all distant from the fire.
The clock struck nine. The boys reluctantly got up from the floor and struggled into their coats. Jay unbarred the door. The man held the light high above his head sending a stream of light after them, George astride his old farm horse ready for his three-mile ride, Jay and Albert trudging after him, and Jack and Peter hand in hand on a run toward the village.
"Good-night!" they shouted back at the man, "We'll be on time next Saturday night, seven sharp. Good-night!"
II
THE BOYS' GARDEN DIFFICULTIES
"It's fine to see you back, Myron," began The Chief, looking at a big, good looking fellow, who had dropped quietly into his place by George. "Are you here for all the time, now?"
"Yes," replied Myron, "I got tired of the town and am glad enough to be back again."
"We are just as glad as you are. Is Philip here for Sunday?"
Philip wriggled happily beside Peter and said nothing. For Peter had impressed Philip with the fact that he must keep quiet for it wasn't very much his club anyway.
"There is business up for discussion, and two applications," began The Chief.
"Applications!" broke in Albert. "May we have those first?"
"If you can't keep still," retorted Jay, "you'll get applications all right, but of quite another sort."
The Chief passed two letters to George. George stood up, swallowed hard, for he was a bashful lad, and began. "'Will the Junior Garden Club give suggestions and practical help for the improvement of the Oldfield Centre School Grounds?' Signed 'The Teacher.'"
"Crickey!" said Albert. "That's white in her! Expert advice! I guess we will!"
"What shall we do about this?" asked The Chief.
"We just ought to do it, I think," began Jack. "There surely is no other public-spirited club in this place."
"Just so," murmured Peter.
"We ought now to have a secretary for the club, and a chairman, too. I believe to-night is the time to vote for these officers," suggested The Chief. "Suppose Jack and Philip tear up slips of paper and pass them. Then Myron and George collect, and count the ballots. We should vote for chairman first."
"What does the chairman have to do?" asked Myron.
"A chairman always calls a meeting to order and presides," answered the man.
For a few minutes they were all very busy with paper and pencil. The results were given by Myron.
"Jay has all the votes for chairman. Albert has four for secretary, and so I suppose we'll have to have him."
Albert, nothing daunted, said, "I guess you will, but I write like a hen."
"That's right, you do," chimed in Jack to Albert's apparent annoyance.
"Now, Jack, call your meeting to order and let's have these matters voted on."
"Come to order all of you. What shall we do about this school-ground business?"
"I vote," began Myron.
"Stand on your feet," advised Jay.
"I vote--"
"No, Myron," corrected The Chief, "move--not vote."
"I move, then, that we fix up those grounds."
"Who seconds this?" and Jay looked hard at George.
"I will," he responded.
"I'm not sure, now," appealed Jay to The Chief, "I'm not sure just how to go on."
"It's this way--it has been moved and seconded that this request be granted. All in favour say 'aye'; all contrary minded 'no'. It is a vote." Jay repeated this and the boys voted, Albert, as usual, voting "no," just for fun.
"Now, if George will read the second letter-----"
"I should think," Jack half questioned, "that the secretary should read things, now we have a secretary."
"So he should, hand those papers over, George."
George, delighted, gave place to Albert, who stumblingly read. "We girls wish to garden, too. We'd like to join your club. We can do just as good work as boys. Will you take us in?"
"Not much!" went on Alfred just as if he were still reading, "Girls in our club, no siree, girls never!"
"Girls might do something," began Myron.
"But," Jack broke in, "they'd after all spoil a boys' club. Why, it wouldn't be a boys' club then."
"They might have one of their own," suggested Peter.
"And do different things," continued Philip.
"I really don't see," Jay went on, "quite how we could have them. But, I suppose, they might meet with The Chief and we could help them sometimes."
"No," said Albert, "we don't wish to get mixed up with that sort of thing. They'd run the whole club in the end."
"That's right," agreed George.
This was put to vote properly and the girls were barred out.
"You must write them a letter, Albert," concluded Jay.
"Write a letter! A letter to those girls! Never!"
"Yes you will; you are the secretary and you have to, understand," said Jay. Poor Albert, not long before so proud of his office, looked as if he'd rather be whipped than be the secretary.
"The real business to-night is to hear reports so we can do a little experimenting and testing next week," suggested the
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