“Oh, maybe you’d like to smoke, Uncle Ben?” continued Ned, recalling that most men liked an after-dinner smoke. “I shall never use tobacco myself, because I have studied just what effects it has on one’s system, but I won’t object to your smoking if you wish.”
Uncle Ben threw back his head and laughed uproariously.
“Does that mean that you will sit calmly by and see me ruin my health with tobacco, and not interfere?” laughed he.
“Oh, no, you know I didn’t mean it that way, although it did sound funny, didn’t it?” replied Ned.
“Well, Son, I never smoke, either. I believe a man is a better thinker and cooler business man without it,” said Uncle Ben. “But, tell me, what is the tremendous secret that made you lock the door and pull the blinds?”
“Here it is,” whispered Ned, leaning over toward his uncle. “You see, when the Blue Birds started, I hadn’t a thing to do, because the Starr boys were at camp and many of the other boys away with their families; so I undertook to print the Chirp for the girls. I liked it, too. But they are planning so much for next summer that it will take a regular printer to turn out their work. Their organization freezes out the boys, yet we helped in every way this summer.”
Uncle Ben nodded comprehendingly.
“Well, this afternoon, we boys got together and said, ‘What’s to hinder us from getting up a club for boys under twelve?’ We all thought it would be great, so we started, and have the name, but not the plans. What do you think of it?” asked Ned.
“You haven’t told me enough about it to judge,” replied Uncle Ben. “Have you founded the club for any purpose?”
“Oh, yes! We will gather all the little chaps under twelve years of age into one organization, and take them on hikes, teach them work, play games, and do other things,” said Ned.