The age-herald., 1900-01-07

tentionally some commendable character istics, and were now in as much danger of being spoilt by the admiration and injudi- cious compliments as they had been by ad- verse criticism.
 Too much praise, however, is not often bestowed on live, wide-awake boys, and in this case only enough fell to their share to serve as an antidote for those particular ones and for the entire nine.
 Some one remarked in his hearing that Wirburt Cummings was developing into a handsome, manly boy. Straightway Will burt had become possessed of a desire to deserve this compliment, and began paying so much attention to the condition of his collar and to keeping part upon his bushy head that the other eight boys were affected thereby and all began to find a halrbrush an indispensable article and their mothers had been astonisihed to ob- serve that the boys had of late donned @ fresh collar without their attention be- ing called to the soiled condition of the one exchanged.
 Another angel In disguise had been heard to express favorable comment upon the mental requirements of Tom Hopkins. Some declared the criticism was based upon no great foundation, but Tom kept in mind the suggestion so unwittingly made that he was a brilliant fellow and destined to become a great man. Ere long his teach CTS and home folks were amazed to hear ---m commenting upon the lives of several renowned men. He also began to use choice English and to eschew slang
 Randolph and Burton Clay,s mother and sisters had been excessively ambitious for them. The boys, it seemed had formerly felt a prade in disregarding all the efforts made to have them lead their classes and other wise show themselves model boys The standard set for them was so high the lit tie fellows became discouraged. By be- often of baio ta which they were expected to climb they concluded that since the apparently inaccessible sumrnits that grand fathers and uncles had attained were i'm possible, they undoubtedly were little rep rebates and freaks of nature. wherein sine had deposited all the wickedness which several generations of honorable ancestry should have shared with them These boys had been looked upon as hopeless scions of an honorable race now for an indefinite time, and being allowed to think oi other things had ceased drawing detrd- mental comparisons between achievements of full grown, disciplined men and very human little boys, and of their own accord were beginning to have aspira tions and de- sires of some consequence
 The other boys were not yet manifesting characteristic percepHbility different from former ones exept that all were becoming less boisterous and more dignifed and
 
 been no meeting of the Moonlight Maraud- CTS, hence all were somewhat surprised 10 receive summons to meet at the so- called cave. Bandits cavern was an exca- vation on slope in Mrs. Joys back ward Long ago the boys had dug 1t, planked it up ana then hid 1 tfrom observation by throwing dirt upon it, making the hillside nearly level Till you were right upon if you could neither see the opening at the ioot or the hill, through which the boys must creep on all fours; or the old rusted stove pipe for an air hole suddenly coming a lew inches above the ground
 Now, boys, come to order" called ont ter" W -N'e e-"'-
 All right, hurrah! We are anxious to Know what's up. Silence in tine cave ,, urged Ran, and George said, "Ditto. me too." o
 Well, order, then! Mr.. Secretary will you come to the table? Now, boys. first nVe years ago when we were allN little shaVers, we thought it great fun to he named Mysterious Moonlight Marauders put 1t is my opinion that boys fifteen and seventeen do not like such silly title. We do not want to disband and sever o,,r friendship; fact is, he said parentheticsllv
 we now have greater reason for sticking together than ever, and yet we do not like to proceed under such a foolish title. We know that no Moonlight Maurauders exist in our imagination even, and longer and before any other business is done, or before we renew our VOWS of fellowship and friendship suggest we discuss the advisa bility of changing the name of our group"
 Gang, you mean" began Bruce but was promptly called to order.
 MT. President" said Fred as he rose to his feet
 Erred Scofeld has the floor" the presi- dent declared as several others rose at once.
 "I, for one, heartily favor changing our name, but desire to have the letters remain as they are that our circle e friends who know us as the M. M. M. need EDt learn of this change. They may presume from 1t that we have dissolved our long standing organization; therefore, MT. President. move that committee be appointed to de- eide upon new name, with instructions that the initial letters be retained"
 You hear the motion; are you ready for the question:"
 Six of the nine boys sprang to their feet. Such a discussion as followedi The presI- dent failing entirely to keep order and en- tering himself heartily into the debate even when there were three or four speaking at the same time.
 Finally the nine boys talked themselves almost into cross words, and the president saw that 1t was time to call-them to order Immediately after Berton Clay rose.
 "Mr. President" he began, and hardly waiting for recognition, continued: "I move that the name of this organization be changed from the Mysterious Moonlight Marauders to (here his voice was lowered so that it could be heard only by those present, and every ear strained to catch ane words which folioweD the name to be kept secret, the organization being known as formerly. the M. M. M. club
 The president rose. "Do all understand this motion without it's being repeated, and are all willing to vow the utmost secrecy regarding it? If any one has any objection he must now make it known, for once taken the name is to remain unchanged forever Even when grey-haired men! It is to be forever!"
 Silence followed this dramatic, low voiced statement Presently some one was heard to say Question"
 "No. before I put this question let me ask again do we all understand clearly what we pledge ourselves to? Are we ready in addition to this to pledge eternal friend- ship for one another, help in time of f-need and loyalty to our comrades under all cir cumstances? All who-have duly considered the matter and are ready for the question, ,ic