“Well,” said Dick, humorously, “if anybody ever ran across anything worth taking in the Horner home, I’d make him divide with me. So-long, Leslie, and thank you for the warning. But we Horners are always willing to take a chance, you know.”
CHAPTER XV
COUNTER CURRENTS IN THE “GYM”
“How are you coming on with your farce, Dick?” asked Mr. Holwell, the next evening, as he stepped in at the Y. M. C. A. building to see how the boys were coming on, and also to fulfill several errands.
“Oh! I seem to be forging right ahead, sir,” laughed Dick, “though I find it a pretty hard proposition to get up the songs and choruses. I don’t believe I could have tackled the job only for your permission to get such assistance in the song part that we could from any of our young companions.”
“Yes, you told me before that one of the girls had been helping you there,” remarked the minister, who was showing a very deep interest in all of the boys belonging to the new department of the association. “I have given the same permission to all who intend to compete. But it is expressly understood that the words of the songs and choruses, as well as everything save the musical score, must be entirely original with the ones who submit their farces to the committee, or else they will be thrown out.”
“Sometimes I am almost tempted to tear mine up,” admitted Dick, frankly; “because it reads silly to me; but my folks at home seem to like it, and my chum Leslie says it is fine. But then, I guess he only tells me that because he is my chum.”
“Don’t think of tearing it up, my boy,” urged the minister, earnestly. “Many a famous man has had his hours of doubt, and come near abandoning the career he had marked out for himself. You are no judge of your own productions. Older heads must decide on the merits of the compositions. Promise me that no matter what you think you will finish the farce and hand it in.”
“Oh! I can promise you that, sir,” replied Dick, flushing with pleasure, since he felt that Mr. Holwell had a certain amount of confidence in him.
Shortly afterward the minister left the building, having accomplished what errands he had in view when entering. It was the one evening in the week when the juniors were allowed the freedom of the gymnasium, and a dozen fellows had already donned their “gym” garments, so that they could have perfect freedom of movement when exercising in their favorite ways.
Nat and Dit were on hand, for they never missed an opportunity to be present on “gym” night. Indeed, Dick strongly suspected it was this very thing that had tempted Nat and his cronies to swallow their pride, and send that apology to Mr. Holwell.