
 
 Hiram cast a rather dubious glance in the di- 
 rection of Andy. 
 
 "Oh, don't mind me one little bit, Hi!" sang 
 out that worthy cheerfully. "I'll promise to 
 seal my lips if you give the word, and even being 
 burned at the stake couldn't force me to squeal 
 a syllable. Say on, Hiram ; you've got Rob and 
 me worked up to top-notch with curiosity, and 
 I know I'll burst pretty soon if you don't take 
 pity on me." 
 
 "Oh ! well, I guess it's all right," the other ob- 
 served slowly. "Everybody'll be knowing it 
 sooner or later. You just can't hide a light un- 
 
44 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 der a bushel, anyhow. So I might as well take 
 you at your word, Andy." 
 
 "My word's as good as my bond, Hiram," 
 said the bugler of the troop, with some show of 
 pride; whereat Hiram laughed softly, as though 
 possibly he had no reason to doubt that same 
 fact, since Andy would find it difficult work to 
 get anybody to accept the latter. 
 
 "Let's sit down here on this pile of lumber," 
 Hiram went on to say, "while I tell you what 
 wonderful things happened. The greatest 
 chance I've ever struck so far, and you can un- 
 derstand that I'm nigh about tickled to death 
 
 over it." 
 
 "Huh! bet you've gone and spent every red 
 cent you could scrape up paying a patent law- 
 yer to put some wildcat scheme through; and 
 that you've got the papers in your pocket show- 
 ing that you've parted from your hard cash?" 
 
 When Andy recklessly said this Hiram turned 
 and looked reproachfully at him, and then with 
 his accustomed drawl remarked: 
 
 "Everything we tackle in this world is a 
 chance and a hazard, don't you know, Andy 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 45 
 
 Bowles? And if inventors, people who have 
 the big brains, and get up all the wonderful la- 
 bor-saving devices you read about, didn't choose 
 to accept risks, why whatever would become of 
 all you ordinary folks, tell me?" 
 
 Andy shook his head. 
 
 "Give it up, Hiram," he said blankly. "But 
 please go right along and tell us what you've 
 been and gone and done now. Never mind me. 
 My bark is a whole lot worse than my bite, any- 
 how." 
 
 "That's so," Hiram assured him cheerfully. 
 "Well, you guessed right in one way, Andy, for 
 I have secured the advance notice that a patent 
 is pending on a clever invention of mine, which 
 is as good as saying it's secured. But that's 
 only the beginning, the foundation, or, as you 
 might say, the advance agent of prosperity. The 
 best is yet to come." 
 
 "You're exciting us a heap, Hiram, I admit," 
 muttered Andy, "but I hope it isn't all going 
 to turn out a big smoke. There's some fire back 
 of this talk, isn't there?" 
 
 "Wait!" the other told him grimly. "Get 
 
46 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ready to soak in this information, boys. The 
 invention for which I have applied for patent 
 rights is, as p'raps you've already guessed, in 
 connection with airships!" 
 
 He waited at that point, as if expecting some 
 expression of surprise and wonder ; so not to dis- 
 appoint him, and in hopes of hurrying matters 
 along a little faster, the accommodating Andy 
 gave vent to the one expressive word: 
 
 "Gee!" 
 
 "Yes, I've been tackling one of the hardest 
 propositions we inventors have ever run up 
 against," continued Hiram pompously, "and to 
 tell you the truth it was only through a happy 
 chance that in the end I stumbled on the key 
 that unlocked the secret. You may know that 
 one of the obstacles to making aeroplanes popu- 
 lar among the masses has been the danger at- 
 tending these air flights. Even the most ex- 
 perienced pilots are subject to risks that they 
 pretend to make light of. You understand all 
 that, Rob, of course?" 
 
 "Yes, I know they are delicate affairs at best 
 when used for sailing a mile above the earth," 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 4? 
 
 admitted the patrol leader; "and that a sudden 
 gust of wind, if it takes the voyager unawares, 
 is apt to bring about disaster." 
 
 "That's just it," said Hiram triumphantly. 
 "Rob, I've discovered a way to prevent all these 
 accidents, and made an aeroplane as safe for a 
 novice to run as it would be for an experienced 
 pilot with a license." 
 
 "If you have done that, Hiram, you've got a 
 feather in your cap!" Rob told him. "Some of 
 the biggest inventors have been lying awake 
 nights trying to fix things that way, so as to take 
 away most of the terrible risk of flying; but so 
 far it doesn't seem they've met with much suc- 
 
 cess." 
 
 "Wait till they hear from Hiram Nelson, 
 that's all," declared the happy scout, as he smote 
 himself on the chest in rather a vainglorious 
 fashion, which, however, the other two boys 
 hardly noticed, for they knew Hiram's fondness 
 of boasting, as he had always been afflicted in 
 that way. 
 
 "Tell us the rest, Hi," said Andy, just as if 
 it bored him to hear so much about the "pre- 
 
48 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 liminaries," when as the inventor proclaimed the 
 best was yet to come. 
 
 "All right/' said Hiram promptly. "Now you 
 know what the scheme is I can go on and get 
 deeper into my yarn." 
 
 "Wish you would/' muttered Andy, pretend- 
 ing to stifle a yawn back of his hand, but that 
 was only done in order to hurry the long-wind- 
 ed talker. 
 
 "I call my wonderful invention a stabilizer, 
 because that's the use it's really intended for," 
 continued Hiram, as though wishing to fully 
 impress that fact upon their minds. "To tell the 
 truth, I've had the legal documents showing that 
 a patent had been applied for, quite some time 
 now, though for reasons of my own I kept it 
 all a dead secret from everybody. Mebbe yeou 
 fellers may have noticed that I've been looking 
 kinder mysterious the last month or two? Well, 
 guess with such a trew^wjous secret on your 
 mind either of you'd a been equally absent mind- 
 ed. But that is past now, and I've accomplished 
 my aim." 
 
 "Good !" Andy burst out with. "Let go your 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION" 49 
 
 bowstring then and shoot, for goodness sake, 
 Hiram/' 
 
 "Well, of course I had it all laid out," con- 
 tinued the other composedly, as if it was beneath 
 him to pay any attention to these pins that Andy 
 was sticking into him, "and my first thought was 
 to get in communication with some enterprising 
 big corporation that manufactured aeroplanes 
 for the market. All inventors have to sell their 
 first few patents, you know, so's to get money 
 enough to push other ideas; and if I could pick 
 up a few thousand that way, why I'd have to let 
 my stabilizer go." 
 
 "Then you've been coresponding with such a 
 company, have you?" asked Rob, knowing that 
 he could tempt the other to hurry his story in 
 this way, just as a witness in court is drawn on 
 by a clever lawyer's questions. 
 
 "Oh ! several of them, in fact," admitted Hi- 
 ram, as if that were only a minor matter, after 
 all, "but in the end I found that a certain con- 
 cern meant strictly business, and consequently I 
 dropped all the rest." 
 
 "Have they actually made you a definite of- 
 
50 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 fer for your valuable invention?" asked Rob, 
 taking considerable more interest in the matter, 
 now that Hiram's undoubted though erratic 
 genius seemed to be steadying down with some 
 tangible results. 
 
 "Pretty much that way, I should call it," re- 
 marked the inventor, trying hard to appear nat- 
 ural, though trembling all over with excitement. 
 "They went so far as to enclose a check big 
 enough to cover all expenses of myself and a 
 companion for I was smart enough to say I'd 
 insist on having company for advice along with 
 me to run out to their main works, and talk 
 the matter over with a view to disposing of my 
 patent rights to the device/' 
 
 At that Andy's face lost the look of sneering 
 incredulity that had been a marked feature of 
 his listening to all this talk. 
 
 "Whew! is that a fact, Hiram?" he exclaimed. 
 "Shake hands on it, will you? Didn't we al- 
 ways say that some fine day you'd be famous, 
 and make the Eagles proud to reckon you as a 
 member? A real check, and not on a sand bank, 
 you mean ?" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 51 
 
 'Well, I went right away to Rob's father's 
 bank and saw the president. He said the check 
 was O. K. and that I could get the hard cash 
 any time I wanted it. Why, he even called it 
 a certified bank draft, which meant the money 
 had been set aside in the San Francisco bank 
 for that purpose, deducted from the account of 
 the Golden Gate Aeroplane Manufacturing Com- 
 pany." 
 
 "What?" almost shrieked Andy Bowles, "say 
 that again, will you, Hiram? Must be my mind's 
 so filled with that Golden Gate business I just 
 thought I heard you mention something like 
 that. Repeat it, please, Hiram!" 
 
 "Why, the check came from a San Francisco 
 bank, because you see the company is a substan- 
 tial concern in California. They make some 
 of the most famous aeroplanes on the market. 
 If they adopt my stabilizer it's going to be heard 
 of all over the world. And to think what a mag- 
 nificent chance we've got to run out there and 
 take in the great Panama-Pacific Exposition at 
 the same time, Rob! It's enough to make you 
 think you're dreaming, eh?" 
 
52 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Why do you mention me in the game, Hi- 
 ram?" demanded the patrol leader, with a smile 
 on his face, and a knowing wink in the direction 
 of Andy Bowles. 
 
 "Because, don't you see, Rob, I knew I didn't 
 have a business head on me, and might get cheat- 
 ed out of my boots if I ran up against a smart 
 lot of manufacturers ; and so I was wise enough 
 to insist that I be allowed to fetch along a com- 
 panion. They never put up a single kick against 
 the expense of the double bill, Rob; but the check 
 covered railroad fare, sleeper, meals, and hotel 
 bills while there a week, as well as the return 
 trip to boot. That means they fancy my inven- 
 tion is going to be a big thing for their house. 
 And, Rob, don't you see, I had you in mind all 
 the while when I wrote about fetching a com- 
 panion. I want you the worst kind to accept 
 my invitation and go to the Fair at my expense. 
 Tell me you will, Rob!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 53 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HEADED WEST. 
 
 When he made this alluring offer Hiram Nel- 
 son was astonished to see Rob turn toward 
 Andy, and that the pair of them actually 
 laughed. Quite indignant at such a showing 
 of skepticism, Hiram hastened to say: 
 
 "Don't believe a word of what I'm saying, 
 p'raps now? Well, seeing that your dad reck- 
 oned this little paper was worth every cent it 
 called for, suppose you take a squint at the 
 same, Rob. You, too, Andy, and then you'll laugh 
 on the other side of your mouth, I shouldn't 
 wonder." 
 
 He flourished the bank draft in front of their 
 eyes, so that both scouts could see the amount 
 it called for in cash, and that it bore all the 
 marks of being genuine. 
 
 "Oh! neither of us is doubting anything you 
 say, Hiram," explained Andy effusively. "The 
 
54 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 only thing is that Rob here can't accept your 
 generous offer, that's all/' 
 
 "Can't accept?" gasped the other, looking ter- 
 ribly disappointed. "Why not, I'd like to know ; 
 and me countin' on having him along to advise 
 me, and keep me from being caught napping, or 
 robbed of my valuable papers on the road." 
 
 "I'll tell you why he isn't able to take the trip 
 to California at your expense, Hiram," said 
 Andy solemnly. "It's because he's already 
 pledged himself to go with someone else. Fact 
 is, Hiram, I'm the one who holds Rob's word." 
 
 "You agoin' to California, Andy Bowles?" 
 exclaimed the astonished Hiram; and his in- 
 credulous manner told that he doubted the truth 
 of the assertion, for where could the son of the 
 liveryman of Hampton get all the money to cover 
 the double expense of such a lengthy trip; cer- 
 tainly not through any invention his brain had 
 ever conceived; and no boy could ever hope to 
 save enough out of his spending money for that. 
 
 "Yes, we've just made all arrangements for a 
 month at the Exposition," said the Bowles boy; 
 "that is, we have to run over to Judge Collins' 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 55 
 
 place again after supper to-night, and complete 
 the details. We expect to pull out day after 
 to-morrow, and take a through limited train for 
 New Orleans first, then across the plains of 
 Texas, and the deserts of New Mexico and Ari- 
 zona to Los Angeles." 
 
 Hiram sat there as though changed into stone. 
 He hardly knew whether Andy was trying to 
 hoodwink him or not; for the other had some- 
 thing of a reputation as a joker. 
 
 Rob took pity on the poor fellow. 
 
 "It's just as Andy says, Hiram/' he observed 
 seriously. "We've had a wonderful experience 
 when out on the bay. A fire happened aboard 
 old Captain Jerry's Sea Gull on account of a 
 passenger dropping a lighted match, so that it 
 caused something of an explosion. The two 
 men, somewhat scorched, tumbled overboard. 
 We were close at hand, and by using that fire- 
 extinguishing torch of mine managed to put out 
 the flames before they'd done much damage. We 
 also hauled Captain Jerry and his passenger 
 aboard." 
 
 "Well, of all things!" gasped Hiram. "If it 
 
56 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 don't take you to do wonders, Rob Blake. Go 
 on and tell me the rest, please. My yarn isn't 
 in the same class with yours, it strikes me." 
 
 Rob quickly put him in possession of the facts 
 that followed fast on the heels of the rescue, 
 and their reaching the Castle of Judge Collins. 
 Hiram continued to shake his head, and draw in 
 long breaths as though almost overcome with 
 astonishment. 
 
 "The Arabian Nights never was in it with the 
 things that happen to you, Rob," he exclaimed, 
 when the story was complete. "And so both 
 of you are expecting to start overland to Cali- 
 fornia right away? Well, IVe got plenty of 
 money right here, and what's to hinder our mak- 
 ing it a party of three?" 
 
 "That strikes me as a good thing, Hiram," 
 said Rob. "We're all scouts and comrades, 
 after all; and you say you are afraid you'll need 
 advice sooner or later in dealing with the manu- 
 facturers. We'll stand by you, Hiram, and 
 there's my hand on it!" 
 
 "Bully for you, Rob!" cried the delighted in- 
 ventor, whose dejected countenance immediate- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 57 
 
 ly lighted up. "I was mighty afraid you meant 
 to leave me out of the excursion party. Stand 
 by me, and I'll do everything I can to help you. 
 Three ought to be even better than just two, 
 v/hen it comes to counting noses." 
 
 "You made a remark just now that struck me 
 as queer/' said Rob. 
 
 "Tell me what it was, then, and I'll try to 
 explain," Hiram ventured. 
 
 "Well, you spoke of wanting a companion 
 along to keep you from being caught napping, or 
 robbed of valuable papers on the way; what did 
 you mean by the last part of that sentence? 
 Have you any idea anyone covets your papers, 
 and might make an attempt to rob you when 
 you were far away from home?" 
 
 "Rob, p'raps I'm silly to think that way, but 
 I can't hdp it," Hiram confessed. "You see, 
 one of the companies I corresponded with was 
 in New York. They even sent an agent down 
 here to interview me, and see what I had got. 
 I never liked that man the least bit. He struck 
 me as a sneak, and I made up my mind the 
 company was what you might call a snide one 
 
58 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 wanting to steal ideas if they could. I de- 
 clined to have any dealings with them, and their 
 agent went away as mad as a hornet, even 
 threatening that he'd get the better of me by 
 hook or crook." 
 
 "You don't say!" ejaculated Andy. "Then, 
 you must have squeezed his toes, Hiram; you 
 made him squeal, and show his true colors. I 
 give you credit for that." 
 
 "Have you heard anything from the com- 
 pany since?" asked Rob, hardly knowing whether 
 to treat the implied threat seriously, or only as 
 the ugly remark of a disappointed man who had 
 found that Hiram was too smart for him. 
 
 "Why, every week I get a few lines from this 
 Marsters, the man who came to see me, ask- 
 ing if I'm ready to do business with him. There's 
 no threat in the letter, but there's always some- 
 thing to imply that he's keeping track of what 
 I'm doing, and expects sooner or later I'll be 
 glad to turn to him for a sale." 
 
 "And you are afraid that he even knows of 
 your dealings with this Golden Gate Company 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 59 
 
 out on the Coast, is that it, Hiram?" continued 
 the scout leader. 
 
 "I don't know what to think," admitted Hi- 
 ram. "One letter came that I know had been 
 tampered with. It may be he's got somebody in 
 our postoffice in his pay." 
 
 "That would be a serious thing if true," Rob 
 told him. 
 
 "It's lucky they didn't keep out the letter that 
 had the bank draft in it," suggested Andy. 
 
 "They might have done it," Hiram said, "only 
 the company was smart enough to register that, 
 and it got to me safe and sound. But, Rob, 
 after all this might only be a big bluff Marsters 
 is putting up. He may never bother his head 
 about me starting off on this trip, even if he 
 hears about it through any paid spy in Hamp- 
 ton. And if I've got two good chums along; 
 with me, who's afraid?" 
 
 "All the same," advised Rob, "you'd better 
 keep this thing a dead secret. We'll agree not 
 to say a word about it to anyone. They cart 
 know how Andy and myself have been lucky 
 enough to get a chance to see the Exposition; 
 
60 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 and let people figure you're in the deal, too. 
 We'll do nothing to make it seem contrary, re- 
 member that, Andy!" 
 
 "I'm on, all right, Rob," the other hastened 
 to assure him. 
 
 "First of all," continued Rob, "be careful with 
 that draft. If I were you I'd hand it over to 
 my father, and then when you want the money 
 he'll give it to you. Did you think to ask him 
 not to mention it?" 
 
 "Yes, and he said he wouldn't, after I'd shown 
 him the letter. He shook hands with me, Rob, 
 and said he was as pleased as pie about it 
 leastways not in just those words, you know, 
 but it meant the same thing. I'll go up right 
 away and ask him to take charge of it for fear 
 I may lose the paper." 
 
 After making arrangements to meet again in 
 the afternoon so as to talk matters over and 
 lay their plans for starting, the boys went home 
 for lunch. All of them, of course, were fairly 
 bubbling over with excitement; and when the 
 story was told of what had happened on the bay, 
 as well as the wonderful thing that came of the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 61 
 
 rescue, in at least two Hampton homes there 
 were proud parents. 
 
 Of course, no one put the least objection in the 
 way of Rob and Andy taking that wonderful 
 trip. They were thought to be the luckiest boys 
 in all Hampton; and when the news leaked out 
 every fellow in town flocked around to hear the 
 particulars. 
 
 That night after supper Rob and Andy rowed 
 over to Judge Collins* and spent a very pleas- 
 ant evening with Judge Collins and his distin- 
 guished guest. Professor McEwen went into 
 matters with a thoroughness that spoke well for 
 his business ability, in spite of the fact of his 
 being a scientist. 
 
 In the end it was all arranged. Rob and Andy 
 understood just what they were expected to do 
 in order to carry out the instructions of the Scot- 
 tish professor. 
 
 "Come over to-morrow afternoon, lads, and 
 everything will be here ready for you to take 
 charge of," the satisfied gentleman told them as 
 they were saying good-night. "The Judge ha'e 
 kindly promised to see to things, sine' I'm muckle 
 
62 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 sore, and hardly in condition to show myself 
 in public. What I am giving into your charge 
 can be handily carried in your grip; only I ken 
 ye will want to be chained fast to the same all 
 o' the time fra start to feenish." 
 
 Since there are so many things waiting to be 
 told that befell the boys later on, there is really 
 little need of our lingering any longer at this 
 point than is absolutely necessary. 
 
 On the following afternoon Rob and Andy 
 paid their last visit to the Point, and when they 
 came away they carried a packet with them 
 which they seemed to guard most carefully. 
 
 Besides this Rob had in his possession plenty 
 of money to see them out to the Coast, as well 
 as a letter of credit on a San Francisco bank 
 that would insure a future supply. 
 
 "And if you should need even more," Judge 
 Collins told Rob in parting, "wire to me of your 
 necessities and it will be forthcoming, because 
 we are both determined that you brave lads shall 
 have the time of your lives while out there." 
 
 The boys made all their arrangements, and 
 when the second morning rolled around there 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 63 
 
 was quite a host at the station to see them take 
 the morning train to New York, where they ex- 
 pected to start upon the real journey. 
 
 Sleeping-car berths had been secured in ad- 
 vance to New Orleans, and which would in fact 
 carry them all the way through, since it was not 
 their intention to stop over anywhere en route. 
 
 Among the relatives and friends who had as- 
 sembled to see the three scouts leave for the far- 
 distant Pacific Coast, were numerous members 
 of the Hampton Troop. Like Rob and Andy and 
 Hiram, these boys wore their khaki suits, and 
 seemed proud of the badges and medals they 
 had won the permission to sport. 
 
 Thanks to the caution suggested by Rob, no 
 one appeared to know just how Hiram came to 
 be in the fortunate bunch. Some accounts 
 coupled his name with the rescue of the famous 
 scientist who was visiting Judge Collins; while 
 others were just as firmly convinced that there 
 were only two on board the Tramp at the time. 
 
 In the end it was set down as something of 
 a mystery which might not be cleared up until 
 the return of the travelers. They knew that Hi- 
 
64 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ram was a very secretive sort of fellow,' and that 
 even if he accomplished something calculated to 
 fetch him in money, he would not tell of it until 
 he chose. 
 
 The train drew in at the station, and the three 
 scouts got aboard amidst a perfect clamor of 
 shouts, above which could be heard the well- 
 known scout salute. As the conductor gave the 
 signal for them to pull out there was a scene 
 such as had seldom been witnessed at Hampton ; 
 which proved just how much Rob Blake, the 
 leader of the scouts, was appreciated in his home 
 town. 
 
 Hardly had they left the outskirts of the town 
 behind when Hiram, who was sitting just behind 
 Rob and Andy, leaned forward and said in a 
 low tone: 
 
 "I'm not dead sure about it, Rob, but there was 
 a man got aboard this train that looked a whole 
 lot like that tricky agent I told you about, Mars- 
 ters!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 65 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ALARM. 
 
 "Andy, would you mind changing seats with 
 Hiram?" asked Rob, upon hearing what the boy 
 behind him had just said. 
 
 "Not at all; there's plenty of room still," re- 
 plied the troop bugler, quickly slipping out and 
 allowing Hiram to take his place, while he leaned 
 forward over the back of the seat so he could 
 join in the conversation. 
 
 "Are you sure it was this same man, Hiram?" 
 asked Rob. 
 
 "I only had a quick look at him, and his back 
 was toward me," explained the nervous inventor, 
 "but I'm most certain it was that agent. He 
 had a rather odd little limp you see, and this fel- 
 ler did, too." 
 
 Hiram had his hand laid upon his chest. In- 
 side his coat he carried the precious papers, and 
 just then the boy seemed to be more concerned 
 about these than he was in connection with the 
 
66 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 pocketbook that reposed in a back pocket of his 
 trousers, or the tickets he had in another reposi- 
 tory. 
 
 "Well, keep close to both of us, that's all," said 
 Rob. "Even if it is Marsters, the chances are 
 he's only trying in his mean way to give you a 
 bad feeling. I don't expect well be bothered 
 with him after we get fairly started on our trip." 
 
 "But what if he tried to steal my papers from 
 me?" said Hiram uneasily. 
 
 "He'd have a hard time doing that, with one 
 of us on either side," affirmed Andy Bowles con- 
 fidently. 
 
 "And I wouldn't hesitate a second to hand 
 him over to the police if he tried any of his 
 games on us," Rob added. 
 
 "It may be he's hired some smart pickpocket 
 to rub up against me when we get in the jam 
 at leaving the train," Hiram told them, showing 
 that his mind was active enough to grasp every 
 sort of possibility, no matter how vague. 
 
 "We'll checkmate him on that easily enough," 
 chuckled Rob. "In the first place, we don't mean 
 ,to allow ourselves to get caught in any jam. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 67 
 
 When we draw into the station we'll sit tight 
 until most of the passengers have left. Then 
 Andy here can go and get the particulars as 
 to where our train is standing that will take us 
 South ; for it's all one Pennsylvania station, you 
 know. And I'll stick close to you every min- 
 ute of the time/' 
 
 "Yes," Andy went on to say, "you know we've 
 got something in Rob's grip that we have to 
 'guard with unceasing vigilance,' as Judge Col- 
 lins said, because it is of priceless value in the 
 eyes of scientists; and its safe delivery to the 
 head of the exhibit at the Fair will mean we've 
 earned our trip." 
 
 Later on, when they finally left the car, Andy 
 hurried off to pick up the needed information. 
 They had a whole hour before the scheduled 
 time of starting came, so none of them were 
 anxious with regard to being left. 
 
 Hiram stood there with his bag between his 
 feet, looking to the right and to the left. He 
 seemed to be in constant fear lest some astonish- 
 ing surprise might be sprung upon him. 
 
 "There he is now 7 , grinning at me like an 
 
68 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ape, Rob!" he suddenly muttered, and his voice 
 was certainly anything but firm. 
 
 "So, that is your Marsters, is it?" demanded 
 the other, as he discovered a slim man standing 
 at some little distance from them, and with a 
 satirical smile on his dark face. 
 
 "Yes, and don't you think he looks like he'd 
 stop at nothing in order to get to the end he had 
 in view?" asked Hiram. 
 
 "He looks like an impudent fellow to me," Rob 
 advised, "and according to my mind he's gone to 
 all this bother just to feel that he's had his nasty 
 revenge on you for treating him so shabbily. 
 To be beaten in a battle of wits by a mere boy 
 must have riled Mr. Marsters a whole lot. De- 
 pend on it, he doesn't expect to go any further 
 than this in the game. He's shot his bolt." 
 
 "What makes you think so, Rob?" 
 
 "The very fact that he's taking all the pains 
 to stand there and let you see him grinning like 
 an imp," replied the scout leader. "Now, if 
 he really meant to chase after you on the trip, 
 don't you see he would be doing everything he 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 69 
 
 could to keep you from knowing he was around, 
 and on the watch ?" 
 
 Hiram, after he had been shown, began to see 
 it that way, too. 
 
 "Seems as though there might be a good lot 
 of truth in that view 7 , Rob," he admitted. "So 
 let him grin all he wants to. I'll laugh, too, 
 if only to show the feller that he hasn't made 
 me squirm a whit." 
 
 With that Hiram bent almost double, like a 
 hinge, and seemed to be tickled half to death 
 over some imaginary joke. He also turned and 
 looked straight in the eyes of the man he had 
 called Marsters, as if to let him know he did not 
 care a snap of his fingers about his continued 
 leering. 
 
 "You've settled his case, and cooked his goose 
 for him," commented Rob, a minute later. "See, 
 there he goes over yonder, and I'll be a whole 
 lot surprised if we set eyes on Marsters again." 
 
 "But, Rob, I'm determined to act as though I 
 fully expected him to be creeping around all the 
 time. I'm playing up to the old saying that an 
 
70 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ounce of prevention is worth more'n a hull 
 pound of cure." 
 
 "It's a good idea," was all Rob told him, for 
 just then he saw Andy hurrying toward them, 
 and from his manner guessed the other must 
 have obtained the needed information. 
 
 Once they were settled in the sleeping-car, 
 Hiram began to feel better, though it might be 
 noticed that he eyed every person who came 
 aboard as though he more than half suspected 
 the revengeful Marsters, baffled in securing the 
 wonderful invention for his firm, might assume 
 some marvelous disguise in order to be near the 
 traveling genius, so as to rob him on the road. 
 
 "We're off!" exclaimed Andy joyously, as the 
 train started, drawn by an electric motor, and 
 heading through the tunnel that would take them 
 under the North River to Jersey, and thence 
 across the Hackensack Meadows to Newark and 
 beyond. 
 
 Everything looked bright and cheerful that 
 morning when the three scouts began their long 
 journey calculated to land them eventually in- 
 side the portals of the big Exposition on the Pa- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 71 
 
 cific Coast, and which was being held to com- 
 memorate the opening of the Panama Canal. 
 
 Certainly never before had Boy Scouts been 
 enabled to start forth upon a trip of such mag- 
 nitude, and under such happy auspices. With 
 all their expenses paid, and the grandest possi- 
 ble time looming up ahead of them, it was not to 
 be wondered at that Rob and his two chums 
 counted themselves the luckiest fellows on the 
 face of the globe. 
 
 All of them were fond of traveling, and that 
 first day was a constant picnic for the scouts. 
 It happened that Rob and Andy had been over 
 the route before, since it was this way they had 
 gone to Mexico when with Merritt Crawford 
 and Tubby Hopkins. On that ocasion they had 
 undertaken the carrying out of that mission con- 
 nected with the disposal of the cattle on the 
 ranch Dr. Mark Matthews, the globe-trotter and 
 explorer, owned across the Rio Grande, his old- 
 time friend General Villa seeing that he was 
 properly paid with the funds held by the Revolu- 
 tionary party.* 
 
 * See "The Boy Scouts Under Fire in Mexico." 
 
72 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 This being the case, they were able to direct 
 the attention of Hiram to many interesting ob- 
 jects on the way. Hiram had never been a hun- 
 dred miles outside of Hampton in all his life; 
 and therefore he stared and commented con- 
 tinually as the train rushed along through 
 stretches of the country around Washington and 
 beyond as the day drew near its close. 
 
 Remembering what Judge Collins, as well as 
 the Scotch professor, had told them in connection 
 with the contents of Rob's grip, they kept it 
 down at their feet constantly; for they had the 
 whole section, Andy having promised to occupy 
 the upper berth, as he knew Hiram would feel 
 safer in company with Rob below. 
 
 "You haven't seen anything suspicious the 
 whole day long, have you, Hiram?" Rob asked 
 him, as they prepared to go into the dining-car 
 for their supper, two at a time, and the third 
 staying to look after things, as well as keep his 
 foot on the precious grip. 
 
 "Well, not that you could really call suspi- 
 cious/' admitted the other, "but seemed like sev- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 73 
 
 eral parties looked right hard at me as they 
 passed through agoin' to that meal car/' 
 
 "Oh, shucks !" said Andy, leaning across from 
 his seat to speak in a low tone, "that all comes 
 from you being worked up the way you are. 
 Chances are they must a' seen the budding gen- 
 ius breaking out all over your face in the shape 
 of freckles, Hiram, and wondered who on earth 
 you co aid be." 
 
 "Well, I always figger that it's best to be on 
 the safe side, no matter if other people do make 
 out to snicker at you, and call you timid. It's 
 poor policy to shut the door of the stable after 
 the hoss is stolen, my dad says; and your folks 
 would agree with me there, Andy, seeing that 
 they have a heap to do with hosses. Do I go 
 in with you to grub, Rob, or wait here for my 
 turn?" 
 
 "I leave that with Andy/' Rob remarked in- 
 differently; "if he feels too hungry to stay here 
 for us to come back, let him take the first show. 
 Here comes the waiter to give the call." 
 
 An4y immediately said that it pleased him to 
 wait and take his time. 
 
74 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "I like to be easy in my mind when I'm try- 
 ing to get the worth of a big dollar in dinner," 
 he continued, "and if I keep on thinking of you 
 fellows counting the minutes while I'm gone, it 
 hurries me too much; and that's bad for your 
 digestion, you know. So skip along, and I'll 
 hug the seat here till you get back. Make up 
 your mind, Rob, everything will be safe enough. 
 I'm Johnny on the spot when it comes to stand- 
 ing guard/' 
 
 In this fashion all of them managed to get 
 their supper. The night closed in and the full 
 moon lighted up the wonderful scenery of the 
 valleys they were speeding through, headed 
 toward the southwest, and into the land of 
 sugarcane, oranges, cotton and rice. 
 
 Hiram, when he could take his mind away 
 from the fascinating prospect of doing a lucra- 
 tive business with the enterprising firm that had 
 invited him all the way out to the Coast, was full 
 of questions regarding the wonderful things he 
 expected to see later on when they reached a 
 section of the country that was radically differ- 
 ent from Long Island. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 75 
 
 He had always wanted to visit the South, and 
 this culmination of his hopes filled him with 
 ecstasy. The presence of such a steady chum as 
 Rob Blake did much to add to Hiram's peace 
 of mind, it can be readily believed; for he felt 
 sure that no matter what troubles might spring 
 up to confront him on the journey, the efficient 
 scout leader would be equal to any emergency. 
 
 Hiram had the utmost confidence in Rob 
 Blake. It was founded on what he had seen 
 the other accomplish; and, besides, the things 
 he had heard concerning that Mexican trip, as 
 well as the journey across to the war zone of 
 Europe, had added to his respect. 
 
 All that night they boomed steadily on. 
 
 Rob slept with Hiram in the lower berth, and 
 occupied the side nearer the aisle, so as to ease 
 the nervous chum's mind as much as possible. 
 Like most new and inexperienced travelers, Hi- 
 ram hardly slept a wink that first night; much 
 of the time he had the window-shade drawn 
 back, and lay there staring at the ghostly ob- 
 jects that could be seen flitting past the window 
 cabins, trees, settlements, barns, orchards, 
 
76 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 rivers and all manner of things the ever speed- 
 ing train was passing in its wake. 
 
 When morning finally came they were so well 
 along their way that the country had taken on 
 a new aspect, and Hiram's interest grew by 
 leaps and bounds. What was more, since he 
 could still feel that precious packet inside his 
 coat, where he had at Rob's solicitation pinned 
 it inside his pocket, Hiram's confidence became 
 much stronger, and the anxious look began to 
 leave his thin face. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 7T 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 
 
 "We ought to be in Los Angeles inside of five 
 hours, boys." 
 
 Hiram had kept his face glued against the 
 window so much of the time during the long 
 journey, when it happened to be closed, that 
 Andy told him he was getting a distinct curve 
 to his classic Roman nose. He turned on hear- 
 ing Rob make this assertion, after consulting 
 the time-table. 
 
 "Well, for one, I must say I won't be sorry," 
 he admitted, with a sigh. 
 
 "But see here, I thought you were having the 
 time of your life with all this traveling, and see- 
 ing so many wonderful sights?" expostulated 
 Andy. 
 
 "That's all right, I am," admitted Hiram. 
 "Still, a feller can get too much of a good thing, 
 can't he? Haven't you stuffed yourself more'n 
 once because you liked the food first-class, and 
 
78 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 then "wished afterward you had gone slow? Fact 
 is, I just can't sleep while we're ding-donging 
 along like hot cakes. I want to be on a steady 
 footing for a while, and go to bed like a civilized 
 human being/ 7 
 
 "But it's been a great trip," said Andy. 
 "Those Injuns at the stations in Arizona were 
 real true-blood Zunis, all right. I'm mighty 
 glad, though, we've made up our minds to go 
 back by way of the Canadian Pacific road, so as 
 to see what the picturesque Selkirks look like." 
 
 "Yes," added Rob, "I've read so much about 
 the Rockies up in British America I want to see 
 them with my own eyes. The weather will be 
 a whole lot better than in the southern zone, 
 where it's terrible in summer." 
 
 "Oh! don't let's talk about coming back be- 
 fore w r e've even got there," expostulated Hiram, 
 looking unhappy. "I've got an awful lot to do 
 before I turn my face homeward. I hope it all 
 comes out right, and that the Golden Gate Com- 
 pany acts square with me." 
 
 "If you get some money, Hiram, I suppose 
 it's all laid out before now in experiments that 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 79 
 
 youVe wanted to start and couldn't?" Andy 
 hinted. 
 
 "Well, what would you have me do with the 
 stuff?" demanded the inventor indignantly. "I 
 expect to devote my hull life to science. Hoard- 
 ing money and discoveries in the realm of science 
 don't go hand in hand. You'll notice that all 
 the big bugs of professors don't seem to care a 
 lickin' thing about the cash they gain. What 
 they're after is fame and glory. Some day but 
 never mind that now." 
 
 "You were going to tell us we might live to 
 see you famous, eh, Hiram?" Andy chuckled. 
 "Well, stranger things have happened. Men 
 have become president of these United States, 
 and those who played with the same as boys 
 never dreamed such a thing would ever come 
 about. There's always room at the top." 
 
 "Five hours will soon pass," Hiram went on to 
 say, without paying any attention to the little 
 slur there seemed to be in this remark on the 
 part of the other. 
 
 "There's one thing I want to speak to you 
 
SO THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 about/' said Rob, his face assuming a look of 
 gravity that impressed Hiram very much. 
 
 "What, me, do you mean, Rob?" he asked 
 hurriedly. 
 
 "Yes," Rob told him. "Here's what it is. I've 
 noticed that you keep on putting up your hand 
 every little while, and feeling to see that your 
 papers are safe inside your coat. It's become 
 second nature with you, the habit's grown so 
 strong." 
 
 "Well, you told me to keep my mind on that 
 matter, and never to forget it; and so every 
 time it crops up I guess I feel to make doubly 
 sure. What is there wrong about that, Rob, tell 
 me?" 
 
 "Only this, Hiram; you're getting so careless 
 that you do it openly, and in such a way as to 
 attract attention. If a person happened to see 
 you do it once and then later on saw the move- 
 ment repeated, his curiosity might be aroused, 
 so that he would fall into the way of watching 
 how often you did it." 
 
 "He might, that's so," muttered the disturbed 
 Hiram uneasily. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 81 
 
 "And then the idea would become a convic- 
 tion that you must be carrying something very 
 valuable in that inner pocket. You see, if the 
 parties chanced to be crooked, that would make 
 them figure how they could get hold of your 
 property. So the very movement which you 
 meant to be a safeguard would prove your un- 
 doing." 
 
 "Rob, I'll try and quit that, if you think it 
 best/' promised the other, apparently more or 
 less impressed with the logic the scout leader had 
 brought to bear on the subject. 
 
 "That's all very well, Hiram, but I'm afraid 
 your repentance comes too late to do much 
 good/' Rob told him, at which the inventor gave 
 a start, and into his eyes there crept a look of 
 concern. 
 
 "Whatever can you mean by saying that, 
 Rob?" he asked in a troubled voice. 
 
 "I'll tell you," said Rob. "I'm afraid that 
 you've already attracted the attention you want- 
 ed to avoid." 
 
 "What! here on this train, in this sleeper?" 
 whispered Hiram, appalled. 
 
83 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Don't look up now, when I mention the mat- 
 ter, because they might see you, for I expect 
 they're watching us. Both of you have undoubt- 
 edly noticed two men who sit back of you, and 
 at the end of the car, one of them small and 
 stout, the other tall and slim?" 
 
 "Yes," Andy admitted, "the tall one nodded 
 when he passed, and acted like he wanted to 
 open up a talk with me, but I turned to the win- 
 dow again as if I was too much taken up with 
 the scenery here to bother." 
 
 "And the stout one nodded to me when he 
 caught my eye," said Hiram. " 'Course I nodded 
 back, but made out not to look that way again." 
 
 "Well, they've been holding considerable con- 
 versation in low tones," explained Rob. "I 
 could manage to glimpse them in the glass at our 
 end of the car, though they didn't suspect me 
 of spying. Every time either of you thought 
 to get up, or even turn your heads they made 
 out to be half asleep, with their eyes shut; but 
 I could see they were talking about you." 
 
 "Then mebbe that Marsters did send emis- 
 saries along with me to try and steal the product 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 83 
 
 of my. brains!" complained Hiram, with com- 
 pressed lips and stern demeanor. 
 
 "Oh ! that doesn't follow at all," Rob assured 
 him. "These fellows may just happen to be a 
 pair of hard cases always on the lookout for 
 signs of a paying haul. When they noticed how 
 you kept feeling of your inside pocket they 
 guessed from the signs you must have some- 
 thing worth while hidden away there. Men who 
 make their living from the world by sharp tricks 
 get to read character wonderfully well." 
 
 "Yes," Andy put in just then, "they say that 
 old and experienced customs inspectors can tell 
 from a person's looks in nine cases out of ten 
 whether he or she is trying to smuggle things 
 into the country without declaring them." 
 
 "What can I do about it then, Rob?" asked 
 Hiram. 
 
 "I've got a plan that would fill the bill," he 
 was told. 
 
 "Yes, go on and tell me, Rob." 
 
 "You come with me into the car ahead. We'll 
 sit in the smoking compartment for a few min- 
 utes if it happens to be empty. There you can 
 
84 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 give me your packet, and I'll fasten it inside my 
 coat, handing over some worthless papers for 
 you to do up as if they were priceless in value, 
 to pin in your pocket instead. Do you get what 
 I'm telling you, Hiram?" 
 
 "Rob, count me in," the other replied hastily. 
 "It's a good thing, for even if they did happen 
 to rob me they'd be having their pains for noth- 
 ing. When you're ready, give me the tip and 
 I'll follow after you." 
 
 "Andy," Rob continued impressively, "as we 
 pass out you change your seat so that you're 
 facing the two men. In that way you can seem 
 to be watching, and they're not so apt to follow 
 after us." 
 
 "All right," muttered Andy; "any time you see 
 fit I'm ready." 
 
 Rob first of all made a little packet with some 
 old letters taken from his pocket, and which he 
 had been thinking of discarding for some time. 
 This he could do without exposing his hands 
 above the shelter afforded by the back of the 
 seat. 
 
 "All ready, Hiram; get up, and seem to be 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 85 
 
 coaxing me to go with you. Finally, lay hold of 
 my sleeve and pull me. I'll act as if I didn't 
 much care to accompany you. That will serve 
 to divert attention; and as you pass the men 
 turn your eyes the other way. If you can be 
 saying something about some one being glad to 
 see me, it would make them believe we knew a 
 passenger in one of the forward cars." 
 
 How Rob did look to the small details of 
 everything he undertook! He knew from past 
 experiences that after all these are what bring 
 success in the long run. 
 
 Although Rob had told Hiram to turn his 
 head the other way while nearing the two sus- 
 picious men, he himself gave them a nod in 
 passing, just the salutation one traveler is apt to 
 bestow upon another when they have been fel- 
 low passengers in the same car for hours, per- 
 haps days. 
 
 Rob did that purposely; he knew it would 
 serve to allay any suspicion that may have been 
 bred in the minds of the men to the effect that 
 their actions had been observed. 
 
 Once in the car ahead, they found that for a 
 
86 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 wonder the smoking compartment happened to 
 be empty. Taking advantage of this chance, Hi- 
 ram hurriedly unpinned the packet he had guard- 
 ed so closely, and gave it into the possession 
 of his chum. In its stead he secured the dummy 
 in his pocket. 
 
 All this had consumed hardly two minutes of 
 time. Rob was careful to notice that not a single 
 soul had passed the door of the compartment; 
 and as soon as the exchange had been effected he 
 stepped out in order to take a survey of the 
 car, to find that neither of the two suspicious 
 men had actually followed them from the other 
 sleeper. 
 
 "That job's finished, and I feel a whole lot 
 easier in my mind," admitted Hiram. 
 
 "No matter whether I was right or not, there's 
 no harm been done," Rob told him; "and now, 
 Hiram, see that every five minutes or so you 
 keep on feeling your coat as you were doing it 
 before. I'm more than curious to know whether 
 they'll try it or not." 
 
 "Well," chuckled the other, as if amused, "if 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 87 
 
 they don't it isn't goin' to be for want of chances, 
 I tell you that, Rob." 
 
 "Let's get back to our places," the scout leader 
 added, "because I don't feel altogether safe 
 away from my suitcase, with all that wonderful 
 stuff in it the professor said represented so much 
 research and effort that made it priceless." 
 
 The two men were there as they had left them. 
 Rob again nodded carelessly when he found that 
 the short man was eagerly watching to catch his 
 eyes; but he did not stop to enter into any con- 
 versation when the other made some casual re- 
 mark, only replying over his shoulder as he 
 passed on. 
 
 "They kept talking like a blue streak while 
 you were gone," said Andy, after the other two 
 had seated themselves. "Twice the tall man 
 stepped off as if he meant to follow you, but 
 he must have thought better of it, for he turned 
 back before getting out of the car, and shook 
 his head at the other one. They are up to some- 
 thing evil, Rob, take my word for it." 
 
 "We only have one more meal aboard the 
 train, and then comes the hotel at Los Angeles/' 
 
83 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 said Hiram. "I guess we can hold 'em off that 
 much longer/' 
 
 "You see how you can overdo things by being 
 too much on your guard, Hiram," Rob explained. 
 "Only for the way you kept on feeling your 
 pocket they would never have suspected that Boy 
 Scouts traveling alone could own anything worth 
 stealing. The best way to do is to make things 
 secure, and then appear to forget all about 
 them." 
 
 "I will at another time, Rob; but between the 
 way that Marsters acted, and the caution these 
 people on the Coast impressed on me, it all got 
 on my nerves. You see, I thought it was only 
 business to tell the Golden Gate people how 
 Eastern concerns had men buzzing me con- 
 tinually to sell to them. That made them warn 
 me not to take anyone into my confidence while 
 traveling. They know some unscrupulous firms 
 would steal an idea as big as my invention, if 
 they could get away with it. But it's all right 
 now, and they can whistle for their prize for all 
 I care." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 89 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A SHOCK AT LOS ANGELAS. 
 
 The time passed, and when one of the waiters 
 passed through to announce supper, the boys had 
 laid out their program. As before, Rob and Hi- 
 ram were to go first, while Andy held the fort 
 for them. 
 
 "Remember and don't leave the seat under any 
 condition while we're gone," was what the scout 
 leader told Andy. 
 
 "Do you suspect that they might even try to 
 get away with our hand baggage?" asked the 
 other. "I thought it was only Hiram's pockets 
 they wanted to explore/' 
 
 "If they are thieves nothing is safe from 
 them," explained Rob. " 'An ounce of preven- 
 tion is better than a pound of cure/ Keep your 
 foot on my bag as you sit here. If anybody tries 
 to tempt you to change seats just say you've got 
 a bone in your leg, and don't care to move around 
 more than you can help." 
 
90 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Sure thing!" chuckled Andy; "it hurts ter- 
 ribly, too ; and the only thing that is able to make 
 me use it is the walk to the dinner the cake- 
 walk I call it. Leave it all to me, Rob; I'm 
 frozen to this seat." 
 
 Accordingly, the pair passed along the aisle 
 and headed for the dining-car. Again the two 
 men did their best to be civil, even nodding and 
 smiling genially as the two boys passed them. 
 
 "Rob, they're chasing after us !" muttered Hi- 
 ram, in some little anxiety, just as he and his 
 chum had entered the next car and were passing 
 along the narrow corridor. 
 
 "All right, there's no law to prevent them 
 from getting hungry at the same time we do," 
 replied Rob over his shoulder. 
 
 "But they may choose to sit down with us at 
 the same table, and make themselves chummy," 
 objected the other. 
 
 "I guess not if we know r it," Rob told him. 
 
 "How can we help it without making some 
 sort of scene?" asked Hiram. 
 
 "That's easy enough, if we can pick a table 
 that only accommodates two," explained the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 91 
 
 scout leader, "and as we're in the advance, we 
 have our choice." 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 Evidently, Hiram was considerably relieved 
 by what his comrade had said. He once more 
 realized that Rob promised to be equal to the 
 occasion. Indeed, the record of past achieve- 
 ments should have told Hiram this long ago ; but 
 in the presence of new dangers he was apt to 
 forget what splendid things Rob had accom- 
 plished on other occasions when the tide seemed 
 adverse. 
 
 Upon entering the dining-car Rob smiled to 
 see that there was just one table seating two 
 that did not have some one at it. 
 
 "There's our chance, Rob, down at the fur- 
 ther end of the car!" said Hiram hastily, as 
 though he feared the other might not see the 
 table. 
 
 Rob took the chair that placed his back against 
 the partition. This allowed him to survey the 
 rest of the car. Nothing could have suited his 
 plans better, for there was a small mirror that 
 
92 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 he could use to spy upon the two men who were 
 now sitting facing him, halfway up the car. 
 
 As the meal progressed and evening drew on, 
 the electric lights in the diner were turned on. 
 Hiram somehow seemed to lack his voracious ap- 
 petite. 
 
 "Don't just know what's the cause, Rob," he 
 remarked, when the other accused him of not 
 disposing of much of the food he had ordered, 
 "it may be the rocking of the car, which is 
 fierce just now; or else it comes of my riding 
 backward. I've been told that some people never 
 can stand for that. But I guess I won't starve 
 to death between now and morning." 
 
 The two men talked a good deal, but then 
 there was nothing suspicious in that. Rob also 
 noticed that they watched him and companion 
 from time to time, as if their interest kept on 
 growing. 
 
 When Hiram happened to think of his instruc- 
 tions, and occasionally raised a hand to feel for 
 his coat in the region of that inner pocket, Rob 
 kept a close watch on the men. He could plainly 
 see the shorter one nudge his companion in the 
 
PAXAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 93 
 
 side, and say something, for his lips moved. Un- 
 doubtedly he was calling the other's attention 
 to Hiram's suggestive movement, and while not 
 a lip-reader, Rob could easily imagine him say- 
 ing half under his breath: 
 
 "See, there he goes at it again! Just as we 
 decided, he must have something rich hidden 
 away there. And we're fools if we don't make 
 a big bid for it!" 
 
 Rob was by this time fully satisfied that the 
 men had evil designs on his comrade's inside 
 pocket. He was determined to be unusually 
 careful about riding in a public conveyance while 
 in Los Angeles, since that would give the ras- 
 cals a chance to accomplish their purpose. 
 
 "If you're satisfied, Hiram, let's be getting 
 out of here," said Rob, who had seen the two 
 men getting an extra portion of food, believing 
 that this might be a good chance to leave them 
 in the lurch, since they would hardly jump up 
 and accompany the boys, for fear of attracting 
 attention. 
 
 The two scouts quickly arose, seized their 
 hats, and passed along between the tables, which 
 
94 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 were pretty generally occupied by that time. Rob 
 took occasion to keep his eyes on the two men, 
 for several reasons. He even returned their 
 nods as though no such thing as a suspicion re- 
 garding their honesty had come into his head. 
 
 "They missed that chance, anyhow!" Hiram 
 remarked, as with some difficulty they threaded 
 their way through the next car, for the train 
 was making fast time, and things rolled more or 
 less. 
 
 "We've got to keep on the alert all the time 
 if we expect to leave those smart chaps in the 
 lurch/' Rob told him. "You know the old say- 
 ing, 'eternal vigilance is the price of liberty/ 
 and it applies to us right now." 
 
 "Then you don't think they've given up all 
 hope yet, Rob?" 
 
 "That kind of men never do until they've 
 exhausted every plan," the scout leader replied. 
 "I expect that right now they've got some scheme 
 in mind they mean to spring on us if they get but 
 half a chance." 
 
 Reaching their section in the sleeper, they sent 
 Andy ahead to get his supper. He told them he 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 95 
 
 was as hungry as a wolf, and would make up 
 for what Hiram failed to dispose of, so that the 
 company should not get too rich off what they 
 paid into its coffers. 
 
 After a while the men came in and took their 
 seats. Rob was a little afraid one of them might 
 be bold enough to push himself upon them. He 
 had prepared for this during their absence by 
 having Hiram sit alongside of him next the win- 
 dow, while the other seat was piled high with 
 some of their luggage, thus offering no chance 
 for a third party to find room. 
 
 But it proved a false alarm. Neither of the 
 men made any advance whatever, and Rob be- 
 lieved they had figured that action on their part 
 while on the train might get them into trouble. 
 
 "The time will come when we are in the sta- 
 tion at Los Angeles/' he told Hiram. 
 
 "Do you really think so?" asked the other 
 curiously; and it might be noticed that he did 
 not seem to be trembling any longer; for since 
 his packet was safe in the possession of Rob 
 Blake, Hiram did not see any necessity for fur- 
 ther worrying over the matter. 
 
96 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "We must be careful every minute of the time 
 until we reach the hotel/' the scout leader ex- 
 plained. 
 
 "Huh! do you know, Rob, what I've got a 
 good notion to do?" 
 
 "Be reckless, perhaps," chuckled the other, 
 guessing this, perhaps, from the little boastful 
 strain he detected in the language Hiram used. 
 
 "Why, to be frank with you, Rob, I really 
 feel sorry for those chumps. They've taken a 
 whole lot of interest in a poor country chap like 
 me, and it seems a shame they should be bit- 
 terly disappointed." 
 
 "Oh ! that's the way things set, do they ?" con- 
 tinued Rob. "You feel so bad on their account 
 that you're tempted to give them a chance to 
 steal that dummy packet you have fastened in- 
 side your pocket?" 
 
 "I've gone so far as to take the pin out, you 
 see," chuckled Hiram. "If they do get busy 
 they needn't have the worry of that to keep 
 them back. And when you look at it in the right 
 light, Rob, wouldn't that be just the quickest way 
 to get rid of the slick rascals?" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 97 
 
 "Well, the chances are that if they did man- 
 age to lay hands on your packet, they'd disap- 
 pear in a big hurry, Hiram." 
 
 "All right, then. Let them make the oppor- 
 tunity, and I'll try to be as accommodating as 
 possible. You know, Rob, that I'm said to be 
 an easy mark among the boys of Hampton. I 
 hate to disappoint anybody in the worst way." 
 
 "Here comes Andy, and he looks as if he has 
 enjoyed his supper first-rate, too," Rob remarked 
 "I hope he doesn't let them get him into conver- 
 sation for an entering wedge. I forgot to warn 
 him about that." 
 
 Apparently Andy was wise enough on his own 
 account to know the folly of such a move, as he 
 pushed past the two men, paying no attention 
 even when one of them plucked at his sleeve. 
 
 "One more hour and we'll be there, the con- 
 ductor told me," he announced. 
 
 "Then we must be about on time, according 
 to the schedule," said Hiram, who had worn his 
 time-table almost to shreds by consulting it so 
 often on the long journey from New York City. 
 
 They proceeded to get all their belongings 5n 
 
98 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 shape, so there would be nothing to delay them, 
 once the station was reached. Rob had decided 
 to take a carriage to the Hotel Alexandria, and 
 thus avoid all possible contact with strangers. 
 
 When the porter announced that they were en- 
 tering Los Angeles there was considerable con- 
 fusion, as passengers caught up such of their 
 hand luggage as had not been already piled near 
 the door by the porter. 
 
 Rob had resolutely declined to let the negro 
 touch his suitcase, though his liberal tip to the 
 man made him eager to be of some assistance. 
 The boy knew that at this point there was apt to 
 crop up a crisis; and also that the good record 
 held up to that time might be shattered through 
 any carelessness on his part. 
 
 Consequently, he held fast to his grip as he 
 followed Hiram out of the car, this mode of pro- 
 cedure having all been settled upon beforehand. 
 It gave Rob a chance to keep his eagle eye on the 
 figure of Hiram; and so long as he was able to 
 do that he did not believe the other could be spir- 
 ited away, or his pocket picked. 
 
 "Look out for getting in a crush, Hiram," Rob 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 99 
 
 whispered in the other's ear as they passed along 
 the narrow corridor. 
 
 "They went out ahead of us, Rob," Hiram in- 
 formed him, as he turned his head. 
 
 "Yes, I know that, but we're going to run up 
 against those men again before we are out of 
 this scrape," the scout leader prophesied. 
 
 "Well, I'm awful glad we're in at last. That 
 was a long trip, and I'm tired of the old car," 
 said the one in the lead. "Thank goodness we'll 
 soon be landed in San Francisco, where my busi- 
 ness can be settled, one way or the other." 
 
 "I see them, Rob !" announced Andy, just then. 
 
 "Yes, and they're waiting for us, just as I 
 thought," ventured Rob. "We'll push straight 
 on to where we can get a carriage, and then leave 
 them in the lurch. Above all, nobody must stop 
 to talk ; keep walking, and stick together !" 
 
 "That's understood, Rob!" came from Hiram; 
 while Andy in the rear gave a grunt as if to sig- 
 nify that he had it all fixed in his mind. 
 
 There was a lively scene as friends rushed this 
 way and that to find those for whom they were 
 waiting; and as the three scouts walked steadily 
 
100 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 along in line, headed for the exit where the car- 
 riages were to be found, the two men suddenly 
 appeared alongside them. 
 
 "Sorry to bother you young fellows/' said the 
 tall man, in a low but commanding voice, "but we 
 are United States marshals, and you must con- 
 sider yourselves bound to come with us, for you 
 are under arrest f 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 101 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 TURNING THE TABLES ON TWO ROGUES. 
 
 "Arrested ! Oh ! my stars !" ejaculated Hiram, 
 falling to trembling when he felt the hand of 
 the tall stranger drop heavily upon his shoulder. 
 
 "Whew! this is a warm reception to Califor- 
 nia for a fact !" burst out Andy, in considerable 
 consternation, as he dropped his bundles, and 
 stood there staring at the two mysterious men. 
 
 Rob, too, was somewhat staggered at the ab- 
 rupt accusation, though he quickly rallied his 
 senses, and found his tongue. 
 
 "Where's your warrant for doing this?" he 
 demanded of the shorter man, who immediately 
 flipped back his coat to disclose some sort of 
 nickel badge pinned to his vest, not giving Rob 
 enough time to make it out. 
 
 "We don't need any warrant, being in the ser- 
 vice of the Government," this worthy assured 
 him in as gruff a tone as possible. 
 
 "But who do you take us for, and what are 
 
102 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 we accused of doing?" asked Rob, continuing to 
 keep a firm grip on his suitcase through it all, 
 though he allowed his eyes to rove around in 
 search of a policeman. 
 
 "Never mind about that, my boy ; you will find 
 it all out after we have arraigned you before the 
 United States Commissioner. We've been 
 watching your party for some time, and believe 
 we've bagged the right birds. Now, for your 
 sake, we don't want to make a scene, so we'll 
 just lock arms with you, and pass out of the 
 station that way to take a vehicle. If you know 
 what's good for you, pay no attention to any 
 one; and if you attempt to escape, remember, 
 we're prepared to shoot." 
 
 The tall man at that eagerly thrust a hand 
 through the left arm of Hiram, who made no re- 
 sistance. Rob, even in that exciting moment, 
 noticed that he had managed to get on the side 
 nearest the pocket where the inventor had placed 
 his valuable papers, now snugly reposing on 
 Rob's person. It was very significant, to say 
 the least; and Rob began immediately to dis- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 103 
 
 cover what Hiram would have called "the nig- 
 ger in the woodpile." 
 
 "Come on, then, boys," said Rob, "we're in 
 for it, and there's no need of kicking up any dis- 
 turbance. We'll go before the Commissioner 
 and prove our innocence." 
 
 "That's right sensible of you, young fellow!" 
 declared the shorter man, as he took hold of 
 Rob's arm and escorted him along. 
 
 Other people were pushing past, but were so 
 busy with their own affairs that they did not 
 seem to pay any attention to the little drama be- 
 ing enacted on the station platform. 
 
 A minute later and Rob believed the time had 
 come to act. 
 
 "Not that way, son; we're meaning to take a 
 carriage over here," said the tall man, designat- 
 ing the opposite direction to that in which Rob 
 had turned. 
 
 "Please yourselves, gentlemen," said Rob, sud- 
 denly displaying quite a different manner. 
 "We've decided that we want to go out this way; 
 and that policeman standing there has his eye 
 on us this very minute. I think I had better call 
 
104 THE EOT SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 him over and ask him to get you to show your 
 colors." 
 
 "That's the stuff!" said Andy, recklessly, all 
 the pent-up indignation that had been boiling 
 within him breaking loose. 
 
 Had a bomb fallen near them, the two men 
 could not have shown more concern. They must 
 have realized that their shrewd little game had 
 been called. 
 
 "Guess we've made a mistake about this busi- 
 ness, McGuire!" said the short man, hastily look- 
 ing around him as though desirous of discover- 
 ing a good opening for flight. 
 
 "Seems that way to me, Colonel; and we'll 
 say good-by to you, boys!" 
 
 "Why, they've gone!" cried Andy, as though 
 he could hardly believe his eyes. 
 
 Rob had really been on the point of summon- 
 ing the officer standing there ; but since the ras- 
 cals had chosen to run and mingle with the out- 
 pouring crowd, and Rob did not wish to have 
 attention called to himself and chums, he wisely 
 held his tongue. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 105 
 
 Hiram was laughing to himself as though it 
 struck him in the light of a good joke. 
 
 "What ails you, Hiram?" asked Andy, not 
 yet abk to grasp the situation sufficiently to see 
 the humorous side of it. 
 
 "Fin only wondering what they'll say when 
 they come to find out how they've been so badly 
 sold, that's all," replied the inventor, again in- 
 dulging in one of his laughing fits. 
 
 "Did they get it?" demanded Rob, instantly, 
 guessing that there was a reason for all this 
 hilarity on the part of the other chum. 
 
 "Oh ! he slicked it out of my pocket the cutest 
 way you ever saw," replied Hiram. "I felt his 
 hand going in, so I held my breath to give him 
 all the chance I could; and he did it, too, sure 
 he did!" 
 
 "Got the papers, you mean, don't you, Hi- 
 ram?" asked Rob. 
 
 "The dummy you made up for me, Rob." 
 
 Then both the others had occasion to smile 
 broadly. 
 
 "Hope they'll enjoy reading those letters the 
 
106 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 boys wrote me while we were over in Europe 
 last fall," Rob remarked. 
 
 "I'd give a heap to see them when they find 
 what a wonderful windfall they've struck to pay 
 them for all their trouble," said Andy. 
 
 "Well, let's get a conveyance and start for the 
 Alexandria without any more delay," advised 
 the scout leader. 
 
 "Me for a comfy bed to-night," Hiram 
 laughed; "better get a room with plenty of space 
 for all of us, Rob. After this excitement to 
 greet us on reaching California, I think it would 
 be as well to stick together till we've unloaded 
 our cargo, and have our time to ourselves." 
 
 They were soon at the hotel. They were taken 
 up to the fifth floor, on which were three con- 
 necting rooms. 
 
 "High enough up so we needn't be afraid of 
 any one climbing in at the window," Hiram re- 
 marked, after he had first of all taken in the 
 view, with the late moon just peeping above the 
 mountains in the east. 
 
 "Oh! no danger of those two fellows chasing 
 after us any longer," laughed Andy. "They got 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 107 
 
 their fill of it, and will pick out somebody be- 
 sides scouts for their next victims. Who got 
 bit, I want to know?" 
 
 As everybody laughed and seemed satisfied, 
 it could be set down as positive that the three 
 scouts were not feeling badly over the adven- 
 ture that had marked their introduction to the 
 Coast. 
 
 The night passed without any incident worthy 
 of recording. Hiram declared that he never 
 knew a single thing after his head touched the 
 pillow ; he was so much in need of a good night's 
 sleep that he must have dropped off instantly, 
 to be finally aroused by hearing Rob announce 
 it was time for breakfast. 
 
 They determined to put their valuables in the 
 hotel safe, and spend several days in and around 
 Los Angeles, though they would not have time 
 to run down to San Diego and visit the other 
 big exposition which was in full blast there. 
 
 This they did, and enjoyed every minute of 
 the time, though they were never long in one 
 place, so many things did they have to see. 
 
 It being Hiram's first chance to look upon 
 
103 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 tropical vegetation, he was highly delighted with 
 what he saw in the streets and public gardens 
 of the bustling city. 
 
 Then they went out to visit an orange grove, 
 and besides that, inspected numerous enterprises 
 connected with the great fruit-growing belt 
 around Riverside. This place the boys were 
 ready to declare with its groves covering the 
 broad valley, and with the mountains, their tops 
 snow-covered, looming up beyond to be the 
 most delightful town on the face of the earth. 
 
 But the boys came to the conclusion that while 
 all these things were truly wonderful and espe- 
 cially delightful, they had not come out to the 
 coast on a pleasure jaunt; and hence no further 
 time should be spent in this way until they had 
 accomplished the several duties that awaited 
 their attention. 
 
 "I've made arrangements for seats in the par- 
 lor-car with the train leaving to-morrow morn- 
 ing," Rob announced on the second evening, as 
 they discussed supper and the many things they 
 had seen since early morning. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 109 
 
 "When will we get to San Francisco then?" 
 asked Hiram. 
 
 "After dark/' Rob informed him. "It's more 
 than three hundred miles away, you know, for 
 California is a big State, especially from north 
 to south." 
 
 "According to that, then, Rob/' continued the 
 other, "on the day after to-morrow we ought to 
 be taking in some of the sights of the World's 
 Fair." 
 
 "That's our programme," admitted the leader 
 and guide of the expedition, as he threw down 
 his napkin, and pushed his chair away, in which 
 he was copied a little reluctantly, perhaps, by 
 both his companions. 
 
 "Excuse me for not asking if you were 
 through, Hiram," said Rob in an aside, "but hon- 
 estly I was afraid Andy would founder if he 
 ate any more. He's developed such an enormous 
 appetite since landing here, there's liable to be 
 an explosion unless we watch him pretty close." 
 
 "He'll eat up all your spare cash, that's the 
 worst of it," complained Hiram, who was a lit- 
 tle inclined to be close with his money as a rule ; 
 
110 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 possibly because he had found a pressing need 
 for every dollar in conducting his numerous ex- 
 periments, for it costs more or less to "potter" 
 with schemes along the line of invention. 
 
 Rob only laughed, and it was very evident that 
 this contingency did not worry him to any great 
 extent. He knew there were ample funds at 
 hand for all ordinary expenses, with more com- 
 ing if needed. 
 
 They were off on the morning train, and all 
 through that day enjoyed the scenery that was 
 spread out before them through Santa Barbara 
 and on up until it reached San Francisco. 
 
 That day's journey would never be forgotten 
 by any of the three scouts. They stored a thou- 
 sand incidents away in their memories for fu- 
 ture enjoyment. 
 
 As evening came on they knew they must be 
 getting in the vicinity of the great city that had 
 recovered from the horrors of the earthquake 
 and destruction by fire with such marvelous speed 
 as to awaken the admiration of the whole world. 
 
 "You can see the light in the sky whenever 
 the train makes a turn/' remarked Andy to Hi- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 111 
 
 ram who, as usual, had his nose glued against 
 the glass. 
 
 Taking a carriage after they had left the train 
 they soon found themselves installed at the Fair- 
 mont Hotel, which Rob had been told to patron- 
 ize by Judge Collins, because of its fine view of 
 San Francisco Bay, and the Golden Gate, as well 
 as possibly the glimpses to be obtained of the 
 illuminated towers in the Exposition grounds 
 along the shore. 
 
 It was after nine when they arrived, and of 
 course the boys were not foolish enough to think 
 of attempting anything until they had slept, and 
 felt reinvigorated. 
 
 Looking from the windows of the large room 
 they had taken, with two double beds in it, they 
 \vent into raptures over the scene. The moon, 
 though due before long, had not yet risen, and 
 it seemed as though a million lights dazzled their 
 eyes in every direction, and made it look like a 
 scene from fairyland. 
 
 And so, in due time, they sought their beds, 
 and slept so close to the Great Exposition that it 
 would seem as though the whirr of innumerable 
 
112 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 wheels in Machinery Hall, or the murmur of the 
 multitude of visitors roaming about the extensive 
 grounds, must of necessity be borne aloft to the 
 ears of the three eager lads who had come thou- 
 sands of miles to view the wonders of the dis- 
 play. 
 
 But, at any rate, they managed to put in a rest- 
 ful night, and when morning routed them from 
 their beds, they were in fine fettle to begin the 
 first day's sight-seeing. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 113 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WITHIN TH GATES OF- tfHE FAIR. 
 
 "What about those papers of mine, Rob? 
 Had I better take charge of the same now, or 
 let you continue to keep them?" 
 
 Hiram asked this question as they arose after 
 finishing their breakfast, and found themselves 
 facing the business of the first day at the Expo- 
 sition. The whole city, as far as they could see, 
 was in gala attire. Bunting and flags were every- 
 where visible; and it was evident that the good 
 people of San Francisco, in spite of many great 
 discouragements, such as the breaking out of the 
 World War abroad, and the failure of the canal 
 to stay dug on account of the slides, were doing 
 all in their power to make the fair a huge suc- 
 cess. 
 
 "If you leave it with me to decide, Hiram," the 
 scout leader remarked, "I'd say no to both your 
 propositions." 
 
 "But what's to be done with them, then?" cried 
 
114 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 Hiram, as though puzzled by what the other had 
 just said. 
 
 "He means to duplicate our plan down at Los 
 Angeles," spoke up wideawake Andy. 
 
 "Oh! put them in the hotel safe till they're 
 wanted, is that the idea, Rob?" demanded the 
 owner of the said packet that had been giving 
 them all manner of trouble since the time they 
 left San Antonio in Texas. 
 
 "That seems the best scheme, according to 
 my mind," Hiram was told by the one in whom 
 he felt such abiding faith. "Then, no matter 
 what you find out about those people you've come 
 to see, the papers needn't worry you." 
 
 "Guess you're right about that, Rob, and it's 
 a go. Just as like as not I would be doing some 
 fool play, and mebbe losing the precious docu- 
 ments that are to prove my case with the Golden 
 Gate folks. Til go to the desk with you any 
 time you're ready, and see that the clerk gets 
 my property snugged away in his safe." 
 
 When this had been done they set out. Rob, 
 of course, had his suitcase along with him. He 
 had taken out what few things of his own it 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 115 
 
 contained, and now it held only the precious 
 documents and other small exhibits that Profes- 
 sor McEwen had been carrying in person to his 
 scientific colleagues at the Exposition, where they 
 were to be placed with other articles. 
 
 What those numerous small rolls and pack- 
 ages contained none of the scouts really knew. 
 From some remarks, let fall by Judge Collins, 
 Rob had an idea they might be papyrus records 
 found in some old ancient tomb or pyramid, and 
 said to have come down from thousands of years 
 back. To the boys these would not have been 
 worth their bulk in sandwiches, possibly, because 
 they could not appreciate their intrinsic value; 
 but in the eyes of such men as the Scotch pro- 
 fessor they represented treasures beyond any 
 computation, far too valuable to be intrusted to 
 a common express company that might lose them, 
 or deliver them in a crushed condition. 
 
 "There's a tower I can see ; it must be the one 
 that from our window last night seemed as if 
 a million fireflies had lighted on it," announced 
 Andy, with more or less excitement as they found 
 
116 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 themselves close to one of the gates where en- 
 trance to the Exposition grounds could be had. 
 
 "Yes, that must be the Tower of Jewels/' said 
 Rob, "and I should call it pretty well named in 
 the bargain. They've certainly chosen a splendid 
 spot for the Fair, fronting, as it does, on the bay, 
 with its wide sweep of water, and with the city 
 rising up on tiers of terraces back of it." 
 
 "That must be the Zone over there," Andy con- 
 tinued, eagerly; "because you can see a monster 
 seesaw, with one arm away up hundreds of feet 
 in the air, and what looks like a car on it full of 
 folks. Yes, I remember it now; it is called the 
 Aeroscope." 
 
 "Just what it is, Andy," said Rob, "and when 
 we get up there for a look over the harbor, the 
 Exposition grounds and the city, we'll find our- 
 selves just three hundred and twenty-five feet 
 off the earth high enough to make you dizzy." 
 
 "Huh ! seems like they do things on a big scale 
 out this way," grunted Hiram. 
 
 "I reckon our Coney Island would hardly be 
 in the swim with this show," Andy declared, as 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 117 
 
 they paid their way at the gate and entered the 
 grounds. 
 
 Colossal buildings could be seen on all sides, 
 most of them dazzling in the sunlight. Rob had 
 studied the arrangement of these buildings so 
 well that he appeared to recognize them now as 
 though entirely familiar with his surroundings. 
 
 * 
 
 It was evident that the little party would not 
 have much use for a guide as long as Rob was 
 along to serve them in that capacity. 
 
 "I calculate that this is the Panama-Pacific 
 Court of the Universe/' he told his chums, "and 
 that building over there is the Palace of Agricul- 
 ture, while this other must be the Palace of 
 Transportation; then there's the Palace of Hor- 
 ticulture where you can see that huge glass dome. 
 Over there is the Column of Progress, more than 
 a hundred and fifty feet high, and overlooking 
 the Marino." 
 
 The boys surveyed these sights with more or 
 less awe. 
 
 "I suppose," ventured Hiram, "after we've 
 nosed around here for a week or two we'll feel 
 as much to hum with these big buildings as if 
 
118 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 we were in Hampton, and lookin' at our Odd 
 Fellows' Temple. But what a heap of things 
 they must all of 'em hold. It'll keep us hustlin' 
 to see the hull lot, workin' ten hours a day for 
 weeks/' 
 
 "Oh ! well, none of us expect to see everything 
 that's on exhibit here," said Rob. "Our tastes 
 are not wholly alike, either. I may want to spend 
 most of my time in a certain quarter that 
 wouldn't interest you other fellows to any great 
 extent; and on your part I've no doubt there are 
 certain things that will -hold you spellbound, yet 
 which we may only care to take one good look 
 at." 
 
 At that Andy started to chuckle. 
 
 "I warrant you I can guess where Hiram will 
 be found pretty much all his time at the show," 
 he remarked, pointedly; and of course the other 
 scout felt impelled to take him up on that positive 
 assertion. 
 
 "Say where, then, if you know so much, Mr. 
 Smarty," he asked Andy. 
 
 "Just as soon as he gets the locations down 
 pat," began the other, "you'll never see him a 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 119 
 
 great way off from the quarter where the inven- 
 tions are being exhibited. He's daffy on me- 
 chanics and such things ; and he'll be worse than 
 any sticking plaster you ever saw, once he gets 
 planted in front of the booths, or finds out where 
 the aeroplanes are going up every little while/* 
 
 "Oh! well, I own up that's mostly what I 
 wanted to come all the way out here for/' said 
 Hiram, frankly. "But it's a toss-up, Andy, that 
 once you get in that amusement park they call 
 the Zone, a place of more'n sixty acres, I read, 
 you'll spend most of your time watching the Fiji 
 Islanders dance, or riding around on that obser- 
 vation car to view the wonders of Yellowstone 
 Park, or mebbe the Great Colorado Canyon." 
 
 "I can't get there any too soon, I'm telling you, 
 boys," Andy confessed. "Both of you have come 
 out here on business as well as sight-seeing; but 
 it's different in my case. I'm carefree, and bound 
 to enjoy myself to the limit. In good time I'll 
 wander all over every building in the grounds; 
 but first I want to be amused so as to forget the 
 troubles of our long trip here." 
 
 "It's very evident," began Rob, "that we'll have 
 
120 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 to settle on some particular place as a sort of 
 general round-up. If each one is going to start 
 off on his own hook, now and then, unless we fix 
 it that way, we might wander all day long 
 through the enormous buildings, and the grounds 
 covered by this Fair, and never meet/' 
 
 "Well thought of, Rob !" cried Andy. "Let me 
 suggest that we take this queer-looking tobac- 
 conist shop as our rendezvous. We can make an 
 arrangement with the owner for a couple of dol- 
 lars or so, to take messages, and hold the same 
 for the rest of the bunch." 
 
 "The sooner that's arranged the better it'll suit 
 me, I guess," said Hiram, who was plainly on 
 needles and pins while being kept from hunting 
 up the building in which he would find myriads of 
 remarkable devices illustrating the inventive gen- 
 ius of the world, and particularly of those from 
 the American nation. 
 
 "Of course I'm going at once to the exhibit in 
 which Professor McEwen is interested," said 
 Rob, after they had arranged with the proprietor 
 of the Oriental tobacco booth, "because I'll not 
 feel easy until I've done my part of the contract, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 121 
 
 and delivered the stuff he intrusted to our 
 charge." 
 
 "H'm, that means me too, I suppose, Rob," ob- 
 served Andy, sighing. 
 
 "Oh ! I could do it alone," Rob started to say, 
 when Andy braced up, bit his lip, and contin- 
 ued: 
 
 "That was the old selfish streak in me speak- 
 ing then, Rob. You'll have to overlook it once 
 more. Of course, I'll not let you finish this busi- 
 ness by yourself. It would be a fine way of act- 
 ing on my part, now, wouldn't it taking the 
 goods and then refusing to pay for the same? 
 Here, let me carry the bag a while. I'm going to 
 be your shadow for this one day anyhow ; though 
 p'raps, after all, we can manage to drop in at 
 the Zone, and see what's what in that interesting 
 district." 
 
 Rob laughed. 
 
 "I'll make a special point of it to oblige you, 
 Andy," he said, clapping the other on the shoul- 
 der. "As for Hiram, I can understand why he's 
 so anxious to find out where the aviation field 
 lies. We've got to remember that his businesses 
 
122 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 with parties who are altogether interested in air- 
 ships and flying." 
 
 "Thanks, Rob/' said Hiram, nodding his head 
 in that quick jerky way he had. "It stands to 
 reason that I want to pick up a few pointers on 
 the sly before I show myself to the Golden Gate 
 people. By hanging around I'm apt to hear some 
 talk, and learn a few facts that may stand me in 
 good later on/' 
 
 "You'd better go some slow, Hiram/' cau- 
 tioned Andy. "Remember that we had it ar- 
 ranged to back you up when the time came to 
 interview your people. So don't spoil all our 
 plans by being too precipitate." 
 
 "Meaning, I figure," Hiram answered, wincing 
 under that last word, "that I mustn't be rash, and 
 put my foot in it. I promise you I'll fight shy 
 there, Rob; and when we meet here to get a 
 bite of lunch together, p'raps I'll have some news 
 for you." 
 
 "I hope it will be the right kind of news, then, 
 Hiram," Rob told him, seriously; "though for 
 that matter it seems to me this company has 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 treated you splendidly already, and that they 
 must be on the square." 
 
 "And after that affair is all settled up," con- 
 tinued the other, drawing a long breath of antici- 
 pation, "think of the great times I'm going to 
 have mousing around the building that houses 
 the inventions. I tell you I'm the luckiest dog 
 that ever lived to get this big chance thrown right 
 at me/' 
 
 So Hiram hurried away, having already 
 marked out his course from long study of the 
 little chart each one of the scouts possessed, and 
 which gave what might be called a "bird's-eye 
 view" of the extensive Exposition grounds, where 
 the most prominent buildings were located, and 
 the shortest way to get from one point to an- 
 other. 
 
 Rob looked after him with a smile on his face. 
 He turned to Andy and laughed. 
 
 "Isn't he the greatest crank in his line you 
 ever saw ?" asked Andy. 
 
 "Oh ! it's hardly fair to call Hiram that," ex- 
 postulated the scout leader; "he's enthusiastic 
 over inyentions, but what of that? Every fel- 
 
124 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 low who's dead in earnest could be spoken of as 
 a crank. And it's the cranks, as you call them, 
 who make the wheels of progress go around." 
 
 "Yes," added Andy dryly, "I've noticed that 
 some of them even seem to have wheels in their 
 heads, though they get hopping mad if you men- 
 tion it, or turn your hand this way," and he in- 
 dicated a revolving motion with his finger that 
 could hardly be mistaken by a sensitive person. 
 
 "All I know is that Hiram is due to enjoy the 
 greatest feast his soul ever could imagine. But 
 don't let us waste any more time here, Andy; 
 I've got my bearings by now, and can take you 
 straight to the building where the scientists love 
 to gather and gloat over the queer things that 
 are so wonderful to them. Come along!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 125 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ROB DELIVERS THE GOODS. 
 
 "What's that splendid looking arch over there 
 meant to represent, Rob?" asked Andy, as he 
 pointed to the right. 
 
 "They call it the Arch of the Setting Sun," 
 replied the scout leader. 
 
 "A mighty good name, considering how we're 
 at the jumping-off place of the United States. 
 Seems to me, Rob, that the Far West has always 
 gone by the name of the Land of the Setting 
 Sun/' 
 
 "That's why the arch has been built," Rob told 
 him. "You see, in pioneer days the constant drift 
 was always this way. Men who founded homes 
 in what was then the wilderness along the Ohio 
 kept hearing wonderful stories about the rich- 
 ness of the soil farther west, and what unlimited 
 fur-bearing animals were to be captured by those 
 daring enough to take the risk." 
 
 "And so they kept pushing farther and far- 
 
126 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ther, year in and year out. In this way settlers 
 finally overran the prairies, and crossed the 
 Rockies ?" asked Andy, as he surveyed the beau- 
 tiful arch that had been raised to commemorate 
 the dreams of the men who blazed the way of 
 civilization through the wilderness. 
 
 "Yes, and here along the shore of the Pacific 
 lay the end of the dream," explained the scout 
 leader. "California represented the foot of the 
 rainbow of promise those hardy men had seen 
 painted in the sky. The western sun meant a 
 whole lot in those days; it shone over the Land 
 of Promise; it was the hope and ambition of 
 almost every settler. No, one drifted East ; it was 
 always into the mysterious and beckoning West 
 that families emigrated." 
 
 Around them were crowds of eager sight- 
 seers. At times they jostled elbows with repre- 
 sentatives of numerous foreign nations. 
 
 "But there are not near so many foreigners 
 visiting the Panama-Pacific Exposition as there 
 would have been only for the terrible European 
 war that's raging across the ocean," Rob hap- 
 pened to remark a little later when the other scout 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 127 
 
 called his attention to a group of dark- featured 
 men wearing the red fezzes of Orientals, and 
 passing along as though viewing the wonders of 
 the exhibition with a lively interest. 
 
 "I suppose the building erected by California 
 is reckoned the largest one of all on the grounds, 
 isn't it, Rob? How much space does it cover, do 
 you know?" 
 
 "They say five acres, Andy, which you must 
 own is a shack of some size." 
 
 "We haven't been in it yet," said Andy, "but 
 I should imagine it must hold about everything 
 connected with the life of the big State. Why, it 
 would take a whole day to get around there, and 
 see half of the things on exhibition." 
 
 "Plenty of time for all that when we settle 
 down to the business of sight-seeing," Rob told 
 him. "First of all I want to get this load off 
 my hands," and he moved the suitcase as he 
 spoke ; "not that it's very heavy, you understand,, 
 only it weighs on my mind; but what it holds 
 means sleepless nights for our good friend, Pro- 
 fessor McEwen, until he gets my wire that it 
 has been safely delivered." 
 
128 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "I deciare if those two girls over there don't 
 make me think of Lucy Mainwaring and Sue 
 Clifford away back in Hampton!" exclaimed 
 Andy suddenly. "Oh ! excuse me, Rob, I didn't 
 mean to give you a start by mentioning Lucy's 
 name. Of course it's only a chance resemblance, 
 for neither of the girls we've left behind us could 
 be here at the Exposition. But I'm a great fel- 
 low, you remember, to imagine people look like 
 some I've known." 
 
 "Yes, and lots of times that failing has gotten 
 you into a peck of trouble, too, Andy," Rob re- 
 marked, laughingly ; "there was that boy in scout 
 uniform this very morning that you rushed up 
 to with outstretched hand, and calling him Sim 
 Jeffords. I nearly took a fit to see the blank look 
 on your face when he drew himself up and gave 
 you the cold stare." 
 
 "Yes, that's a fact, Rob, he did freeze me. 
 Chances are to this minute that boy thinks I was 
 a fraud, perhaps some new sort of confidence 
 operator. I saw him grab at his watch-chain in 
 a hurry. He backed away, too, and never gave 
 me half a chance to explain." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 129 
 
 "I'm expecting right along," Rob told him, "to 
 have you discover some of our old enemies hov- 
 ering around, and waiting for a chance to give 
 us a jolt on account of the grudge they bear us. 
 There's Jared Applegate, for instance, the last 
 we ever saw of him was at the time he was down 
 in Mexico, having been compelled to run away 
 from home after getting himself into a scrape by 
 using some money that didn't belong to him." 
 
 Andy, instead of appearing dejected while Rob 
 was "rubbing it into him" after this fashion, 
 really seemed to enter into the joke himself. 
 
 "Well," he went on to say with a snicker, "hon- 
 est to goodness a little while ago I did see two 
 fellows walking along who made me think of 
 Max Ramsay and his pal, Hodge Berry, the two 
 meanest boys of our home town. Gave me some- 
 thing of a thrill, too, and I even had a sneaking 
 notion to run over and shake hands with them; 
 though back home I would cross the street rather 
 than meet them face to face." 
 
 "Yes," said Rob, "that's always the case witH 
 people who're away from home. They get so 
 tired of seeing strange faces that the sight of 
 
130 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 one they know makes them friendly. But I sup- 
 pose you've noticed that the scouts seem to have 
 quite a share in the running of things at this 
 Big Show?" 
 
 "For a fact I've seen quite a number of them 
 about, and it strikes me they are a busy lot in 
 the bargain," Andy admitted. 
 
 "I understand they have a permanent camp 
 on the grounds," Rob explained, "which later on 
 we must visit, and make acquaintances. They 
 seem to be a hustling lot, and a credit to the khaki 
 they wear." 
 
 "But what d'ye suppose they're doing here?" 
 asked the other. 
 
 "Oh! there are dozens of things Boy Scouts 
 can find to do at a monster Fair like this," said 
 the patrol leader. "I think some of them are act- 
 ing as guides to parties of women and children. 
 Others run messages for the department heads, 
 because there must be a tremendous lot of that 
 sort of thing that has to be done here. I saw 
 one batch of scouts carrying a man on a litter, 
 and from that I concluded they must have a 
 scout emergency hospital somewhere on the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 131 
 
 grounds, where those who have been taken sud- 
 denly sick or become exhausted from the heat 
 in the machinery buildings could receive first aid 
 to the injured." 
 
 Andy's face took on a look of pride. He even 
 tenderly stroked the sleeve of his khaki coat and 
 touched the badge on his lapel as though he con- 
 sidered it a great honor to be wearing that in- 
 signia of his rank in the troop to which he be- 
 longed. 
 
 That is one of the finest things about scout 
 membership; it stimulates boys to aspire to emu- 
 late those who are striving to help others, or 
 alleviate suffering in some way. 
 
 "We ought to be nearing that building you 
 spoke about, Rob," Andy remarked, after more 
 time had elapsed. "Seems to me we've covered 
 miles since we saw Hiram streaking off for the 
 aviation field and the Hall of Inventions." 
 
 "I think that is it on our left ; but to make sure 
 Til ask this scout hurrying along as though the 
 whole show would have to close its doors unless 
 he managed to do the important errand he's sent 
 
 on." 
 
132 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "I'll hang back while you do," suggested Andy 
 jokingly. "Seems like they think I'm a sort of 
 suspicious looking person, though nobody ever 
 told me so in Hampton." 
 
 The messenger condescended to slacken his 
 speed sufficiently to catch the question which Rob 
 asked. After saluting, as became a fellow scout, 
 he nodded his head in the affirmative, being ap- 
 parently too winded to say even a single word. 
 
 Accordingly the two boys entered the building 
 and threading their way among a multitude of 
 exhibits, with a sprinkling of people examining 
 the same, most of them rather sober-looking in 
 appearance, they managed to find where the of- 
 fices of the director were located. 
 
 "We wish to see Professor Marsh, who is in 
 charge of this building," was what Rob said to 
 an active little man wearing large glasses, and 
 with all the earmarks of a scientist. 
 
 "That happens to be my name, son; what can 
 I do for you?" replied the other, as he bent a 
 pair of exceedingly penetrating eyes upon the 
 scouts. 
 
 "We have come to you," Rob explained, "from 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 133 
 
 Professor Andrew McEwen, of Edinburgh Uni- 
 versity, who met with an accident while visiting 
 an old friend near our home, on Long Island, 
 New York State, and while not seriously injured 
 could not finish his journey across the conti- 
 nent." 
 
 The little man immediately showed signs of 
 tremendous excitement. He glued his eyes on 
 the suitcase Rob was carrying. 
 
 "Yes, yes, glad to hear that he is not seriously 
 injured. Professor McEwen is one of the most 
 famous of his class, and the world could ill afford 
 to lose him at this interesting stage of events. 
 But he was to bring with him a collection too 
 precious to trust to ordinary channels. I sin- 
 cerely trust that it was not harmed when he met 
 with his accident ?" 
 
 "Oh! no, sir," exclaimed Rob, hastily, "not in 
 the least, since he did not have it with him at 
 the time. But he grieved to think it might be 
 delayed in reaching you, and so he intrusted it 
 to the keeping of myself and my comrade here, 
 as we happened to be of some assistance to him at 
 the time." 
 
134 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 The scientist seemed to be actually dum- 
 founded. He stared from Rob to Andy, and then 
 looked hard at the suitcase. 
 
 "Can it be possible that Professor McEwen 
 intrusted those priceless papyrus relics to the 
 care of two mere boys? I am astounded, and 
 likewise worried. Oh! I hope you have taken 
 great car$ with them. Give me the bag, and let 
 me see for myself. It would be a shock indeed if 
 anything had happened to destroy the labor of 
 years, and caused such a dreadful loss to science." 
 
 He almost snatched the suitcase from Rob's 
 hand and vanished like a streak through a door 
 that led to another room, leaving the two boys 
 exchanging amused glances. 
 
 "Whew! I'm sorry for you if anything Jias 
 gone wrong with those rolls, Rob/' said Andy, 
 making a wry face. "We're apt to go out of 
 this building faster than \ve came in, I'm afraid." 
 
 "No danger/' Rob told him; "they were pre- 
 pared to resist ordinary shocks in transit, and 
 we've handled them as carefully as Professor 
 McEwen himself could have done. But he did 
 look actually frightened, for a fact." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 135 
 
 "Isn't it queer what a pile these learned scien- 
 tists think of things that other people wouldn't 
 give five cents for?" remarked Andy. 
 
 "Oh ! well," said Rob, "that's because we're in 
 the dark concerning their real value. Look in 
 through the half -open door and you can see sev- 
 eral men like Professor Marsh undoing those 
 same rolls with trembling hands." 
 
 "Yes, and notice the awed look on their faces, 
 will you, Rob? The director is shaking hands 
 all around now, and beaming on his colleagues, 
 so I guess he's found things O. K. and hunky 
 dory. Here he comes out to tell us so." 
 
 The look of deep anxiety on Professor Marsh's 
 face had vanished, and there was a trace of a 
 pleased smile there when he again confronted the 
 two scouts. 
 
 "The letter inclosed from Professor McEwen 
 speaks in the highest terms of you young gen- 
 tlemen," he said, effusively, as he stretched out 
 both hands. "He writes that you were instru- 
 ments in the hands of Providence of saving his 
 life; and for that let me remark that you deserve 
 the heartfelt thanks of all who are interested in 
 
136 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 the work that distinguished gentleman is doing 
 for science. I am proud to shake you by the 
 hand. To think that you have come three thou- 
 sand miles bearing those priceless rolls, and 
 delivered them to us here without the slightest 
 
 damage. And this very night I shall write to 
 
 t 
 
 Professor McEwen to that effect." 
 
 "We are instructed to wire him in your name 
 with your permission, professor, that you have 
 received them intact," ventured Rob. 
 
 "I will sign any message you choose to send 
 him, son," declared the happy director of the 
 building devoted to the interests of science. 
 
 "And now, sir," said Rob, "would you mind 
 returning my suitcase ?" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 137 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 THE PEOPLE OF THE "ZONE." 
 
 When Rob and his chum left the building they 
 carried the empty suitcase; and besides, Profes- 
 sor Marsh had written and signed a long and 
 effusive message to his learned colleague in care 
 of Judge Collins, at Hampton, Long Island, which 
 Rob was empowered to send, at his own expense, 
 by wire as a night letter. 
 
 "That job is done," said Rob, with the air of 
 one who has gotten rid of a load that had been 
 on his mind. 
 
 "And just to think how we can enjoy ourselves 
 for weeks if we feel like staying that long," pur- 
 sued the happy Andy, fairly bubbling over with 
 enthusiasm and joy. 
 
 "Even when we decide to start back home," 
 laughed Rob, "the fun isn't over by a huge 
 sight." 
 
 "You mean, Rob, we'll have the time of our 
 lives traveling across the Canadian Rockies, tak- 
 
138 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ing in wonderful scenery that is better, lots of 
 people say, than anything across in Switzer- 
 land?" 
 
 "Yes/' said the scout leader, "and if we 
 choose to stop over for a day or two to try the 
 trout fishing at a lake we were told about, 
 haven't we got our rods and other material along 
 in our trunk?" 
 
 "It takes a wideawake fellow like you to think 
 of every little detail, for a fact !" declared Andy, 
 with genuine admiration. 
 
 "Oh! I'm far from perfect, I want you to 
 know," the other told him. "I can remember 
 plenty of times when I've found that, after all, the 
 very thing of most importance was forgotten or 
 neglected. But it pays to try and cover the 
 ground. It saves lots of trouble and disappoint- 
 ment in the long run." 
 
 "I believe you, Rob ; with me it seems as though 
 I fall into the way of letting some other fellow 
 do my thinking for me. I know it's wrong, but 
 anyhow it's satisfying to have that confidence in 
 your chum." 
 
 "You didn't think of letting some other scout 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 139 
 
 do your work for you at the time you were learn- 
 ing the various bugle calls, I noticed, Andy/ 1 
 
 "Shucks ! that's different/' returned the other, 
 hastily. "Now that you mention it, I can't re- 
 member ever asking a substitute to do my eating 
 for me when meal time rolled around. Guess you 
 must be right, though, Rob; some of these days I 
 intend to wake up and even think for myself/' 
 
 "Believe me you can't make that day any too 
 soon, Andy. If you happened to find yourself 
 cast adrift on a big desert you would be sorry 
 you delayed so long, though, if you pulled 
 through alive, it might be the making of you." 
 
 "Oh ! I'll buckle down to the job without being 
 forced that way/' Andy hurriedly assured the 
 scout leader. "What's the next thing on the 
 program?" 
 
 "I know you're just dying to get into the 
 amusement section of the Exposition called the 
 Zone, and which is a good deal like the Streets 
 of Cairo and the Midway of the Chicago Fair. 
 I'll make a bargain with you, Andy." 
 
 "All right; let's hear the particulars/* ex- 
 claimed the other eagerly. 
 
140 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "First of all," began Rob, "I want to get rid 
 of this suitcase, and we'll make for that tobac- 
 conist's odd booth, to leave it with him until 
 we're going back to the hotel." 
 
 "That's over this way, past the big California 
 building, with the Oregon one that has a colon- 
 nade of logs alongside. Well, after we've 
 shunted the bag on the man who runs the to- 
 bacco shop, what next?" 
 
 "We'll put, in the rest of the morning," Rob 
 explained, "in rummaging through some of these 
 places clustering around the Tower of Jewels. 
 I've got a string of things I'm wild to see, and 
 that's as good a place to make a start as any- 
 where." 
 
 "That brings us to noon, when we agreed to 
 meet Hiram, you remember, for lunch?" Andy 
 reminded his chum. 
 
 "Yes, and I understand there are dozens and 
 dozens of eating places to be found in the Zone. 
 If you want you can have an Arab dinner, a 
 Chinese chop suey, a French meal a la carte, a 
 German one, or anything your taste calls for. 
 So we might as well head that way for our lunch, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 141 
 
 and pick out a place that seems to promise good 
 things for hungry fellows." 
 
 "Huh! after I once get inside the Zone, Rob, 
 nothing can drag me out again for the whole af- 
 ternoon. So, I hope you've concluded to make a 
 sacrifice, and devote the rest of the day to keep- 
 ing me company in roaming around among all 
 the queer sights they tell me you can run up 
 against there/' 
 
 Rob nodded his head and smiled. 
 
 "I promise you that, Andy, because I know 
 you too well to believe there could be any peace 
 until you have had your way. Yes, and I admit 
 that I can get a lot of enjoyment out of seeing 
 all those foreign things, as well as the more im- 
 portant exhibits in Machinery Hall and such 
 places." 
 
 "Sure thing," said Andy, with an assumption 
 of great sagacity. "In one case we are shown 
 wonderful development in the world's progress 
 along the lines of science and commerce; while 
 in the Zone you can see man himself as he ap- 
 pears all over this ball, how he lives, what his 
 forefathers have done for ages and ages in the 
 
THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 past, and in fact study human nature. To me 
 that is better than gaping at some machine I 
 never could understand in a lifetime." 
 
 By this time they had reached the shop where 
 arrangements had been made with the obliging 
 proprietor to act as a medium of exchange be- 
 tween the three scouts during their stay. The 
 empty suitcase was disposed of and once more 
 the boys started out to gaze upon some of the 
 myriad strange sights that were to be met with 
 on every hand. 
 
 Doubtless Rob took a considerably greater 
 amount of interest in what they viewed during 
 those several hours than did his companion, 
 though now and then Andy managed to display 
 more or less enthusiasm. 
 
 It would be utterly impossible to mention the 
 things they saw as they wandered hither and 
 thither about tfiat section of the grounds. Even 
 a guide-book of the Exposition would have to 
 skim over the details, such were the numberless 
 attractions on every hand. 
 
 "Getting on toward noon, Rob!" suggested 
 Andy, finally, as he laid a hand on his stomach, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 143 
 
 as if to call attention to the fact that it was un- 
 usually flat. 
 
 "And there's Hiram coming this way, too, as 
 if he was beginning to remember his promise to 
 meet us for lunch. I wonder if we can keep him 
 with us the rest of the day?" 
 
 "Not unless you get a rope and tie him," 
 chuckled Andy, "for he's clean gone daffy over 
 the line of exhibits he fancies most, and will 
 haunt that part of the Exposition nearly all the 
 time we're here." 
 
 Hiram caught sight of them about that mo- 
 ment, and hurried over. 
 
 "Just on the way to the meeting-place," he an- 
 nounced. "Knew it was near grub time and 
 wanted to get it over with. Say, they've got the 
 greatest lot of things worth while on exhibition 
 over there in the building devoted to inventions 
 you ever saw. And the aviation field is a peach. 
 My stars! but they're a busy bunch of willing, 
 hustling workers there." 
 
 Rob had been studying the other's face, and it 
 told him something. 
 
144 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "You found your firm represented there, of 
 course, Hiram?" he remarked. 
 
 " 'Course they are, and cutting some high 
 jinks, too," came the reply. "They've got some 
 of their finished products working in the field, 
 with air pilots of national renown in charge of 
 the flights. You must get over that way some 
 time and see." 
 
 "We will, perhaps before the day is done," Rob 
 assured him; "but I suppose now, Hiram, you 
 didn't introduce yourself to the Golden Gate peo- 
 ple?" 
 
 "Naw. I just took it all in, and browsed 
 around everywhere, laughing to myself to think 
 how surprised they were going to be when they 
 found out that the Hiram Nelson, inventor of 
 the wonderful stabilizer for aeroplanes, was only 
 a Boy Scout. But what are we going into the 
 Zone for, tell me?" 
 
 "Why, to get something to eat, to be sure," 
 remarked Andy. 
 
 "But I'm no cannibal," expostulated Hiram, 
 holding back in pretended alarm; "even if they 
 do have that stripe of people here on exhibition. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 145 
 
 I don't hanker after trying a roast Fiji Islander, 
 or a fricasseed Igorrote from the Philippine 
 Islands I'm not that hungry/' 
 
 "Oh!" Andy told him, tugging at his sleeve, 
 "we'll find a thousand places here where they 
 cook meals after the fashion of every nation un- 
 der the sun. I hope we pick out one that is close 
 to that giant seesaw ; because I'm wild to go up 
 in it so as to get a magnificent view of the har- 
 bor, the Exposition grounds and the City of 
 San Francisco." 
 
 It was found to be an easy matter to accom- 
 plish this, and they were soon being served at a 
 table that stood out-of-doors, so that as they en- 
 joyed their lunch they could watch the endless 
 procession of people passing and repassing. 
 
 As so many attractions in the amusement con- 
 cession were connected with foreign countries, 
 it was really almost as good as being abroad to 
 see the various representative types that saun- 
 tered or hurried by. 
 
 "I wonder how many of those Arabs, Turks, 
 Algerians, Persians, Hindoos, Hottentots and 
 
146 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 others are the real thing, and how many rank 
 fakes/ 7 suggested Hiram. 
 
 "That's more than anybody can tell," laughed 
 Rob. "It's the easiest thing to put stain on the 
 skin of an Irishman, dress him in the Oriental 
 style, clap a red fez on his head, and then call him 
 a Turk. Only he has to keep his tongue tight- 
 locked ; because his brogue would give him away. 
 If you listen to them chattering in their own 
 tongue you can tell which are the real thing." 
 
 "As for me," spoke up Andy, frankly, "I just 
 don't question any of them, but take it for grant- 
 ed they're what they make out to be. And I 
 want to say, fellows, it's the biggest treat to me 
 to be here, watching the congress of all the na- 
 tions and people on the globe." 
 
 Hiram's lip curled and he snickered, but Andy 
 pretended not to hear. To Hiram's mind any 
 one who could confess to caring for such frivo- 
 lous things w r hen there was a building not far 
 away just jammed with the most marvelous in- 
 ventions known to modern science and ingenuity 
 well, it bordered on silliness. But then "many 
 men, many minds," and perhaps it is just as 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 147 
 
 well that people do not all think alike. There is 
 a deal of truth in that old proverb to the effect 
 that what is "one man's food may be another's 
 poison." 
 
 So they sat there for a long time while the pro- 
 cession of Head Hunters from Borneo, natives 
 of the island of Ceylon, South American vaque- 
 ros in their picturesque attire, pigmies from the 
 heart of Africa, Mexican bull-fighters, Moros 
 from our island possessions in the Orient, Chi- 
 nese, Japanese, Servians, Tyrolese mountain 
 climbers and yodlers, and a multitude of others 
 continued to pass, many of them coming from the 
 villages and side shows of the great amusement 
 park. 
 
 From time to time the amazing arm of the 
 giant Aeroscope would project up against the 
 heavens, the car filled with those visitors who 
 wished to obtain a view of their surroundings. 
 
 Every time it arose, slowly but majestically, 
 Andy would stop talking to gape and watch, as 
 though just then the one longing in his heart was 
 to take that skyward trip. 
 
 Rob knew it would be the very first thing Andy 
 
148 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 would want to do after they left the table; and 
 indeed, he was not feeling at all averse to com- 
 plying with such a request, for it seemed as if 
 the extensive view to be obtained must be well 
 worth the price charged for the trip aloft. 
 
 "Three hundred and sixty-five feet they say in 
 the guide book/' Andy gushed; "and all for a 
 small sum in the bargain. I wouldn't miss that 
 sight for ten times fifty cents. Why, only for the 
 Rockies being in the way, with a real good glass 
 you might get even a peep in at Hampton town, 
 unless one of those nasty sea fogs blocked you 
 off," and then, of course, he had to laugh himself 
 at the idea of any glass being able to cover a dis- 
 tance of something like three thousand miles. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 149 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A STRANGE MEETING IN TH AIR. 
 
 "Hiram, it's only fair that you stay with us 
 for a while this afternoon," Rob mentioned as 
 they were leaving the table. 
 
 "Oh! I expected to put in say an hour or so 
 with you, Rob; and then later on I hope you'll 
 make your way over to the aviation field, where 
 you'll just as like as not find me hanging around, 
 still picking up points." 
 
 "That's a bargain, then, is it?" demanded Rob. 
 
 "Just as you say," Hiram declared. "I guess 
 now I c'n hit on the fust thing our chum Andy 
 here'll be wantin' to do. I've been watchin' him 
 stare at that old arm every time she rose up with 
 the car; and I see we're headin' that way right 
 fast now." 
 
 "Yes, it's a good idea to take that trip the first 
 thing," said Rob, "because you get a comprehen- 
 sive idea of the lay of the land that serves you 
 better than any map you can buy. They don't 
 
150 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 stay up very long, though, because there are more 
 dollars waiting to be picked up from the crowd 
 that's always in line to occupy the car." 
 
 "Three hundred and sixty-five feet up is going 
 some/' muttered Hiram. "I hope now they don't 
 have any accident to the machinery while we're 
 taking our look. I must see how they work this 
 trick; it ought to be interesting." 
 
 He would have started to carry out this inten- 
 tion then and there only that Andy held on to 
 his coat and would not let go. 
 
 "The machinery part can keep, Hiram/' the 
 impatient one declared. "Some time when you're 
 alone poke around all you like ; but my tastes run 
 in another channel. You're like the geologists, 
 with your nose pointed toward the ground all the 
 while; I'm built more after the style of the as- 
 tronomers who keep looking up and see the glories 
 of the firmament that beat the fossils all hollow." 
 
 "H'm! you don't say!" was all the remark Hi- 
 ram made, but it contained considerable skepti- 
 cism concerning Andy's sweeping assertion. 
 
 They fell in line, and were fortunate enough 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 151 
 
 to be able to get aboard without having to wait, 
 as they might have done later in the afternoon. 
 
 "This thing must have cost a raft of money 
 to build; it beats the old Ferris Wheel to pieces, 
 I should think; and that was a wonder in its day." 
 
 "Yes," said Andy, "but think of the money 
 they must take in, running it all the time from 
 February up to December. Why, I should think 
 they'd have millions of passengers in that time, 
 and at so much a head it would be like a regular 
 gold mine." 
 
 About that time the car was closed and locked, 
 so that by no mischance could any reckless pas- 
 senger be tempted to jump when it was high in 
 the air, so as to accomplish a spectacular suicide. 
 
 "And they've got the windows screened in, 
 too," remarked Andy. 
 
 "They knew you were coming, I kinder guess, 
 and wanted to make sure you wouldn't lose your 
 head up there so as to fall overboard," Hiram 
 told him. 
 
 The car was crowded, so that they could not 
 see who all of their fellow passengers were. 
 There was also considerable shouting going on, 
 
152 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 some of those aboard bidding farewell to friends 
 who had been unable to make that trip, as though 
 they full)'- expected to keep right on going up, 
 once they got started toward the blue heavens 
 overhead, until they landed in Glory. 
 
 "Here she goes!" announced Andy, eagerly, as 
 the car was felt to vibrate. 
 
 With that they left the ground and commenced 
 to ascend. The motion was fairly steady, as the 
 weights on the other end of the great seesaw 
 had been adjusted to correspond to the number 
 of those in the car, so that after all the engine did 
 not have a great deal of hard work to do in lift- 
 ing that load. 
 
 "Wheel I only hope none of the balancing 
 weight slips off!" said Hiram, who appeared to 
 be rather nervous. 
 
 "I'm surprised at you, Hiram," remarked Rob; 
 "it seems queer for a fellow who aspires to be a 
 bold air pilot some of these fine days, and who 
 has even been up several times as high as three 
 thousand feet, to be shivering with fear now, 
 when at the most we're only going to get three 
 hundred odd feet from the ground." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 153 
 
 "Oh, well, that's a horse of a different color/' 
 Hiram explained; "when you're up in an aero- 
 plane it depends on your own self whether you 
 come down safe, or have an accident. In this 
 case you haven't got a single thing to do with it, 
 but just trust to a mechanic, who may be as re- 
 liable as they make 'em, but could make a mis- 
 take just once. That's what gets my goat; my 
 efficiency don't count for a cent in this game." 
 
 "Well, there is something in that," Rob admit- 
 ted ; "but let's try to find a place and look out as 
 we keep on rising. Already the view seems to 
 be getting pretty fine." 
 
 There was more or less talking and laughing 
 and all that in the car, for when there happens 
 to be a spice of danger connected with any of 
 these amusements many people become half hys- 
 terical. 
 
 The view was, indeed, becoming grand, as Rob 
 had said, and both boys were soon copying Andy, 
 who was staring first one way and then another, 
 as sea and shore began to be spread out before 
 him like a Mercator's chart. 
 
 Although the huge arm of the giant Aeroscope 
 
154 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 had by no means reached the upper limit of its 
 sweep, the great buildings lying below had the 
 appearance of squatty "ant-heaps," as Andy 
 termed them ; and the crowds that swarmed many 
 of the walks of the Exposition looked so minute 
 that it was hard to believe they were human be- 
 ings. 
 
 All at once, the working arm of the big seesaw 
 stopped with a rude jerk that caused a number 
 of girls aboard to give vent to cries of alarm. 
 Even strong men had a nervous look on their 
 faces, Rob immediately noticed. 
 
 "What's this mean?" demanded Hiram, lay- 
 ing a hand on Rob's arm. 
 
 "We haven't reached the highest sweep yet, 
 I'm dead sure," complained Andy, in a petulant 
 tone, just as though he believed the management 
 meant to cheat those aboard out of the full bene- 
 fit of their money. "We want a better view than 
 this. All the others went to the top, and I don't 
 see why we shouldn't, too." 
 
 "Rob, this stop wasn't meant, was it?" de- 
 manded Hiram, insistent as usual. 
 
 "Don't talk so loud, Hiram," he was advised. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 155 
 
 "You'll only frighten those girls all the more if 
 they happen to hear you. No, I don't believe it 
 was intended that we stop this far up, and with 
 such a bump, too/' 
 
 "But is there any real danger of an accident? 
 I wouldn't care so much if I had my new-fangled 
 parachute with me, and could only get outside; 
 for even if the old car did drop, I'd be able to 
 sail down like a feather." 
 
 "Danger of course not a bit," Rob told him 
 sternly. "You don't suppose the managers of 
 this big Exposition would allow a mechanical af- 
 fair like this Aeroscope to be run day after day 
 unless the owners had made it absolutely accident 
 proof. Just hold your horses and we'll soon be 
 moving again." 
 
 "Yes, and Hiram," said Andy just then, "don't 
 put yourself on a par with those silly screeching 
 girls over there, who are hugging each other so. 
 Poor things, they don't know any better! But 
 you're a scout, Hiram, and have 'been taught 
 never to show the white feather. Brace up! 
 You're wearing khaki right now, and for the sake 
 of the cloth show yourself a man!" 
 
156 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 That brought Hiram to a realization of the 
 fact that he was indeed hardly proving himself 
 a worthy scout. He pretended to be indifferent. 
 
 "Shucks! who cares ?" he exclaimed. "I do 
 wish them girls'd let up on their racket; it gets 
 on a feller's nerves to hear 'em shriek that way/' 
 
 "Well, I know what ails the old thing!" sud- 
 denly announced Andy, with a grin on his face 
 that told how his love for joking exceeded any 
 faint feeling of alarm that may have seized upon 
 him. 
 
 "Let's hear it, then!" demanded Rob. 
 
 "Oh, if you had only guessed it before we 
 started it would have saved lots of bother!" 
 called out Hiram. 
 
 "They miscalculated the weight, you see !" con- 
 tinued Andy. "Some fellows are so deceptive in 
 their looks. Now right across from us there's 
 a fat boy with his back turned this way, and star- 
 ing hard out of the window. I bet you they fig- 
 ured wrong on him, and that's why we've got 
 stuck up here four-fifths of the way to the top." 
 
 The other two now looked, and owing to some 
 of the passengers in the car crowding together 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 157 
 
 an opening was made like a little lane. At the 
 end of this they discovered, just as Andy had 
 said, an exceedingly fat boy occupying more than 
 his share of space, with his chubby legs braced 
 under him, and his face pressed against the 
 heavy wire netting that covered, the open win- 
 dows. 
 
 Rob stared, and looked more closely. He half 
 opened his mouth to make some sort of remark, 
 and then as though seized with a second thought, 
 refrained. 
 
 "Do you really think so, Andy ?" asked Hiram, 
 in a half -awed way, as though he actually took 
 some stock in the ridiculous assertion made by 
 the other. 
 
 "Well, tell me a better explanation if you know 
 one!" demanded Andy, which was a queer way 
 of clinching an argument. 
 
 "Then the quickest way to mend matters would 
 be for you to go over there and toss the heavy- 
 weight overboard, don't you think, Andy?" asked 
 Rob, entering into the spirit of the joke, especially 
 since he really believed he held the whip-hand 
 over the fun-loving Andy. 
 
158 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Huh! think so, do you, Rob?" said Andy, 
 making out as though he felt in a fighting humor. 
 "Well, now, perhaps that would be the easiest 
 way to fix things. I've got a good mind to try it. 
 Watch my smoke, Hiram !" 
 
 With that he actually squared himself, rolled 
 up the sleeves of his coat, and even started across 
 the car. Hiram turned pale. He seemed to for- 
 get that there was no possible way in which any 
 one inside the car could manage to effect their es- 
 cape so long as the great arm of the giant seesaw 
 was elevated in the air. 
 
 "Rob, are you .going to stand for that?" he 
 burst out. 
 
 "No use trying to stop him now, Hiram," he 
 was told/ 
 
 "But look at him squaring off, Rob, like he 
 really means it!" cried Hiram. "It would be just 
 like Andy, he's so rash, you know, to get us all 
 arrested. What if he did knock that fat boy off 
 the car! Why, Rob, don't you see the sudden 
 jolt when the weight was changed might make 
 us fly up, and bring about a catastrophe?" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 "That's so, it might, Hiram," said Rob, trying 
 hard to keep a straight face. 
 
 "Oh! it's too late to stop him, Rob!" 
 
 "Yes, I see it is," replied the scout leader, and 
 somehow there was not much of excitement about 
 either his voice or his manner, only an apparent 
 inane desire to grin, Hiram thought as he looked 
 at his chum. 
 
 "There, he's actually grabbed hold of the fat 
 boy, and is trying to lift him up so as to get him 
 out of the window." 
 
 "You're a little off there, Hiram. Seems to me 
 I would say Andy was trying to hug the poor fat 
 boy, because he's certainly thrown his arms 
 around him, and acts as if he might be glad to 
 meet him !" 
 
 "Why, Rob, whatever can that mean! He is 
 acting just as you say, and it seems to me Andy 
 isn't doing all the hugging, either." 
 
 At that Rob broke into a hearty laugh. 
 
 "You know what it stands for, and you won't 
 tell me a thing, which I think is a mean job," 
 complained Hiram. 
 
 "Look again," Rob told him. "Now the fat 
 
160 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 boy happens to have his face turned this way. 
 Don't you think you've seen that same moon 
 phiz before, Hiram? Doesn't it somehow take 
 you back to dear old Hampton, and the many 
 jolly times we've had on our camping trips? Say, 
 you ought to know that boy, Hiram." 
 
 As soon as he could catch his breath, Hiram 
 gave a shout. 
 
 "Why, consarn my picture if it isn't our chum, 
 Tubby Hopkins!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 161 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FOUR SCOUTS IN TH WHIRI,. 
 
 "Come on, let's join them/' suggested Rob, as 
 he led the way over to where Andy Bowles and 
 the stout youth had started to shaking hands as 
 though they never meant to stop, chattering away 
 like a pair of magpies, and utterly unmindful of 
 the fact that others aboard the car were shriek- 
 ing aloud with growing fear. 
 
 But as it happened just then, whatever may 
 have been the cause for the sudden stoppage of 
 the car suspended in midair, the trouble seemed 
 to have been rectified ; for even as Rob led Hiram 
 over to the other pair of Hampton boys, the up- 
 ward passage was resumed as smoothly as though 
 nothing had occurred. 
 
 "Well, well! if this isn't the biggest surprise 
 ever !" Tubby exclaimed as he seized upon a hand 
 of each of the two newcomers, and then looked 
 around just as if he had begun to believe the 
 whole of Hampton Troop of Boy Scouts must 
 
162 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 have come on to take in the sights of the big 
 show. 
 
 "Only three of us, Tubby," Rob told him. 
 "We consider ourselves the luckiest scouts in 
 the whole U. S. A. to get a chance to make this 
 side of the slope. Of course we knew you were 
 out here somewhere, but you might as well hunt 
 for a needle in a haystack as to think to find 
 anyone in this mob." 
 
 "But tell me, won't you, please, how did you 
 make it?" asked Tubby, whose round, rosy face 
 seemed redder than ever under all this excite- 
 ment. 
 
 "Wait till we get down out of this high box," 
 said Hiram. "We came up here on purpose to 
 get the grand view, you know. Besides, there 
 are too many ears around for my private busi- 
 ness to be talked over." 
 
 "Whew!" said Tubby, surveying the speaker 
 with more respect than he had ever before felt 
 toward Hiram, whose many attempts to invent 
 wonderful things had never been taken seriously 
 by his companions. 
 
 "But Hiram is right," said Rob. "We'll only 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 163 
 
 be up here a short while, so let's use our eyes the 
 best we can. It's well worth coming a long way 
 just to get such a panoramic view of the City, 
 Bay and Fair." 
 
 "Panoramic whew!" whistled Andy; "but I 
 guess that covers the ground as well as any word 
 you could scare up, Rob; for it is a panorama a 
 whole lot better'n any I ever saw painted on can- 
 vas, like the Battle of Gettysburg and such." 
 
 They remained at their several posts drinking 
 in the wonderful features of the magnificent view 
 until finally the machinery was set in motion 
 again, and they found themselves being gradu- 
 ally lowered toward the ground. The buildings 
 lost their squatty appearance, the moving throngs 
 of human beings ceased resembling crawling flies, 
 and finally the four boys issued from the cage 
 satisfied that they had experienced a sensation 
 worth while. 
 
 "Now, let's sit down here in the shade for a 
 little while, where we can talk," suggested Tubby 
 Hopkins, who had been one of the scouts with 
 Rob over in Belgium and France on the previous 
 late summer and fall when the war was going 
 
164 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 on, and consequently could be looked on as hav- 
 ing passed through some lively experiences. 
 
 "Just a little while," agreed Andy; and Hiram, 
 after looking longingly away, no doubt in the di- 
 rection of the quarter given up wholly to recent 
 remarkable inventions, seemed to resign himself 
 to martyrdom for a spell, for he, too, found a 
 seat close by. 
 
 "Now tell it all to me/' demanded Tubby, "be- 
 cause I'm just sure it must be a story worth 
 hearing. What happened to bring you three fel- 
 lows out here? Did some one die and leave you 
 his fortune? It takes a pretty hefty wad of 
 money to pay all the expenses of a jaunt across 
 the continent/' 
 
 "A poor guess that time, Tubby/' said Rob. 
 "We'll have pity on you, and give you the details 
 before you lose weight trying to hit on the true 
 explanation. To begin with, Hiram won the trip 
 his own way, while Andy and myself just hap- 
 pened by a stroke of good luck to run upon our 
 chance." 
 
 "Tell that to the marines, will you, please?" 
 scoffed Tubby. "Things don't just happen to 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 165 
 
 you that way, Mr. Assistant Scoutmaster Blake. 
 Every time I've known you to get a thing you 
 earned it by the sweat of your brow. I'd rather 
 believe it was the other way, and that Hiram had 
 dropped on a piece of good luck." 
 
 "Well, mebbe I did, Tubby ; but then I showed 
 perseverance and grit such as a true scout should 
 allers possess, they say ; and so I claim I earned 
 my right to be out here at the Exposition. Go 
 on and tell him the hull story, Rob." 
 
 Seeing that he was expected to undertake the 
 job of being spokesman for the entire party, Rob 
 started in. He was not the one to embellish facts, 
 or try to make things seems of more importance 
 than they really were. Indeed, if anything, Rob 
 was apt to go to the other extreme, especially 
 if he figured at all in a leading role in the narra- 
 tive. 
 
 In this way Tubby was finally put in possession 
 of all the needful information connected with 
 their coming. He heard about the smart way in 
 which Hiram had conducted his negotiations by 
 mail with the company that made a specialty of 
 aviation goods, and which apparently had so 
 
166 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 much faith in his patent stabilizer that they had 
 advanced sufficient funds to enable the inventor 
 to come out and visit them at their headquarters 
 in San Francisco. 
 
 Then followed the account of how Rob and 
 Andy had been of such signal service to Captain 
 Jerry and his famous scientific passenger at the 
 time the old naphtha launch took fire while cross- 
 ing the bay to Collins' Point ; together with what 
 resulted from that rescue. 
 
 It was all very interesting to Tubby, who asked 
 many questions when he thought Rob was hold- 
 ing back certain facts that had a direct bearing 
 on the narrative. 
 
 "You see, my uncle has gone up to Portland 
 for a week or more on business/' Tubby told 
 them. "He left me to enjoy myself at the Expo- 
 sition as I pleased. I'm not going around in my 
 scout clothes, but I've got the khaki suit at the 
 hotel; and now that I've met you fellows, of 
 course, I mean to wear it right along, even if I 
 astonish the natives." 
 
 "Oh, boys wearing khaki are such a common 
 sight these days!" Rob told him in a consoling 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 167 
 
 way, "that you'd not be apt to attract any per- 
 son's attention, even if you are stouter than any 
 other scout going." 
 
 "Yes, I've met quite a few of the boys and 
 chatted with them, too/' admitted Tubby. "You 
 see, I always make it a point to wear my badges 
 under my coat even if I am in mufti is that 
 what they call it, Rob, when a military officer 
 dresses in civilian garb? Yes, the scouts are 
 everywhere, and it doesn't surprise you one bit 
 when you see a couple of them taking part in 
 a camel race, as I did." 
 
 Having finished their explanations, and urged 
 on by the impatient Andy, the little party began 
 to make the rounds of the amusement zone. It 
 was laid out on such an extensive scale that one 
 could hardly expect to do it justice in one after- 
 noon; indeed, Andy announced that he antici- 
 pated putting in a full week there, taking in the 
 sights, and feasting his eyes on the wonders that 
 had been collected from the four corners of the 
 earth for this special occasion. 
 
 "Here's where we can see in miniature what 
 some of us have actually looked on before when 
 
168 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 building the working of the great Panama Ca- 
 nal," announced Tubby, as they arrived at the 
 panorama section. "Shall we pay and take chairs 
 on the moving platform for a trip around ?" 
 
 Of course there was not a dissenting voice, for 
 they were boys, and had plenty of spare change 
 and wanted to see all the sights, at least once. 
 
 After that nothing would do for Andy but 
 that they must embark on the train for a trip 
 through the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, 
 which was well executed with regard to color ef- 
 fects so as to excite their ardent admiration. 
 
 "I was sorely tempted to take that side trip 
 on the way here/' Rob confessed. "We could 
 have done it easily enough, but you see I didn't 
 know what to do with that priceless stuff we had 
 charge of for Professor McEwen. I couldn't 
 carry it on mule back, and didn't dare leave it 
 behind at the hotel. Besides, we promised him 
 we wouldn't linger on the way going, but do 
 all our sight-seeing coming back." 
 
 "I'm going to fix it with uncle," asserted 
 Tubby eagerly, "so that I can hold on with you 
 fellows if he has to return sooner, or by another 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 169 
 
 route. I believe I'd enjoy seeing the Selkirks up 
 in Canada first-rate, 'cause I've heard a lot about 
 that wonderful scenery." 
 
 "We'll be glad to have you along, Tubby," said 
 Andy. 
 
 "That goes without saying," added Hiram; 
 while Rob smiled, and nodded in a way that 
 Tubby knew meant "those are my sentiments, 
 too, every time." 
 
 The next thing on the program was seeing 
 Yellowstone Park, another scenic trip so realis- 
 tic that Andy declared he would always have 
 trouble convincing himself he had not actually 
 been through the National Reservation where 
 the hot springs and geysers flowed, some of the 
 latter rising a hundred and fifty feet into the air, 
 with steam and vapor forming a dense canopy 
 around. 
 
 It was just after they had come out from this 
 that the absence of Hiram was discovered. 
 Tubby professed to be somewhat alarmed, and 
 feared their old chum might have fallen from 
 the observation car ; but Rob set his mind straight 
 
170 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 when he admitted that he had seen Hiram sneak- 
 ing away. 
 
 "He'd reached his limit of endurance," he told 
 Andy when the latter expressed his opinion of 
 one who cared so little for amusement; "and 
 we've got to remember that our chum is a queer 
 fish at best. Besides, his heart is wrapped up 
 in things along a certain line. Let him go his 
 way; and later on, perhaps, when some of us 
 have grown a little tired of all this clatter in the 
 Zone, we'll hunt up the aviation field and see 
 what Hiram is doing." 
 
 Andy had many more things on his list, but 
 Rob told him not to try and rush it all into one 
 afternoon. 
 
 "Take it easy, Andy/' he advised. " 'Rome 
 wasn't built in a day/ you remember. We're 
 going to be around these haunts for a good long 
 while, and one by one we can see all the shows 
 that are gathered here that is, all worth seeing. 
 These odd people from the wilds interest me con- 
 siderably, too, so that I wouldn't miss looking 
 in OK their villages, where they're genuine, as 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 171 
 
 most of them are, because the management stand 
 for that fact." 
 
 It may have been nearer four o'clock than 
 three, when, being more or less tired with their 
 first day at the Exposition, the three chums 
 turned their faces in a quarter that up to then 
 none of them had visited save Tubby, and he 
 only casually. 
 
 "We'll take a look in at the aeroplane boys 
 first," said Rob; "and if we don't run across 
 Hiram there, we will go over to the building 
 where he says many of the latest inventions are 
 on exhibition." 
 
 It was not difficult to discover which way to 
 go, for overhead several aeroplanes were whiz- 
 zing this way and that. Far up in the heavens 
 they could see a small speck which was no doubt 
 some daring pilot trying for an altitude record. 
 
 "Makes me think of those days over in Bel- 
 gium and France, eh, Rob?" remarked Tubby 
 Hopkins, "where we saw German and French and 
 British and Belgian fliers; yes, and even a big 
 Zeppelin that was meaning to bombard some 
 city." 
 
172 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Well," Andy told them, "here we are on the 
 field, and like as not we'll find our aviation mad 
 chum over in that crowd around the machines 
 on the ground, where the starts are made." 
 
 "I rather think those must be the various mod- 
 els of new machines," observed Rob, and imme- 
 diately adding, "There's Hiram now ; he's sighted 
 us, and is heading this way." 
 
 "Yes, with a grin as big as a house on his 
 face," asserted Tubby; "which I take it must 
 mean he's struck something that tickles him just 
 fierce." 
 
 Hiram joined his three comrades a minute 
 later. 
 
 "Well," he said, in a mysterious fashion, ad- 
 dressing himself particularly to Rob, "the Golden 
 Gate Aeroplane Manufacturing Company has a 
 contraption on one of their machines, intended to 
 equalize shifting weights; but shucks! it isn't in 
 the same class with my dandy little stabilizer. 
 I guess they mean business in my case, with a 
 bigB." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 173 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 TUBBY IS OUT OF HIS 
 
 If there had arisen any doubt in Hiram's mind 
 as to the deep interest those chums were taking in 
 his enterprise, it must have been quickly dispelled 
 when he made this announcement, and saw the 
 looks of delight spreading over their faces. 
 
 "Bully!" cried Andy. 
 
 "Best wishes, Hiram !" added Tubby, genially, 
 as he patted the other fondly on the shoulder. 
 
 Rob did not say anything, but if looks could 
 speak Hiram might easily see that he had the sin- 
 cere sympathy of the scout leader; though he 
 knew that much before. 
 
 "While I've been hovering around here," con- 
 tinued Hiram, "making myself useful whenever 
 a flier was going up by running with the machine 
 to give it a good start, I've kept my eyes and ears 
 wide open, let me tell you." 
 
 "So as to learn all you could about the Golden 
 Gate Company, of course?" remarked Andy. 
 
174 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Yes," Hiram told him, frankly enough, "and 
 soak in any sort of knowledge that might be use- 
 ful to a feller that's got the aviation bee abuzzin' 
 in his bonnet. And I've learned a heap, let me 
 tell you, boys. Why, it's paid me already for my 
 long and arduous trip across country. I c'n start 
 on as many as three schemes I've been hatchin' 
 in my fertile brain this long time. I was up agin' 
 a blank wall, you see; but now I've got ideas 
 worth a hull lot to me." 
 
 "That sounds all right, Hiram," Rob told him; 
 "only I hope you go slow about this business. 
 Don't overdo it, or we may have to take you 
 home in a strait- jacket yet." 
 
 "Nixey, not for me," jeered the other; "my 
 head's as clear as a bell. Fact is, I never felt half 
 as bright as I do now. The clouds have been 
 scattered, and seems like the sun was shinin' all 
 the time. Once I get this stabilizer business well 
 off my hands, and have some coin to go to work 
 with, you'll see the dust fly." 
 
 "And he belongs to the Eagles, too!" said 
 Tubby, in wrapt admiration. "Seems as if you 
 just can't suppress 'em, no way you try. There 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 175 
 
 never was a patrol of scouts organized that had 
 as many bright minds on the roster roll as ours 
 contains." 
 
 Andy immediately took off his campaign hat 
 and made Tubby a low bow. 
 
 "That's nice of you, Tubby, to say such sweet 
 things of your chums," he remarked, just as if it 
 sprang straight from his heart. "And we want 
 you to know that with the other seven the name 
 of Tubby Hopkins will go ringing down the ages 
 in Boy Scout history as one who always, made 
 his mark. And I can testify to that from my 
 own personal knowledge." 
 
 From the way in w r hich Hiram and Rob tit- 
 tered when Andy said this it could be inferred 
 that they knew very well to what those last few 
 words referred. The fact of the matter was that 
 once upon a time Andy had had the misfortune 
 to be under a tree when Tubby was knocking 
 down nuts ; and the fat scout, losing his grip on 
 a limb, came down with tremendous force di- 
 rectly on Andy, who was flattened out on the 
 ground like a pancake. 
 
 He carried the bruises he received on that oc- 
 
176 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 casion for quite some time ; but no one could bear 
 malice against Tubby, who, scrambling to his 
 knees, had immediately expressed great solicitude 
 for his unfortunate comrade, saying: 
 
 "Oh, excuse me, Andy, I didn't know you were 
 right under me, or I might have chosen some 
 other place to land." 
 
 "You don't wonder at me being chained to this 
 place, do you," asked Hiram, "when there's so 
 much happening all the time, with pilots going up 
 and coming down, agents explaining the use of 
 new designs of aeroplanes they are putting on the 
 market, and everybody 'talking shop'? They 
 reckon I've been employed in some place where 
 they make these fliers, because I know somethin' 
 about them. So they let me help in a lot of 
 ways. It's fun, I tell you, the best fun I ever 
 knew." 
 
 Anyone could see that Hiram was right in his 
 element. His freckled Yankee face seemed to 
 glow with enthusiasm, and his little eyes shone in 
 a way Rob had never noticed before. Indeed, if 
 the scout leader had been inclined sometimes to 
 fear Hiram would develop into a harmless crank, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 177 
 
 with only vague unreasonable ideas rattling about 
 in his loose brain, that suspicion was rapidly van- 
 ishing. 
 
 Perhaps it had commenced to have an effect 
 upon Rob's opinion when he read that letter from 
 the Golden Gate people. They were hard-headed 
 business men, and not visionary dreamers; and 
 surely they would never have advanced all that 
 money to a strange inventor unless they believed 
 in him, and meant to attach his genius to the 
 fortunes of their company. 
 
 "I own up, Hiram," said Andy, as they stood 
 there and watched the many things that were 
 going on all the time around them, "that there 
 must be a sort of fascination about this thing 
 to fellows who have a leaning that way. But 
 as for me you never could tempt me to climb 
 up thousands and thousands of feet like the air- 
 pilot in the monoplane that looks like a swallow 
 against the sky." 
 
 "It takes some nerve, I'll admit, Andy," said 
 Hiram, modestly. 
 
 "Huh! plenty of people may have nerve 
 
173 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 enough," objected Andy, "but all the same 
 they'd be laboring under physical disabilities." 
 
 "As how, Andy?" asked the other. 
 
 "Oh, well, take our chum Tubby here; you 
 never could expect him to make a flier, and 
 bore up into the clouds. In the first place, it 
 wouldn't be fair to the people down below. He 
 nearly killed me once by dropping just ten feet; 
 think what would happen to the poor chap who 
 happened to get in the way if Tubby came down 
 from where that aviator is now?" 
 
 Even Tubby had to laugh at that highly 
 colored supposition. 
 
 "Well, one thing sure!" he exclaimed, "I 
 wouldn't have to beg pardon for squashing him." 
 
 "But think of the mess," chuckled Andy. 
 
 "Watch that man who has just gone up in a 
 monoplane. He's the best there is on the Coast, 
 next to Beachey himself, who is a native of 
 California. You'll see him turn flip-flaps to beat 
 the band presently. Why, I've watched him go 
 around twice, and as neat as a circus tumbler 
 would do it off a springboard over the backs 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 179 
 
 of three elephants. There he goes! What d'ye 
 think of that ?" 
 
 "Whew ! he's a corker, for a fact !" ejaculated 
 Tubby, as he stood with open mouth, gaping at 
 the wonderful exploits which the reckless air- 
 pilot was engineering far up above the earth. 
 
 Rob, chancing to turn toward the stout boy, 
 saw to his amusement that there was something 
 of a wistful expression on his rosy face. Tubby 
 could at least feel the charm that this hazardous 
 sort of life might possess for venturesome boys, 
 even though he knew he could never hope to 
 attain any standing in the ranks, owing to what 
 Andy had well called "physical disabilities." 
 
 Athletes alone make good air-pilots, and a 
 fellow who had the shape of a tub would only 
 be useful as an anchor, or something like that. 
 
 Poor Tubby! It did seem that Fate was 
 cruel to him, since he was debarred from taking 
 an active part in so many sports such as boys 
 enjoy. But Nature had at least given him a 
 cheerful disposition, so that no matter how 
 keenly disappointed he might be, he never allowed 
 this to sour his temper. 
 
180 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 They stood there and watched the trick avia- 
 tor doing what Hiram called "stunts." Some- 
 times the boys fairly gasped with sudden fear 
 lest the man aloft had made a miscalculation, 
 and would come plunging down like a stone to 
 his death; but his agility and quick wit always 
 served him faithfully. 
 
 "Some of these fine days something will hap- 
 pen that he doesn't count on," Rob said, soberly, 
 "a flaw may develop in some part of his ma- 
 chine, just where it counts the most; and then 
 well, it will be his finish." 
 
 "That depends," remarked Hiram, quietly. 
 
 "On how high he happens to be at the time, 
 you mean ?" asked Andy. "Oh ! just a few hun- 
 dred feet will be enough to put him out of busi- 
 ness for keeps." 
 
 "Not if he is a wise man, and has a patent 
 Nelson self-acting parachute fastened to him all 
 the time!" declared the other, proudly. "It'll 
 open and allow him to drift slowly down, like 
 you see hot-air balloon performers come to the 
 earth after they've cut loose above." 
 
 "Good for you, Hiram!" exclaimed Tubby; 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 181 
 
 '"I reckon folks have got to sit up and take no- 
 tice, now that you've come to town! Young 
 blood will tell every time. Oh, but I'm glad I 
 met my chums! It was getting mighty lone- 
 some for me, in a crowd all the time, but with 
 not a solitary fellow to speak to. And Hiram, 
 I'm glad you coaxed us to come over here. I'm 
 getting interested in flying; p'r'aps if I cut down 
 my feed, and knock off a hundred or so pounds 
 I might have a show in this business yet." 
 
 As they did not know whether Tubby was 
 joking or really meant it, no one laughed at 
 his strange remark; for they did not want to 
 hurt his feelings. But when they glanced from 
 the corners of their eyes at his girth the absurd- 
 ity of his hope was manifest. Perhaps they may 
 even have remembered a remark once made by 
 Joe Digby to the effect that Tubby would have 
 to have an extra big pair of wings given to him 
 if ever he became an angel. 
 
 "There's another exhibition pilot going to 
 start up, boys," said Hiram just then. "Suppose 
 we walk over closer, and you can watch me 
 lend a hand to shove him off on a good start." 
 
182 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "That's right, let's get closer and see how 
 things are done," added Tubby, as he bent over, 
 and, picking up a stick of clear pine that had 
 caught his eye, he took out his penknife and 
 commenced to whittle away just as though he 
 might be the representative Yankee of fiction. 
 
 But whittling had always been a favorite occu- 
 pation with Tubby ; somehow it seemed to soothe 
 him and cause his thoughts to flow more 
 smoothly. He never could resist an extra fine 
 bit of wood, though besides shavings he had 
 never been known to produce any especial result 
 from the use of his keen-edged knife-blade. 
 
 There were quite a number of people around, 
 and they seemed to be more or less interested in 
 the claims made by the representatives of the dif- 
 ferent aeroplanes that were being displayed, and 
 in the practical demonstrations. 
 
 Tubby listened with rapt attention as some 
 of the men talked, explaining what improve- 
 ments had been made in the working construc- 
 tion of the machine just then about to be put to 
 the test. 
 
 Hiram was doubtless dreaming of the hour of 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 183 
 
 his triumph when one of these aeroplanes would 
 be equipped with his wonderful stabilizer, and 
 he might stand there listening to the fulsome 
 praise of the Golden Gate Company's demon- 
 strator, before a practical test was made, to 
 show how impossible it would be for a flying 
 machine that carried such a life-saving device 
 to be upset by flaws of wind, or the sudden move- 
 merits of the pilot. 
 
 When all was ready for the flight, Hiram was 
 one of those who laid hands on the aeroplane 
 with the intention of running a score or two 
 of feet, so as to assist in the start. Unnoticed 
 by Rob, Tubby, too, had copied Hiram's example, 
 urged on by some irresistible impulse approach- 
 ing madness, perhaps. 
 
 When the w r ord was given, and with propeller 
 whirling, the aeroplane started along on its bicy- 
 cle wheels, with a dozen pushers to assist, there 
 was Tubby in the midst. 
 
 Suddenly there arose a series of shouts of 
 alarm. 
 
 All of the other willing helpers had dropped 
 off, only Tubby was sprinting furiously after 
 
184 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 the aeroplane, which was bumping along over 
 the ground with ever increasing momentum. 
 Rob felt a thrill of real alarm when he believed 
 he saw that the left arm of the stout boy was 
 drawn out, as though in some unfortunate way 
 it had become caught in a trailing cord, so that 
 he was compelled to keep on, no matter how 
 much he wanted to break away! 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 185 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE ILLUMINATED FAIRYLAND. 
 
 "Oh! Tubby!" Andy was heard to cry out 
 above the clamor. 
 
 It was all over in a few seconds. Rob be- 
 lieved he saw the fat boy manage to get his 
 other hand out ; and it flashed through the scout 
 leader's mind that the last he had noticed Tubby 
 was gripping his open knife in that hand. 
 
 They saw the stotft boy roll over and over like 
 a big rubber ball. At the same time it became 
 evident that the shouts of sudden alarm and 
 horror bursting forth from the crowd must have 
 warned the aviator that something was wrong, 
 for he instantly shut off the power, and the 
 monoplane was now slowing up instead of in- 
 creasing its speed over the level ground. 
 
 Rob, Andy and Hiram joined in the forward 
 rush, everybody fearing the worst with regard 
 to poor Tubby. But when they arrived on the 
 
186 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 spot they were more than pleased to see him 
 calmly brushing off his clothes. 
 
 "Did you get hurt, Tubby?" demanded Andy, 
 anxiously. 
 
 "Never a bit," replied the grinning Tubby. 
 "That's the good of being encased in fat, you see. 
 If it had been you, Andy, you would have gotten 
 a broken rib, or something like that. Oh ! thank 
 you for my hat, mister. Did anybody see my 
 knife ; it slipped out of my hand just as I cut the 
 cord that was holdin' me to the machine ?" 
 
 "Good for you, Tubby, if you had the pres- 
 ence of mind to do that!" cried Hiram. 
 
 "And here's your knife, my boy," said an air- 
 pilot, advancing. "You had a narrow escape, 
 and if I were you I would let it be the last time 
 I ever tried to run with a machine. If you had 
 fallen over you might have been dragged and 
 killed/' 
 
 "Not by that cord, I should think, mister," 
 declared Tubby, holding up the piece that still 
 dangled from his left arm, where a loop had 
 accidentally become fast. "It would have broke 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 187 
 
 short on me ; but all the same I'm through trying- 
 games like that. I'm not built for it, I guess." 
 
 They were pushing the monoplane back for 
 another start. The aviator stopped to survey 
 Tubby from head to foot. 
 
 "So, it was you holding me back, was it? 
 Didn't get hurt any, I hope? But looky here, 
 young fellow, when I want an anchor I'll get a 
 real one, and not just a tub of jelly; understand 
 that, do you?" 
 
 It was pretty rough on Tubby, for the crowd 
 laughed uproariously, but he disarmed the anger 
 of the air-pilot by joining in the mirth. 
 
 "I meant all right, mister," he told the aviator, 
 "and it would have been easy only for that cord 
 that was hanging out. It got caught around 
 my arm, and I couldn't break away. Thank you 
 for letting me off so easy." 
 
 After that the boys walked away. It had 
 threatened to be a serious matter at the time, 
 but now that everything was over Andy and 
 Hiram were secretly exchanging nods, and 
 chuckling over the remembrance of their fat 
 chum sprinting after the swift monoplane, going 
 
188 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 > 
 
 faster no doubt than he had ever done before 
 in all his life. 
 
 "I see the finish of the rest of the boys in 
 Hampton when the foot races are on next fall," 
 Andy complained, in what he meant to be a 
 serious tone, "if you take to doing your prac- 
 ticing that way, Tubby." 
 
 "Yes," added Hiram, "when it comes to the 
 point that Tubby can keep along with a racing 
 aeroplane, or a speeding motorcar, the rest of 
 us might as well throw up the sponge and quit. 
 He'd make circles around us like Rob's boat the 
 Tramp could with the old Sea Gull." 
 
 "Make your minds easy, boys," Tubby told 
 them pleasantly. "I'm going out of training. 
 Once is enough for me. You can have the field 
 to yourself, Hiram; only if I were you I'd quit 
 that running business. An inventor has no right 
 to take chances; and what's happened once may 
 happen again." 
 
 "Well, now, I never thought of that, Tubby," 
 admitted the other, shaking his head seriously. 
 "Just as you say, an inventor has no right to 
 expose himself like an ordinary person. No 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 189 
 
 telling what he might not think up some day for 
 the uplift of the civilized world. He sorter be- 
 longs to science, don't he? Yep, I'll stop chas- 
 ing after aeroplanes; but of course I'll have to 
 go up once in a while in order to keep in touch 
 with things." 
 
 "We're about ready to start for the hotel, 
 Hiram," announced Rob; "and if you've decided 
 not to introduce yourself to the Golden Gate 
 people to-day, you might just as well come back 
 with us." 
 
 Hiram sighed, and allowed his glance to rove 
 over to where the crowd still gathered around 
 the demonstration station. 
 
 "I s'pose I'd better," he replied with an effort. 
 "I don't want to be greedy, and overdo things; 
 but it's giving me a jolt to have to break away 
 from here. How about you, Tubby; coming 
 along and have dinner with us to-night?" 
 
 "Of course he is," said Rob immediately. 
 "To-morrow he must change hotels, so he can 
 be one of our party." 
 
 "Why, you took the words right out of my 
 mouth, Rob," declared Andy. 
 
190 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "That makes it unanimous/ 7 added Hiram, 
 vigorously; "so you see there's no way for you 
 to back fire, and break away from your moorings 
 from the same old crowd, Tubby." 
 
 Tubby smiled, and looked pleased. 
 
 "It's nice to know you're appreciated, let me 
 tell you, boys," he observed. "I'll be only too 
 glad to join you at dinner. Yes, and in the 
 morning I'll pack my grip so as to change base. 
 I can leave a letter for Uncle Mark that he'll get 
 as soon as he comes back from Oregon." 
 
 So that much was settled, and somehow all of 
 them seemed to feel pleased over the addition to 
 their ranks. Tubby Hopkins was always like a 
 breath of Spring and a welcome guest at every 
 camp fire. Gloom and Tubby never agreed; in 
 fact he radiated good cheer as the sun does light 
 and heat. 
 
 "What's the use of going to the city, and eat- 
 ing an ordinary dinner at some hotel or restau- 
 rant, when we can get such a corking fine spread 
 at the place where we had our lunch?" asked 
 Andy. 
 
 "Well, there's a whole lot of sense in that," 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 191! 
 
 admitted Rob. "We can sit around and get 
 rested, then go to our dinner before the evening 
 rush starts in; and by the time we're through, 
 the illumination of the Exposition will have got- 
 ten fully under way. And that's a sight we're 
 wanting to see, you know." 
 
 Hiram fell in with the idea at once, and Tubby 
 declared it suited him perfectly. So once more 
 they headed toward that section of the Zone 
 where the giant aeroscope lifted up its cage of 
 sight-seers hundreds of feet every few minutes, 
 for the eating-place had been close to this spot. 
 
 Since they were looking forward to several 
 weeks at the Fair, no wonder the boys felt very 
 satisfied and happy. There was so much to see 
 that they believed they could put in all the time 
 to advantage without duplicating anything. 
 
 When they were seated at the table, Tubby 
 kept his chums in a constant roar of laughter by 
 his many quaint remarks. Sometimes these were 
 called forth by some queer type of foreigner 
 chancing to pass by; and then again it might be 
 Tubby would revive some ludicrous memory of 
 past events in which he had figured. 
 
192 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 They certainly seemed to enjoy their "feed," 
 as Tubby called it ; it was not unlike a camp sup- 
 per, when eaten under such odd surroundings. 
 Andy openly declared that with so many swarthy 
 turbaned Arabs strolling by, not to mention 
 Egyptians, Hindoos, Algerians, Moors, and the 
 like, he could easily imagine himself away off 
 on a sandy desert, with camels as the only means 
 of transportation. 
 
 "Makes me so thirsty just to think of it that 
 I have to keep on drinking all the time ; so please 
 get me another cup of coffee, waiter," he said. 
 
 "A poor excuse is better than none," remarked 
 Hiram. "Now, I'm going to have a second 
 helping of that ambrosia nectar just because I 
 want it. I don't have to ring in all that taffy 
 about hot deserts, camels and such stuff." 
 
 By the time they were through with dinner 
 the illumination of the Exposition grounds was 
 in full blast. It certainly looked like fairyland 
 to Rob, Andy and Hiram ; though the last named 
 seemed to be more interested in figuring how 
 an improvement might be made in the wonder- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 193 
 
 f ul electrical display than in admiring the amaz- 
 ing effect of the myriads of colored lights. 
 
 The roofs of buildings, the domes, the turrets 
 and the towers, as well as the Triumphal Arch 
 of the Setting Sun were all aglow. It made a 
 spectacle not easily forgotten, and which the 
 boys were never weary of gazing at. 
 
 As all of them felt pretty stiff and tired from 
 having been on their feet so much that day, and 
 not being used to it after sitting so long on the 
 train, it was determined that they would not 
 linger any longer. 
 
 "We'll be here on plenty of nights up to the 
 closing hour," said Rob, "and I think it would 
 be poor policy to overdo things in the beginning." 
 
 "Yes," added Tubby with the air of an oracle, 
 "I never forget what I was once told, that it's 
 very unwise to press your horse in the start of 
 a long journey. Let him generally get used to 
 going, and by degrees he'll be able to do better 
 work right along and finish strong." 
 
 "Same way," added Andy, "the jockeys hold 
 back racers till they reach the last lap. The one 
 
194: THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 that's the freshest on the home stretch is the one 
 that's going to win, nine times out of ten/' 
 
 "I'm going with you, boys, and see all I can 
 of my chums," announced Tubby, who undoubt- 
 edly hated to spend even one more night alone. 
 "I can engage a room near yours for to-mor- 
 row, p'r'aps ; and besides, Rob has something he 
 promised to show me, which won't keep over the 
 night." 
 
 What he referred to happened to be some pho- 
 tographs Rob had taken on the way to Califor- 
 nia, and which would have looked just as good 
 on the next day; but then Tubby was hunting 
 for even a poor excuse to hang on to the party 
 as long as he could. 
 
 They took a carriage at the exit. At the office 
 of the hotel they waited until Tubby had inter- 
 viewed the clerk, with Rob at his elbow to vouch 
 for him. 
 
 "Great luck, fellows!" announced Tubby, as 
 he rejoined Andy and Hiram. "I got my room 
 all right, which in itself is a wonder with all the 
 crowds in the city right now; but would you 
 believe it I'm next door to you I" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 195 
 
 "It's some more of that everlasting Hopkins' 
 luck," Andy told him. "You can't be kept down, 
 Tubby, no matter how they try it. We've seen 
 you bob up on top before now. And look at 
 you chancing to have that open knife in your 
 hand this afternoon, when that cord held you! 
 One chance in ten thousand of such a thing hap- 
 pening, and yet it did with you. Sometimes I 
 wish my name wasn't Bowles; if I couldn't have 
 it that I think I'd choose Hopkins. Sounds 
 lucky to me!" 
 
 Chattering as they went, the four chums 
 sought the elevator, and were soon on the fifth 
 floor where the boys' connecting rooms were lo- 
 cated. 
 
 Rob had secured only the one key at the desk. 
 With this he opened the door, and stepping in- 
 side reached out his hand to switch on the elec- 
 tric light. As this flashed up the boys stared 
 about them. 
 
 "Wrong room, Rob, I bet you!" exclaimed 
 Andy. "We never left things scattered around 
 on the floor like this." 
 
 "But that looks like your suitcase, Andy; and 
 
196 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 this open steamer trunk is mighty similar to the 
 one we fetched along to hold our extra clothes !" 
 exclaimed Rob. 
 
 "Looks like somebody had been in here loot- 
 ing!" remarked Tubby, whose eyes seemed as 
 round as saucers as he turned from one object to 
 another. 
 
 "Well, what d'ye think of that?" cried Hiram, 
 bitterly; "here's my bag turned inside out, just 
 like some sneak thief had been looking for money 
 or jewelry. There's been an attempt at robbery 
 here, fellows, as plain as the nose on my face!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 197 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 PRYING FINGERS. 
 
 "Let's see if there's anything missing!" 
 
 As Andy made this remark he started to 
 gather up some of his possessions that strewed 
 the floor close to his suitcase, where they had 
 been hastily thrown when the leather receptacle 
 was emptied. 
 
 "Wait a minute/' said Rob, halting him in the 
 work; "let's take a general look around first. It 
 seems to me as if they hadn't gotten more than 
 half-way through our trunk. That would indi- 
 cate something had alarmed the thief, and caused 
 him to leave in a hurry." 
 
 "Oh, mebbe I'm not tickled nearly to death!" 
 exclaimed Hiram, suddenly, beaming on the 
 others as though he felt like shaking hands with 
 himself over something. 
 
 "What about?" asked Tubby. 
 
 "I can give a guess," said Rob. "It's about 
 
198 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 the papers we left in the safe downstairs, eh, 
 Hiram?" 
 
 "Just what it is, Rob," admitted the other, 
 continuing to show his pleasure. "Only for your 
 smartness in getting me to deposit the packet 
 with the clerk under a seal, it might have been 
 in my bag right here. Say, I wonder now, if 
 that was what the thief wanted?" 
 
 "But no one out here would suspect that you 
 carried valuable papers, Hiram," objected Rob. 
 
 "How do we know that?" asked the other, who 
 had seized upon that explanation of the mys- 
 tery, and saw no reason as yet to abandon his 
 theory. "Didn't I tell you how several compa- 
 nies I approached had men in their employ who 
 tried to play smart games on me, so as to steal 
 the fruits of my labor? Rob, you haven't for- 
 gotten that unscrupulous Marsters, have you?" 
 
 "Why, no, but there's a whole lot that would 
 have to be explained about him before I could 
 believe he had anything to do with this game," 
 Rob told him. 
 
 "Then you're of the opinion it's just an ordi- 
 nary everyday hotel sneak thief who's been look- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 199 
 
 ing through our stuff in hopes of finding some 
 spare money hidden away in one of our grips, 
 is that it, Rob?" and Andy started in once more 
 to gathering up his scattered property, rubbing 
 at the bosom of a shirt where it seemed to be 
 marked with dirty fingers. 
 
 "I don't believe he found anything worth tak- 
 ing," said Hiram, "because we made it a point 
 never to keep valuables in our bags, outside -of 
 those rolls belonging to your Professor Mc- 
 Ewen." 
 
 "If anything worth a considerable amount had 
 been stolen/' ventured Rob, "I'd have stopped 
 Andy before now from destroying one of the 
 finest clues that could ever be found. I mean 
 that finger-print so plainly marked on the bosom 
 of your white shirt. With the modern methods 
 used by the police to fix a crime on a criminal, 
 that dark impression of his fingers would prove 
 the fellow guilty in case they could use a drag 
 net and round-up a bunch of suspects." 
 
 Tubby stood and watched the others work, 
 gathering their belongings together. Both Hiram 
 and Andy growled occasionally because the thief 
 
200 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 in his haste to look through everything had jum- 
 bled things considerably. 
 
 "What did he want to waste his precious time 
 for trying to find anything worth while in the 
 belongings of three boys?" Andy asked, as 
 though he had a personal grievance against the 
 rogue who had entered their rooms with a dupli- 
 cate key, since they had certainly found the door 
 locked. 
 
 Struck with an idea, Rob stepped over to one 
 of the windows and looked out. 
 
 "Think he may have climbed in from some 
 fire-escape, don't you, Rob?" demanded Tubby, 
 who had noted this move on the part of the scout 
 leader. 
 
 "The idea struck me," admitted Rob, "but it 
 only took one look to tell me such a thing is 
 quite impossible, and out of the question. No, 
 he must have come in by the door." 
 
 "And went out the same way?" continued 
 Tubby. 
 
 "Yes, after upsetting our things in the way he 
 did," pursued Rob. 
 
 "I s'pose he found out that the owners of the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 201 
 
 trunk and bags were only three boys/' Tubby 
 went on to say in his logical way, "and then 
 he threw up the game; no use expecting to run 
 across jewelry or any extra cash in baggage be- 
 longing to boys seeing the Fair." 
 
 "Seems like it's the old story over again," Hi- 
 ram remarked, "and there's no end to the queer 
 things we run up against. I'm getting so nowa- 
 days I expect some surprise to break in on me 
 any minute, day or night. If it isn't one thing 
 then it's another. And when all else fails why 
 we c'n depend on Tubby here to keep the wheels 
 spinning with some of his antics." 
 
 "Antics !" echoed Tubby, indignantly. "I ob- 
 ject to you giving my adventure of this after- 
 noon such a name as that. You must think I 
 would purposely tie myself to a speeding aero- 
 plane, and then have to run after it just for the 
 fun of the thing. Antics nothing. Misfortunes, 
 you'd better call my troubles after this." 
 
 "Oh, never mind, Tubby ! After all, you 
 didn't get hurt," said Andy. "In this case it 
 looks like the thief had had his troubles fo,r 
 nothing." 
 
202 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "I've got a theory/' said Rob, "but of course 
 there's no way of proving it. It's connected with 
 those two fellows who tried to play a smart game 
 on Hiram here at Los Angeles, and got left for 
 their pains." 
 
 "Hello! I haven't heard anything about that 
 up to now," exclaimed Tubby. "Who and what 
 were they, Rob? Ten to one you engineered a 
 scheme to block them, because it would be just 
 like Rob Blake to do that." 
 
 So Andy, having a glib tongue, took it upon 
 himself to relate the adventure of the through 
 train, and how the two clever rogues had tried 
 to get them to enter a carriage as prisoners, 
 meaning, of course, to rob Hiram as soon as the 
 chance came. 
 
 Tubby laughed when he heard how their plan 
 was brought to naught. His merriment grew 
 even more boisterous after he learned that Rob 
 had taken Hiram's papers to secrete them on his 
 person, while the other hid some old letters in an 
 inside pocket, which were deftly "lifted" during 
 the short time the boys happened to be in close 
 touch with the pair of rogues. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 203 
 
 "Just to think of the bitter disappointment 
 they met with/' said Tubby between his gasps. 
 "I'm sure they'll remember you fellows with any- 
 thing but pleasure. Every time they glimpse a 
 boy in khaki they'll be apt to utter some hard 
 words." 
 
 "Well," continued Rob, "it was on what they 
 must feel that I based my theory. You see, they 
 must have been coming to one of the expositions, 
 probably the big Panama-Pacific show, to ply 
 their trade. That would take them here to San 
 Francisco. By some chance or other they may 
 have seen us, and found out where we are stop- 
 ping; and this raid was carried out more with 
 a desire to have revenge on us than anything 
 else. If some one hadn't alarmed the fellows 
 they might have amused themselves destroying 
 everything in our bags and trunk." 
 
 "A mean revenge, but I wouldn't put it past a 
 thief who was boiling mad because three Boy 
 Scouts had managed to get the better of him," 
 Andy declared, with considerable emphasis, 
 which looked as though he rather favored the 
 theory advanced by the scout leader. 
 
204 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Wheel I hope this thing isn't as catching 
 as the measles," ventured Tubby. "You know, 
 I've gone and paid out some good money for 
 several things that caught my eye in the booths 
 at the Exposition; and I'd hate to have some 
 one get away with them during my absence." 
 
 "Oh, small chance of that happening, Tubby! 
 And if you're afraid to stay alone to-night, why, 
 I'll go over with you to get your bag, and come 
 on here," Andy told the anxious one. 
 
 Perhaps Tubby was at first sorely tempted to 
 accept that offer; but then he chanced to catch 
 a gleam of amusement on Hiram's face. That 
 settled the matter. Pride stepped in and took 
 the reins. 
 
 "Oh, never mind about that, Andy!" he has- 
 tened to say. "It's very kind of you to offer me 
 help, but I think I had better wait until morning. 
 I'll be around early and take breakfast with the 
 bunch, remember. What time do you eat?" 
 
 Hiram and Andy allowed Rob to settle that 
 for them. 
 
 "Call it eight o'clock, then. We'll wait that 
 long for you, Tubby," the scout leader said. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 "I'll be on the move by seven, and as I expect 
 to pack my bag to-night before turning in, it 
 isn't going to take me long to finish/' 
 
 Tubby got up as though he knew he ought to 
 be going; but apparently he hated to part from 
 his chums. They had been together so much of 
 recent years that they were as thick as peas in 
 a pod. 
 
 Rob somehow did not seem to be altogether 
 satisfied with the result of his first examination 
 of the room; he was heard moving around in the 
 second apartment. When he joined the rest 
 again, Andy, who must have guessed what he 
 had been about, began to question Rob. 
 
 "Find anything to give the game away in 
 there, Rob?" he asked. 
 
 "Well, no, not that I could see," the scout 
 leader replied. "The door, as you may remem- 
 ber, is locked, and the key at the office, where we 
 haven't bothered taking it out. Besides, when 
 we left this morning I shot the bolt home, so 
 that no thief could have entered by that door; 
 and certainly no one left the room that way, or 
 the bolt would not be in the socket as it is." 
 
20G THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Oh, well, what's the use of bothering about 
 it? We don't as a rule believe in crying over 
 spilled milk. If that's the case, why should we 
 fret when there's been no damage done at all, 
 except my white shirt being soiled by finger 
 prints?" 
 
 "Send that to the hotel laundry and forget it," 
 advised Tubby. "Where did I leave my hat? 
 Oh, here it is! By the way, don't be surprised 
 when you see me in the morning, because I ex- 
 pect to be togged out in my khaki uniform, which 
 Uncle had me fetch along in my big collapsible 
 grip." ; 
 
 "We'll try and stand the wonderful sight the 
 best way we can," Hiram told him; "but break 
 it to us by inches, please, Tubby, so as to avoid 
 as much risk as possible. I've got a weak heart, 
 you kriow, and a sudden shock might be serious." 
 
 "Too bad you made your bargain with the ho- 
 tel clerk before you donned your khaki, Tubby," 
 ventured Andy. "He might have given you the 
 room at half the price you expect to pay for it 
 now on the European plan. Your presence here 
 would be a standing advertisement for the place. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 207 
 
 They could afford to let you stay for nothing if 
 only you'd agree to stand outside the restaurant 
 door an hour each day, and pick your teeth/' 
 
 All this kind of "joshing" had no effect on 
 Tubby, who really seemed rather to enjoy being 
 a target for these shafts of sarcasm leveled by 
 his comrades, for his smile was as bright and 
 cheery as ever. 
 
 "I'll tie my shoe first, and then skip out. Must 
 be going on nine o'clock now, and I've got some 
 lost sleep to make up." 
 
 Saying which he dropped down on one knee 
 and set to work. The others accommodated 
 themselves to the several easy-chairs, Hiram 
 swinging one of his long legs over the arm of 
 his seat in real Yankee fashion. 
 
 Rob yawned, and then taking out his little 
 notebook in which he was particular to jot 
 down every daily event of any consequence on 
 the trip he felt in his pocket for a pencil. 
 
 "By the way, Hiram, you borrowed my pen- 
 cil this afternoon, and didn't return it," he re- 
 marked, stretching out his hand toward the other 
 scout, who, with a sheepish shrug of his shoul- 
 
208 . THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ders, fished the article in question out of his vest 
 pocket and handed it over. 
 
 It was just then that Tubby fairly scrambled 
 to his feet. Rob looked up in some surprise, 
 when to his further astonishment the fat boy 
 tiptoed over, bent down, and said: 
 
 "Please don't give me the grand laugh, Rob, 
 when I tell you I saw something moving under 
 that bed there a pair of shoes !" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 209 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE THIEF UNDER THE BED. 
 
 "Hey, what's that, Tubby?" 
 
 It was Hiram who whispered this in a rather 
 hoarse and strained voice. He had managed to 
 just barely overhear what the fat scout was tell- 
 ing Rob, and could hardly believe his ears. 
 
 Rob instantly held up a warning finger. His 
 face looked serious for, while after all it might 
 prove that Tubby's imagination was playing 
 tricks with him, there were circumstances that 
 gave the matter a suspicious look. 
 
 Some one had certainly been in their rooms 
 turning things upside-down, as though search- 
 ing for articles of value, or with the intention of 
 creating as much havoc and confusion as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 Besides this, had they not already concluded 
 that this person must have been disturbed in his 
 vandal work? They believed he had fled, but 
 after all it was possible that, hearing them at 
 
210 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 the door, he had made the utmost haste to con- 
 ceal himself in the first hiding place available, 
 which was under one of the beds. 
 
 Rob had to think quickly. 
 
 The man must be a (Asperate rascal or he 
 would never have taken the chances he did in 
 entering their apartments bent on such work. 
 Consequently he would, of course, be armed, and 
 if given half a chance, might make things exceed- 
 ingly disagreeable for the four scouts. 
 
 What should be done? 
 
 Hiram was already pointing toward the house 
 telephone, as though suggesting the use of it to 
 bring help from below. Rob shook his head to 
 indicate that the plan did not seem to appeal to 
 him when there might be a better one to adopt. 
 
 They were four in number, and pretty husky 
 fellows in the- bargain, who in times past had ac- 
 complished quite a few feats worth mentioning. 
 It would be too bad if a squad of scouts of their 
 caliber and experience could not manage in some 
 way to smother a single concealed thief. 
 
 Of course, by this time, Andy had come to 
 realize that there was something very exciting 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 and mysterious going on. He wanted to burst 
 out with a plain question, and ask Rob what it 
 was all about; but reading the signification of 
 that upraised finger, and the frown on the scout 
 leader's face, he simply put out a hand and rested 
 it on Rob's sleeve while a pleading expression 
 gripped his face. 
 
 Taking pity on Andy, and believing that they 
 must all work together if they expected to ac- 
 complish anything, Rob bent over and whis- 
 pered in his ear. 
 
 "Somebody's hiding under the bed, Tubby 
 says. Now laugh out loud as though we were 
 having a joke; that is to keep him quiet a while 
 longer." 
 
 Fortunately Andy Bowles was quick-witted 
 enough to grasp the peculiar situation. He un- 
 derstood just why Rob wanted him to make it 
 appear as though things were moving along as 
 usual, and that no suspicion had been aroused. 
 
 So Andy laughed. If there was a queer, 
 husky touch to the sounds he emitted to order 
 surely Andy could hardly be blamed, for he must 
 
212 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 have been quivering all over just then from hys- 
 terical excitement. 
 
 Rob drew the heads of Tubby and Andy down 
 close to his mouth. They knew he meant to issue 
 instructions, and hence eagerly strained their 
 hearing so that not a single syllable might be 
 lost. Meanwhile Hiram was standing near by, 
 and busily engaged in taking off his khaki coat 
 which, being quite new, he evidently did not 
 mean to have mussed in any rough and tumble 
 work. 
 
 At another time Rob would have smiled t(> see 
 Hiram carefully folding his coat and then softly 
 depositing it on the bed that was held under sus- 
 picion; but it did not cause a ripple of amuse- 
 ment to cross his serious face now. 
 
 "You and Tubby pass around to the other side 
 of the bed, and try to act as if you were cutting 
 up/' Rob whispered. "Keep your eyes on me, 
 and when I give the word lay hold of his legs 
 and yank him out. Tubby, we depend on you to 
 keep him from getting to his feet; squash him 
 if necessary. Get that, both of you?" 
 
 Both heads eagerly nodded an affirmative re- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 ply. The plan was so extremely simple that there 
 did not seem to be any possibility of confusion. 
 
 Tubby's face was not quite so rosy as usual, 
 perhaps, but no one could say he looked fright- 
 ened in the least. He immediately started some 
 "horse-play" with Andy, laughing as he pushed 
 the other around the foot of the bed so that they 
 could presently bring up on the other side. 
 
 Taking advantage of the very first opportu- 
 nity, Tubby, even while continuing to pretend 
 to wrestle with Andy, pointed a finger down- 
 ward. Knowing what this was meant for, Andy 
 ducked his head in order to also get a glimpse 
 of the object the fat boy considered so suspi- 
 cious. 
 
 Meanwhile Rob and Hiram were holding 
 themselves in readiness to jump around to any 
 point where they could make their presence 
 count. The former was keeping an anxious eye 
 on Tubby and Andy. When he saw the latter 
 make that quick movement, Rob knew what it 
 meant, and understood that considerable would 
 depend on how Andy came to decide. 
 
 So Rob fairly held his breath awaiting the 
 
214 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 verdict. If after all Tubby had allowed his im- 
 agination to get the better of him, and had mis- 
 taken some simple object for a pair of shoes un- 
 der the bed, Andy's keen eyes would quickly 
 detect the illusion, and they might expect to hear 
 him give a roar of amusement. 
 
 Nothing of the kind happened, it turned out. 
 Instead of this, when Andy once more straight- 
 ened up he nodded his head toward Rob in a way 
 that could have only one meaning he was ready 
 to risk his reputation for veracity along with 
 Tubby in admitting that the facts looked sus- 
 picious. 
 
 That settled the matter with Rob. They must 
 combine to make a sudden assault on the con- 
 cealed thief and try to overpower him before he 
 could place himself in a condition to do them 
 harm. 
 
 Like a wise general, the scout leader took one 
 last look around in order to see that his forces 
 were all in their respective positions before he 
 gave the signal that would precipitate action. 
 
 Andy, impatient to get busy, made a signifi- 
 cant gesture, opening and shutting both hands 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 215 
 
 rapidly, while a faint grin could be seen on his 
 face. This was intended to convey the intelli- 
 gence that he was eager to lay hold on the lower 
 extremities of the sneak thief cowering under the 
 bed, and start to drag him out from his place of 
 concealment. 
 
 There was no need of any further delay, and 
 so Rob made a quick movement with his hand, 
 at the same time exclaiming: 
 
 "Now's your time ; get him !" 
 
 Before the last word had been uttered Andy 
 was bending down and hurling himself part-way 
 under the bed. He immediately began to back 
 out, tugging with all his strength at something 
 upon which he had pounced. 
 
 Tubby also took hold and united his power 
 with that of the other scout. They made short 
 work of it, once that combination got started. 
 Out from under the bed they dragged a strug- 
 gling figure that was scratching, clawing and 
 trying in every possible way to swing around so 
 that he would not be taken at such a terrible dis- 
 advantage. 
 
 By that time Rob and Hiram had managed to 
 
216 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 arrive, the latter scrambling directly across the 
 bed in his hurry to get into action. 
 
 There was a lively little scene for a brief in- 
 terval, with all of them trying to keep those kick- 
 ing legs and violently driven arms pinned down. 
 
 A few blows were given in the struggle, and 
 not all on one side, since Andy had a thrust in 
 the eye that made the tears come, and Tubby 
 received a kick which forced a grunt from his 
 lungs. 
 
 Whoever the fellow might be he evidently was 
 convinced that his condition was desperate, judg- 
 ing from the wild way he fought, to break away, 
 with the intention of bolting from the room. 
 
 In the midst of the melee Tubby settled the 
 affair in a unique way all his own, and which 
 none of the others could have imitated even 
 though they sought to do so. 
 
 He simply allowed himself to sit down squarely 
 on the squirming figure with which they had been 
 battling so fiercely. When that heavyweight set- 
 tled down, it was like a stone wagon dropping 
 into a hole in the road. They heard a gasp from 
 the unfortunate wretch underneath, whose strug- 
 
There was a lively little scene for a brief interval. 
 Page 216. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 217 
 
 gles immediately began to lose much of their 
 former vigor. 
 
 It happened that at the time the thief was ly- 
 ing on his stomach, so that Tubby perched on his 
 back, which might have been broken had the fel- 
 low been less sturdily built. 
 
 After that there was really nothing more for 
 the others to do; Tubby was equal to the task 
 of keeping his victim pinned there in spite of 
 anything the wretched fellow might try to do. 
 
 It was then they heard him wheezing as though 
 short of breath, and saw his hand moving as if 
 in abject appeal. 
 
 "I give up I I'm all in ! Please don't kill me, 
 Rob and Andy ! Won't you let Tubby get up off 
 my back ; he's smashing my ribs, I tell you !" 
 
 Rob, Andy and Hiram stared at each other as 
 though they hardly knew whether they could be 
 awake or dreaming. Why, the squirming wretch 
 whom they found hidden under the bed, and who 
 had undoubtedly been searching their effects 
 with robbery in view, had actually mentioned the 
 name of Rob and that of Andy. Yes, he had 
 
218 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 even begged that Tubby be restrained before he 
 utterly crushed his back and sides ! 
 
 It gave them one of the greatest surprises in 
 all their experience; for how a common hotel 
 sneak thief should know who they were, and ad- 
 dress them so familiarly, was past their com- 
 prehension. 
 
 Tubby, too, looked astounded, though he made 
 no move to get up in response to the pitiful 
 wheeze of the wretch he was pinning to the floor. 
 Perhaps it filtered through the slow-moving 
 brain of the fat scout that this might be only one 
 of those clever tricks known to sharpers, and 
 entered into simply to gain some advantage. 
 
 Rob knew differently. There seemed to be 
 something about that whine on the part of the 
 prisoner that was familiar, though on the spur 
 of the moment Rob .could not have told where 
 he had last heard it. 
 
 Accustomed to prompt action, the scout leader 
 motioned to Andy and Hiram to hold themselves 
 in readiness to seize upon the fellow's arms, and 
 in this manner keep him from taking advantage 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 219 
 
 of his newly acquired freedom when Tubby 
 arose. 
 
 "Now you can get up, Tubby!" said Rob. 
 
 Tubby thereupon gave one of his satisfied 
 grunts and commenced to roll off his human 
 cushion for, as a rule, when he wished to gain 
 his feet, like the elephant he resembled in many 
 ways, the fat boy had to get upon his knees first 
 of all, and then make a further effort. 
 
 "Turn him over, Andy, Hiram ; and if he tries 
 any funny business he'll wish he hadn't, that's 
 all!" Rob told the others, who immediately 
 started to obey. 
 
 "Oh, believe me, I've had enough as it is, 
 Rob ! I hope you won't be too hard on me this 
 time! I was wild to get back home, and that's 
 the truth," the fellow was crying as Andy and 
 Hiram turned him on his back. 
 
 The former bent down to stare into the 
 thief's face, Rob fairly held his breath, await- 
 ing the explosion something told him was due. 
 Nor was he mistaken, for Andy drew back, ut- 
 tering exclamations of wonder. 
 
 "Why, who d'ye believe it is," he burst out, 
 
220 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "but that sneak of a Jared Applegate who had 
 to skip out of Hampton when things got too hot 
 for him, and who you last ran across when you 
 were down in Mexico? Rob, he's up to his old 
 tricks of trying to steal what belongs to others. 
 Say, this is one of the biggest surprises that ever 
 came our way. Old Hiram Applegate's bad boy, 
 and a common hotel thief I" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 AN ENEMY OF THE PAST. 
 
 They all recognized Jared now, although he 
 had grown considerably since last Rob had seen 
 him, and was a husky looking fellow, easily ca- 
 pable of doing a man's work. 
 
 In other days he had been a thorn in the flesh 
 of the newly organized troop of scouts in Hamp- 
 ton, doing every mean thing his wits could de- 
 vise in order to annoy them. Then, later on, 
 when some of the boys had visited the Panama 
 Canal, in process of being dug at the time, they 
 ran across this same young reprobate, and found 
 him associated with a number of desperate for- 
 eigners who were trying to blow up the locks of 
 the canal in order to effect the ruination of the 
 whole grand project to unite the two oceans 
 across the isthmus. 
 
 Still later, Rob had run across Jared down in 
 Mexico, where he was having a hard time of it, 
 having joined forces with some of the rival war- 
 
S38 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ring elements that at the time were smashing 
 things right and left. Whatever became of 
 Jared, Rob had never learned, nor had he both- 
 ered himself very much over the disappearance 
 of the unscrupulous young rascal. 
 
 And now, to find him trying to steal things 
 from their baggage, was enough to make them 
 believe the world was a pretty small affair after 
 all. Of the hundreds of thousands of people in 
 San Francisco it was certainly queer that Jared, 
 their old-time enemy, should be the one to at- 
 tempt this thing. 
 
 "What's this checkered jumper he's wearing 
 mean ?" remarked Andy, when he could find his 
 breath, which had really been taken away by the 
 astonishing discovery. 
 
 "Looks like Jared might be doing some honest 
 work at last," added Hiram. "Else he's just put 
 it on to make people believe he belongs here in 
 the hotel." 
 
 "No, no, that isn't so, Hiram!" hastily cried 
 the wretched Jared. "I'm really a sort of porter 
 here, you see. I fetch trunks up to guests' rooms, 
 and all that. Mebbe you didn't know it, but I 
 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 223 
 
 brought that steamer trunk of yours here when 
 you were out. That's how I got my first knowl- 
 edge some of my old schoolmates had come on 
 to the Fair, because I read the name of Robert 
 Blake on the same, and Hampton, L. I., ditto." 
 
 "Oh!" said Andy, "and you felt so warmly 
 drawn to your old schoolmates, Jared, didn't you, 
 that you just couldn't resist sneaking up here 
 when they were out, and rooting all through 
 their baggage in hopes of picking up a wind- 
 fall?" 
 
 The wretched Jared groaned in a way that 
 told how badly he felt, not because he repented 
 for anything he had done, as Rob well knew, but 
 on account of having had the ill-fortune to be 
 caught in the act. That was what pinched the 
 most, though it was not to be expected he would 
 admit as much; for Jared had always been one 
 of those tricky, whining, cowardly fellows who 
 make big promises when in trouble, but forget 
 all about them as soon as the w^ind blows fair. 
 
 "I'm just sick to get back home again, and 
 that's the truth, I give you my word it is, Rob!" 
 he said, trying to appear very dejected and hum- 
 
224 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ble, because he knew from past experiences that 
 this was the best way to work upon the sympa- 
 thies of these good-hearted former school com- 
 panions. 
 
 "And ready to rob us so as to get the money 
 to take you there, you mean, don't you, Jared?" 
 Rob demanded. 
 
 "Oh, it was wicked, I realize that now, but 
 everything has been against me out here," 
 whined the one who lay on his back on the floor. 
 "I get to thinking of the folks at home on Long 
 Island and it seems I would go crazy I want to 
 get back there so bad again. If I ever do, I'm 
 meanin' to be a different feller than in the past. 
 I've had my lesson, Rob; I've been kicked around 
 like a dog till I came to hate nearly everybody 
 that lived. But if I could only have one more 
 chance I'd try awful hard to make good, sure I 
 would. Oh, I hope you'll believe me, Rob Blake !" 
 
 Now Rob, through so many dealings with this 
 treacherous fellow in the past, had lost all faith 
 in his possessing the least trait of decency in his 
 composition. In most bad boys with whom Rob 
 had ever had anything to do he could discover 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 225 
 
 some sign of decency, even though it required 
 considerable searching to find it; but upon Jared 
 he had come to look as worthless. 
 
 All these promises Rob believed were only 
 made with one idea in view, and this a wild de- 
 sire to escape the punishment he so richly de- 
 served. 
 
 Caught hiding under the bed after their effects 
 had been searched and thrown recklessly around, 
 Jared must certainly be treated as a common 
 thief if arrested, and the management of the 
 hotel would take great satisfaction in prosecut- 
 ing him if only to discourage other employees 
 from copying his example. 
 
 "Let him sit up, boys!" the scout leader told 
 the two who had been pinning both of Jared's 
 arms to the floor. 
 
 They did as Rob requested, but from the way 
 in which Andy and Hiram seemed to watch the 
 culprit, meanwhile holding themselves in com- 
 plete readiness to hurl their weight upon him at 
 the first show of aggressive action on his part, 
 it was evident that they attached small impor- 
 tance to his claim of repentance. 
 
226 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 Rob hardly knew what to do. They had no 
 reason to think well of this scamp who, in the 
 past, never lost an opportunity to do them an ill 
 turn, whether in the home town on the shore of 
 Long Island, down at Panama, or upon the wide 
 plains of Mexico. In Rob's mind there was no 
 shadow of belief with regard to that promise of 
 reformation, or the gnawing desire to return 
 home. 
 
 Still, so far as they knew, nothing had been 
 stolen, so that there was no real reason why they 
 should sink so low as to want to revenge them- 
 selves on Jared. 
 
 He certainly presented a most pitiable object 
 as he sat there and turned his anxious eyes from 
 one face to another of the four boys with whom 
 he had gone to school for years, and who now 
 held his fate in their hands. 
 
 "If I got anything, Rob, I meant to make it 
 up to you later on when I could earn the money," 
 he was saying again, mistaking that serious look 
 on Rob's face and fearful that he meant to turn 
 him over to the police. "I'm ready to go back 
 to the farm and work it with the old man. This 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 227 
 
 thing of knockin' about the world ain't all it's 
 cracked up to be, and I'm dead tired of going 
 hungry half the time. Let me off, Rob, won't 
 you, please? It'd nigh 'bout kill the old woman 
 if she learned I'd been caught tryin' to steal from 
 my schoolmates." 
 
 Like all cowards, Jared, when he found him- 
 self face to face with the consequences of his 
 folly, was ready to play the part of the prodigal 
 son, and bring in his parents as a reason why 
 he should escape punishment. Rob and the other 
 scouts knew his mother and father, and while 
 they had no reason to respect Farmer Applegate, 
 still the fact that Jared was his son and must 
 have almost broken the hearts of his people at 
 home, was bound to influence Rob. 
 
 "Get up, Jared !" said the scout leader, shortly. 
 
 Andy gave a grunt of displeasure. He could 
 guess what Rob was about to do, and felt like 
 expressing his disgust, though it was seldom any 
 of the boys ventured to differ with Rob, such 
 confidence did they have in his long-headed poli- 
 cies. 
 
 Hiram simply contented himself with shrug- 
 
228 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ging his shoulders. If Rob considered it best 
 that they let the contemptible sneak thief off, af- 
 ter catching him in the very act as it were, well, 
 it must be all right. Scouts were taught that 
 when a foe was on his back and begging for 
 mercy they must not be too hard-hearted. Jared 
 was deceiving them, Hiram felt sure of that, but 
 after all why should they bother with punish- 
 ing him any further? 
 
 "Are you meanin' to let me go, Rob?" qua- 
 vered the fellow, as he managed to get upon his 
 feet, with the four scouts clustered around him. 
 
 "Yes, because we haven't lost anything 
 through you as far as we can find out," the scout 
 leader told him, at which Jared's face lost some 
 of its strained look, and Andy thought he caught 
 some of the old-time crafty gleam in his shifting 
 eyes. 
 
 "I give you my word for it, Rob, I never took 
 a single living thing," he hastened to say. 
 
 "Well, we'll make sure of that by taking a 
 look through your pockets!" declared Rob, 
 sternly. "You don't seem to like that, do you? 
 But make up your mind that if you start to show 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 229 
 
 the first sign of resistance we'll not only pile on 
 you, but hand you over to the police afterward 
 without listening to any more promises. Andy, 
 you tap his pockets, and see what he's got." 
 
 Andy did not hesitate an instant; indeed, to 
 see the way he started in one might believe this 
 was an avocation with the scout, and that he had 
 been employed a long time at police headquar- 
 ters searching the pockets of prisoners before 
 they were thrust into cells. 
 
 A number of things were brought to light, 
 which did not possess any particular interest for 
 the scouts. When, however, from an inside 
 pocket Andy drew a roll of bills, fastened with a 
 rubber band, Tubby was heard to give a "whee !" 
 and Hiram nudged Rob in the side as if to say: 
 "See how he yarned when he vowed he wanted 
 to get back on the farm, but didn't have the rail- 
 road fare East!" 
 
 Andy deliberately proceeded to count the con- 
 tents of the roll, while the wretched owner fol- 
 lowed his every move, as though he feared that 
 by some hocus-pocus or sleight of hand process, 
 with which he himself was possibly familiar, 
 
230 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 some of the money might take wings and fly 
 away. 
 
 "Just ninety-seven dollars here, Rob!" an- 
 nounced Andy. 
 
 "Yes, that's right/' declared Jared, cringing 
 before Rob's look, "and I earned every cent of 
 that roll by honest days' labor, every cent of it. 
 I thought I needed just a little more to see me 
 through all the way East. I was told it'd take 
 about say a hundred and ten clear. But I c'n 
 wait now till I get my next wages. I was a silly 
 fool to think to rob my old pals of the days in 
 Hampton." 
 
 "You never said truer words than those, 
 Jared/' Rob told him, plainly, but with a feeling 
 that nothing the other declared would be be- 
 lieved under oath, for truth and Jared Apple- 
 gate had never been friends. 
 
 "But, Rob, I hope now you ain't a-goin' to 
 keep any of my cash roll, or hand it over to the 
 manager of the hotel. I've been working here 
 quite some time now, and they treat me white 
 so I'd hate to get bounced when I'm so near 
 makin' up the amount I need. It's all clean 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 231 
 
 money, Rob, you believe me, don't you? Look 
 at my hands and see how calloused they are ? 
 That's a pretty good sign, I take it, that I ain't 
 been layin' around, or playin' cards like I used 
 to." 
 
 He had certainly been doing some sort of hard 
 labor, though Rob was rather inclined to believe 
 Jared must have been working in the mines with 
 pick and shovel, and had only come to the city 
 when driven out of the camp because of some 
 crooked doings. 
 
 "You shouldn't judge everybody by your own 
 standard, Jared," he told the other. "None of 
 us could be hired to take a single cent of yours, 
 no matter how you got the money, which is no 
 affair of ours. Give it back to him, Andy; and 
 I guess you've searched enough to satisfy us he 
 is carrying away nothing that belongs to us." 
 
 Jared clutched the money as might a miser, 
 and hastened to stow it away again. 
 
 "And you mean me to go, <ion't you, Rob? I 
 take it you're too high-minded to want to have 
 revenge on a poor devil who's down in the world, 
 even if he has done you dirt in the past. Say I 
 
232 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 c'n skip out, won't you, Rob? I'm a changed 
 boy, I tell you; and you'll never be sorry you 
 acted white with me!" 
 
 "Open the door, Tubby," said Rob, and the 
 fat scout did so, though with apparent reluc- 
 tance, for Tubby did not have the slightest faith 
 in Jared' s wonderful reformation, and thought 
 he ought to be punished in some way. 
 
 "Now go, and I only hope we never set eyes 
 on you again, Jared Applegate. Only for the 
 fact that you've already brought enough trouble 
 on the heads of your folks at home I'd be in fa- 
 vor of handing you over to the police to deal 
 with. Hurry up and leave before I change my 
 mind." 
 
 Jared did not linger a second longer than he 
 could help. He gave each of the three scouts a 
 look, and although he tried to appear grateful, 
 they could see that there was the same old crafty 
 gleam in his eyes as though deep down in his 
 heart there existed not a trace of the desire to 
 reform of which his lips had boasted. Passing 
 through the open door, he vanished from their 
 sight. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 233 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 LOTS OF EXCITEMENT. 
 
 After all that excitement, Tubby could not 
 immediately tear himself away from his chums. 
 
 "Why, seems as if all the sleep had been 
 chased out of my eyes !" he declared, as he once 
 more composedly sat down; and of course a gen- 
 eral discussion took place in connection with 
 their past experiences with Jared Applegate. 
 
 In the end they had to fairly pry Tubby away 
 from that chair, and put him out of the door, in 
 a friendly scuffle; he protesting to the last that 
 as he had no expectation of getting a wink of 
 sleep that night, there was no need of hurrying. 
 
 "Why, it's half-past eleven right now," Andy 
 told him. "We'll be a nice lot of blinking owls 
 to-morrow unless we hit the hay in a hurry. You 
 come back when you promised, and join the 
 bunch. Good-night, Tubby!" 
 
 With that the door was closed, and of course 
 the unwilling Tubby found there was no use try- 
 
234 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ing to change the program; so he headed for the 
 elevator, smothering a tremendous yawn by the 
 way. 
 
 He made his appearance promptly on time 
 when morning came, and they started for the Ex- 
 position grounds in a squad, all of them filled 
 with lively anticipations of another great day of 
 sight-seeing. 
 
 Of course the most anxious one of the com- 
 pany was Hiram. His business had not as yet 
 come to a focus, and he was not at all certain 
 how it might turn out. The others did not wish 
 to hurry him unduly, for they knew Hiram to 
 be very set in his ways; but at the same time 
 they gave him plain hints that he would be un- 
 wise to wait too long. 
 
 "They're expecting me any day now," Hiram 
 had explained in answer to these remonstrances, 
 "'and I'm just keepin' 'em on the fence, you see. 
 When I kinder guess the time's ripe I'll drop in 
 on the company and tell 'em who I happen to 
 be." 
 
 "Hiram means he's engineering a sort of cli- 
 max," explained Andy; "but the rest of us will 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 235 
 
 be as mad as hops if he pulls the thing off with- 
 out giving us a chance to see the fun." 
 
 "You wouldn't be so mean as that, I hope, 
 Hiram?" pleaded Tubby. 
 
 "What d'ye take me for?" the other had ex- 
 claimed, in seeming indignation. "Guess I ought 
 to know what my duty to my chums is. You'll 
 all have front seats on the band wagon when the 
 music begins. Consider that as good as settled, 
 Tubby. I'm having an extra big chair fixed for 
 you, too, so you'll be comfy." 
 
 Tubby beamed his gratitude, and as they had 
 arrived at the turnstile by that time the subject 
 was dropped. 
 
 It was decided that they should keep together, 
 for a while at least, though anyone could see 
 that Hiram was wild to hurry over to where the 
 Golden Gate Aviation Supply Company had its 
 headquarters adjoining the field where the air- 
 ships gave frequent exhibitions. 
 
 The crowd had not begun to make itself felt 
 as yet, so that they found splendid opportuni- 
 ties to inspect numerous things that attracted 
 
236 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 their attention in some of the many immense 
 Fair buildings. 
 
 An hour was spent among the pictures in the 
 art building. Rob enjoyed this, for he was very 
 fond of paintings, and at some future date he 
 meant to put in a whole morning here. 
 
 Tubby soon tired of it, and as for Hiram it 
 seemed to be pretty much of a bore. One whose 
 heart and mind were wrapped up with all sorts 
 of inventions could not be expected to content 
 himself gazing upon works of art; they were too 
 tame for his spirit ; what Hiram delighted in was 
 the whirr of machinery, the clack of the aero- 
 plane propeller, and kindred objects that meant 
 real work for him. 
 
 Just how it happened that about the middle 
 of the morning they found themselves once more 
 treading the devious ways of the Amusement 
 Zone neither Rob nor Tubby nor Hiram could 
 somehow understand. They dimly suspected, 
 however, that the artful Andy must have man- 
 aged to coax them in that quarter under a spe- 
 cious plea that he wanted to show them some- 
 thing wonderful. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 23? 
 
 The first thing they knew they were seated in 
 chairs on the moving platform, and viewing the 
 scenery along the stretch of the Panama Canal, 
 which had a very realistic look for those who 
 had been there themselves. 
 
 Each chair had a dictaphone attachment con- 
 nected with the arm, and by applying this in 
 the proper manner to their ears the occupants 
 were enabled to hear a description of each sec- 
 tion of the great ditch as it was reached. 
 
 Taken in all, it was a novel experience, and 
 one they enjoyed very much; though in the end 
 it required the strength of the other three scouts 
 to drag poor Tubby out of his chair, which hap- 
 pened not to have been capacious enough for the 
 standard requirements of the fat boy. 
 
 "Honestly," said Tubby, in explanation of his 
 sticking so tight, "I believe some skunk went and 
 put a piece of shoemakers' wax in that chair; 
 and I feel that I'm lucky to have saved the seat 
 of my new khaki trousers. If it had been the 
 old ones there's no telling what might have hap- 
 pened." 
 
 "H'm! a poor excuse is better than none, they 
 
238 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 say," muttered Andy; "but seems like instead 
 of calling these chairs comfortable they might 
 have added that they were the 'Fat Man's Mis- 
 ery/ But forget it, Tubby; you're safe and 
 sound again, breeches and all. Come on and see 
 what there is in this Bedouin Camp. The camels 
 look like it ought to be a heap interesting/' 
 
 The others were not as much taken with the 
 show as Andy. To him it was all real, and 
 breathed the atmosphere of the desert and the 
 traders' caravan; but Rob saw how much was 
 tinsel and make-believe, and really suspected that 
 some of the so-called Arabs talked among them- 
 selves in pretty fair English. 
 
 It happened that shortly after they had issued 
 from this concession, and Hiram was commenc- 
 ing to show signs of uneasiness, as though want- 
 ing to be off, something came to pass that for the 
 time being made them forget their plans. 
 
 "Hey! what's all that running about over 
 there?" suddenly exclaimed Andy. "Mebbe 
 there's goin' to be an Oriental elopement or a 
 wedding? Let's hurry over and get in line to 
 see!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 239 
 
 "More'n like a dog-fight," grumbled Hiram; 
 "for I've noticed that in some of these squalid 
 villages of foreigners they have some ugly yel- 
 low curs hanging around, which I should think 
 the Fair people wouldn't stand for." 
 
 All the same, Hiram ran as fast as his mates 
 to see what was going on. They made a dis- 
 covery before they were more than half way to 
 the spot. Indeed, the loud outcries borne to their 
 ears, as well as the smoke that came from a 
 building where the signs indicated that a cele- 
 brated Egyptian fortune-teller could be con- 
 sulted, made this very manifest. 
 
 "Wheel it's a fire!" gurgled Tubby, who was 
 puffing very hard in his effort not to be left in 
 the lurch by his more agile companions. 
 
 The excitement can be easily imagined in that 
 always thronged section of the Exposition 
 grounds. Scores of persons, many of them tur- 
 baned Arabs, Turks with red fezzes on their 
 heads, or other foreigners were rushing this way 
 and that, all wildly shouting, and wringing 
 their hands as though they expected that a dread- 
 
24:0 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ful misfortune threatened that part of the 
 Amusement Zone. 
 
 The gayly-dressed fortune-tellers were appar- 
 ently up against a hard proposition. They could 
 pretend to tell what the future held for others, 
 but apparently had not been able to foresee such 
 a common everyday occurrence as their booth 
 taking fire. 
 
 No one seemed to be thinking of trying to do 
 anything. The authorities of the Fair had pro- 
 vided arrangements for such accidents, and in 
 due time, doubtless, the fire company would dash 
 upon the scene, ready to pour a stream of water 
 on the flames. 
 
 But seconds count when fire is seizing hold of 
 flimsy curtains and woodwork. A minute or two 
 in the commencement of a conflagration means 
 that it may be smothered before it gets a firm 
 clutch on the building. 
 
 Rob possibly remembered what had happened 
 on that Long Island bay at the time he and Andy 
 saved the naphtha launch owned by old Cap. 
 Jerry. 
 
 Just then he discovered a couple of local scouts 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 241 
 
 hurrying up. They were small lads, and might 
 hardly know what was to be done in such an 
 emergency. Rob seized hold of the first one. 
 
 "Tell me, do you know where the nearest fire 
 extinguisher is fastened; I remember seeing 
 some around the grounds here?" 
 
 No sooner had Rob put this question to the 
 small scout than his face lighted up eagerly. 
 
 "That's the ticket!" he exclaimed, shrilly. "I 
 knew there was something a fellow ought to do ! 
 Why, yes, there's one right back yonder, mister. 
 All you got to do is to grab it off the stand and 
 get busy. I know where another is further on !" 
 
 With that he darted off, followed by his com- 
 panion. Rob had not even waited to hear all 
 that was said. He had his eye on that little ex- 
 tinguisher immediately, and was leaping toward 
 it, followed by the gaze of his admiring chums. 
 
 Why, it seemed almost no time at all before 
 the scout leader had wrenched the extinguisher 
 loose. His first thought was that luck favored 
 him because lo! and behold it chanced to be one 
 of the same pattern he always carried aboard his 
 
242 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 little motorboat, to provide against a catastrophe 
 by fire. 
 
 Thus armed and equipped, Rob started into 
 the small building from which the dense clouds 
 of smoke issued, and amidst which tongues of 
 angry flame were to be seen. 
 
 Andy, Hiram and Tubby followed close on his 
 heels. They had nothing with which to fight the 
 fire, but somehow seemed to consider it a part of 
 their duty to back their energetic leader up to the 
 full limit of their capacity. 
 
 It was, after all, nothing of moment, once Rob 
 got the little stream started on the flames. The 
 fire had not gained sufficient headway to make 
 a stubborn resistance of it, and inside of three 
 minutes Rob had it entirely subdued. 
 
 "Back out, fellows ; it's all over !" he managed 
 to exclaim, though half choked by the penetrat- 
 ing smoke. 
 
 Just as the scouts came out, and by their smiles 
 assured everybody that there no longer remained 
 a spark to endanger the neighboring flimsy struc- 
 tures, the fire squad came hustling up. Of 
 course there was a perfect mob gathered by this 
 
I a side of three minutes Rob had it entirely subdued. 
 Page 242. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 243 
 
 time, and Rob found it hard work to try and 
 make his way through. 
 
 The man in charge of the fire-fighters hunted 
 the scouts up and insisted on shaking hands with 
 them, a procedure that many in the crowd copied, 
 greatly to the displeasure of Rob, though Tubby 
 and the others did not seem to mind it in the 
 least. 
 
 One alert young fellow, who announced that 
 he was a reporter on a San Francisco daily, tried 
 his best to get an interview with Rob, who posi- 
 tively declined to say anything except that they 
 were scouts from Long Island. 
 
 As this persistent newspaperman kept after 
 them, and was seen in eager conversation with 
 Tubby in the rear, it might be taken for granted 
 that the fat scout was of a different mind from 
 Rob. Trust Tubby to "blow the horn" good and 
 strong, especially when he could sing the praises 
 of one he cared for as much as he did for Rob 
 Blake. 
 
 "Seems like things keep on happening wher- 
 ever we go," said Andy, after they had finally 
 
244 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 managed to shake off the last of the curious 
 crowd, and retreated to another part of the Zone. 
 
 "It's lucky for some people that such is the 
 case," asserted Tubby, promptly. "If we hadn't 
 happened to be around I reckon that fortune- 
 teller's place would have been burned to the 
 ground. Some time we may be sorry we both- 
 ered with it. They're all a lot of fakes, say what 
 you will." 
 
 Andy chuckled audibly at hearing that remark. 
 
 "You mustn't mind Tubby, fellows," he said, 
 pretending to whisper, though he knew the fat 
 scout could hear every w r ord plainly ; "ever since 
 that time we were down at Coney Island, and a 
 woman seeress there told him he had a glorious 
 future as the world's most famous fat man, 
 Tubby has been sore on the craft. Now, that 
 same wise woman told me I was going to be 
 the greatest traveler since Livingstone's time. 
 She read my longings and aspirations, and I 
 often think she could lift the curtain and see into 
 the future." 
 
 "Aw! you're silly if you believe a single word 
 they say!" burst out Tubby, with wrath and in- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 245 
 
 dignation; but in less than two minutes he was 
 as amiable as ever; the unpleasant incident was 
 forgotten; for Tubby could not stay out of hu- 
 mor long, and as Hiram was accustomed to say- 
 ing, "trouble and anger slipped from Tubby just 
 like water does from a duck's back!" 
 
 More people were coming as the morning pro- 
 gressed, though the crowds would not begin to 
 compare with those that the afternoon and even- 
 ing would bring; when the band concerts were an 
 added attraction, with numerous other events go- 
 ing on in every direction, until one would wish 
 they could have a thousand eyes and ears so as 
 not to miss anything. 
 
 Rob was tired of the scenes in the Amusement 
 Zone, and ready to suggest that all of them make 
 a change of base, though he knew it would not 
 be an easy task to tear Andy away from the 
 sights his heart yearned to keep in contact with. 
 
 "There's one of the yellow curs we saw in 
 that Indian village," remarked Tubby; "and 
 some boys are plaguing the life half out of him 
 by throwing sticks, and trying to round him up. 
 He must have broken loose from the enclosure 
 
246 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 where he was confined, and don't know how to 
 get back again. Look at the way he acts, will 
 you? They'd better go slow, or he'll bite one of 
 those sillies! Oh, look at him snapping, will 
 you, Rob? Makes me think of the mad dog that 
 ran through our town last " 
 
 "Stop that talk, Tubby!" ordered Rob, sternly; 
 but apparently it was too late, for some one gave 
 a shout, and like magic the cry was taken up un- 
 til dozens of frightened voices sent it rolling 
 along the street of the Zone : 
 
 "Mad dog ! mad dog ! run for your lives, every- 
 body!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 247 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 THE MAD DOG PANIC. 
 
 No more dreadful cry can be imagined than 
 the one the four scouts now heard rising all 
 around them. It made many faces turn deathly 
 white, and there was a hasty flight on the part of 
 the more timid in order to gain the shelter of the 
 adjoining walls of the booths. 
 
 Some boys and men also remained, and com- 
 menced to pelt the wretched cur still further with 
 stones, sticks, or anything they could lay hands 
 on, meanwhile keeping up more or less wild 
 shouting. 
 
 "The fools !" exclaimed Rob, indignantly; 
 "that dog is no more mad than I am ; but they're 
 doing everything they can to make him so. He's 
 already scared half out of his head with all those 
 things being shied at him. He snarls and snaps 
 because he's at bay, and the old wolf nature 
 shows then. All he wants is to get back home 
 somehow !" 
 
THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 The clamor grew in violence as new voices 
 joined in. Those who came running up, always 
 eager to see whatever was going on, began to 
 hurl things at the cringing yellow cur flattened 
 against the wall; though when the poor beast 
 once started toward them it was amazing to see 
 how the mob melted away, men falling over each 
 other in their frantic fear of being bitten. 
 
 Rob was growing more and more indignant. 
 He tried to speak to some of those nearest him, 
 but he might as well have tried to stop the flow 
 of Niagara for all the effect his words of ex- 
 postulation had upon the shouters. 
 
 Women and children were shrieking in fright, 
 even though they were apparently safe in the 
 various buildings that lined the sunny street of 
 the Zone. 
 
 "I just can't stand for this racket !" the others 
 heard Rob say, as he suddenly left them and 
 sprang forward. 
 
 Immediately loud voices called out, some warn- 
 ing him not to be rash, and others applauding his 
 daring, for it is always so easy to stand back and 
 clap hands when some one is taking the chances. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 249 
 
 "Oh! what does Rob mean to do?" cried 
 Tubby, who had seen the mad dog killed in the 
 main street of Hampton the previous summer, 
 and had a perfect horror of being brought into 
 personal contact with any animal suffering from 
 the rabies. 
 
 "He isn't intending to try and grab the beast !" 
 explained Hiram. "Rob knows better than that, 
 even if the dog is only scared, and not mad. It 
 would bite him just as quick, I guess, as if it was 
 rabid. Watch and see what his game is, fellows ; 
 Rob knows what he's about, you'd better be- 
 lieve!" 
 
 Every eye was centered on the form of the 
 boy as he advanced toward the cowering dog. 
 Rob was snapping his fingers, and acting as 
 friendly as he could, wishing to assure the beast 
 he had no hostile motive in approaching. This 
 he did in order to keep the frenzied and tortured 
 dog from jumping at him before he could man- 
 age to put his little plan into operation. 
 
 At least it held the attention of the dog, though 
 the animal suspected the genuine nature of his 
 
^ THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 advance, and cowered there watching him, still 
 snarling viciously. 
 
 It required considerable nerve to keep on in 
 spite of the increasing growls of the dog at bay. 
 Rob was ready to act in case the beast did spring 
 toward him, for he certainly had no intention of 
 allowing its jaws to come in contact with his flesh. 
 
 Most of the shouting had died out by now. 
 Everybody was watching with held breath to 
 see what that venturesome boy in khaki would 
 attempt. Many doubtless believed, as they stared 
 with distended eyes, that Rob actually meant to 
 grapple with the animal and throttle it. 
 
 "It's a burning shame to let a boy try what 
 men might have done I" one white-faced woman 
 near the other scouts was heard to say ; and they 
 could readily imagine that she had boys of her 
 own at home, of whom she was doubtless think- 
 ing as she watched Rob walking forward into 
 the danger zone. 
 
 But Rob had another scheme in view. Un- 
 armed, he did not covet an encounter at close 
 quarters with that yellow dog, whether the 
 beast was mad or only frenzied with fear. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 251 
 
 In fact, Rob meant to try and cage him, if it 
 could be worked. He believed that if given a 
 chance the dog would only too gladly slip in 
 through any opening that seemed to offer him 
 a temporary refuge from all those shouting tor- 
 mentors. 
 
 Rob, in taking a rapid survey of the situation, 
 had noticed what seemed to be a partly finished 
 booth which was being erected for some late 
 coming concession owner. The small building 
 was almost finished, and had a door, which he 
 had seen was ajar, though not fully open. 
 
 It was the boy's plan, made up on the spur of 
 the moment, to reach that door and push it wide 
 open. Then in some fashion perhaps the fright- 
 ened dog might be influenced to enter, when the 
 door could be closed, and thus he would be held 
 in a trap. 
 
 Perhaps Rob's heart beat like a trip-hammer 
 within him as he came close to that door, and 
 he fancied he saw the dog starting to jump to- 
 ward him. He snapped his fingers again and 
 spoke kindly. It may be these expressions of 
 good-will had a little effect on the beast; at any 
 
252 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 rate the advance movement was delayed, though 
 the vicious snarling and whining continued. 
 
 Then Rob found that he could stretch out his 
 hand and reach the door. He started to push it 
 open, though it was no easy task. 
 
 Having accomplished this to his satisfaction, 
 he began to back away, still keeping his eyes on 
 the dog, and ready to seek some friendly place 
 of safety in case of necessity. 
 
 The dog had seen his action. It must have 
 known that an avenue of escape had been opened 
 up by the pushing back of that door. Possibly 
 the poor beast anticipated a safe return to the 
 village where it had been at home among its 
 kind. 
 
 "Look! it's going to accept Rob's invitation!" 
 cried Tubby, excitedly. 
 
 "Smart dog!" said Andy; "he may save his 
 bacon by that clever move." 
 
 "There he goes in; now what d'ye think of 
 that for a bright trick?" Hiram shouted. 
 
 That was just what the badgered dog did 
 slipped along the wall until it came to the partly 
 open door, and then vanished from view. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 253 
 
 "There goes Rob back! What's he meaning 
 to do now, I wonder ?" Tubby exclaimed, in fresh 
 consternation. 
 
 "He wants to complete the job by shutting the 
 door," explained Andy, who could grasp a situa- 
 tion like this much better than the stout scout, 
 because his wits worked quicker. 
 
 All sounds ceased again as Rob pushed along 
 the wall of the new building until he could reach 
 out his hand. Then the door began to close, 
 faster and faster until the yawning gap was en- 
 tirely filled. 
 
 Hardly had this been done than there arose a 
 deafening cheer. Everybody seemed to be wild 
 with delight, and shook hands with one another 
 in their excitement. Now that the terrible "mad 
 dog" had been caged, plenty of weapons would 
 be remembered; and it would be so easy, and 
 safe, to shoot through the windows of the build- 
 ing. 
 
 "Let's get out of this, fellows!" said Rob, 
 when he managed to worm his way through the 
 crush and join his mates. 
 
 Tubby frowned as though it was against his 
 
254 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 principles to run away when people were want- 
 ing to shake hands, and call one a hero; but not 
 wanting to be left behind the others, Tubby had 
 to go. 
 
 They had not reached a point far distant when 
 the report of several firearms reached them. Rob 
 shook his head and frow r ned. 
 
 "That's about the silliest thing I ever ran up 
 against," he said. "The dog was no more mad 
 than Tubby here is. Those boys pestered him, 
 and got him scared. Then all that shouting and 
 waving of hands and throwing of things at him 
 finished the business. It was a foolish scare, and 
 I guess nine out of ten mad dog hunts are in the 
 same class/' 
 
 "Well, they've finished the poor thing now, I 
 guess !" ventured Hiram. 
 
 "It sounds like it the way they're cheering, 
 just as if they've done something mighty heroic !" 
 added Andy. 
 
 "The only thing worth a cheer," remarked 
 Tubby, emphatically, "was when our chum Rob 
 walked right at the snarling beast, and took all 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 255 
 
 sorts of chances of getting bit and clawed up. 
 That needed nerve, let me tell you !" 
 
 "Oh ! not any to speak of," said the scout leader, 
 hastily. "I made sure to have my eye on a shed 
 close by all the while; and if he'd really made a 
 jump for me you'd have seen a mighty fine ex- 
 hibition of high and lofty climbing. Mad or 
 not, I wasn't meaning to stay there and tackle 
 him, without a thing to hit him with." 
 
 "But it all worked well, as nearly always hap- 
 pens with you, Rob," said Tubby; "though once 
 my heart seemed to be up in my throat ; that was 
 when you had to snap your fingers and coax him, 
 Rob. Only for that he'd have made for you, 
 thinking you meant to strike him." 
 
 "I'm glad it's over," observed Hiram, shud- 
 dering. 
 
 "That dog belonged to the Injuns we saw in 
 the village," ventured Andy, thoughtfully; "and 
 you know Injuns think roast dog is the finest 
 dish ever. I expect they'll want to claim the re- 
 mains. Little they'll bother about any talk of 
 mad dog; it's more likely to be mad Injun when 
 they find out what's happened." 
 
256 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 And after that they tried to put the latest in- 
 cident out of their minds, though Tubby woulc 
 explode some new idea concerning it every onc< 
 in a while, as they wandered about the Fail 
 grounds taking in new sights. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 257 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 TAKING IN THE: SIGHTS OF TH FAIR. 
 
 "Well, he's gone, Rob!" said Andy, as they 
 were coming out after an hour spent in the won- 
 derful Transportation Building. 
 
 "Oh, you mean Hiram ?" remarked the scout 
 leader, after taking a comprehensive glance 
 around. "Well, I've been expecting him to give 
 us the slip for some time. He held on longer 
 than I thought he would." 
 
 "No trouble guessing where he's bound for," 
 laughed Andy. "That hall where the latest mod- 
 ern inventions are on exhibition draws him like 
 sugar or molasses does the pesky flies in sum- 
 mer time. He sticks there nearly as hard as- 
 well, as Tubby did in that skimpy chair at the 
 Panama show." 
 
 "Bring it nearer home, can't you, Andy, and 
 say about as well as you want to stick to that 
 Zone of freaks and flimsies and Coney Island 
 
258 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 shows/' ventured Tubby, with singular quick- 
 ness, for him. 
 
 "I arranged it with Hiram to stay with us 
 just as long as he could stand for it," explained 
 Rob; "and that when he did feel he had to go, 
 to call at the little booth of the tobacconist where 
 we've arranged to meet, not later than four this 
 afternoon." 
 
 "Remember that, you Andy," warned Tubby, 
 shaking a fat finger in the direction of the other, 
 "in case we happen to get separated! Accidents 
 will come along sometimes, you know ; and you're 
 likely to feel that call to the wild again any old 
 
 time." 
 
 Andy only laughed. Apparently he had a 
 tough hide when it came to resisting such harm- 
 less blunt-nosed shafts as Tubby could launch 
 against him. 
 
 "I'll keep it in mind, Tubby, I promise you," 
 he remarked ; "but after we've had something to 
 eat, you won't try to keep me any longer. We're 
 all here to enjoy ourselves according to our 
 bent, you must remember." 
 
 "And your bent runs along the line of the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 259 
 
 spectacular display of gaudy tinsel and all sorts 
 of make-believe frauds!" continued Tubby, pre- 
 tending to curl his short upper lip in disdain, 
 though truth to tell he rather enjoyed a little 
 of the same pleasures himself. 
 
 "Have it as you please, Tubby," Andy told 
 him. "To me they're all real, and when I find 
 myself surrounded by that wonderful foreign 
 atmosphere, it's just like I'd taken wings and 
 flown over there to Africa, or Asia, or the islands 
 of the Far East. Rob, make him stop trying to 
 interfere with my pleasure. Just because one 
 fortune-teller riled him, Tubby sneers at every- 
 thing that wears a Turkish fez, a Bedouin bour- 
 noose or a Persian caftan. I guess I know how 
 to sift the chaff from the wheat. And a fellow 
 who means to be a world traveler some day 
 ought to rub up against these sort of people all 
 he can." 
 
 Tubby gave it up. He knew nothing he could 
 say would alter Andy's deep-rooted convictions. 
 Indeed, it was more to get even with him that 
 the stout scout spoke as he did. 
 
 Later on they hunted up a dining-place where 
 
260 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 they could secure a fair meal for their money, 
 at least as good as was to be expected linger the 
 circumstances. 
 
 "Now laugh if you want to, Tubby/' said 
 Andy, boldly, after they had issued forth from 
 the restaurant. "I'm going to break away, and 
 you know where I'll be heading. You keep Rob 
 company the rest of the day. He's got a list of 
 things he's fairly itching to see, and it's as long 
 as my arm, at that. Good luck to you!" 
 
 He hurried off without waiting to hear what 
 Tubby might have to say; but the latter only 
 shook his head as he caught the amused look in 
 Rob's eyes, and shrugged his fat shoulders as 
 though ready to give Andy up as beyond redemp- 
 tion. 
 
 "Let him go and enjoy himself as he feels 
 like," commented Rob. "That's everybody's 
 privilege when they come to a show as tremen- 
 dous as this one is. And, Tubby, I think you're 
 too hard on Andy. I happen to know that he's 
 been devouring every book on travel and explo- 
 ration he can find anywhere. The subject fills 
 his mind." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 261 
 
 "Then he really does mean to make that his 
 life work, Rob? I thought it was just a sort of 
 cloak, as you might say, to cover his wanting to 
 see these Oriental humbugs carry on. Fortune- 
 tellers ought to be suppressed by law; they do 
 lots of harm, I understand, especially where silly 
 people believe in 'em." 
 
 Rob came very near remarking that, for one 
 who scorned their class, Tubby himself seemed 
 to be bothered considerably over a certain foolish 
 prophecy; but on second thought he concluded 
 not to add to the color in the fat boy's cheeks 
 by embarrassing him. 
 
 Being now free from the two chums who had 
 such peculiar and strong notions as to what they 
 wanted to devote all their time to, Rob and Tubby 
 started in to spend several hours to the best 
 possible advantage. 
 
 They were not merely seeking amusement, but 
 instruction as well ; and there were copious foun- 
 tains to be tapped within the borders of those 
 extensive grounds of the wonderful Exposition 
 that would repay the laborer manyfold for his 
 trouble. 
 
262 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "I tell you I'm mighty glad I happened to run 
 across you, Rob," Tubby remarked, for perhaps 
 the tenth time, as they watched the process of 
 the Government fish hatchery, where millions of 
 eggs were transformed into tiny objects that 
 looked like animated specks in the water, but 
 which under proper care would some day be 
 placed in certain lakes or rivers or in the sea, 
 to add to the prosperity of the nation that was 
 fast learning how to conserve its food supplies. 
 
 "And I'm just as pleased on my own account," 
 the scout leader told him. "You see how my 
 two chums are bound to desert me, each crazy 
 along his own particular line, and bound to fol- 
 low his pet whim through thick and thin." 
 
 "Haw! then I'm the only sensible one of the 
 lot, seems like!" grunted Tubby, with beaming 
 face. "Thank you for intimating as much, Rob. 
 I do seem to fancy many of the same things 
 that strike you as worth seeing. 'Course I sort 
 of enjoy the humbug of the Zone, but a little goes 
 a great way. My better nature craves educa- 
 tional value for the time spent in coming away 
 out here!" 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 263 
 
 When Tubby said this so grandly he tried very 
 hard to keep a straight face ; but discovering the 
 gleam of merriment in Rob's eyes, he burst into 
 a laugh. 
 
 "Well, it's part way true, anyhow, Rob," he 
 declared. "I am having a real good time keeping 
 up with you, even if we're walking miles and 
 miles, and my shoes are getting to pinch me 
 something fierce." 
 
 "Let's get somewhere and sit down for a 
 spell," Rob suggested, for he awoke to the fact 
 that poor Tubby was not built for getting over 
 acres and acres of ground with all that flesh to 
 carry along. 
 
 "Now, isn't that queer, Rob; but d'ye know I 
 was just going to dare you to go me a plate of 
 that ice cream over there. We can sit at a table 
 and get rested while we partake of the stuff. 
 Excuse me for calling it that, but the chances 
 are against getting anything first-class when 
 you're dealing with a man who put up an enor- 
 mous sum to pay for his concession, and has to 
 get it back somehow out of the public." 
 
 They spent almost half an hour there, watch- 
 
264 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 ing the crowds and resting. Then as Tubby de- 
 clared he felt capable again of almost any exer- 
 tion, they resumed their sight-seeing walk. 
 
 "I notice, Rob, that you're working around so 
 as to come on our meeting-place after a while/' 
 suggested Tubby. 
 
 "I was waiting to see if you'd pay attention to 
 that," the other told him. "I'm glad to find you 
 did. A scout must have his eyes on the alert 
 all the while if he wants to keep up with the 
 procession, Tubby." 
 
 "Oh! I'm improving right along, Rob; my 
 folks at home tell me that, too. Time was when 
 my favorite occupation used to be to stretch and 
 yawn. All that's changed now, for I yawn and 
 stretch, you see. This scout business does work 
 wonders, doesn't it?" 
 
 But then everyone knew that Tubby had 
 changed wonderfully since he joined the troop. 
 Considering the handicap under which he labored 
 on account of his size, and the difficulty he had 
 in doing things that were easy for his chums, 
 he managed to get along tip-top. Rob always 
 gave him more credit than the rest when an ob- 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 265 
 
 ject they had been laboring to accomplish had 
 been attained; because the one who overcomes 
 the most strenuous barriers deserves greater 
 praise than those who have not been compelled 
 to draw upon their reserve powers. 
 
 They stood there looking up at the vast Tri- 
 umphal Arch of the Setting Sun, which, it seemed 
 to Tubby, was the most beautiful thing in the 
 whole Exposition. It appealed to him in a way 
 he could hardly explain, except that something 
 seemed to draw him back there again and again. 
 
 "Why, before you came, Rob," he remarked, "I 
 used to just haunt this place, together with the 
 vicinity of the Column of Progress looking out 
 on the Marino. I'll see them in my dreams long 
 after all the other effects of the Fair have faded 
 away. And I reckon now every visitor will some- 
 how have a certain thing stay with him through 
 all time, as a memory of the greatest Exposi- 
 tion that ever was given." 
 
 "Step back here, Tubby !" said Rob, as he took 
 hold of the other's sleeve and drew him swiftly 
 around a corner. 
 
266 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Why, what's all this mean?" gasped the stout 
 boy, looking startled. 
 
 "Oh! I saw that hustling newspaper man 
 again," explained Rob, "and I was afraid he'd 
 corner us and try to worm out something of our 
 past." 
 
 "Shucks! is that all?" said Tubby, in disgust. 
 "Why, Rob, honest to goodness now, if I didn't 
 think it might be another mad dog scare we were 
 up against/' 
 
 "Well, it was something I dislike almost as 
 much," vowed Rob. "And if he ever got you 
 cornered I'm pretty sure you'd give him all the 
 details about that other little happening that 
 would make me look silly in the paper. Now he's 
 gone, and it's safe for us to step out." 
 
 Tubby shook his head, and sighed. 
 
 "You sure are the queerest fish ever, Rob," he 
 observed, with a disappointed air. "I never yet 
 ran across the fellow who wouldn't be only too 
 glad to see a write-up about him in the paper 
 where he was called a hero, and all that. Why, 
 they'd hurry off to buy a dozen copies, and mail 
 the same to all the girls they knew. But say, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 26? 
 
 whenever you do a thing worth mentioning you 
 try to sneak away as if it was something to be 
 ashamed of." 
 
 "I don't like it, and that's the only explanation 
 I can give you, Tubby. Come, let's go into this 
 building, and then half an hour from now it'll 
 be time to make for our meeting-place so as to 
 pick up the other fellows/' 
 
 "I hope Hiram has made up his mind it's about 
 due to spring his surprise on the company he's 
 come all the way out here to see and talk with," 
 Tubby said, as they started into the building 
 mentioned by Rob. 
 
 "I've got a hunch that he will, after to-day, 
 Tubby. I mean to speak with him about it this 
 very night, and see if it can't be settled to-mor- 
 row. Hiram looks so anxious every little while 
 it's too bad he doesn't take the bull by the horns 
 and settle the matter once for all." 
 
 When the half -hour was up the two boys issued 
 forth, and headed in the direction of the tobac- 
 conist's booth, which was not a great way off. 
 Tubby was again feeling tired, and seemed pretty 
 well used up. 
 
268 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "We'll go home as we did last night, right 
 after eating," suggested Rob. "Then to-morrow 
 we needn't hurry around, for we'll stay until the 
 gates close at ten, so as to see the illumination, 
 and the play of the electric fountains." 
 
 "That suits me first-rate, though I've seen all 
 those things already, and more than once," the 
 other told the scout leader. 
 
 A few minutes later and Tubby burst forth 
 again. 
 
 "There's the booth we're aiming for, Rob," 
 he declared ; "and isn't that our chum Andy walk- 
 ing up and down like a tiger in its cage ? There, 
 he sees us now, seems like, and he's beckoning. 
 Let's hurry on," and Tubby actually forgot that 
 he was tired in his eagerness to learn why the 
 other was showing such signs of excitement. 
 
 "A note from Hiram that he left here for us, 
 fellows," Andy hastened to say as the others 
 reached his side; "and he wants us to chase 
 around there hot-footed, because there's some- 
 thing big on the bills." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 269 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 HIRAM FACES THE MUSIC. 
 
 "Read it out, Rob, please/' pleaded Tubby, 
 with round-eyed wonder. 
 
 Thus urged, the scout leader proceeded to 
 oblige. 
 
 "This is what he says here," he announced. 
 " 'Come around to the aviation field as soon as 
 you possibly can. Something doing. Guess my 
 chance is knocking at the door like opportunity 
 that comes once to everybody, they say. Please 
 
 hurr y' " 'Signed Hiram.' 
 
 "Do we go, Rob?" gasped Tubby, with intense 
 eagerness in his whole manner. 
 
 "Without losing a single minute!" declared 
 the other. 
 
 "Well, I should remark/' added Andy. "We've 
 been up to our ears interested in this affair of 
 Hiram's from the day we left home; and we 
 mean to see him through his troubles to boot." 
 
270 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "So let's be on the move/' suggested Rob. 
 
 "That suits me," breathed Tubby. "You see, 
 I've gotten over my tired feeling. There's noth- 
 ing can revive a weary scout half so quick as a 
 chance to get in the swim. Why, I feel as fresh 
 as a daisy, whatever that can mean." 
 
 "Well, toddle along with us then, Tubby," said 
 Andy ; "and take my advice don't talk so much 
 when you're hurrying; it's a bad thing, because 
 you need every bit of breath you c'n get." 
 
 Evidently Tubby realized this fact for himself, 
 because he subsided from that moment; all they 
 heard from him were frequent heavy sighs that 
 accompanied his strenuous efforts to keep at their 
 heels. 
 
 They knew the way to the aviation field, and 
 took as direct a course as possible when aiming 
 for that favorite portion of the grounds. There 
 could always be found a large crowd watching 
 the bird-men in their preparations for going 
 aloft, and making landings after showing what 
 their airships were capable of doing. 
 
 As a rule most of the spectators were de- 
 barred from getting too close to the aeroplanes, 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 271 
 
 for many reasons; but Hiram had made himself 
 so useful on former occasions that no one ques- 
 tioned his right inside the ropes. So also the 
 other three scouts would doubtless be allowed to 
 loiter near the starting point, where there were 
 always a dozen or two air-pilots gathered, com- 
 paring notes and joking each other after the 
 manner of daring adventurers, which all of them 
 undoubtedly are, since they take their lives in 
 their hands every time they ascend. 
 
 Hiram was waiting for them on the border of 
 the great throng of deeply interested spectators. 
 They saw immediately that the inventor scout 
 was very much worked up over something or 
 other, and naturally all of the other boys were 
 deeply curious to know what had happened to 
 excite him. 
 
 Hiram was evidently on the lookout for his 
 three chums, since he beckoned them over as 
 soon as he caught their eyes. 
 
 "Well, we've come!" said Tubby, breathlessly, 
 as they lined up alongside the other. 
 
 "Now tell us what's in the wind !" added Andy, 
 impatiently. 
 
272 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "Something has happened," began Hiram, 
 mysteriously. 
 
 "You said that in your note," grumbled Andy. 
 
 "The Company/' Hiram continued, "have been 
 waiting for me to show up, and they're just so 
 eager to find out what my stabilizer can do that 
 they can't stand for the delay any longer." 
 
 "Great governor ! they don't mean to steal your 
 idea, I hope?" asked Tubby. 
 
 "Oh, no, I guess not !" replied the other, calmly. 
 "You see they've applied it to one of their best 
 machines to give it a try-out." 
 
 "Bully! that suits you all right!" urged Andy, 
 enthusiastically. 
 
 "I should say yes!" declared Hiram, with a 
 wide grin. "And if you crane your necks right 
 now so as to rubber and look up you'll see that 
 same aeroplane soaring along there !" 
 
 "That monoplane you mean, don't you, 
 Hiram?" asked Andy, after all of them had 
 taken a good look to where the other was point- 
 ing. 
 
 "Yep, she's the one, and my stabilizer's 
 aboard," Hiram went on to tell them, with a 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 273 
 
 pardonable touch of pride in his voice, though 
 he was careful that no one else should hear him 
 speaking. 
 
 "Have they tried it out yet, d'ye know?" in- 
 quired Tubby. 
 
 "I think the pilot's just starting in now to see 
 what she can do," he was told. 
 
 "Oh! Did you see him tumble then?" ejacu- 
 lated the fat boy, gripping Hiram's arm nerv- 
 ously as he spoke. 
 
 "That was looping the loop," explained the 
 inventor; "lots of pilots c'n do that trick nowa- 
 days ; why, I've heard that Beachey even makes 
 two complete turns. That bird-man up there is 
 second only to Beachey, I'm told. Watch some 
 more of his bold stunts; and hold your breath, 
 Tubby, for hell give you lots of thrills." 
 
 "But I've got to breathe, don't you see," com- 
 plained the fat scout, who was already unduly 
 red in the face from his exertions in this line. 
 
 They watched the aviator go through a num- 
 ber of hazardous exploits. It was doubtless gen- 
 erally known among the pilots assembled that he 
 was testing some new idea, for he seemed to be 
 
274 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 closely observed by everybody within the 
 enclosure. 
 
 Hiram could see that some of the bird-men 
 were, pleased, for they nodded their heads as they 
 exchanged remarks. Fancy how this fact thrilled 
 the boy, for it was his invention that interested 
 these veterans among air-pilots. 
 
 "Now I kind of guess he's exhausted every 
 trick he knows, and is goin' to come down," said 
 Hiram, presently. "We'd better be gettin' in- 
 side, for I want to be as close as I can when he 
 makes his report to the folks." 
 
 Accordingly he led his chums inside the roped 
 enclosure. He seemed to have made good with 
 the attendants, for they smiled and nodded to 
 Hiram. That Yankee "gift of gab" which 
 Hiram possessed was very apt to get him into 
 the good graces of those upon whom he chose 
 to exercise it. 
 
 The scouts presently found themselves in close 
 touch with many of the participants in the ex- 
 hibitions that were hourly taking place. Here 
 were men famous in their line, from aviators to 
 makers of machines. Here also had collected 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 275 
 
 those who were interested in the future of avia- 
 tion, and thinking more or less seriously of em- 
 barking in the business. 
 
 As may be expected, the talk was "shop" every 
 minute of the time. No matter what terrible 
 distress the war over in Europe might be causing, 
 these enthusiasts could only think and speak of 
 matters that were connected with the game of 
 rivaling the birds in their flights. If they men- 
 tioned the battles that were taking place day in 
 and day out, it was only in connection with the 
 exploits of the aviation corps on the side of the 
 French, the German, the British or the Belgian 
 armies. 
 
 "See that gentleman w r ith the white mustache, 
 the one that looks like a Kentucky colonel, or an 
 army officer?" whispered Hiram. "Well, that's 
 the head of the Golden Gate Aviation Supply 
 Company, and the person I expect to do business 
 with pretty soon." 
 
 "He's a fine looking gentleman, I must say," 
 admitted Rob. "I think you'll have no trouble 
 making fair terms with him, if I'm any judge of 
 faces." 
 
270 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 "I'm giad to hear you say that, Rob/' breathed 
 Hiram, with a sigh, "because one minute I think 
 everything looks rosy, and the next I'm grovel- 
 ing in the dust. But the agony will soon be over. 
 There, he means to land this time; get ready to 
 stick by me, because I want to be near when 
 he climbs out of his seat and meets that boss of 
 the whole company face to face." 
 
 The monoplane came swooping down, and like 
 a great bird with wings extended, sailed along 
 close to the ground, with constantly decreasing 
 speed, as the power had been shut off. 
 
 Now the wheels under the frame had come 
 in contact with the ground, and a dozen eager 
 hands were outstretched to bring the machine to 
 a full stop on the border of the group. This 
 assemblage was being constantly augmented by 
 fresh arrivals, all eager to pass the good word 
 with the pilot, and possibly congratulate him on 
 the fine showing he had just made. 
 
 Hiram was looking as sharp as a fox as he 
 strained his ears to catch every syllable that the 
 air-man uttered. 
 
 He leisurely climbed out of his seat and 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 277 
 
 reached the ground. There was a satisfied smile 
 on his face that sent a wave of delight to the 
 anxious heart of the waiting boy, to whom the 
 success or failure of this, his first real invention, 
 meant so much. 
 
 The pilot looked around. He was evidently 
 expecting to make an immediate report to the 
 gentleman with the white mustache, and Hiram 
 had been very careful to keep in close touch 
 with that man. 
 
 Yes, the pilot, after exchanging a littk badi- 
 nage with some of his comrades, immediately 
 pushed directly toward the spot where the four 
 chums stood. Straight up to the head of the 
 large firm by whom he was employed the bird- 
 man strode. 
 
 "Well, what is the decision ?" Hiram heard the 
 gentleman say, a note of anticipation in his 
 voice. 
 
 "Decidedly favorable, Mr. Curley. In fact, 
 with only one trial I am convinced that it is 
 going to be the best stabilizer so far on the mar- 
 ket. You have made no mistake, take my word 
 for it I" 
 
278 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 Rob almost feared Hiram was going to faint. 
 He leaned so heavily against him, as though for 
 the moment his heart had ceased to beat. And 
 yet, strange to say, the very first thing the over- 
 joyed inventor did was to turn and clap his mouth 
 close to the ear of the scout leader and mutter 
 in trembling tones: 
 
 "By jinks! Did you hear that, Rob? Say, I 
 meant to ask 'em just twenty-five hundred cash 
 for the patent, but she's doubled in price now. 
 And don't you think they'll pay the five thousand 
 all right, Rob?" 
 
 The Yankee in Hiram was on tap, Rob saw 
 with amusement. At the same time he hastened 
 to assure his chum that he was well within his 
 rights in demanding all he thought he could get 
 for his cunning device. 
 
 Evidently Hiram had determined to break the 
 ice while the opportunity lay within his reach. 
 Long had he waited for this glorious moment to 
 arrive. By day he had pictured it in a dozen 
 fantastic forms, and while he slept his dreams 
 must have carried him through numerous inter- 
 views with the powers that swayed the fortunes 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 279 
 
 of the wonderful Golden Gate Aviation Supply 
 Company. 
 
 He pushed forward a little further. If some 
 of those present noticed the boy in scout uniform 
 they paid little attention to him, being taken up 
 with what was passing between the pilot and the 
 builder. 
 
 So Hiram managed to squeeze himself along 
 until he could put out his hand and actually touch 
 the two central figures in the discussion. 
 
 Rob and the other boys were not quite so for- 
 tunate, but being within easy hearing distance, 
 they believed they would not be apt to miss any- 
 thing that went on. 
 
 They saw Hiram put out his hand and give a 
 tug at the coat of the fine-looking gentleman with 
 the white military mustache. The latter looked 
 down and was apparently annoyed to see that it 
 was only a youth who sought to distract his 
 attention. 
 
 "What do you want, boy?" he was heard to 
 ask, impatiently. 
 
 Then Hiram spoke up. If his voice quavered 
 a little that was not surprising; indeed, in Rob's 
 
280 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 mind the wonder was that the excited scout could 
 find his tongue at all. 
 
 "Do you think, Mr. Curley, that the little 
 stabilizer has proved to be all that was claimed 
 for it, sir?" was what Hiram asked. 
 
 The gentleman stared hard at him. Others 
 who heard his question did the same, and Rob saw 
 a smile as of amusement appear on the bronzed 
 face of the noted air-pilot who had just come 
 down, after experimenting with the device, bring- 
 ing a favorable report; it was as though he had 
 begun to smell a rat, and realized what a joke 
 it would be to have a boy invent such an impor- 
 tant appendage to a heavier-than-air flying 
 machine. 
 
 "Why, what business is that of yours, may I 
 ask, boy?" demanded the business head of the 
 big company, as he continued to stare at the 
 eager, flushed face of the lad who wore the 
 khaki of a Boy Scout. 
 
 "Oh ! because I happen to be the Hiram Nelson 
 you've been corresponding with, sir, that's all!" 
 said Hiram. "I used the money you sent me to 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 281 
 
 come out here, but was a leetle bit afraid to face 
 you. But I guess it's all right now, Mr. Curley, 
 because I heard your pilot say the thing worked 
 fine. That suits me; and I'm ready to talk terms 
 with you right away!" 
 
28B THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 A BOY SCOUT'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 "What's this you are telling me?" asked Mr. 
 Curley, quickly. "Have you the proof of what 
 you claim with you, young man?" 
 
 Rob noticed that it was no longer "boy" with 
 the gentleman ; Hiram was evidently climbing in 
 the scales, and rapidly at that. 
 
 "Oh, yes, sir, I've got everything to show 
 you ; and my patent right papers are in the hotel 
 safe ready to be turned over in case we can 
 reach a bargain." 
 
 The gentleman looked hastily around him. 
 There were representatives of other makers of 
 aeroplanes present who might endeavor to bid 
 against him if only they knew he did not as yet 
 have any positive agreement with the inventor 
 of that successful stabilizer. 
 
 "Please say no more until we are in my office, 
 Mr. Nelson," he remarked, softly; "and if you 
 have the time now we might as well adjourn 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 283 
 
 there. I'll ask a few of my people to accompany 
 us, as well as this pilot who has just given your 
 little trick its first try out." 
 
 "I'll be glad to enter into a talk with you, Mr. 
 Curley," declared Hiram; "but I must insist that 
 my friends, who have come out to the Coast with 
 me, be along/' 
 
 He beckoned to Rob and Andy and Tubby, 
 who immediately started to push their way 
 through the crowd to where Hiram and the gen- 
 tleman with the white mustache stood. 
 
 "Certainly, it is only fair that you should have 
 equal backing with us," observed the gentleman, 
 whose eyes twinkled with amusement now, as he 
 began to grasp the situation, and realize that 
 his company was up against a boy who knew 
 his rights, and was possessed of considerable 
 business sagacity, as well as inventive talent. 
 
 Accordingly they all headed for some buildings 
 not a great ways off, and thus it came that pres- 
 ently the scouts found themselves behind closed 
 doors with Mr. Curley and a number of others. 
 
 The head of the manufacturing firm was 
 frowning a trifle, Rob noticed, even if there were 
 
2-8-4 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 times when he allowed a trace of a smile to 
 steal across his face on glancing down at the 
 figure of Hiram Nelson. Rob knew why this 
 should be so, and he considered that it was only 
 natural. 
 
 As a shrewd business man Mr. Curley realized 
 that Hiram had been too smart for them. In- 
 stead of announcing his presence immediately, 
 and taking what they chose to offer him for his 
 clever device, the young Yankee inventor had 
 hung around and waited for the climax to come. 
 He had heard the favorable report made by the 
 bird-man, and of course that had strengthened 
 his case. 
 
 The gentleman understood that this unfortu- 
 nate happening was likely to cost them dearly, 
 since the inventor, knowing the value of his pat- 
 ent, would be likely to hold out for a much larger 
 sum. 
 
 "Now, if you will let me see some papers to 
 prove your identity, Mr. Nelson, we will talk 
 shop with you; and I might as well confess in 
 the beginning that if you are inclined to treat us 
 fairly we can come to terms with you ; but please 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 285 
 
 consider that only one trial has been given to 
 your stabilizer; and it may, after all, be of less 
 value than appears at this moment." 
 
 Hiram needed no second invitation to get busy. 
 He immediately unloaded a mass of proof upon 
 them to show he was all he claimed, and that he 
 also had the papers connected with his patent. 
 
 "I am satisfied, so far as that goes," announced 
 the gentleman, as though desirous of arriving at 
 the most important part of the whole proceed- 
 ings as soon as possible. "Now will you please 
 state the very lowest cash price you will accept 
 to turn the patent over to this company?" 
 
 "Five thousand dollars, sir!" replied Hiram 
 promptly. 
 
 Rob was watching the other's face. He saw 
 something there that told him Hiram had at least 
 not exceeded the amount which would have been 
 reckoned a price limit for the invention. Mr. 
 Curley, however, was too good a business man 
 to show any eagerness in the transaction, though 
 there was certainly a gleam of satisfaction in 
 his eyes as he seemed to consider the offer. 
 
 "I am going to be frank with you, Mr. Nel- 
 
286 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 son," he remarked, presently. "The sum you 
 mention, although somewhat larger than we had 
 contemplated paying for an invention the value 
 of which has still to be fully proved, is within 
 the amount we could afford to risk in the hopes 
 of getting a really dependable stabilizer. Now, 
 if we agree to do business with you, would you 
 consent to sign a paper here and now to turn 
 over your patent right entirely to us on the 
 receipt of the sum you mention, five thousand 
 dollars?" 
 
 Hiram was holding his own remarkably well. 
 He refused to show any signs of being over- 
 whelmed by his great good fortune, and seemed 
 to be capable of displaying his customary shrewd 
 Yankee bargaining qualities. 
 
 'Til agree to do it, Mr. Curley," he said de- 
 liberately, "if your company also makes the bar- 
 gain so it can't be broken. It mustn't bind only 
 me. Pay a certain sum in hand, and agree to 
 give me the balance to-morrow, and I'll sign the 
 paper you speak of, handing over the patent 
 rights transferred to you when the balance is 
 put in my hands." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 287 
 
 "That's strictly business acumen, Mr. Nelson/' 
 said the gentleman, now smiling broadly, for 
 there was no longer any danger of a backdown, 
 and the wonderful little invention could not be 
 taken away from them by some rival and wealthy 
 company; "and with your permission, then, here 
 is an agreement, in duplicate, with the amount 
 left blank, which I will fill in according to your 
 proposition; and if everything is agreeable, we 
 will both sign it in proper form." 
 
 A few r minutes later the agreement, filled out 
 as settled upon, was handed to Hiram to look 
 over before signing. He immediately backed 
 over to where his three comrades stood. 
 
 "I want you to go over it word for word with 
 me, Rob, and if there's any sort of hitch or trap, 
 tell me; though I don't expect to find that sort of 
 thing, because I guess Mr. Curley is too straight 
 a gentleman to try and take advantage of a 
 boy." 
 
 They weighed every sentence, and fortunately 
 the agreement was very simple, so it was easily 
 understood. 
 
 "How about it, Rob?" asked Hiram, trying to 
 
288 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 control himself as best he could, for he knew 
 curious eyes were upon him, and he did not want 
 any of the men to believe this was his first ven- 
 ture in the realm of finance, which in fact was 
 the actual truth. 
 
 "It seems to be all right, Hiram, and I wouldn't 
 hesitate to sign it," the scout leader advised him. 
 "If you want a witness allow me to put my 
 signature on it. I'll be proud to know that I've 
 had something to do with your first real success." 
 
 "Something to do!" echoed Hiram, with con- 
 siderable emotion, "why, Rob, you've been my 
 backbone up to now. Only for you I'd have 
 made a botch of the hull thing. I owe you more'n 
 I c'n ever tell." 
 
 He went back to where Mr. Curley was wait- 
 ing, a little anxiously Rob saw, as if he feared 
 Hiram might be overcome with greed, and at- 
 tempt to boost the price he had already named. 
 
 "I see you agree to give me a check for five 
 hundred dollars right now, Mr. Curley," Hiram 
 commenced, "to bind the bargain with. Well, 
 I would be tempted to say I didn't want you to 
 do that, but I know it's a poor thing to refuse 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 289 
 
 money in hand, and also that it fixes it so neither 
 of us can back out. So I'll accept the sum, sir, 
 and sign the agreement." 
 
 This he hastened to do, and Rob was called on 
 to add his name as a witness ; then other names 
 were placed upon the agreement, as well as the 
 duplicate which was to be given into the posses- 
 sion of Hiram as the other party. 
 
 When that check for five hundred dollars was 
 placed in Hiram's hand he smiled, and then coolly 
 doubling it up, placed it carefully away in his 
 pocketbook. 
 
 "That, for a beginning, isn't so bad, Mr. Cur- 
 ley," he said, as the gentleman was shaking 
 hands cordially with him. "I'm meaning to use 
 every cent of this money to advance several lit- 
 tle schemes I've got started. Only for my need 
 of cash to push them along mebbe you mightn't 
 t have got that stabilizer without~a few bids from 
 other companies ; but you sure treated me white, 
 Mr. Curley, and I wanted you to know I appre- 
 ciate it." 
 
 Possibly Mr. Curley may have thought that 
 Hiram had worked a pretty sharp trick on them 
 
290 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 in hanging around, and learning what they 
 thought about his invention before disclosing his 
 identity; but then certain things are allowable 
 in business, and at least he had shown himself 
 capable of looking after his own interests. 
 
 "If any of your later ideas happen to be in line 
 with our work, Mr. Nelson," the head of the 
 firm said, "I hope you will give us a look at them 
 before you approach any rival company. In one 
 way it is a good thing for an inventor to keep 
 advancing with the firm who first patronized 
 him, of course, granting that they will meet any 
 price he may be offered elsewhere." 
 
 "I guess I c'n promise you that, sir," said 
 Hiram, who was very happy, and at that moment 
 felt drawn toward the fine-looking gentleman 
 who had treated him so splendidly. 
 
 So the four boys wended their way toward 
 the gates of the Exposition. Hiram hardly knew 
 whether he was walking on air or on ground. 
 It seemed to him that his heels must be made of 
 some magical rubber that kept pace with his ec- 
 stasy of mind, for he came near dancing at times, 
 much to the amusement of Rob. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 291 
 
 "First thing for me to do, fellows," Hiram 
 said, as they reached the hotel, "is to send a 
 night letter to my folks telling 'em that I've got 
 the coin. My maw she believed in me right 
 along, but dad he's allers been kinder skeptical, 
 you know, and used to say I was spendin' heaps 
 of money on foolishness. Guess he's due to 
 change his tune after this, hey?" 
 
 Rob found that there had been a telegram for 
 him that morning which somehow he had failed 
 to receive before leaving for the Exposition 
 grounds. It was a night letter from Professor 
 McEwen in answer to the one he had sent, signed 
 by the name of Professor Marsh, who was in 
 charge of the exhibit. 
 
 In this communication, limited to fifty words, 
 the Edinburgh scientist tried to express the deep 
 satisfaction he felt because Rob and Andy had 
 successfully filled his place, and handed over 
 that precious packet to the gentleman in charge, 
 without any accident. He declared that he would 
 remain until their return home, and that he hoped 
 to be able to thank them again most heartily. 
 
 The boys were a happy lot that evening. They 
 
292 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 attended a theater where there was an instructive 
 show well worth seeing by all scouts. Indeed, 
 Hiram seemed to have actually grown two inches 
 since morning. 
 
 Of course his chums gloried in his success; 
 so that the rest of their stay at the City of the 
 Great Exposition was likely to be one long pic- 
 nic, with not a single hovering cloud to mar 
 their pleasure. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 293 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 On the following day, at the appointed hour, 
 Hiram and his three chums turned up at the 
 offices of the Golden Gate Aviation Supply Com- 
 pany, where the final exchanges were made. 
 Hiram handed over his papers to the new owners 
 of his invention, and received their check for 
 the balance of the purchase price. 
 
 At Rob's solicitation he proceeded to the city 
 and opened an account at a bank, against which 
 he could check from time to time as he needed 
 cash in pursuing his work. 
 
 Then, having now relieved themselves of all 
 source of worry and anxiety, the four Eagle Pa- 
 trol members gave themselves up to the full en- 
 joyment of their holiday. 
 
 What wonders they continued to see as they 
 daily visited the great Fair, would take volumes 
 to describe. New and amazing things were con- 
 stantly cropping up as they prowled hither and 
 
294 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 thither through devious ways that up to then 
 they possibly did not know existed. There was 
 a constant succession of surprises awaiting them 
 with each new day. 
 
 "Why, I honestly believe," Tubby declared 
 many times as they discovered some display that 
 up to then had eluded them, "everything that 
 was thought of in the whole world must be in- 
 cluded in the exhibits inside this enclosure. I'll 
 never get over being thankful to Uncle Mark 
 for fetching me here. And to think that I was 
 given a chance to be with the dearest chums any 
 scout ever had that's a whole lot the best thing 
 of it all. Oh, it was certainly my lucky day 
 when I decided to go up on that aeroscope, be- 
 cause only for that we never might have met at 
 all; and just think what I would have missed." 
 
 "The sight of Hiram here winning his prize 
 for one thing ; that was a spectacle for sore eyes, 
 let me tell you!" remarked Andy. "We're all 
 proud of him, and we want him to know it too." 
 
 "Then there was that fire scare," said Hiram, 
 "when Rob got the blaze smothered with that 
 little extinguisher before the regular department 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 295 
 
 arrived on the spot don't forget to count that 
 as something, Tubby." 
 
 "And the mad dog chase, with our leader again 
 demonstrating what a scout should be able to 
 do when an emergency arises," Andy added. 
 "The poor dog got shot, but there was no human 
 being injured in the panic, which there might 
 have been only for the handsome way Rob coaxed 
 the cur to slip inside that inclosure." 
 
 "Yes," added Tubby, anxious to display his 
 view, "and we don't want to forget about Jared 
 Applegate, either. He gave us something of a 
 racket, you remember, by sneaking into that 
 room at the hotel, and hiding under your bed 
 when he heard us coming along the hall." 
 
 "It makes me laugh when I remember how 
 he almost licked Rob's hand, and promised to be 
 good if only he was let go," said Hiram, rather 
 disdainfully. 
 
 "That sounds as if you didn't have much faith 
 in Jared's promises to reform?" said Rob, smil- 
 ingly. 
 
 "He never meant a word of it, and I know it!" 
 declared Hiram. "I could see the nasty snap in 
 
296 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 his eyes just like they used to be. Haven't we 
 known him to crawl and make all sorts of big 
 promises before, but always to break the same 
 the first chance he had? Huh! that money in 
 his pocket was never earned honestly, I'd like 
 to wager; and it won't be used either to carry 
 him back home." 
 
 "Oh, well, he's left the hotel, which is one 
 good thing," said Rob. "I thought it was my 
 business to find out this morning, for as we knew 
 him to be a thief it hardly seemed fair to keep 
 quiet, and not put a flea in the ear of the manage- 
 ment here." 
 
 "He saved you the trouble then by skipping 
 out ?" remarked Andy. 
 
 "Yes, I suppose he imagined we might tell on 
 him as a duty, and thought he had better leave 
 between two days," Rob explained. "Of course, 
 when I learned he had thrown up his job, been 
 paid off, and was gone, I concluded it was no use 
 saying anything more about it." 
 
 "Like as not Jared's been doing more than 
 one shady job since he came here," suggested 
 Hiram, shrewdly, "and he was afraid they'd take 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 297 
 
 him to task for the same, pVaps shut him up in a 
 cell ; so he concluded to get away while the going 
 was good. Well, here's hoping we may never 
 run across the snake again." 
 
 "I don't know," ventured Tubby. "Seems like 
 there's some queer fatality about it, but we do 
 come on that scamp in the most remarkable ways. 
 There he was down in Mexico, and before that at 
 Panama. To think that he'd be out here where 
 the Big Show's going on, and of all places acting 
 as a porter in the very hotel where we took up 
 our quarters." 
 
 'The pitcher that goes once too often to the 
 well comes to grief,' they say," mentioned Rob. 
 "If Jared keeps on bobbing up as he has been do- 
 ing, and getting in our way, he'll rue it some time 
 or other." 
 
 As the days came and went, Rob and his three 
 chums certainly managed to have the time of 
 their lives. If there was one part of that mam- 
 moth Exposition that they failed to investigate 
 it was not because they wasted any of their 
 time; at least this could be said for Rob and 
 
298 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 Tubby, who were most energetic in making the 
 grand rounds. 
 
 As was to be expected, the other two were so 
 wedded to their idols that it was not an easy 
 task to tear them away; and at times Rob had 
 to insist on their accompanying himself and 
 Tubby to other parts of the inclosure. 
 
 Andy never tired of watching the quaint 
 scenes in the Zone, where the tides of humanity 
 from all over the world ebbed and flowed through 
 all the hours of the day and evening. He dearly 
 loved to just imagine himself in far-distant 
 lands, close in touch with these brown or yellow 
 people. And the resolution to become a world 
 traveler when he grew to manhood seized hold 
 of Andy with renewed vigor. 
 
 As for Hiram, he could not be blamed for 
 haunting that section where his heart found the 
 greatest charm of the entire Exposition. Here 
 he pored over the various ingenious inventions 
 fashioned in the clever brains of the foremost 
 among the nation's talented men and women, 
 from Edison down to the most humble. 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 299 
 
 And Hiram, having already reaped the fruits 
 of his first venture in this fascinating field of 
 human endeavor, naturally looked forward to the 
 time when perhaps his name, too, might be linked 
 with those for which he felt such reverence. 
 
 When Tubby's uncle returned he was well sat- 
 isfied to go East alone and leave his nephew in 
 such good hands. 
 
 During the remainder of their stay in San 
 Francisco the boys never once caught a glimpse 
 of Jared Applegate. If he still remained in the 
 City he made it a point to religiously avoid meet- 
 ing any of his former school companions. 
 
 Rob had determined that he might let the 
 crabbed old farmer and his wife know they had 
 met Jared while on the Coast, so as to ease their 
 minds, if they had not heard from their bad son 
 for a long while, though he decided he would 
 say nothing about the deplorable circumstances 
 under which the meeting had taken place. 
 
 "I never liked the old farmer and his wife/' 
 Rob had said to the others, when they were dis- 
 cussing the matter their last evening at the Fair, 
 
300 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 sitting at their ease, disposing of some ice cream, 
 and watching the throng pass by. "But I sup- 
 pose they have feelings like the rest of us, and 
 in their own way, care for their boy. It would 
 only give them a new stab to be told that Jared 
 was as bad as ever, and do no good; so I hope 
 none of you will whisper anything about that 
 little episode." 
 
 Being true scouts, and with malice toward 
 none, the others readily agreed to do as Rob 
 asked. They could easily afford to forget that 
 unpleasant adventure, since things had turned 
 out so wonderfully well for them. 
 
 "And to think that this is our last night at 
 the Exposition/' said Tubby, with a vein of de- 
 spondency in his voice. "I tell you I'm awfully 
 sorry, much as I want to see the folks at home 
 again. Fll never, never forget all I've seen out 
 here, let me tell you; for even if half of the 
 civilized world is at war and killing each other 
 off by tens of thousands each day, you'd never 
 know it in this beautiful land of peace and 
 plenty." 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 301 
 
 "Hear! hear! Tubby's getting poetical!" ex- 
 claimed Andy, pretending to pound on the table 
 with his fist. 
 
 "Well, it's enough to stir anybody up that's 
 got a soul for things besides old fakers with red 
 fezzes and turbans, who make out to be fortune- 
 tellers from Egypt and such places, when the 
 fact is they were born in Cork or Hoboken !" the 
 other shot back at him. 
 
 "It is the greatest Fair that ever was held," 
 said Rob. "When we get back home to Hamp- 
 ton we'll tell every boy we know that if he has 
 a chance to come out here and fails to take ad- 
 vantage of the same, he's missing the treat of 
 his life, barring none !" 
 
 "We all can subscribe to what you say, Rob," 
 agreed Tubby. 
 
 "And that isn't all," continued the scout leader. 
 "Think of the things w r e've been allowed to put 
 through. There was the fetching of that fragile 
 exhibit all the way across the continent, with- 
 out any accident. And Hiram here has struck 
 the first round on the ladder of fame. Even 
 
302 THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE 
 
 that doesn't exhaust the list of our pleasures, 
 because we've still got another treat before us." 
 
 "Meaning the homeward trip, I guess?" ven- 
 tured Hiram. 
 
 "Yes, when we find ourselves among the 
 mighty Rocky Mountains that the Canadian Pa- 
 cific Railroad climbs in passing from Vancouver 
 to the East, we can feast our eyes on the grandest 
 natural jnountain scenery of the world. As for 
 me, I'm anxious for the time to come when we'll 
 be enjoying it." 
 
 As they were starting for Vancouver in the 
 morning, with the intention of passing over the 
 railroad line that pierced the famous Selkirks, it 
 would seem that Rob would not have long to 
 possess his soul in patience. 
 
 And since they finished with the Great Pana- 
 ma-Pacific Exposition on going to their hotel that 
 night, it would seem that this is the proper place 
 for us to say good-by to the four chums. But 
 while our story must end here, there can be no 
 telling what the future may have in store for 
 Rob and his comrades of the Eagle Patrol; and 
 if fortune is kind enough to throw them in the 
 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 303 
 
 way of further adventures and triumphs, we 
 hope ours may be the pen selected to place these 
 events before the readers who have so long ac- 
 companied them in their numerous journeys. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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