“Each member of the club might contribute what books he cared to spare,” Leslie continued. “I’ve got a whole pile I’d like to offer for my share. Mr. Holwell could be the judge of what was fit for us to have in our library. He knows boys ten times better than that high-brow Mr. Loft.”
All of them displayed signs of great enthusiasm over the idea. The boys of Cliffwood had long suffered at the hands of the town librarian, who, though doubtless a worthy as well as a learned man, had never learned to peep into the heart of a genuine boy, and know how to handle him so as to cultivate the best there was in him.
“It’ll sure be a big feather in our cap if we do manage to have a library of our own, every book carefully selected, and just the kind we love to read as well,” Dan hastened to say, the sour look now gone entirely from his face.
“And for my part,” Leslie went on to say, “I’m going to get Uncle Henry interested in the scheme. I really believe he’ll put up the money to buy a lot of books of the right sort—that are of an uplifting character, besides being full of stirring adventure.”
“I’m mighty glad now Mr. Loft lectured me as he did,” said Dan; “because you see it’s brought matters to a head right away. Whee! but won’t he lift his hands in horror when he hears about it. I can just see the look on his face.”
CHAPTER XIII
MET ON THE HIGHWAY
Upon reaching home that afternoon Dick found that his mother had an errand she wanted him to do. This was to take his old wheel and ride out a mile or so into the country, to get some fresh eggs that had been promised by the wife of a farmer.
“And be very careful, Dick,” she cautioned him as he was ready for the start. “Don’t try any fast riding while you are carrying my precious eggs, for once they are scrambled nothing can undo the damage.”
The boy laughed merrily at the picture she drew.
“I promise you I’ll go carefully enough, Mother,” he told her. “Luckily enough I’ve just fixed the old tire of my wheel so I think it’ll hold out. If it breaks loose again why I’ll hoof it home rather than take any chances.”