ound Skinny's neck. He was all excited and said

le to do things that some other fellows can't do-kind of. Not exactly that," I told him, "because most fellows can do the things if they try hard enough. But, anyway, there isn't any merit badge for keeping your eyes open.

n't it good

you wore that on account of being honest, that would insult all the other fellows, wouldn't it?" He just stared at me, but d

s. "But there's a badge for something else like that," I said, "only you can't get it yet,

n I learn th

yes open was the stalking badge. So then I got out the Handbook and showed him the picture of it and read him what it said. G

you have to be all the time watching for signs and tracks in the snow or in th

he said, "sneak. I'm a litt

that kid w

stalk. That means to follow a bird or an animal and

eak up on 'em, so then can I have th

ng, but stalking. That's the badge you're after. So that's the one you want to

ot, and that's the one I'm goi

cause he stutters) going past the window. Pretty so

d on that one badge and

ss' sake don't talk abo

from me, you can only

is a good one. It's got a

e badge for you. And you're small and kind of thin and that's good in stalking, too, because you can hide behind trees and things." Then I said, "If you'll make me a promise th

hind him were Vic Norris and Stut Moran. Connie is leader of the Elks and th

you're talking abou

What do y

on in sneaking all right,

know what you're ta

suppose you didn't bring him in here so you could be where

in here so we coul

e stalker's badge. We heard you make him promise to go after t

uld I-"

ho started the rule about not having tw

," I t

with Vic. What have you got to do with our patrol anyway? Don't you think we're old enoug

ow yourself the kid hasn't begun his second-class tests yet. What chance does he stand if Vic is after it? I only thought I'd try to do a good turn. Cracky, it's hard enough to think up anything to do out here on a Sunday afternoon-you know th

ep the wind off the deck?" Connie

Here, take your new member. If I'd known Vic was after the badge, I wouldn't have said a word about it, you can be

rd except, "Come ahead, Skinny," and the poor kid fo

perfect da