“That is thirty-six dollars,” replied Doris. “Very well; do you wish the money now?”
The tailor was amazed.
“What’s it all about, anyhow?” he inquired.
“We’ve organized the Toby Clark Marching Club—over a hundred boys and girls—the best lot in the village,” explained Don. “We want to show everybody in Riverdale that we don’t believe—not for a single minute—that Toby ever stole Mrs. Ritchie’s box, and we’re going to carry signs an’ banners an’ march through the streets with the band playing.”
Collins stared a minute, and then he laughed.
“That’s great!” he exclaimed. “I’m with you in this deal, for it’s a shame the way they’re treating Toby. Perhaps I can get the boys to play for two dollars apiece, on this occasion.”
“We’ve got fifty dollars,” announced Doris, the treasurer. “It was given us by some one anxious to befriend Toby Clark and we’re to spend it just as we please.”
“Oh. Do you want fifty dollars’ worth of music, then?” asked the tailor, with an eye to business.
“No,” said Don; “that is, not all at once. If your twelve men will play for twenty-four dollars, we could hire them twice. If this first parade’s a success, I want to take all the Club and the band over to Bayport, and make a parade there.”
“Dear me!” said Becky, to whom this idea was new; “how’ll we ever get such a mob over to Bayport?”