Part 20 (1/2)

The Cubs had no intention of allowing him so easily to elude them.

”Please, Mr. Silverton, we must see you for a minute!” Dan exclaimed, starting after him.

The sportsman acted as if he had not heard the appeal. Walking rapidly, he continued toward the elevator.

Rebuffed, but nevertheless determined that Mr. Silverton should listen, the two boys pursued him down the hall.

”Mr. Silverton, listen to us just for a moment-” Brad began, but the stock broker cut him short.

”Pests!” he exclaimed. ”Unless you cease annoying me, I'll turn you over to a policeman. I've had quite enough of Cub Scouts!”

By this time the elevator had stopped at the third floor. Glaring angrily at Brad and Dan, Mr. Silverton entered the cage.

But not alone.

Stung by the sportman's bitter words, the two boys crowded in with him.

The cage door closed.

”Mr. Silverton,” Dan said, gazing directly at the sportsman. ”We're sorry to force ourselves upon you. But I'm afraid you'll have to listen to us now.”

”Oh, I will, eh?” Mr. Silverton demanded. ”We'll see about that!” He rapped his cane sharply on the floor of the cage door. ”Attendant, let me out of here!”

However, he spoke too late, for already the elevator was moving slowly downward.

CHAPTER 10 The Cubs Lend A Hand

”Mr. Silverton,” Dan began, speaking rapidly because he knew he had only a moment in which to present his case. ”It's about your pheasants-”

”Attendant, stop the elevator at the second floor,” the sportsman directed the operator of the cage. ”I'll walk!”

The elevator man, observing the despairing look of the two boys, deliberately let the lift slide past the second floor level.

”Sorry, sir,” he said, fumbling with the levers. ”Too late, sir.”

”Mr. Silverton, you've got to listen!” Dan went on desperately. ”The creek's rising fast out at your farm! With that dam across the stream, it may flood the pheasant runs.”

At last he had gained Mr. Silverton's attention.

”Dam?” the sportsman demanded. ”What are you talking about?”

”Logs have jammed across the creek, sir. Mr. Hatfield, our Cub leader, said if it rained hard, water would be almost certain to back up and flood.”

”A trucker told us the area up in the hills had a regular cloud burst,”

Brad added. ”When that water gets down here, adding to what we've already had, the creek will come up fast.”

The elevator had halted at the first floor and the cage door slid open.

But Mr. Silverton had lost his desire to elude the boys.