Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17
A VERY SECRET SOCIETY.
BIZ EVERETT JAMES.

come; but it's pouring pitchforks. and that
knocks out our outdoor circus: but have
a scheme-it's very secret, and IL you'll all
vow on your sacred honor not to reveal q
word of 1t I'll tell you all about It,"
The four boys raised their right hands
solemnly to heaven and vowed.
We'll. come on Up to the garrett. 1t won't
do to talk it over down here: we might be
interrupted or overheard. Gertrude's IN the
sitting room reading. and wouldn't have
her to hear a word OF 1t for twenty billion
dollars. Here. Jack. stun those plums Into
your pockets. and Fred. put those peaches
In your hat: they're pretty ripe; Tom. here's
q pan OF crullers for you to carry, and
here's a jar Of jumbles for you, Dan. I've
got to carry the lemonade. Come on up the
back stairs and walk softly. for If Ger
trude hears us she'll follow us for spite.''
The boys creaked carefully and clumsily
up to the big garnet. where they deposited
their burdens and settled themselves COM
fortably on some old husk mattresses
Now. you boys pitch In and eat while
talk. You won't interrupt If your mouths
are full"
The boys obeyed cheerfully.
my scheme Is to form an awful secret
society-so secret that nobody knows we
even have a society: but we will have Sig
mails and passwords and grips and hold
meetings and take degrees and have initia-
lions and spreads and do all sorts Of things
and our object will be to suppress girl
boys"
The boys were interested, so interested
that they all finished chewing and forgot
that their mouths were empty.
you all know what mean by girl-boys-
sissies. boys that don't care about manly
sports. foot ball especially. who would
rather walk home from school with girl
than stone a snake OF course. none Of US
are sissies. but I feel that 1t Is our duty
to Danish sisses from the face OF the earth"
One Of the boys whistled.
There's Harry Wells, I see his finish"
said Jack
Bob grinned well make a man out of
him ii he has it in him." he said. Now
about the name OF the society,"
Secret Society SURPRISING self-satisfed
Sissies and Girl-Boys," suggested Dan.
The boys hooted.
Say. that's all right. Danny" said Fred
''The 9: 8. s. g.. s, g.. Nobody would ever
guess It. Let's have for our yell: Ess-ess-
ess- ess-ess-Gee! Let's all practice 1t to-
sether" IT,, ~ ;, .
The boys practiced it in grewsome whis-
pers and were highly delighted with the
result
Now what do you say to password"
Tom had written the name down on a
slip of paper which his mother had given
him with a grocery list on 1t. "Se-so-sup."
ne said, 1.-The first syllables OF the first
three letters of our name. sounds kind of
mysterious"
The boys agreed on it unanimously.
I'VE ought to have q grip" said Jack
Yes. I've thought of that" said Bob.
"but of course we want it awful secret
and we don't want to ever do anything
any. one could catch on to. We boys never
shake hands, and If we should 1t would
look suspicious SO I've thought instead of
a grip we might have slap on the Shout
der. One slap on the left shoulder means
today Wen always meet here unless we
agree On some other place at the previous
meeting. After giving two slaps the one
who gives the slaps will say two or Six
or whatever hour the meeting Is to be-"
Great" cried Dan.
eve will only have meetings when there
is something to do. We won't meet regu-
larly, but we will meet often. We won't
discovered. and. by the way. too. tear up
that piece Of paper with our name on It,
you might leave it around somewhere
Tom obediently tore the slip into minute
fragments. and then looked up with a dis
mayed face. I've torn up the list of
things I was to get for mother at the
grocery on my way home" he said.
Cant you remember them?" asked Fred.
"Well put the pieces together and COPY
the list off and then put the bits down that
mouse hole"
This Tom proceeded to do with Toms
help and the work of organizing the society
went on.
I'VE must elect officers" said Bob Lets
have for officers not the ordinary ones of
president. secretary and treasurer. but new
names. Let's call the head officer the swell
suppressor
Second the notion said Dan.
Move the nomination be made unani-
NOUS" said Jack.
Move that you consider yourself elected
without putting the motion" said Tom
You're awfully supplementary" said
Bob. But I'll be it If you all agree"
I'VE ought to have q chief detective"
said Fred. 1--WE might call him the sup
pressing spy"
Lets have Dan for that" said Tom
HE Is fearfully sharp on the SCENT
Dan was elected with great harmony.
Then let's have some one to look after
getting up our spreads and handling the
money. Well just collect what money
we need when we need it and not have
regular fines"
Jack is the epicure and he has a straight
head for business" said Dan, and Jack
was elected. They decided to call him
spread sustainer.
Then We need fellow to be on guard
when we have our meetings" said Jack,
80 as to be sure that no one is listening"
That's you, Tom" said Fred; you be
the suppressor of eavesdroppers and I'm
the only one. so I'll be the man of all
work. to do all the odd things around and
to help carry out our plans"
No said Bob, Il have a name and
Office all ready for you. You have the
smoothest tongue and are the most re-
spected and liked by our fathers and moth
ers. so you are to go and get all our per-
missions, whenever we need permissions.
And you are to have the honorable title Of
suppressor of parental objections
Il don't think the honor will compensate
for the trouble" said Fred, but l suppose
there's no backing out In the game
NO Stree said Bob. emphatically. And
now for our plans. We are to have two
kinds of discipline for Harry Wells-a
course that will increase his vanity, and
the other is course that will increase his
moral courage"
Say asked the suppressing spy, sharp
ly. what personal grudge have you got
against Harry Wells anyway
Bob flushed. ''Oh, 1 just think he needs
treatment. Gertrude is always holding him
up to me as a model.
The boys grinned
well" said Fred. 81 think the society
may be a good thing for all concerned. but |
what are we going to do to please his
vanity?"
We're going to incidentally make the |
girls talk about him, and every unfavorabie !
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