uman nature. All the business of
definite organization was deferred to the next meeting, to take place
one week later.

CHAPTER LIV

The Formation of the Club

Foundation Sunday came, and with it a respectable crowd at the House.
There were some who had brought babies--which was unfortunate, but
unavoidable--and there were one or two men too hilarious for good
manners; but the crowd was, on the whole, good-natured and desirable.

Mike Shay was not there, although Jim had tried to get him; but Mike had
a curious diffidence about appearing in public. All his power was
underground, and all his methods behind the scenes. Squeaks was there to
keep an eye on things, and his little bleary, ferret eyes watched each
person and detail with cunning, if not with discernment.

It was made perfectly clear that only members in good standing had
votes.

"Vell, vot dot mean, dot good at stannin'? Don't ve vote settin' down?"
demanded Skystein.

"It means members whose dues are fully paid, and who are not under
indictment for serious breach of rules."

"I want to pay one year's dues for myself and Mr. Michael Shay," said
Squeaks; and he walked to the secretary and paid ten dollars. This
indorsement by the boss produced immediate results.

"I'll take a year's membership," said a big, coarse, red-faced man. And
he rolled up the aisle to deposit his five dollars, giving his name as
Bud Towler. Jim remembered him as the third person in the back room the
day he met Michael Shay. He had not seen him since.

So many more came up now, mostly to pay a month's dues, which was the
minimum, that Belle was worked hard and other business was stopped.

Then, when all who wished to pay and register had done so, the voice of
Squeaks was heard: "I have here a list of names that I want to propose
for charter membership," and he read off a list of twenty-five men, none
of them present. Bud Towler got up and seconded the lot; the Chair was
asked to put the names to immediate vote, as it was a charter meeting;
all were carried, and Squeaks came forward and paid twenty-five dollars
dues for the lot to cover the next ten weeks, that is, to the end of a
year.

Belle whispered to Hopkins as Squeaks retired. The Chair nodded, rose
and explained. "In drawing up our constitution, we deemed it best, in
the interests of democracy, to do all voting by ballot and to exclude
all proxies."

"Dot's right, dot's all right!" shouted Skystein.

"Mr.