“Holbrook’s a stick, but he ain’t stickin’ up much,” replied Don. “He isn’t posted on things, ’cause he’s just come to town and don’t know the run of things. If Toby’s goin’ to be saved, this Marching Club, organized for his benefit, is goin’ to save him, and it’ll be stacks of fun besides. We’ll parade all through the town, with flags an’ banners flying, an’ we’ll have a banquet, an’ perhaps a brass band, an’ so help to set Toby Clark free.”
“What’ll we eat at the banquet?” asked a solemn-eyed girl.
“Food, of course,” answered Becky. “You’d better join an’ get a square meal, for once in your life, Susan Doozen.”
“I guess our grocery bill is as big as yours is!” cried the girl angrily.
“It’s bigger,” replied Becky composedly, “for we pay ours.”
“Here, cut that out!” commanded the speaker. “We’re not here to squabble, but to fight for Toby Clark, and we’re going to put up the biggest fight Riverdale has ever seen. The Toby Clark Marching Club will become famous, an’ go down in the annals of history as a—as—as—”
“As a Marching Club,” said Allerton, helping him out.
“With a record we’ll all be proud of,” added Don. “I can tell you kids one thing, and that is that every boy an’ girl who don’t belong to our marching club will be looked down on as nobodies, an’ they’ll deserve it. This is goin’ to be the biggest thing that ever happened in Riverdale and when Toby Clark is free and cleared of this wicked slander I’m going to petition Congress to give every one of us a gold medal. Now, then, the register is on that box beside the chairman, who is Al Randolph. You’ll form in line and all walk up and sign it. It’s a pledge to become a member of this Marching Club and to allow no one to say Toby Clark is guilty without denying it. Also to obey the rules of the Club and mind its officers.”
“Who’s them?” asked a small boy.
“We’re going to elect the officers after you’ve all signed,” replied Don.