er 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.

"And the name of this?"

"We thought that Bobolink Boys--B. B., you see--would be great as the
initials stand for Blue Birds, too. Of course, we won't sew dolls'
clothes, or bake cakes, but we will help the Blue Birds whenever we can,
or be independent if we wish. The girls wear bird uniforms, but the boys
will wear jumpers of a certain color, with stripes for grade. We haven't
gone any further. Our first meeting was held in Starr's orchard this
afternoon," grinned Ned.

Uncle Ben sat thinking very seriously for a long time, then he asked,
"What about the _Chirp_? Drop it?"

"Oh, no! That's one reason we want something of our own to back us up.
We can all help print the _Chirp_, and with the little boys to deliver
them, or run errands, i