“That’s the proper spirit,” said Don.
“Tell you what,” remarked Allerton; “we’ll print a lot of cards, inviting all the boys and girls in Riverdale to join the Toby Clark Marching Club, and we’ll distribute them at school and call the first meeting in our barn on Saturday forenoon.”
“Great idea, Al! Let’s print the cards right away,” cried Don with enthusiasm.
They first wrote the announcement on a piece of paper, Becky doing the writing in her scrawly hand and Doris correcting the spelling, which was something startling as Becky employed it. Then they set the type, the girls eagerly helping to do that, and after locking it up in the chase they ran off the first impression. It was somewhat blurred, there being too much ink on the roller, but Becky proudly read it aloud, as follows:
TAKE NOTICE!
You are respectfully invited to become a Member of
THE TOBY CLARK MARCHING CLUB!
Organized for the Defense of our Unjustly Accused Fellow Citizen, Toby Clark! And to Bring About his Release from Jail and to Clear his Good Name from the Taint of Cowardly Slander! There will be
UNIFORMS! BANDS! RED FIRE! and BANNERS!
All in Favor of this will Meet at Randolph’s Barn (upstairs) on Saturday Morning at 9 o’clock Sharp.
ALL BOYS AND GIRLS WELCOME TO JOIN!
Don Daring,
Al Randolph,
Doris Randolph,
Becky Daring,
Organizing Committee.
(Al Randolph, Printer)
“The composition doesn’t seem to be quite clear,” observed Doris, when the applause had subsided. “It reads as if all in favor of the red fire and banners were invited to join.”
“Well, so they are,” maintained Don. “The red fire an’ banners mean the Marching Club, ’cause they’re a part of it.”
“Better leave the band out,” advised Becky. “It’s a swindle, and we want this thing on the square.”
“There’s going to be a band—if we have to blow on combs covered with paper,” retorted her brother. “But this is going to be an awful big thing, girls, and we may hire the Riverdale Cornet Band.”
“That’d cost twenty dollars.”