“Probably they will do the same by us,” said Loren. “We have always been in the habit of doing as we pleased, and we don’t intend to change our mode of life for the sake of getting into an archery club that makes its members drill until ten o’clock when they might see more fun in playing billiards. There will be some vacancies this fall, and then we shall make another attempt to get in.”
“Is that what you have made up your minds to? Well, now, look here.” As Prime said this, he came out from behind the counter and stood in the open door, looking up and down the street. “You must begin by doing your smoking in secret,” he continued, as he came back and motioned to the boys to follow him toward the rear of the store.
“Do you mean to say that the Toxophilites look with disfavor upon a good cigar?” demanded Tom.
“I do, indeed. You mustn’t use tobacco in any form, and you must be temperate in all things—in eating, drinking and talking. They’ll fine you if you use any language while you are out with your companions, that you wouldn’t use if your mother or sister was present. Now sit down here, and if you see any body coming, you can put your cigars out of sight.”
“But we don’t know all the members of the club,” said Loren.
“No difference. Don’t let any one see you with a weed in your mouth. If you do, good-by to all your chances of being a Toxophilite.”
“Why, it’s the meanest little town I ever heard of!” exclaimed Ralph, who was greatly surprised as well as disgusted. “I didn’t suppose that there were any such boys in this wicked world. I thought they all lived in Utopia.”
“So did I, until I found some of them right here in Mount Airy,” answered Prime. “The girls are at the bottom of it—you know that they are never easy unless they are kicking up a row of some kind—and if I had been a member of the club when it was organized, wouldn’t I have worked hard to keep them out? I was very anxious to get into it once, but I don’t believe I care to be one of them now.”
Tom and his cousins began to feel the same way.