Two more meetings had been held in the big room of the Y. M. C. A. building, and fully thirty boys’ names were on the roll of the new Junior Department. Some of these fellows belonged to poor families, but they were just the ones Mr. Holwell had most in mind when he first conceived the clever idea of starting a Boys’ League inside the association.
He had found numerous ways in which to help those whose folks could not really afford to let their boys join. Three fellows were given jobs in connection with the care of the building, for it happened that the association did not have a regular janitor to look after the furnace, and sweep out, as well as keep the windows clean.
Temporary positions were found for two more in the restaurant next door, and it seemed as if Mr. Holwell might prove himself equal to every emergency that could arise, for he never allowed anything to daunt him.
From the beginning the new movement appeared to meet with success. It was quite noticeable how few boys were to be seen loitering on the streets since the Junior Department had come into existence. The Chief of Police admitted that complaints of practical pranks being played upon citizens of the town, or farmers living nearby, were getting to be a rare occurrence.
Of course, Mr. Holwell was greatly pleased with the measure of success that seemed to have already followed his attempt to better conditions in Cliffwood. He knew, however, that there must be no slackening of the good work, or things would begin to go down hill again; for there was an invisible pulling against the new order of things, which might come from the lower elements of the town.
Every night as many as a score of boys could be seen either reading books or the latest magazines or engaged in playing dominoes, checkers or chess in the comfortable rooms of the Y. M. C. A. building.
Then there was a weekly lecture to which they were usually invited, if the subject happened to be of a nature suitable to their years. The swimming pool had also been completed, and the younger members of the association had the privilege of using this on certain afternoons when one of the older boys could be on hand to keep order. He had also to see that no fellow took any chances of catching cold, to avoid which the shower was always required after coming out of the warmer water.
Down in the gymnasium they had splendid times when allowed to enjoy themselves, and many a boy began to show cheeks of a ruddier hue on account of the work done there under the eye of a competent instructor.
Not only this, but several boys who had until then rejected the friendly advances of Mr. Holwell were influenced to enter their names on the roll, when they learned what glorious times those who already belonged were having. This was just what the big-hearted minister wanted. He felt positive that they would soon change their ways, after getting to know him better.
Indeed, everything seemed to be working along famously. Even Nat and Dit had concluded that they would be silly to deny themselves the splendid privileges afforded by the Y. M. C. A. building when they could be obtained by a simple little written apology.