So one day Mr. Holwell was surprised, and pleased as well, no doubt, to receive a letter by mail, signed by Nat Silmore, Dit Hennesy and Alonzo Crane, in which the trio declared they were truly sorry they had annoyed the good man on that former occasion. They promised that if he would forgive them, and allow them to send in their names, they would surely obey the rules of the association.
Perhaps even Mr. Holwell may have had serious doubts as to the genuine nature of their reformation. He must have guessed that the main thing with Nat was to be able to enjoy the various pleasant gatherings afforded by the new association. But Mr. Holwell was always ready to give a fellow another chance, and he hastened to seek an interview with each of the three obstreperous signers of the “apology.”
It ended in their being admitted to membership in the Boys’ Department, much to the chagrin of some of the older members, who among themselves prophesied all sorts of dire disasters as the inevitable result.
“They’re just coming in so as to upset things,” declared Dan Fenwick to several of his best friends when they found Nat and the other two having the time of their lives on the parallel bars one evening, and grinning openly at each fresh arrival as if to say tauntingly: “Thought you’d keep us out, didn’t you? But you’ve got another guess coming, see!”
Harry Bartlett did not fully share in the hopes of Mr. Holwell regarding the possible “turning over of a new leaf” on the part of Nat. He knew the youth to be “a tough case,” and believed that when he had exhausted the pleasures of the new order of things, they would hear from him again in the shape of some of his notorious tricks.
So the leader of the Y. M. C. A. made up his mind to say nothing, but to keep his eye closely on Nat. And he was firmly resolved that at the first sign of trouble the unruly fellow should be shown the door.
Dick was already busily engaged on his farce. The rules of the game had been laid down plainly by Mr. Holwell at the last weekly meeting.
“Every member in good standing of the Boys’ Department is entitled to a chance to win the prize,” he had told them. “The farce is to be not only wholly original, even to the jokes, words of songs and choruses, but it must be clean, and entirely unobjectionable. Nothing that could offend your mothers and sisters will be tolerated for a minute. It is intended for at least eight principals to take separate parts, and the copy must be handed in two weeks from today, so we can practice before the Christmas holidays.”
When some of the eager boys who meant to try for the rich prize evinced a strong desire for more information, Mr. Holwell continued his remarks.
“The committee will read every farce submitted, and if there are two that seem to be of about equal merit the mayor of Cliffwood has kindly consented to act as umpire so as to decide which is the better. I have also agreed to serve as adviser to the committee; and I want it to be known that no favorites will be played.”