Chapter VII: Organizing the Boys’ Department

Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.

The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.

It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side. The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.

The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures. On the other side were two pleasant rooms where games, such as dominoes, chess and checkers, could be indulged in.

Altogether, it was a most comfortable place to spend the winter evenings. Even a billiard and a pool table had been installed, with the idea of keeping the young men from patronizing rooms where strong drink was apt to be sold. Better still, there was now a new bowling alley being built as an addition to the plant, which would prove unusually attractive to many fond of rolling.

A number of boys traveling toward this center of interest came together at some little distance away. Dick nudged his chum, Leslie, when he saw that Nat Silmore and two of his chosen friends made up the other detachment.

Nat seemed to be in a hilarious mood. Evidently, he was pleased over something or other, and whenever he laughed his cronies in duty bound joined in the merriment.

“Seems like we’re all out on the same errand this beautiful night, eh, Dick?” he remarked, with a chuckle, as the two parties merged in one, and pushed on toward the building with its many lights.

“Everybody’s doing it!” chanted Dit Hennesy, at which the trio gave a hearty laugh, and slapped one another roughly on the back, as though they were fairly bubbling over with glee, for some reason or other.

Dick did not exactly like the signs. He had seen Nat in this condition before, and to his observing mind it always presaged some sort of outbreak that had a bold prank attached to it.

His mind went back to a former occasion, when the big, overgrown boy had kept up his chuckling, though there seemed nothing humorous in the eyes of others; yet all of a sudden every light in the town hall had gone out, leaving Polly Cramer, who was in the midst of her graduation essay, almost hysterical with fright.

But then there was no necessity to pick a quarrel with Nat. Surely Mr. Holwell and big Harry Bartlett ought to be able to manage a wild team like Nat and Dit.

“Well, this is a great night for the boys of Cliffwood, according to my notion,” Dick remarked. “I’m only sorry for the fellows who can’t manage to get into the new organization, for it promises to be a big thing.”

“Think so, do you?” sneered Nat. “Well, ’cording to my mind there’s plenty of good times floatin’ all around, and you don’t have to sneeze every time Harry Bartlett or the minister takes snuff, to find ’em.”

“But you’re going in tonight, aren’t you?” asked Dan Fenwick, who was tagging along at the heels of Dick and Leslie.

“Sure we are,” replied the other, boisterously. “We took a notion we’d like to hear what’s on tap. Mebbe we’ll condescend to hand in our names along with the mob if it sounds good to us; mebbe we won’t. It all depends.”

There was nothing funny about these words of Nat’s, and yet the other two boys thought fit to start laughing again as though they could not contain themselves.

“Oh! you’ll have to please yourselves about that, I guess, Nat,” observed Dick, carelessly. “Nobody is going to be coaxed to join the club, as I understand it. So far as we’ve heard the plan outlined, I should say that the fellow who declines to enroll and obey the few rules is going to miss heaps of good times this winter.”

“Huh! mebbe now you’re givin’ me a sly dig, Dick Horner,” grunted Nat, “when you talk ’bout obeying rules.”

“No more than I was giving myself a knock, Nat, because I’ve been a pretty lively customer and hard to curb, I own up. But if the cap fits, put it on, because there _are_ going to be rules, and Mr. Holwell has said distinctly that unless they’re lived up to no fellow will be allowed to remain a member, even if he does join.”

“Strikes me Mr. Holwell is goin’ to bite off more’n he can chew this time,” observed Nat, which started another series of loud chuckles from his “echoes.”

“They mean trouble as sure as two and two are four,” whimpered Leslie into Dick’s ear, as the three rough fellows fell back a few paces, apparently to hold a little confab of their own.

“Let them start a rough-house prank if they want to,” said Dick, confidently. “I miss my guess if Mr. Holwell isn’t able to handle the crowd. He used to be on the college football squad years ago, and knows a thing or two about hustling a disturber out of a meeting, even if he is a minister.”

“If you asked me what I thought,” added Dan, eagerly, “I’d say there’s a little surprise waiting up for Nathan this very night; and for one I’ll be tickled half to death when it happens. It’s been due some time now, I expect.”

“Well, here we are at the place,” remarked Dick; “so let’s forget all about such a thing as trouble.”

When the boys found themselves inside the building it was to meet a score of their schoolmates, all waiting in the big auditorium for the meeting to be called to order. In the upper part of the house were a couple of quiet reading rooms for those who did not wish to be disturbed by such noise as arose from the lovers of games. There were also accommodations for temporary shelter, where several young men could room during their search for work.

Mr. Holwell and Harry Bartlett were present, looking more than gratified over such a good turnout on the part of the boys of Cliffwood. The attendance seemed to insure the ultimate success of their new undertaking.

“Of course we must expect to meet with obstacles,” the minister was saying to his right-hand man; “perhaps plenty of them; for nothing worth while can be attained without great efforts. But with a splendid body of eager boys back of us there can be no such word as fail in our lexicon.”

When eight o’clock came, the meeting was promptly called to order by Mr. Holwell. He found himself faced by nearly a score and a half of boys, most of them anxious to qualify for membership in the new organization.

Some of them with older brothers in the regular Y. M. C. A. had long envied the good times the Seniors seemed to have under that hospitable roof. Now that a chance had come whereby they too were to be given a share in the pleasures and entertainments that enlivened the dull winter months there was no lack of enthusiasm exhibited on every hand.

Nat Silmore and his cronies kept close together. Dick now and then cast a look in their direction, and wondered if they really would have the nerve to try and give Mr. Holwell trouble. Knowing the effrontery of Nat so well, he had a strong suspicion that something was brewing.

“Most of you already know the main object of this meeting,” said Mr. Holwell, after his upraised hand had called for silence. “Some of us a bit ago came to the conclusion that the growing boys of Cliffwood had been neglected too long, and that it was high time something was done to give them much more pleasure than can be found on the streets of nights. So we are now about to offer all of you the opportunity of becoming junior members of the Y. M. C. A.”

At that Dick led the cheering, and quite a tumult arose. It was to be noticed, however, that Nat and his two followers did not join in the applause. Dick wondered why this should be; he was already suspicious of them, for he could see Dit nudging Nat in the ribs and grinning, whereupon the big fellow shook his head, as though he might be curbing the impatience of his followers.

When Mr. Holwell elevated his hand again the cheering stopped as if by magic. Every fellow leaned forward and listened to hear what was coming next.

“Any boy living in or around Cliffwood can become a member in full standing of our Junior Organization,” continued the minister, “provided he pays an initiation fee of two dollars, earned by himself, and the monthly dues of twenty-five cents. He must be between the ages of eight and eighteen years of age, and will have to subscribe to the few general rules whereby he promises to behave himself as becomes a member of the Y. M. C. A. These rules you will find on the cards I shall give out later on.”

As he paused it gave the assembly another chance to let loose with three cheers. Mr. Holwell did not try to stop them. He knew that boys must find a vent for their enthusiasm in some fashion, when too full to keep still.

“Those who join will be entitled to nearly all the privileges of this building, such as the gymnasium on certain occasions, the swimming pool that, with the bowling alleys, is being fitted up for immediate use; and will be allowed to attend such lectures and entertainments as are considered suitable for boys of their age.”

A third whirlwind of applause interrupted the speaker. That manifestation of approval pleased the big-hearted minister more than anything else. He knew that he had secured a firm hold on the hearts and affections of most of these lively lads; and no doubt had visions of the great good his latest plan was bound to bring about for the younger generation of Cliffwood.

“As time passes,” he went on to tell them, “there will arise various ways of enlisting your hearty co-operation in the work. I have already suggested one scheme that I am pleased to say seems to have met the approval of the committee in charge of entertainments.

“Perhaps all of you may not know that in my younger years, before I ever thought of preaching the Gospel, I belonged to a minstrel company that was more or less of a success in its traveling career. Now my plan is to have the boys of the Y. M. C. A. give a refined show of this sort, in which nearly every one of you can take some part. It is also proposed to offer a cash prize of twenty-five dollars in gold to the boy who can get up the best original farce suited for minstrel work, the entertainment committee being the judges. More particulars of this plan will be given out at the meeting of the club next week.”

“Will every member be permitted to enter this competition, sir?” asked Dick.

“There will be no restriction,” continued Mr. Holwell, “and every boy who belongs to the junior league of the association is entitled to try for the reward. Only it must be understood that all work must be original. And now if you are ready to register your names as candidates for acceptance we will see how many can be enrolled tonight.”

As before, there were cheers from the boys, but this time the din became really frightful. Nat and his two cronies had produced harsh sirens from their pockets, and persisted in blowing them to the utmost extent of their lungs.

In vain Mr. Holwell and Harry Bartlett held up their hands to implore silence. Most of the boys stopped cheering, but the three kept up their racket as though bent on breaking up the meeting then and there.