“I’ve handed in my application,” announced Phil Harkness, as with several other fellows he stood in the school basement keeping warm near the furnace, while he munched some lunch purchased at the counter. “I hope nothing blocks me in joining the Juniors, because I expect they’re going to have great times.”
“Mighty few fellows try to throw cold water on the idea,” ventured Dan Fenwick; “unless it’s Nat Silmore and Dit Hennesy, who’ve gone around sneering, and saying it’s all a bunk game on the part of Mr. Holwell and Harry Bartlett to keep boys from having good times playing tricks.”
“Yes, but even they’re talking of applying for admission,” spoke up Clint Babbett; “and it wouldn’t surprise me if we had a heap of trouble with that crowd. If they get in to the first meeting which has been called for tomorrow night, look out for squalls, that’s all.”
“Mr. Holwell thinks they are not as black as they’re painted,” suggested Peg Fosdick. “But that’s because he’s got such a big heart he just can’t decide that any sort of boy is beyond redemption.”
“If they come in,” asserted Dan, vigorously, “there’ll be a rumpus, as sure as you’re born. I wish there were going to be some of the Seniors present, but I understand that it’s an off night for them, and that only Mr. Holwell, with perhaps Harry Bartlett, can be present at the first meeting.”
“Oh! well, where do we all come in?” demanded Peg, puffing out his chest in a vainglorious fashion. “We’ll chase that crowd out in a hurry if they get too gay. Besides, police headquarters is close by, and Mr. Holwell could call them up on the ’phone if it got too smoky.”
“I understand that nearly two dozen applications are already in,” remarked Phil, “so there ought to be something of a crowd out at the meeting. I’m wild to know just what the plans are.”
“First of all,” said Peg, “there’s going to be a small initiation fee, and monthly dues, just to help pay expenses, and make the boys feel it isn’t a charity. That’s Mr. Holwell’s idea; he doesn’t believe boys like to be given everything. And one of the rules is going to be that they must earn the amount of their entering fee and dues.”
“Wow! I see my finish then,” groaned Andy Hale; “because this morning my dad tempted me with an offer to saw and split a cord or two of wood that’s piled up in our back yard. Now I’ll just have to agree, if he’ll advance the pay to me.”
“Some of the boys,” explained Phil, “are going to be given a chance to do certain things about the Y. M. C. A. building, such as taking care of the furnace, cleaning windows at odd hours, and the like.”