Harry Bartlett was now alongside Mr. Holwell. His face was white with indignation, and his eyes sparkled dangerously. Watching anxiously, Dick saw the minister suddenly turn toward the Y. M. C. A. leader, and nod his head. He may have spoken something at the same time, though only Harry heard it.
Promptly the two of them pounced upon Nat and Dit, who, though taken somewhat by surprise, made a desperate resistance. They were as pigmies in the hands of the two men, who hustled them toward the door in great shape, accompanied by the loud cheers of the assembled boys.
The third young ruffian, seeing Dick and Leslie making in his direction, promptly threw up his arms to indicate that he surrendered, and then bolted for the exit.
When he reached the door, Mr. Holwell held up a hand again to call for silence, and then sternly addressed the boy who was squirming in his iron grip, amazed at having been handled so vigorously by the man of peace.
“If any of you give me the least trouble again tonight,” was what he told Nat, “I promise to call the Chief of Police up on the ’phone, and have him lock you up at the station. And you can never enter these doors again as a prospective member of the Boys’ League until you have written me an abject apology for your outrageous conduct tonight. Now be off with you!”
With that he gave Nat a push and sent him outside the open door. Nat immediately took to his heels, in which act he was quickly copied by his two running mates. Dick saw him turn and look back over his shoulder as he ran away, and wondered whether the fist he shook in the air could have been intended as a threat for himself or Mr. Holwell.
Just then, however, he gave the matter no further thought, for he was too full of excitement to bother about small things like Nat Silmore’s resentment.
The boys once more trooped into the room and resumed their seats. Mr. Holwell looked as calm as ever, though he and Harry Bartlett exchanged a humorous smile or two. Indeed, Dick found himself wondering if the elder gentleman might not really have enjoyed forgetting his peaceful calling for a brief moment, and proving himself a muscular Christian, ready to stand up for the right.
The names were taken down in regular order, for the boys proved eager to enter themselves as prospective members of the new organization. Many had come provided with the money for the small initiation fee; others were promised a chance to earn it in due time, and entered under that arrangement.
“I do not want a single boy present to feel that he is being debarred from joining tonight,” Mr. Holwell announced, on seeing several hang back. “Be frank with me, and tell me what you aim to do so as to earn the amount necessary to pay your initiation fee. I have some plans arranged, through the kindness of several friends, and no lad need lack for a chance to enlist if he wants to become one of us.”