Goldfrap John Henry - The Boy Scouts at the Panama-Pacific Exposition стр 12.

Well, keep close to both of us, thats all, said Rob. Even if it is Marsters, the chances are hes only trying in his mean way to give you a bad feeling. I dont 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.

Hed have a hard time doing that, with one of us on either side, affirmed Andy Bowles confidently.

And I wouldnt hesitate a second to hand him over to the police if he tried any of his games on us, Rob added.

It may be hes 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.

Well checkmate him on that easily enough, chuckled Rob. In the first place, we dont mean to allow ourselves to get caught in any jam. When we draw into the station well 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 its all one Pennsylvania station, you know. And Ill stick close to you every minute of the time.

Yes, Andy went on to say, you know weve got something in Robs grip that we have to guard with unceasing vigilance, as Judge Collins 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 weve 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 astonishing surprise might be sprung upon him.

There he is now, grinning at me like an 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 dont you think he looks like hed 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 hes gone to all this bother just to feel that hes 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. Depend on it, he doesnt expect to go any further than this in the game. Hes shot his bolt.

What makes you think so, Rob?

The

very fact that hes 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, dont you see he would be doing everything he 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, Rob, he admitted. So let him grin all he wants to. Ill laugh, too, if only to show the feller that he hasnt 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.

Youve settled his case, and cooked his goose for him, commented Rob, a minute later. See, there he goes over yonder, and Ill be a whole lot surprised if we set eyes on Marsters again.

But, Rob, Im determined to act as though I fully expected him to be creeping around all the time. Im playing up to the old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth moren a hull pound of cure.

Its 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.

Were 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 inside the portals of the big Exposition on the Pacific Coast, and which was being held to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal.

Certainly never before had Boy Scouts been enabled to start forth upon a trip of such magnitude, and under such happy auspices. With all their expenses paid, and the grandest possible 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.